Oh yes she is!

Alhambra panto star and Loose Women TV panellist Lynda Bellingham is supporting the Telegraph & Argus Children’s Secret Santa Appeal.

Miss Bellingham, who is getting set to play the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, took time out of rehearsals to make the wishes of some of the district’s 37,000 poorest children come true and help give them a happier Christmas.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s Young Carers Service is one of the schemes that will benefit from gifts bought with funds from the appeal, in association with the Human Relief Foundation, that will be delivered on Christmas Eve.

The actress is already a Barnardo’s ambassador and is calling on Bradfordians to spare a thought for young people in need in the district and dig deep to make a donation to the appeal.

She said: “It’s shocking to think that there are thousands of young carers across Bradford. What they do on a daily basis is just inspirational. The services that support them, like Barnardo’s Bradford Young Carers, are a lifeline to these children and young people.

“I would ask people across Bradford to please spare a thought for the army of young carers in their city. It will make a world of difference to them to know that someone out there knows what they are going through and cares at this special time of year.”

Since the Telegraph & Argus started the appeal on Friday, the Human Relief Foundation said it had received ten donations totalling about £140. The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Dale Smith, has also pledged £1,000 from his Sprinkle Sunshine Appeal.

Sarah Gate, of the charity, said: “We’ve had a fantastic response from the Bradford community so far, especially when you consider we only launched the appeal on Friday and we’re still in November.

“We hope once we get into December and people start feeling more festive we will get more donations.

“People have been getting in touch with fundraising ideas and we’ve even had some offers of wrapping paper.

“We’ve been really happy with the response.”

Cinderella runs from December 15 to February 3, 2013.

e-mail: hannah.postles@telegraphandargus.co.uk