This week’s Clap For Carers was incorporated in the BBC’s The Big Night In, a joint national fundraiser by Comic Relief and BBC’s Children in Need.

Musician, comedians and royals came together through the virtual calls and home videos for a three hour show to raise over £27 million for causes to support vulnerable people around the UK affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

As well as sketches from the Little Britain duo, the cast of EastEnders and the Duke of Cambridge, school pupils and frontline workers from across Dorset also showed their support.

Staff at Blandford Hospital, run by Dorset HealthCare, recorded an uplifting rendition of the music video to Tony Christie’s ‘Is this the way to Amarillo’ as part of comedian Peter Kay’s revival of his classic Children in Need sketch.

Staff Nurse at the community hospital Tammy Andrews saw the appeal from Peter Kay for key workers to create their own film as part of the Big Night In and thought it would be perfect for a range of departments to get involved.

Tammy said: “I wanted to do something that got a range of staff involved to lift everyone’s spirits – those at the hospital and our local community. It was great fun to make and it gave us all a boost.”

The film starts at Tammy’s home where she makes her way to the hospital where other staff, including nurses, catering staff and therapy workers jumped in and danced along to the original track.

The video, filmed by a member of the team and edited by Tammy’s nephew, was one of several videos included in the compilation broadcasted on television.

Students from Broadstone Middle School also took part in the Strictly Keep Dancing challenge, where individuals learn a dance routine taught by Strictly’s dancing professionals.

Parent Lisa Stamp said: “Broadstone Middle school have been doing amazing stuff during isolation to keep in touch. They make weekly calls to each student and have set up a blog which is updated with lots of teacher challenges.

“They’ve entered the BBC Big Night In challenge with kids who have all filmed from home. They’ve really showing the kids they are still supported in this tough time.”

The show paused at 8pm to include the Clap for Carers initiative, with Dorset residents joining thousands across the country in applauding the hard work of frontline NHS workers.

The Wallis family celebrated the NHS in style on Thursday night with a drive along Snails Lane in Ringwood in their Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car.

Father Stuart Wallis, the owner of New Milton Metal Works in Ringwood, made a full-size working replica of the car from the chassis of a Land Rover, complete with wings and smoke machine.

Neighbour David Philips said: “We were out clapping; we’ve got a gong that we sound as part of the clap. Because the road is three quarters of a mile long, you have to make quite a bit of noise to be heard.

“There is a retired nurse who live along the road as well as a retained fireman who is being called out nearly every day, so we try and make enough noise so they can hear us.

“It is all the nicer when the family drive past in the car so that the neighbours on the road could see and hear their appreciation.”