To promote Mental Health Awareness Week

Stephen Fry and Ruby Wax are to become Channel 4  continuity announcers to mark Mental Health Awareness Week from Monday.

Others introducing shows include former spin-doctor Alastair Campbell and ex-football manager Alan Pardew and and former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle. 

They will tell their personal stories or outline their support for the cause. Other celebrities will make special recordings to air on Channel 4 include Olympic superstar Dame Kelly Holmes, TV presenter Matt Johnson, and  singer Olly Alexander.

Fry, who is president of mental health charity  Mind will tell viewers: ‘As someone with bipolar disorder who has suffered especially from the shame and the silence and the lack of communication that my own unwillingness to come forward about my own condition led to, I know how important it is to talk.’

Channel 4’s chief marketing officer Dan Brooke said: "Mental health impacts so many people's lives, far more than we are prepared to admit, so it's essential that we surface this iceberg of a taboo and talk about it in plain view."

Mind’s chief executive officer Paul Farmer said: ‘Mind’s own research has shown that when celebrities speak out about their mental health in the media it can play an important role in inspiring people to start a conversation and can encourage them to seek help.’

Published: 5 May 2017