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Depp and Ringo unite for Whitbread charity track

Shivani Chaudhari
BBC News, Essex
Getty Images Fatima Whitbread smiling. She has a pixie cut for her short black hair while wearing small dangly earrings and a matching necklace.Getty Images
Fatima Whitbread said the charity single was about inspiring hope and love

Johnny Depp and Ringo Starr are among the celebrities who have united to record a one-off song in aid of Fatima Whitbread's children's charity.

The 63-year-old is known to the world as an Olympic medallist and former world champion javelin thrower despite being abandoned as a baby.

Whitbread, from Ingatestone in Essex, recently set up a charity aimed at improving the lives of children living in care.

Hollywood actor Depp plays guitar for the anthem, rock icon Pete Townsend is on bass and Whitbread added some vocals.

Zak Starkey is on percussion along with his dad, Beatles drummer Starr.

Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder and actress Samantha Morton also added vocals.

"It's an incredible line-up, unlike anything we've seen for many years," said Whitbread.

Getty Images Fatima Whitbread has a javelin in her right hand above her head because she is about to throw it. Her left hand is pointing forward and in the air. She looks like she is concentrating and wearing a white sweatshirt.Getty Images
Fatima Whitbread won silver at the Summer Olympic Games in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea

The track is called Take My Hand - in aid of the Fatima's UK Campaign charity - and will be played at her One Voice Summit at Guildhall in London.

Whitbread says the event, on 23-24 April, will bring together people with experience of care, politicians and service leaders to help improve outcomes.

The song is available for download via online music platforms.

She said the idea for the track snowballed after she and Ryder got to know one another on the 2023 edition of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

"I am using my lived experience and my Olympic title to bring things together," she explained.

"All of them were really happy to come on board and incredibly supportive of what I'm trying to do, highlighting unacceptable outcomes for children in care."

The track was written by 21-year-old Harrison James, who said he was inspired by his own parents who came from difficult backgrounds and had supported children in care.

He only had three days to write the song.

PA Media Jeff Beck is on the left on stage, wearing a white shirt and pinstripe waistcoat, and with an electric guitar strapped round his shoulder. Johnny Depp also has a dark coloured waistcoat on, as well as a bandana or headscarf. He has an electric guitar strapped round his shoulder. Both appear to be waving or looking out to the crowd.PA Media
Johnny Depp has performed in bands throughout his career, and appeared in concert with Jeff Beck, including at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2022
PA Media Ringo Starr has short very dark brown hair, glasses, a dark beard and is wearing a black or navy blue suit and tie. He is standing outside at Buckingham Palace and is holding his Knighthood.PA Media
Ringo Starr helped with percussion for Whitbread's track

In March 2024, there were 83,630 children in care in England, according to government statistics.

The charity Become says care-experienced young people are nine times more likely to face homelessness than other young people.

Whitbread added: "Children are our future; if we can invest in them from a very young age it will help to shape who and what they become in society."

"It's all about building happier and healthier tomorrows and stronger communities and putting these young people on an unstoppable path of reaching their goals and realising their dreams."

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