WITH ROYALTY AND CELEBRITIES RISING TO THE CHALLENGE NATASHA KAPLINSKY TELLS HOW A FIRST-CLASS IDEA IN LOCKDOWN WITH HER CHILDREN WON A GLOBAL STAMP OF APPROVAL

‘Through all the letters, it felt like lockdown unlocked a degree of kindness in people’

When Natasha Kaplinsky first suggested to her two children that they write letters to friends, family and neighbours during lockdown, it was just another way to try to keep them occupied.

But what started out as a project to stave off boredom soon grew into an impressive collection of replies, not only from their nearest and dearest, but also frontline workers, stay-at-home heroes and famous names from around the world.

“It’s a kind of emotional time capsule of what happened in that year,” the broadcaster tells HELLO! of the letters, which have now been shared in a book. In turns touching, funny, enlightening and inspiring,

– all proceeds of which go to the children’s charity Barnardo’s, of which she is president – includes correspondence from