Text Santa 2013

ITV's annual charity Text Santa has raised £4,187,686 in an evening of fundraising for Age UK, Barnardo's, BeatBullying, British Heart Foundation, CLIC Sargent and Help the Hospices.

Watch: Cheryl Cole stars in Coronation Street Text Santa special

There is still time to donate. Call 0300 200 8000 or click here.

After weeks of build up ITV's annual fundraising extravaganza Text Santa is here.

A bit later on tonight, Ant and Dec will open the show that will help raise money for six charities that do so much good work here in the UK.

There are plenty of surprises and one off performances planned - but we got a sneak peek.

Text Santa is on ITV from 8pm tonight

TV's Christmas charity appeal Text Santa aims to raise both money - and awareness - for six charities working to improve people's lives here in the UK.

The charities are Age UK, Barnardo's, British Heart Foundation, CLIC Sargent, Help the Hospices and BeatBullying.

In the final part of our series, Tom Sheldrick reports on the support given by Barnardo's to young carers in the Caerphilly area.

One hundred per cent of donations made by viewers are evenly distributed to ITV's chosen charities within three months of each televised appeal.

All Text Santa operating costs including staffing and the programme itself are funded directly by ITV as part of our corporate giving, and not from our corporate partners or your contributions.

ITV's Christmas charity appeal Text Santa aims to raise both money - and awareness - for six charities working to improve people's lives here in the UK.

The charities are Age UK, Barnardo's, British Heart Foundation, CLIC Sargent, Help the Hospices and BeatBullying.

In the third part of our Text Santa series this week, Tom Sheldrick reports from Swansea on how Age UK helps older people who live on their own.

One hundred per cent of donations made by viewers are evenly distributed to ITV's chosen charities within three months of each televised appeal.

All Text Santa operating costs including staffing and the programme itself are funded directly by ITV as part of our corporate giving, and not from our corporate partners or your contributions.

ITV's Christmas charity appeal Text Santa aims to raise both money - and awareness - for six charities working to improve people's lives here in the UK.

The charities are Age UK, Barnardo's, British Heart Foundation, CLIC Sargent, Help the Hospices and BeatBullying.

As part of our Text Santa series this week, Tom Sheldrick looks at Help the Hospices and the support offered to patients at a hospice in Llandudno.

100 per cent of donations made by viewers are evenly distributed to ITV's chosen charities within three months of each televised appeal.

All Text Santa operating costs including staffing and the programme itself are funded directly by ITV as part of our corporate giving, and not from our corporate partners or your contributions.

It may be nine days to go until Christmas, but you have to wait just four days until the festive fundraising extravaganza that is Text Santa. On Friday night there'll be a whole host of ITV faces, celebs, special guests and performances - which is not to be missed.

It's all for a very good cause - or actually six very good causes. The Text Santa Appeal is raising money - and awareness - to help six charities here in the UK. They are Age UK, Barnardo's, British Heart Foundation, CLIC Sargent, Help the Hospices and BeatBullying.

In the first of a series of reports this week, Tom Sheldrick looks at what BeatBullying means to one young man from the Rhondda.

Today saw the Text Santa 'Big Bag Pack' across the UK.

ITV News' Ruth Wignall and James Wright joined shoppers in Cardiff to help pack their bags.

Click here to visit the Text Santa website for more details

Love them or hate them - at this time of year there's no getting away from Christmas songs. This year, two of the most famous ones turn 40 years old - and one of them has an extra-special significance this Christmas.

It's being re-released as part of ITV's Text Santa - a campaign that's helping to raise money for six charities in the UK. Andy Bevan reports.