Celeb endorsements come at a price

GOOD on Alan Howlett of Banwell, (February 16) for highlighting the hypocrisy of Joanna Lumley, and a host of other so called celebs’ travel programmes, with regard to world pollution.

The day Emma Thompson cycles across America from LA, rows single handed across the Atlantic to join the Extinction Rebellion demos instead of flying in first class to lecture us about saving the planet, perhaps even I will sit up and take this arch hypocrite seriously.

We are inundated with TV commercials for donating to starving children in Yemen, Water Aid for Africa, ill-treated donkeys and disfigured children of the Third World. All very worthy causes I’m sure, but all voiced by certain ‘celebs’.

It would be nice to know if these so called ‘celebs’ were offering their voiceover services free of charge, but they are probably receiving a handsome fee out of any forthcoming donations. Come on ‘celebs’ prove me wrong!

Some time ago, when Captain Tom was raising his millions for NHS charities, I wrote to this newspaper hoping that this charity, as it was being organised by his family, would prove to be the exception to the rule of normal large charities like Oxfam and Save the Children, which take over 90% of donations for admin charges and salaries.

The latest revelations show how wrong I was! Even certain ‘celebs’ we hear of running their charity events by throwing lavish parties, but hey ho, not to worry, it’s paid for out of the contributions, leaving a pittance for the cause they allegedly support, but does wonders for their already inflated egos.

Local charities, run on a shoestring, are sadly missing out to the hypocritical high profile TV ‘celebs’ charities. At least when you donate locally you have the satisfaction of knowing your money is being well spent in the right direction. Trouble is, some scammers are making a good living out of some people’s generosity, even at this level. Oh what a world we live in!

Edward Kynaston Lydney, Gloucestershire