Film

Luke Treadaway: Give a Christmas gift to Big Issue vendors

Luke Treadaway and James Bowen have urged everyone who enjoys A Christmas Gift From Bob to buy a Big Issue subscription

Luke Treadaway stars in A Christmas Gift from Bob

Luke Treadaway stars in A Christmas Gift from Bob Photo: Andreas Lambis

Luke Treadaway has called on his fans to rally round Big Issue vendors this Christmas by buying a subscription to the magazine. 

In Treadaway’s newest film, A Christmas Gift From Bob – the sequel to the smash hit movie A Street Cat Named Bob –  he plays real life Big Issue seller James Bowen, who shot to fame after writing a book about how his life was turned around by the titular ginger cat.

The actor said the experience of getting to know James gave him a much greater understanding of what it takes to be a vendor.

“I think it’s really good that you can still support the vendors by subscribing online to a weekly magazine,” he said. “That [money] still goes to the vendors, to helping these people. I think that’s something that everyone can do. At least for this month… and then just forget to cancel and carry on subscribing forever.”

Support The Big Issue and our vendors by signing up for a subscription

James Bowen echoed his on-screen alter ego.

“I agree with Luke,” he said. “Everybody should be getting a subscription, if they can’t buy from their local vendors, to help support The Big Issue.”

Due to coronavirus, all English vendors are currently unable to work and those in Scotland and Wales are struggling with empty streets and fewer customers. 

James said the weeks before Christmas were the most important to him when he was selling the magazine.

“The extra income from Christmas magazines is really important,” he added. “So it’s going to be really hard on the vendors. They can only get minimal support. I really, really wish there was some way that they could be able to keep going but it’s just not allowed.”

James and Luke’s call to action came as The Big Issue revealed a brand new interactive map that allows subscribers to directly support their local vendor.

When customers choose their preferred vendor on the map, 50 per cent of the net proceeds from the subscription will go to that person. 

A Christmas Gift from Bob is available to watch now.

Big Issue vendors need your help now more than ever. More than 1,000 vendors are out of work because of the second lockdown in England. They can’t sell the magazine and they can’t rely on the income they need.

The Big Issue is helping our vendors with supermarket vouchers and gift payments but we need your help to do that.

Please buy this week’s magazine from the online shop or take out a subscription to make sure we can continue to support our vendors over this difficult period. You can even link your subscription to your local vendor with our new online map.

Thank you all so much for your ongoing support.

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
Bill Nighy: 'Footballers are physical geniuses creating passages of great beauty. It's fascinating'
Homeless World Cup

Bill Nighy: 'Footballers are physical geniuses creating passages of great beauty. It's fascinating'

Cynthia Erivo on identity, migrant crisis and what she's learned playing Elphaba in Wicked
Film

Cynthia Erivo on identity, migrant crisis and what she's learned playing Elphaba in Wicked

The Beautiful Game: Meet the real-life footballers who inspired Netflix's Homeless World Cup film
Homeless World Cup

The Beautiful Game: Meet the real-life footballers who inspired Netflix's Homeless World Cup film

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire review – a heartfelt and 'nostalgia-tickling' sequel
Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Film

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire review – a heartfelt and 'nostalgia-tickling' sequel

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know