Right it's gone too far now. Just stop, Michael Ball.

[PineappleDanish]

The old boy doing laps of his garden and raising millions for the NHS charities - great effort and to be applauded.

Michael Ball warbling his way through a cringeworthy version of You'll Never Walk Alone - not fine.

Please make it stop.

The money is going to charities that work with the NHS, not to the general NHS budget

I do agree with this and think some reporting has been irresponsible. The money isn't going to pay nurses' salaries or buy ventilators. We have a charity attached to the local NHS children's hospital and they fund medical research, pay artists to paint murals on the walls, fund playworkers and entertainment, fund cinema equipment for wards - that sort of thing. Things which make life a bit easier for kids in hospital but which aren't core NHS services.

I would rather the money went into the NHS budget. It should be funded prop but cash is needed now
As I understand it the text £5 when clapping for the NHS went directly to your local NHS trust
Tom is a great guy but I fear he has misdirected funds into NHS charities and not NHS budgets

I agree that it should stop now. He has done a wonderful thing, but he is a frail old man who needs to slow down and rest. This media frenzy is inappropriate and a bit disturbing.

The most potent thing Tom said was that he likes people. Sonething I'm not sure a lot on mn do. If hes happy about the duet fine. Yes people will exploit it for their own ends but hes happy to be doing it and that's all that counts. He s an adult with full mental capabilities so when and if it gets too much I'm sure he will step back

I agree about the need to fund some different charities. Perhaps mental health or bereavement charities?

I know the NHS is under funded and has been for countless decades BUT the Gov has said that during this crisis the NHS gets 'whatever it takes' (ie a blank cheque). Whether we believe that or not is another thread.

I don't therefore understand the raise money for the NHS thing. NHS is not a charity. It's a dangerous way of thinking.

@Ghostlyglow oh god the poems! 🤣 I’ve nearly unfollowed a couple of dear friends who’ve written ‘witty’ stanzas on topics such as the trials and tribulations of a mission to Morrison’s. 🙈

Also agree that the constant attention and exposure must be hugely draining on a man who is days off his 100th birthday.

I think it is lovely and I was a bir emosh this morning watching it Michael loves a belt out he is the best man for the job

Why on earth should the guard of honour make anyone feel uncomfortable? As a decorated war veteran so close to his 100th birthday, I dare say he really appreciated it.

Seems to me that some people are never happy unless they’ve got something to feel ‘uncomfortable’ about.

Having said that, I agree that Cliff Richard muscling in would make me want to 🤮 too. As for the others, presumably many celebs simply can’t help it - if there’s any limelight going, they just have to be in on the act.

Has he ??

Jesus Christ 😂😂😂

I prefer the singing to the clapping which is ott.

🤣🤣🤣
I know the thought crossed my mind too! Was played on the radio yesterday.
Apparently we are now also clapping ( or is it singing happy birthday?) for both him and the queen.

He has done an amazing job, be really interesting to know what the money raised is spent on, equipment, drug trials, under funded services like mental health provision? I hope we all get to know.

Cliff's been singing, from his bathroom, with Gary Barlow on GB's Instagram. So he's definitely out there somewhere, maybe he's waiting for 'just the right moment.'
Yes I had the misfortune of seeing that cringe-fest!

Well I for one am fed up of all the celebrities trying to muscle in on the pandemic, if they are actually genuinely trying to raise money then fine but so many of them just love the attention!

Tom who? (Jones?). I'm so out of touch

@BiggerBoat1 the NHS charity is different. It spends money on patient amenities (so our charity is doing things like providing iPads and upgrading to high speed internet whilst no visiting) and crucially now going to invest in staff amenities such as staff counselling services. There’s plenty of other things that NHS wouldn’t fund that would substantially improve patient experience.

@OhYeahLucky, that’s kind of the point of being a celebrity though - attention. Without it, they’d just be like the rest of us 🤣

I'm pretty certain his daughter is keeping tabs on how much her dad can cope with.And Captain Tom is no fool,or attention seeker,just plain and simple wanted to raise some money for the charity that is separate from NHS funding and will provide a huge amount of extra rest and well being facilities now.That's been clearly explained.I think the guard of honour will have absolutely thrilled him,that means so much to ex servicemen And if he enjoys chatting to or singing with Michael Ball so what ?Switch it off if it annoys you.

Did you know musical theatre star Michael Ball has twice the amount of blood in his body as that of a normal man? Absolutely true. It's what allows him to belt out those big notes on stage.

The news reader was trying his hardest not to piss himself laughing when MB was warbling

I think the clue is in the name NATIONAL health service. A service paid for by tax payers to provide health care free at the point of access.

What the connection to this and an old person walking, the so called blitz spirit, calls for hundreds of birthday cards, a fly past , a knighthood, Michael Ball, pictures of his fallen comrades and so on? Maudling, greetings card mentality.

The clapping like performing seals at a pre designated time, equally cringey.

Just to clarify? We stand on our doorsteps every Thursday with a group of strangers who up until 3 months ago wouldn't even nod or say hello and we clap for Boris, the NHS, Tom, chidren and anybody else?

Can we also mention all the Facebook round robins? Grrh. You politely like someone's photo or wish them happy birthday and you get a return message asking you to post something in return. In one case it was a request I can't describe in detail but it came 'with my special thanks if it has a feminist, BAME, trans-, or bi-' connection.

I've had three in short succession and they would take me ages to fulfil. So I'm ignoring them.

I can see nothing wrong with celebs trying to cheer us all up and a lot of them have given to good causes. Nothing different to Vera Lynn et al entertaining during the war, except in this situation it has to be done on line or TV. I am loving the Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals every Friday. But I suppose some think he is jumping on the band wagon. If you don't agree with someone or some event just ignore and don't moan. We all need to be positive to get through this without losing our sanity.

Oh I know Op, it’s a great cause and Tom is fab and inspirational and yes I donated but BBC are really stringing it out. Cringe.