Declan Donnelly claps for carers in weekly salute to the NHS amid COVID-19 crisis

Declan Donnelly and wife Ali Astall joined Holly Willoughby, Tess Daly and Vernon Kay as a slew of stars took part in a nationwide applause in honour of the NHS, police and key workers during the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday night.  

Presenter Dec, 44, and Ali, 42, were seen outside their home as they joined millions across the nation at 8pm to applaud the heroes across the country who continue to place themselves in harm’s way to beat coronavirus.  

Joining the couple in the national event were stars including Holly Willoughby, the Beckhams, Tess Daly, Vernon Kay, Cheryl and Harry Redknapp and his wife Sandra.   

Dec cut a casual figure in skinny jeans, a black long-sleeved top and trainers as he proudly applauded carers on his doorstep.

Meanwhile Ali wore snakeskin gym pants which she teamed with a black zip-up top and T-shirt underneath as she joined her famous husband outside.  

Holly 39, shared a snap of her broken wooden spoon to Instagram which she captioned: ‘#clapforourcarers #nhs ❤️.’  

Strictly host Tess, 50, shared a snap of herself and husband Vernon, 45, wearing the Clap For Our Carers charity T-shirts. She penned: ‘THANK YOU NHS. While we are staying at home you are risking your lives for us on the frontline. We cannot thank you enough for your bravery hard work and kindness.

‘100% of proceeds from this charity T-Shirt by @kindred_social and #clapforourcarers go to NHS Charities Together @nhscharitiestogether. Tonight at 8 we will be putting our hands together and applauding this country’s finest #nhs #nhsheroes #stayhomestaysafe xx.’

Cheryl also shared a snap of herself wearing the charity NHS rainbow T-shirt to her Instagram grid as she sweetly revealed ‘Thursdays at 8pm is firmly becoming what I look forward to most each week’.  

David Beckham, who had been isolating in the Cotswolds with his family, appeared to be back in London as he shared a video of his street clapping. 

Harry Redknapp and his wife Sandra were seen clapping for the NHS outside their home in Sandbanks, Dorset.  

Katie Price, who is self-isolating with her eldest child Harvey, 17, who has a ‘high risk of dying’ if he catches coronavirus, also shared a video of the duo joining in. 

While her ex-husband Peter Andre, who is self-isolating with their two children – Junior, 14, and Princess, 12, and is married to doctor Emily, shared a video of them clapping.   

Chuckle Brother Paul, 72, who recently revealed he battled with a ‘mild’ form of coronavirus, also shared a video of himself clapping to Twitter. 

Queen rocker Brian May, 72, joined actress wife Anita Dobson on their doorstep to show their appreciation. 

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes also posted a video from their home as they banged pans together to show their appreciation.  

Myleene Klass shared a sweet video of herself and baby son Apollo, seven-months, outside as they joined in the cheering.

Amanda Holden revealed she had gone to West Middlesex University Hospital in London to lift the spirits of NHS workers and midwives. She shared a video of herself in the car park with frontline staff as she applauded them. 

Frankie Bridge and husband Wayne also joined in with their two sons Parker and Carter on their frontdoor step.  

The Clap For Carers campaign, which started online, has been staged because ‘during these unprecedented times they need to know we are grateful’, the organisers said.

For the fourth week in a row, NHS workers have been the recipients of the cheers and claps from the nation after the death toll among staff reached 45.

A No10 spokesman said: ‘Like millions of people across the country, the Prime Minister joined in the clap for carers this evening, to say thank you for the incredible efforts of the country’s doctors, nurses and care workers.’

Earlier this month the event, organised by the Clap For Our Carers campaign, was expanded to include all key workers, such as supermarket staff, the emergency services and teachers who are continuing to work.

Clap For Carers is part of the #lightitblue campaign which has been organised by members of the events and entertainment industry as a way to say thank you.

Piers Morgan, Chris Moyles and Kate Garraway were among the celebrity presenters who said they backed the event.

Clap For Our Carers T-shirts were unveiled earlier this month and benefit NHS charities during the COVID-19 crisis.

Mother-of-two Annemarie Plas, 36, from Streatham Hill, London, came up with the idea to applaud NHS workers and teamed up with British social enterprise Kindred to unveil the Clap For Our Carers T-shirt.  

The £20 top, available to buy via kindred.co, features a large rainbow on the front with the words ‘thank you’ underneath. It was designed by Kindred founder Aaron Simpson and his wife Leanne. 

One hundred per cent of the money will go towards NHS Charities Together, which supports frontline staff, emergency workers and carers. The aim is to raise £5million.

Also on Thursday, Captain Tom Moore, 99, was a rare piece of good news in a world full of fear at the pandemic which has claimed more than 130,000 lives globally.

The Second World War veteran completed his target of 100 laps in his garden at home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, on Thursday – a fortnight before his 100th birthday on April 30.  

Captain Tom has raised more than £14million for the NHS after people from 53 different countries donated to his cause. 

So far there has been 103,093 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 13,729 deaths in the UK alone.