ITV1 has announced plans to raise money for nine charities in a new series of Christmas season TV shows.

Children’s hospital charities are well represented among the nine charities supported by ‘Text Santa’, which comprise: Noah’s Ark Appeal, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, Yorkhill Children’s Foundation, Helping Hand, Carers UK, Help the Hospices, Samaritans, Crisis and WRVS. 

The charities were selected by an advisory panel from a list provided by the Charities Aid Foundation. 

Two TV events will be held as part of the ‘Text Santa’ campaign, which will feature celebrities from the world of music and television, in its first Christmas season fundraising push. While dates for the TV shows are yet to be announced, ITV1 says that the first show will be in early December while the second live event will be scheduled for “the heart of the festive season”.

As such, the event will follow not too long after the BBC's Children in Need event, scheduled for November 18. 

The campaign will be promoted by a major television advertising campaign, will be featured in-store at Asda supermarkets and has also attracted support from Heart radio station.

Supporters will be asked to give to the Text Santa charities by text donation, but also by more traditional means, such as bank counter donations and call centres.

Peter Fincham, ITV director of television, said: "This is a superb opportunity for us to throw the weight of the UK's biggest commercial  broadcaster behind a brand new charity initiative and event."