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More famous faces back The Big Issue's urgent appeal

With vendors off the streets during lockdown, we’re asking people to support them by subscribing - with backing from these big names

by: Stephanie Wood
14 May 2020
Aisling Bea

More big name stars have backed The Big Issue’s appeal urging people to subscribe to the magazine during lockdown.

When coronavirus hit, our vendors were left unable to sell the magazine – effectively losing their income. In a bid to continue to help the homeless during this time, we’re asking people to support The Big Issue by taking out a subscription, downloading our app or making a one-off contribution.

And actors including Sir Ian McKellen, Simon Pegg and Aisling Bea (pictured top) are amongst the growing list of famous faces to have thrown their support behind the vital cause.

Writing on Twitter, Lord of the Rings and X-Men star McKellen said: “During the lockdown, street vendors of The Big Issue have been devastated. For many of them, their only source of income has vanished.

“Until they are once again a reassuring sight as we walk our city streets, please do what you can to support them.”

Pegg – best know for cult TV series Spaced and films including Shaun of the Dead – echoed Sir Ian’s sentiments, calling vendor’s inability to sell the magazine due to the Covid-19 lockdown “a devastating blow” and urging his six million followers to subscribe.

Meanwhile, Goodness Gracious Me star Sanjeev Bhaskar paid tribute to Big Issue vendors everywhere as he revealed he has already subscribed to our “excellent” magazine.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

He posted on Twitter: “Huge respect to the vendors of @BigIssue now obviously not able to vend to us.  I’ve subscribed to the magazine, which is excellent, please consider doing something similar if you can.”

Robin Ince, co-host of BBC Radio 4’s The Infinate Monkey Cage with Brian Cox, is also a subscriber – and comically described how the arrival of a recent issue gave him “something of a quiver of fear.” In a short video shared on Twitter, the comedian revealed: “I used to tour with [recent cover star] Ricky Gervais and he made the most terrible screaming seagull-like sound every time he saw me … So as this landed on the mat I could almost hear it squawking.” MORE: Find out how to subscribe to The Big Issue yourself here After telling his followers why he loves our “incredible” magazine, he finished: “Please subscribe to The Big Issue or I will appear in your nightmares making the Ricky Gervais noise ‘aghhhhh’ over and over again.” https://twitter.com/robinince/status/1260524935472128001 Author and the official poet of London 2012 Lemn Sissay also showed his support. He told his Twitter followers, “sometimes we buy it, sometimes we don’t, sometimes we’re in it, sometimes we’re not,” but nevertheless urging: “We can serve them [vendors] now at this time of need.”

Over on Instagram, Irish comedian and actress Aisling Bea also revealed she has subscribed to the mag and urged others to do the same, writing: “If you’re looking for something to do where you get a nice thing in return, may I recommend getting a subscription to @bigissueuk?”

She added: “It is a wonderful way to support homelessness and their journalists and articles are wonderful and cover so many things. It’s good, ethical & responsible journalism.”

Bea – who stars alongside Paul Rudd in Netflix comedy Living with Yourself – also revealed a personal connection to the latest issue of the magazine, writing: “This week’s Big Issue has my brilliant friend @kiri_pritchard_mclean as one if its cover stars – she set up The Covid Arms comedy gig which I did a couple of weeks ago.”

These are just the latest in a long list of famous names to support The Big Issue and our vendors during these critical times. Wildlife campaigner Chris Packham, Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien, singer Craig David and The Body Coach Joe Wicks have also backed our subscriptions campaign.

Of course, you don’t need to be a celebrity to get involved. For the foreseeable future, you can support us and vendors in the following ways:

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
As ever, 50% of net proceeds will go directly to our vendors to support them during these critical times.
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

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