Celebrity supporters

Actor Hugh Bonneville is best known for his roles in the popular drama Downton Abbey, BBC comedy W1A, Viceroy’s House and the Paddington films.

In 2015, Hugh visited rural India to see how clean water and decent toilets can transform people’s lives, their education and their health.

Swimmer Ellie Simmonds OBE holds five Gold Paralympic medals and first visited our work in Uganda on a visit with Sport Relief. She was so inspired she became a WaterAid ambassador.

In 2017, Ellie launched our Made of the Same Stuff campaign with a powerful film.

A baker, columnist and author, Nadiya Hussain won the popular BBC show The Great British Bake Off in 2015.

Nadiya's parents are from Bangladesh, and on childhood visits to the country she saw first-hand the impact of living without access to clean water and decent toilets.

Singer Rachel Stevens began her career as a member of the pop group S Club 7. She then embarked on a solo career and in 2009 took part in Strictly Come Dancing.

Rachel became WaterAid's first celebrity ambassador in 2012 and visited our work in Ethiopia, meeting families living without clean water.

Actor Dougray Scott has starred in many TV programmes and films, including Ripley’s Game, Enigma and My Week With Marilyn.

After appearing in one of our fundraising campaigns on UK TV, Dougray joined us as a WaterAid ambassador and recently visited our work in Mozambique.

Our first YouTube ambassador, George Benson is an influential vlogger and gamer.

George has taken part in our Tough Sh!t challenge and also took a trip down a London sewer with our water industry partners Thames Water to learn more about the system that keeps the city safe and clean.

Cyrille Regis MBE enjoyed a 19-year professional football career playing for clubs including West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City and Aston Villa.

Cyrille and his wife Julia are committed Christians and have been supporters of WaterAid since 2007.

Helen Lederer is a comedian, actress and writer. She is best known for her role as Catriona in cult TV series and film Absolutely Fabulous.

She has supported WaterAid for a number of years, including our It's No Joke! campaign for World Toilet Day.

Musician and BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Cerys Matthews visited our work in India to support World Water Day in 2016.

She has also supported a variety of our campaigns, including To be a Girl, Deliver Life and our work at Glastonbury Festival.

YouTube stars John Chapman and Leon Bustin are The Lean Machines, with a focus on fitness, nutrition and staying happy.

In 2015, John and Leon visited our work in Zambia, to see the impact a lack of clean water and decent toilets is having on families.

Ringo Starr, legendary drummer of The Beatles, has supported WaterAid for a number of years through his Lotus Foundation.

In 2011, he designed a boot for a charity auction with Timberland, to raise money for WaterAid. The following year Ringo and his wife, Barbara Bach, officially opened the WaterAid garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Samantha Barks is an actress and singer. She first rose to fame in the BBC talent show I'd Do Anything, before starring as Éponine in the stage production of Les Misérables. She went on to make her film debut in the same role.

In 2014, Samantha visited our work in Madagascar and launched our To be a Girl campaign, raising funds for girls around the world.