Phillip Schofield is to climb up The Shard for ‘Text Santa’.
The 52-year-old presenter has agreed to make his way to the top of the 87-storey London skyscraper – which is 309 metres (1,014 ft) high – to raise money for ITV’s annual charity appeal.
Phillip announced the challenge on the midday ‘ITV News & Weather’ show during his 24-hour non-stop television broadcast today (01.12.14) for the charity.
During his appearance, he said: "I’ll tell you something that we haven’t told anybody else yet, this is an exclusive because you have to have an exclusive on the news. I have agreed – and it’s a bit of a personal challenge for me – I am going to to climb to the very top of The Shard. I’m not going to do that today, we’re going to do that in a few days time and that’s for the 19th (December). That will put me 16 feet into civil airspace and barring an aeroplane or (someone) on a mountain I’ll be the highest person in Europe."
Newsreader Steve Scott then asked Phillip if he was scared of heights, to which he replied: "I’m a little bit nervous, I’m not too bad, thankfully. It’s quite gruelling to get up there, so that’s the personal challenge, but what a view when you get to the top."
So far during his telethon, Phillip has hosted his usual show ‘This Morning’ with Amanda Holden, appeared on ‘Loose Women’ and the news and his exploits can be seen on ITV3 throughout the entire day as he is being followed every where he goes by cameras.
The star is looking forward to presenting the weather later and he is confident his toilet breaks will be super-speedy.
Phillip said: "There’s no break at any stage, I’m hoping we’ve got (toilet breaks) all discreetly organised and during a break I’m very quick, I’ll tell you that.
"There are all sorts of things planned, we’ve got guests coming through, we’re on ITV3 all the way through, they’re taking absolutely everything. After the evening news I’m going to do the weather then I’m doing the continuity throughout the night on ITV as well as the show on ITV3. It’s for six incredible charities, there’s a range chosen there so if you and your family feel it’s the time of the year to help."
‘Text Santa’ will air on December 19 on ITV at 8.00pm and Phillip will be joined by presenters Christine Bleakley, Ant & Dec, Paddy McGuinness and Alesha Dixon.
The six charities being supported by ‘Text Santa’ this year are Teenage Cancer Trust, Guide Dogs, WellChild, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Alzheimer’s Society and Together for Short Lives and 100 percent of all money donated goes directly to the charities and is divided evenly between them.
Phillip Schofield to climb The Shard for Text Santa
