Fans of Geordie TV duo Ant and Dec can now wake up to them every morning in 2009 with the launch of their first ever official calendar in Debenhams stores, in aid of the NSPCC's Child's Voice Appeal (http://www.childsvoiceappeal.org.uk/).
Only 6,000 copies of this strictly limited edition calendar are available, priced £8.99, and fans should hurry as they only have until Christmas Eve to bag their copy.
Each calendar sold will contribute all proceeds to the Child's Voice Appeal, which aims to raise £50 million over the next three years to grow the NSPCC helplines, text and online counselling services, including ChildLine.
Ant and Dec said: "We are proud to be associated with ChildLine because we know that their 24/7 helpline makes a real difference. Children can feel under all sorts of pressure and need someone they can trust, someone who'll listen, and someone to turn to for help. ChildLine is there for children and young people whenever they need them.
"By buying our calendar you will be helping ChildLine continue to answer calls from children and young people who need someone to talk to. Talking to ChildLine can help make things better."
Each calendar features 12 brand new photos of Ant and Dec and costs £8.99, available exclusively at branches of Debenhams while stocks last.
Founder and President of ChildLine Esther Rantzen, on TV reality show ‘I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here', said: "I never thought I would be working with Ant and Dec in such exotic surroundings! I will certainly thank them for their wonderful support and the £40,000 we hope this exclusive calendar will raise. It will make a real difference to protecting children - enough to answer 10,000 children's calls to ChildLine.
"ChildLine's counsellors answer thousands of calls every year from youngsters who have nowhere else to turn. But ChildLine simply cannot afford to be there for them all. That's why we so desperately need your help, so these children no longer have to suffer in silence and the voice of every child can be heard."
To find your nearest Debenhams store log on to www.debenhams.co.uk/stores. To support the Child's Voice Appeal log on to http://www.childsvoiceappeal.org.uk/
Notes to editors:
1. Ant and Dec, and Esther Rantzen, are not available for interview.
2. The Child's Voice Appeal, which launched on 22 September 2008, aims to raise £50m so that the NSPCC's vital helplines can answer many more cries for help. The funds will mean that ChildLine's volunteers can counsel 500,000 more calls every year; children will be able to choose how they access ChildLine's help - by phone, online or by text; the NSPCC Helpline can grow by over 60% to counsel 18,000 more adults a year who have concerns about a child; and counsellors can provide personalised help by email to nearly five times as many concerned adults.The government has pledged £30m over four years towards the expansion of ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline, but the NSPCC needs the support of the public to raise a further £50m through the Child's Voice Appeal, to make its vision a reality. Everyone can support the Child's Voice Appeal at www.childsvoiceappeal.org.uk
3. About Debenhams. Debenhams is a leading department stores group with a strong presence in key product categories, including womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, homeware and health and beauty. Debenhams has over 140 department stores in the UK and Republic Ireland and ten Desire by Debenhams stores, which are a new small store concept featuring a mix of womenswear, accessories, lingerie, cosmetics and childrenswear. Debenhams has a further 41 international franchise stores in 15 countries and an online store, www.debenhams.com, through which much of the Debenhams range is available. Debenhams is the second largest department store chain in the UK with Designers at Debenhams including Ted Baker, Jasper Conran, Theo Fennell, Frost French, Betty Jackson, Ben de Lisi, Julien Macdonald, Pearce Fionda, John Rocha and Matthew Williamson.