Cast Of Gogglebox To Support Nurses, Midwives & Healthcare Assistants With ‘Sofa Self-Portrait Prize Draw’

The cast of hugely popular entertainment show Gogglebox, are celebrating UK nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants nationwide this week as they lend their support to Cavell Nurses’ Trust with a spectacular ‘Sofa Self-Portrait Prize Draw’.

To be in with a chance of winning a Gogglebox masterpiece painted by your favourite sofa critic,Cavell are hosting a Gala Bid Prize Draw from 10.00pm on Friday, 22^ndMay – Friday, 5^thJune where anyone can buy tickets to be in with a chance to win. Each entry costs £3.00 with all proceeds in aid of Cavell Nurses’ Trust. Enter at https://app.galabid.com/gogglebox/

The show’s creator and Executive Producer, Tania Alexander, came up with the idea for cast members to paint self-portraits of themselves sitting on their sofas. The paintings have been donated to Cavell Nurses’ Trust and entered into the prize draw to help raise funds for UK nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants facing a crisis in their lives, often because of illness, domestic abuse, mental health issues and more recently the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tania says of the initiative; “The work that Cavell Nurses’ Trust does is incredibly valuable. They offer real and tangible support to the nursing profession, and they’re doing that right now at what is such a crucial time. I think I speak for the entire Gogglebox cast and crew when I say that we are grateful to them and to the clinical care profession as a whole. This painting project for the prize draw is our way of trying to say thank you. We hope it helps raise awareness and funds simultaneously, so please do buy a ticket.”

With cast members of the latest series being in some way touched by the help of nurses, and art in general, this initiative resonates across the board. One of the show’s stars, Julie Malone, explains; “As a mother of a pediatric intensive care nurse, I really enjoyed getting involved with this project. We really appreciate all the work the Cavell Nurses’ Trust do for nurses and healthcare workers and we would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts”

As a Wimbledon art school graduate himself, another one of the show’s stars Giles Wood says; “This one is especially rare as I normally paint landscapes or interiors where there is room for less exactitude than in portraiture.” His partner Mary adds;“Paintings by Giles have a rarity value because it’s difficult to drag him away from his one acre wildlife garden. Yet, he rose to the challenge anyway because of the exceptional work done by the Cavell Nurses’  Trust which we both want to support.”

The full list of households that have produced pieces of art are: Amira & Amani, Anne & Ken, Dave & Shirley, Ellie & Izzi, Jenny & Lee, The Malones (Tom Snr, Julie, Tom Jnr, Shaun), Pete & Sophie, Stephen & Daniel, Sally & Paige, Sue and Steve, The Michaels (Andy, Caroline and Louis), Mary & Giles, The Siddiquis (Umar, Baasit & Sid), The Worthingtons (Alison, Helena & George).

Gogglebox’s Lee Riley and Jenny Newby show their support by wearing ‘Nurses Rock’ T-shirts as seen in the above photo. There are 3 designs in the Nurses Rock T-shirts range, with 100% of profits from sales also going to the Cavell Nurses’ Trust. The ‘Nurses Rock’ T-shirts have been produced by Mark Stredwick of Probity Merch who wanted to celebrate and support the UK nursing family during these unprecedented times along with some of the artists he works with including Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Bryan Adams, Paloma Faith, and many more. Nurses Rock T-shirts are priced at £9.99 + p&p, and are available to purchase here.

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