Text Santa

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Text Santa.svg

| image_size = 200

| caption =

| runtime =

| creator =

| director =

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| presenter = Holly Willoughby
Phillip Schofield
Declan Donnelly
Michelle Visage
Ant McPartlin
Christine Lampard
Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
Brian Dowling
Caroline Flack
Olly Murs

| opentheme = "Text Santa" theme by A-MNEMONIC Music

| network = ITV

| first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|2011|12|11}}

| last_aired = {{End date|df=y|2015|12|25}}

| num_series =

| num_episodes =

| composer = Jonny Vere

| location = The London Studios

| company = ITV Studios

| related = From the Heart,
ITV Telethon

}}

Text Santa was a charity initiative set up in 2011 by ITV to support UK-based charities during the Christmas period. The appeal to the public is to donate money mainly via text donation and profits from merchandise. The telethons have been hosted by popular ITV presenters including Phillip Schofield, Christine Bleakley, and Ant & Dec. The 2015 appeal show was the last after ITV decided to axe the show to make way for an all-year appeal.{{cite web|url=http://www.fundraising.co.uk/news/2011/09/22/nine-charities-benefit-itv1039s-text-santa-campaign|title=Nine charities to benefit from ITV1's Text Santa campaign|work=UK Fundraising|access-date=23 February 2015|date=22 September 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fundraising.co.uk/news/2011/11/17/justtextgiving-power-itv039s-text-santa-campaign|title=JustTextGiving to power ITV's Text Santa campaign|work=UK Fundraising|access-date=23 February 2015|date=17 November 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a434392/paddy-mcguinness-joins-ant--dec-schofield-for-second-text-santa.html|title=Paddy McGuinness joins Ant, Dec and Schofield for second 'Text Santa'|work=Digital Spy|access-date=23 February 2015|date=6 November 2012}}

Music

The Text Santa 2015 appeal theme music was created by London-based music production company A-MNEMONIC Music [http://www.a-mnemonic.com Official Website]. In previous years, the theme music that was used was created by British composer Leigh Haggerwood of The Florin Street Band, who re-worked his Christmas song "My Favourite Time of Year" especially for the appeal, creating theme and background music along with various other original compositions. The song – with its sweeping string melodies and critically acclaimed Victorian-themed music video has gained worldwide popularity and was recently performed by the United States Army Band in Washington D.C. Leigh Haggerwood is proud of the songs association with the Text Santa campaign and has pledged to support it each year. "My Favourite Time of Year" was not used for the 2015 appeal.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H10f2w7T5CU|title=(New Christmas Songs) My Favourite Time of Year - The Florin Street Band|last=florinstreet|date=12 November 2010|via=YouTube}}

=Official single=

In 2013, the cast of The Big Reunion released a cover of "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday", with all proceeds going to the Text Santa charities. The single peaked at 21 in the UK singles charts.

Branding

At launch in 2011, Text Santa was promoted with a group of eight mascots named "Santa's Little Helpers". The package was a collaboration between Lambie-Nairn and famed animation studio Aardman Animations.{{Cite web |last=Arrant |first=Chris |date=November 29, 2011 |title=Aardman Animates ITV1’s Text Santa’s Promo Campaign |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/aardman-animates-itv1%E2%80%99s-text-santa%E2%80%99s-promo-campaign-53267.html |website=Cartoon Brew}}

Charities

All of the money raised gets split between the charities supported by the appeal. In 2011, there were nine chosen charities, in 2012, 2013 and 2014, there were six and in 2015, there were three.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:96%;"
20112012201320142015
colspan=4|Age UKMacmillan Cancer Support
CrisisAnthony NolanBeatBullyingThe Guide Dogs for the Blind AssociationMake-A-Wish Foundation
colspan=2|Carers UKSave the ChildrenCarers UKSave the Children
SamaritansMarie Curie Cancer CareBritish Heart FoundationTeenage Cancer Trustrowspan=6 {{n/a}}
WRVSTogether for Short LivesCLIC SargentTogether for Short Lives
Great Ormond Street HospitalWhizz-KidzHelp the HospicesWellChild
The Noah's Ark Appealrowspan=3 {{n/a}}rowspan=3 {{n/a}}rowspan=3 {{n/a}}
Helping Hand
Yorkhill Children's Foundation

Overview

= Presenters =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
scope="col" | No.

! scope="col" | Broadcast date

! scope="col" | Total raised

! scope="col" | Presenters

! scope="col" | ITV rating (millions)

scope="row" | 1

| 11 December 2011 (launch show)
24 December 2011 (main show)

| £4,200,000

| Phillip Schofield (launch show)
Christine Lampard (launch show)
Anthony McPartlin
Declan Donnelly
Holly Willoughby

| 3.79 (launch show)
3.87

scope="row" | 2

| {{nowrap|21 December 2012}}

| £5,500,000

| rowspan=2|Phillip Schofield
Christine Lampard
Anthony McPartlin
Declan Donnelly
Holly Willoughby
Paddy McGuinness

| 4.82

scope="row" | 3

| {{nowrap|20 December 2013}}

| £5,100,000

| 4.41

scope="row" | 4

| {{nowrap|19 December 2014}}

| £6,200,000

| Phillip Schofield
Christine Lampard
Anthony McPartlin
Declan Donnelly
Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon

| 3.86

scope="row" | 5

| {{nowrap|18 December 2015}}

| £11,000,000

| Phillip Schofield
Christine Lampard
Holly Willoughby
Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
Stephen Mulhern
Amanda Holden
Caroline Flack
Olly Murs

| 3.23

2011 appeal

The 2011 appeal aired in two parts. The launch show aired on 11 December 2011 and was hosted by Phillip Schofield and Christine Lampard. The main show aired on Christmas Eve (24 December 2011) with Ant & Dec and Holly Willoughby as presenters.

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;"
ShowDateTimeslotsPresenters
style="width:100px;"|Launch showstyle="width:205px;"|11 December 2011style="width:75px;"|21:30–22:35Phillip Schofield
Christine Lampard
rowspan=2|Main showrowspan=2|24 December 201119:30–21:00Ant & Dec
21:00–22:00Holly Willoughby

;Events

  • On 27 November 2011, at The Kia Oval Cricket Ground, thousands of people attempted a Guinness World Record for the largest Santa gathering. entertained the participants. However, not enough people turned out for the record attempt of 13,200 Santas.

2012 appeal

The 2012 telethon aired live on 21 December 2012. The first hour of the telethon was hosted by Ant & Dec, the second by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby and the third by Christine Lampard and Paddy McGuinness, all from The London Studios.

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;"
ShowDateTimeslotsPresenters
style="width:150px;"|Text Santa Starts Here!
(launch show)
rowspan=5|21-22 December 2012style="width:75px;"|18:55–19:00rowspan=2|Ant & Dec
rowspan=3|Main show20:00–21:00
21:00–22:00Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
22:00–23:00Paddy McGuinness
Christine Lampard
Text Santa:
One More Time

(highlights show)
00:00–01:15Ant & Dec
Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
Paddy McGuinness
Christine Lampard

;Within other shows

;Events

  • On 2 December 2012, around 8,500 people took part in a 'Santa Dash' in Liverpool, attempting a Guinness World Record for the largest Santa gathering whilst raising money for Text Santa, however, they didn't break the record of 13,200 santas.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2012-12-02/thousands-turn-out-for-liverpool-santa-dash/|title=Thousands turn out for Liverpool Santa dash|work=ITV News|access-date=23 February 2015}}
  • On 6 December 2012, the Biggest Bag Pack Ever took place in 200 Asda stores nationwide, celebrities including Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford helped out in the Watford branch.
  • eBay auctions took place to raise money for Text Santa, items sold included This Morning's sofa which sold for £1,200 and a tour of the Daybreak studios in London which sold for £510.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2012-12-19/text-santa-bidding-for-tv-history/|title=Text Santa: Bidding for TV history|work=ITV News}}

2013 appeal

The 2013 telethon aired live on 20 December 2013. The first hour of the telethon was hosted by Ant & Dec, the second by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and the third and final hour by Christine Bleakley and Paddy McGuinness, all broadcast live from The London Studios.

Morrisons, Santander and Vodafone were Text Santa's official partners for the 2013 appeal.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a492736/text-santa-will-return-to-itv-for-third-series.html|title='Text Santa' will return to ITV for third series|work=Digital Spy|date=24 June 2013}}

An official charity single by the cast of The Big Reunion, performing a cover of "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" was released in December 2013 to raise money for Text Santa.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a525701/itv2s-the-big-reunion-cast-record-christmas-charity-single.html|title=ITV2's 'The Big Reunion' cast record Christmas charity single|work=Digital Spy|date=23 October 2013}}

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;"
ShowDateTimeslotsPresenters
style="width:150px;"|Text Santa Starts Here!
(launch show)
rowspan=5|20-21 December 2013style="width:75px;"|18:55–19:00rowspan=2|Ant & Dec
rowspan=3|Main show20:00–21:00
21:00–22:00Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
22:00–23:05Paddy McGuinness
Christine Bleakley
Highlights show23:50–01:05Ant & Dec
Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
Paddy McGuinness
Christine Bleakley

;Within other shows

;Events

  • On 5 December 2013, Text Santa broke the Guinness World Record for the largest number of pantomime horses in a race over 100 metres.
  • eBay auctions took place to raise money for Text Santa, items sold included Phillip Schofield's face made of chocolate.

2014 appeal

In May 2014, it was announced that Text Santa would return for a fourth year in December 2014. The telethon aired live on 19 December 2014, a couple of weeks after the launch show, hosted by Phillip Schofield.

The presenting line-up changed slightly. With Holly Willoughby off on maternity leave, Alesha Dixon joined Paddy McGuinness for a segment of the show, while Phillip Schofield was reunited with his former Dancing on Ice co-host Christine Bleakley. Ant & Dec returned to the show as well.

On 19 December, the first part of Text Santa was hosted by Ant & Dec, the second by Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley, and the remainder of the show by Paddy McGuinness and Alesha Dixon. It was broadcast from The London Studios.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a599248/alesha-dixon-joins-this-years-text-santa-as-a-presenter.html|title=Alesha Dixon joins this year's Text Santa as a presenter|work=Digital Spy|date=25 September 2014}}

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;"
ShowDateTimeslotsPresenters
rowspan=2|Phillip's Live 24-Hour TV Marathon
(launch show)
1 December 2014style="width:75px;"|11:00–23:59rowspan=2|Phillip Schofield
2 December 201400:00–11:00
rowspan=3|Main showrowspan=4|19-20 December 201420:00–21:20Michelle Visage
Ant & Dec
21:20–22:15Phillip Schofield
Christine Bleakley
22:15–23:20Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
Highlights show00:05–01:25Ant & Dec
Phillip Schofield
Christine Bleakley
Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon

;Within other shows

;Events

;Phillip's Live 24-Hour TV Marathon

Phillip Schofield presented a live 24-hour long programme on ITV3 for Text Santa. It was broadcast on 1 December through to 2 December 2014 and recorded in Studio 3 at The London Studios.

[http://www.justgiving.com/textsanta-phillipschofield Phillip's JustGiving page] has raised £101,924 for the Text Santa charities.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a605366/phillip-schofield-to-attempt-24-hour-tv-broadcast-for-text-santa.html#~oTwPnazc4256kM|title=Phillip Schofield to attempt 24-hour TV broadcast for Text Santa|last=Eames|first=Tom|work=Digital Spy|access-date=23 October 2014|date=23 October 2014}}

He also abseiled the tower at The London Studios for Text Santa.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a613633/phillip-schofield-abseils-down-itv-tower-for-text-santa-challenge.html#~oXdEGpA6C0Y2Pz|title=Phillip Schofield abseils down ITV Tower for Text Santa challenge|work=Digital Spy|date=December 2014}}

The 24-hour show was nominated for a 2015 Broadcast Digital Award in the category of "Best Sports or Live Event Coverage".{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastdigitalawards.co.uk/shortlist|title=Shortlist - Broadcast Digital Awards}}

;Running order

1 December 2014

2 December 2014

2015 appeal

Text Santa returned to ITV on 18 December 2015, with a new line-up with Stephen Mulhern, Amanda Holden, Caroline Flack and Olly Murs joining the presenting team.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a777723/itvs-text-santa-2015-total-is-a-record-83-million/|title=ITV's Text Santa 2015 total is a record £8.3 million|website=Digital Spy |date=18 December 2015}}

Phillip Schofield, Christine Bleakley, Holly Willoughby, Alesha Dixon and Paddy McGuinness all returned this year. Ant & Dec didn't return to host Text Santa in 2015. The 2015 show was the last ever after Text Santa's cancellation in 2016.

Appeal videos were hosted by Ant & Dec, Bradley Walsh, Julie Walters, Martin Clunes and Myleene Klass.

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;"
ShowDateTimeslotsPresenters
Pip Knit
(launch show)
1 December 201506:00–22:30Phillip Schofield{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2015/12/01/phillip-schofield-is-appearing-on-every-itv-show-today-in-the-pipknit-challenge-for-text-santa-have-you-spotted-him-5536731/|title=Phillip Schofield appears on every ITV show today in #PipKnit Text Santa challenge|last=Baillie|first=Katie|date=1 December 2015|work=Metro|publisher=DMG Media|access-date=9 August 2018}}
rowspan=9|Main showrowspan=9|18 December 201520:00–20:30Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
20:30–20:50Caroline Flack
Olly Murs
20:50–21:20Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
21:20–21:35Amanda Holden
21:35–21:50Stephen Mulhern
21:50–22:20Christine Bleakley
Phillip Schofield
22:20–22:40Amanda Holden
Alesha Dixon
22:40–22:55Christine Bleakley
Phillip Schofield
22:55–23:05rowspan=2|Paddy McGuinness
Alesha Dixon
Text Santa 2015 – The Best Bits
(Highlights show)
18–19 December 201523:55–01:10
Text Santa Update25 December 201513:35–14:45Holly Willoughby

;Within other shows

;Events

References