Coronavirus: Lunch with Dame Joan Collins and drinks with Jools Holland on offer in auction for NHS

Lunch with Dame Joan Collins and drinks with Jools Holland are among the prizes going under the hammer at an auction to benefit the NHS.

British auction house Bonhams is conducting a not-for-profit digital auction with pledges from some of the country's leading actors, musicians and artists.

Money raised from the event will go towards the NHS Charities Covid-19 Urgent Appeal, organisers said.

Funds will go towards wellbeing packs for staff and volunteers, including food deliveries, as well as cost of travel, parking and accommodation.

Among the prizes up for grabs include lunch at Claridge's with Dame Joan, her husband Percy Gibson and actor Christopher Biggins.

Elsewhere, Holland will invite one lucky fan for drinks behind the scenes at one of his shows, while artworks by Anish Kapoor, Julian Opie, and The Connor Brothers are also up for grabs, as is a visit to Grayson Perry's studio.

Jeremy Paxman is also inviting two families to have a round of University Challenge, and there is the “ultimate” Call The Midwife experience on offer.

Up to four people will visit the set of the popular BBC period drama and go through hair and make-up before playing a walk-on role in the show. This will be followed by lunch or tea with the cast.

Patrick Masson, Bonhams managing director for the UK and Europe, said: “The NHS staff and volunteers are heroes to us all.

”We at Bonhams are honoured to host this initiative and to donate the skills we have at our auction house to support those who are working so hard for us on the front line.“

Ellie Orton, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, added: ”As the nation adjusts to life in lockdown, the commitment of NHS staff and volunteers shouldn't be far from our minds.

“These are the people who leave their homes to care for others and work tirelessly in the face of the virus when they're needed most. It's easy to feel powerless in these challenging times but this campaign is a way we can make a difference, to look after these heroes so they can give the best care possible in these unprecedented circumstances.“

The auction will be hosted at bonhams.com and run for three weeks from 9am on 8 April until 29 April. More information is available at bonhams.com/theblueauction.

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