Ambassadors and Celebrity Supporters

Having met when they both had spouses in care living with dementia, John Suchet OBE and Nula Suchet have worked hard to raise awareness for the impact the condition can have on partners and relationships. In addition to charity work and public speaking, both have published books on the subject and spoken candidly about their experiences. 

A much-loved television and radio presenter with a passion for classical music, John has discussed his experience of dementia honestly –  helping to shine a light on the way it changes relationships as the condition progresses. When John’s wife Bonnie was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2006 he was able to access the practical and emotional support of one of Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses, and John has worked hard to advocate for increased access to Admiral Nurses since then, working with Dementia UK to launch our Admiral Nurse Academy and supporting other initiatives and campaigns.  

When TV director James, husband of artist and writer Nula, was diagnosed with Pick’s Disease in 2004, Nula struggled to find appropriate support for people with a spouse living with dementia in her area, and has spoken bravely about the challenges she faced in trying to look after James, as well as her experience of taking the difficult decision to place him in care.  

We are delighted to have John and Nula’s support as we grow our network of Admiral Nurses, and their efforts to raise awareness for the importance of post-diagnostic support and Admiral Nursing will be invaluable.  

John and Nula said: 

“We are honoured to have been asked to be Ambassadors for Dementia UK. We feel passionately — learned through experience — about how important it is to care for the carer. That is why we support fully the aim to have Admiral Nurses available to as many people impacted by dementia as possible across the UK.”

Georgia is one of the cast members on ITVBe’s The Only Way is Essex, where she is a firm favourite along with boyfriend Tommy Mallet.

Georgia, whose grandmother is living with dementia, has seen first-hand how it affects families as well as those living with the condition and has been supporting the charity over the past year.

Georgia recently took part in an awareness-raising video for the charity, ‘Lives on Hold‘ , appearing alongside other celebrity supporters, family carers, staff and Admiral Nurses to raise awareness of the needs of people with dementia during the Covid-19 crisis and beyond.

Speaking of her role, Georgia explained “I’m really proud to be an official supporter of Dementia UK. My lovely YiaYia (grandmother) is living with dementia and I know how hard it can be for families caring for a loved one with this heart-breaking condition, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.”

Georgia continues; “I’m really looking forward to developing my role with the charity and being able to promote the work of its specialist Admiral Nurses.”

Over the last few years, the Watford born Grammy and Ivor Novello winning producer and songwriter has had a UK No.1 single with ‘La La La’, featuring a then unknown Sam Smith and three top 10 hits with ‘Wonder’ and ‘Lifted’ both featuring Emeli Sandé. ‘Runnin’ (Lose it all)’, which featured Beyoncé and Arrow Benjamin, spent 6 weeks in the top 10 and went to #1 on iTunes in 25 countries. The incredible video has racked up 218 Million Youtube views and been nominated for three UKMVAs (including Best Pop Video & Best Cinematography) and the Vevo Vision Award.

Commenting on his experience of dementia:

“I’m so proud to announce that I’m an ambassador of Dementia UK and I hope that I can use my profile to raise awareness of the cause and the charity. With my mum’s ever-changing condition and the pressures this places on the wider family, I understand how beneficial an Admiral Nurse would be. I’m learning about dementia all the time so I’m hoping that the relationship will be mutually beneficial and I’ll be able to find out more from the amazing Admiral Nurses at the charity, so that I can provide my mum with the best care possible. In fact, I have already called Dementia UK’s Helpline which I know will continue to be a vital source of support for me as my mum’s condition develops.”

Adelle Tracey, semi-finalist in the 1500m at the 2022 World Championships, is the first ever Challenge Events Ambassador for Dementia UK. Adelle’s role will see her supporting a range of training days and events to inspire and motivate our team of new and existing challenge event fundraisers.

Commenting on her new role, Adelle said: “I am so pleased to be invited to become the first Challenge Events Ambassador for Dementia UK. This is a cause very close to my heart having seen the devastating impact of dementia on my own family, including on my grandmother, who had a terrible time as a result of the condition.

“I’m hoping to encourage more people to take on future challenge events for Dementia UK and will be providing training tips and support to those who are continuing to train for the charity’s postponed running events. The charity needs to raise vital funds now more than ever to provide more Admiral Nurses for people living with dementia and I’m delighted to be able to help them do just that.”

Jim Broadbent is a much-loved theatre, film and television actor, best known for his roles in Iris, Moulin Rouge, and the international phenomenon, the Harry Potter franchise.

Jim won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of John Bayley in the film Iris, a depiction of the relationship between John and novelist Iris Murdoch, throughout their youth and then into older age, as Iris slowly succumbs to Alzheimer’s disease.

Jim received a Royal Television Award and BAFTA nomination for his leading performance in Any Human Heart (based on William Boyd’s novel of the same name). His work on the stage has seen him appear in acclaimed productions ranging from Our Friends in the North by Peter Flannery at the RSC Pit and Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett at The Donmar.

Jim presented a BBC Lifeline Appeal on BBC1 for Dementia UK in 2018, in which he spoke movingly about his own mother’s experience of dementia, as well as highlighting the life-changing support that our specialist nurses are able to offer families facing dementia – in communities, GP practices, hospitals, care homes and hospices, and on the Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline.

Jim said:

“I am privileged to be an ambassador for Dementia UK. Over the years I have been connected with it I have been more than impressed by the professionalism, commitment and positivity that they bring to those who struggle with the shock and ever changing demands of having to care for a loved one diagnosed with dementia. It is a fine organisation fulfilling a vital role and I look forward to my continuing involvement.”

Lorelei King has appeared in films such as Notting Hill, House of Mirth and, as the voice of Muther, Alien: Covenant. She has played regular and recurring characters in popular British television shows such as Chef, Cold Feet, and Emmerdale.

A multi-award-winning audio book narrator, she is one of the first inductees into Audible’s ‘Narrator Hall of Fame’. Once described as ‘the best known American voice on Radio 4’, Lorelei has recorded more than 200 programmes for the BBC. She is co-founder of the digital publishing company, Creative Content Ltd., which recently published her first book (co-written with Ali Muirden), Storyteller: How to be an Audio Book Narrator.

Lorelei has been one of Dementia UK’s longest standing celebrity supporters, speaking candidly about her own experiences of her late husband’s diagnosis of dementia. Lorelei can be found tweeting at @LoreleiKing.

Lorelei said:

“My late husband’s diagnosis of young onset dementia was devastating to our little family and I have never felt so frightened and alone. In such dark times, Dementia UK, with its wonderful Admiral Nurses, is a glimmer of light, offering information, support and guidance. The work that Dementia UK does is powerful and positive, and I am so proud and honoured to be one of its charity Ambassadors.”

Phyllis Logan is one of the most recognisable faces on British television, having starred as Lady Jane Felsham for eight years in the BBC’s much-loved antiques comedy drama, Lovejoy, before becoming synonymous with another British classic, Downton Abbey, in which she rules the roost as housekeeper Mrs Carson, nee Hughes.

Phyllis won a BAFTA for most promising newcomer in 1983, for her role as a young Scottish married woman who embarks upon an affair, in the emotional drama Another Time, Another Place. She has numerous other film credits to her name, including Nativity! and the Mike Leigh classic Secrets and Lies.

Phyllis has appeared on television multiple times to promote Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Helpline and our Time for a Cuppa fundraiser – each time causing a huge spike in calls. She is a passionate supporter of Dementia UK, having witnessed her mother’s struggles with a cognitive impairment and her mother-in-law’s difficulty following a diagnosis of dementia.

Phyllis said:

“Like so many people, I have had personal experience of loved ones being diagnosed with varying degrees of dementia. We know from research and statistics that dementia is increasing within the population and more and more people will be affected by it, be they the people with the diagnosis or their families.

I’m so glad to be an Ambassador for this great charity and to promote their wonderful Admiral Nurses programme, which is truly a lifeline for many, many people. In supporting Dementia UK, I feel we can all make a very positive difference.”

Actress Emma, whose late uncle was diagnosed with vascular dementia, has experienced how dementia affects families as well as those living with the condition and she has been supporting the charity over the past year.

Emma took part in the charity’s Time for a Cuppa campaign recreating famous ‘celebri-tea movie moments’ alongside a number of other celebrity supporters. In the fun photo-shoot, Emma appeared as the iconic Holly Golightly from Breakfast At Tiffany’s – a role she had always wanted to play.

Speaking of her new appointment, Emma explained ‘I’m really proud of my new role as official supporter for Dementia UK. Having lost my uncle and more recently a dear friend and colleague to dementia, it feels very right to be able to support the charity in an official capacity.’

Emma continues; ‘The pandemic has caused so many additional issues for families struggling with dementia and I’m looking forward to being able to promote the work of the charity’s extraordinary Admiral Nurses, who are needed now more than ever.’

Judy Parfitt is an accomplished film, television and stage actor, well known to audiences most recently for her role as Sister Monica Joan in the BBC’s long-running historical drama Call the Midwife, a character who is depicted experiencing the early stages of dementia.

Judy has had a long and distinguished film career. She played Lady Mount-Temple in the 1997 Oscar Wilde biopic Wilde, with Stephen Fry playing the titular character. She is twice BAFTA nominated: for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for playing Maria Thins in the 2003 film Girl with a Pearl Earring, and for Best TV Actress for The Jewel in The Crown.

She has appeared in a stream of illustrious British television staples, from The Avengers, Dixon of Dock Green, Midsomer Murders, Heartbeat, Jonathan Creek and Marple.

Judy’s support for Dementia UK has been invaluable, with appearances on ITV’s Loose Women, to promote the charity’s annual fundraiser Time for a Cuppa, encouraging people to put the kettle on and raise more money for dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.

Judy said:

“My husband was with me physically but lost to me in every other way to dementia. My husband became my child. I am honoured to be an Ambassador for Dementia UK.”