Ladbaby and Martin Lewis are hoping to raise funds amid the cost of living crisis (Picture: PA)
Surprise! LadBaby have a Christmas tune for us once again – and it features one very special Money Saving Expert.
The chart-topping social media stars and charity campaigners – aka Mark and Roxanne Hoyle – are set to make history by becoming the first ever act to be allowed to rework the iconic Band Aid song Do They Know it’s Christmas.
‘Food Aid’, released on 16th December, will feature Martin Lewis plus a variety of yet-to-be-announced musical collaborators.
As the cost of living crisis spirals, LadBaby and Martin are aiming to raise as much money as possible to help tackle hunger and poverty.
All profits from the song will be donated towards the fight against hunger and poverty, with 50% will go to the Trussell Trust and 50% to be donated to the Band Aid Trust.
The track was rewritten with kind permission from Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and the Band Aid Trust.
The chart-topping duo are back and raising more money for the Trussell Trust (Picture: PA)
To rework the track, Mark and Roxanne teamed up with Grammy winner Amy Wadge, one of the UK’s most prolific contemporary songwriters, known for her long established writing partnership with Ed Sheeran and this year’s UK Eurovision entry, to rewrite the festive song with a touch of the tongue-in- cheek humour that LadBaby are renowned for.
Mark and Roxanne said: ‘We never intended to release a fifth Christmas single, but as ambassadors of the Trussell Trust we were not prepared to sit back and do nothing in a year when people are struggling more than ever.’
The Trussell Trust, which supports more than 1,300 food bank centres, has told said that the cost of living emergency has created a ‘tsunami of need’, as people struggle to survive amidst soaring costs.
Mark and Roxanne Hoyle enlisted the Money Saving Expert to tackle the poverty crisis (Picture: PA)
With need outstripping donations for the first time in its history, their aim is to ensure that food banks keep going this winter.
On joining the record-breaking duo, Martin said: ‘When Mark and Roxanne contacted me out-of-the-blue to ask if I’d join them in Food Aid, I thought they’d confused me with someone else.’
‘The nearest I’ve ever got to thinking about a Christmas number one is going to the loo on Boxing Day after too much orange juice the day before,’ he joked.
‘Yet once I knew they were serious, and it was for the Trussell Trust, a hugely important charity I’ve a history with, I decided to give it a go, and do it with gusto.’
The expert added that 2022 has been ‘a tough year for many’ due to how ‘prices have rocketed.’
Martin was thrilled to be involved (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
‘Advice charities and food banks are swamped,’ he stated.
‘Deficit budgeting is becoming more common – meaning even after everything has been cut to the bone – people still have less income than expenditure.
‘It’s going to be a tough winter, and things aren’t likely to ease much in 2023.’
Martin continued to encourage people to offer their support where possible.
‘Hopefully this LadBaby song and their lyrics will raise some cash and awareness.’
Emma Revie, CEO of the Trussell Trust said they are ‘so grateful’ for LadBaby’s work, stating that between April and September this year, food banks in the Trussell Trust network provided 1.3million emergency food parcels to people facing hardship.
‘Soaring food and fuel costs are affecting us all, but for families on the very lowest incomes this crisis means so much more and more people are likely to need a food bank’s help,’ Emma stated.
‘Food bank teams are working tirelessly to ensure help continues to be available. But ultimately, no one in the UK should need a food bank – all of us should have enough money for the essentials like food, clothing and heating.’
She said the support of the Band Aid trust will help them provide ‘the lifeline of emergency support for local people in crisis’ while they work in the long term to end the need for food banks ‘for good.’
The Hoyles are keen to use their social media platforms of over 13million followers for good, especially when so many families across the nation are struggling.
Mark and Roxanne will support the Trussell Trust with both fundraising and awareness campaigns, as well as their song.
Through their Christmas chart-topping endeavours where they’ve donated 100% of the songs profits and branded partnerships, the couple have already raised over £1.2million for the Trussell Trust through their charity singles and brand partnerships.
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But, as the cost of living crisis gets worse, they are committed to do even more to help.
Having surpassed the Beatles and the Spice Girls as the act with the most consecutive Christmas number ones in a row, the duo first topped the chart in 2018 with We Built This City, a cover of Starship’s 1985 hit; followed by I Love Sausage Rolls, their take on The Arrows/Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.
They followed that with Don’t Stop Me Eatin’, a cheeky version of Journey’s beloved power ballad, before Sausage Rolls For Everyone in 2021, the duo’s collaboration with Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John.
Food Aid is available to pre-order now.
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They want to tackle hunger and poverty.
