VIDEO: Celebrities wish Manchester's NHS staff a Merry Christmas
James Corden, Freddie Flintoff and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are among the famous faces sending festive wishes to key workers.
Top Gear presenters Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness are just some of the famous faces who have wished staff at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust a Merry Christmas.
Video messages for the 25,000-plus colleagues who work at hospitals across Manchester and Trafford were collected by Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, the charitable arm of the Trust, as a special festive "thank you" for their hard work this year.
Presenter and actor James Corden, sports presenter Jamie Redknapp, comedian Romesh Ranganathan, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester City player İlkay Gündoğan and the Charity's own patrons including John Thomson, Tina O'Brien, Samia Longchambon, Jennie McAlpine and Ashley Taylor Dawson all recorded well wishes for everyone working at the Trust's family of hospitals.
James Corden was clearly moved when he recorded his message, saying: "I just wanted to wish a very Happy Christmas to all of the hard-working staff at the NHS hospitals in Manchester and Trafford.
"I can't begin to think how difficult this year must have been for every single one of you. But please don't think it's ever taken for granted. The work that you do is vital and it means more than you will ever know....that you're there, doing what you do. Thank you so much, for this year, and all of the years to come. And I hope you have a very, very Happy Christmas. Lots of love."
The stars of Top Gear recorded their message while on set filming the new series. Paddy McGuinness says: "We wanted to wish you all a wonderful and Merry Christmas. Thank you so much to all the NHS staff in Manchester and the NHS staff all across the UK. You are amazing! Merry Christmas everybody." To which Freddie Flintoff, who is holding the camera, jokes: "That pretty much covers it, cheers Pad.....that's Chris Harris that one."
Tanya Hamid, Interim Director of Charity at Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, said: "The Charities team, like many of us across the North West and beyond, appreciate just how hard our colleagues in the Trust have worked this year, and every year.
"It felt only right that we called upon our patrons and celebrity supporters to help us wish them a Merry Christmas as a thank you for all their efforts during the Covid pandemic.
"We hope that this special video will bring a few smiles to our colleagues during the festive period and lets them know how truly appreciative the whole nation is of their wonderful contributions in 2020."