Eccleston supports disease fight

Christopher Eccleston has given his support to the cause

Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston has voiced a TV advert for a campaign to support the fight against some of the world's most deadly diseases.

The actor is voicing the new ad for Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

It wants the public to be confident that increased aid to developing countries will help overcome poverty.

The advert comes ahead of campaigns to force the G8 industrialised states to forgive debt owed by poorer countries.

'Crucial initiative'

Members of the G8 are to meet in Scotland on 5 and 6 July to discuss wiping off the debt from 18 developing countries, most of them in Africa.

Britain, which is chairing the G8, has been pushing the debt-relief plan.

Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund, said: "The UK is leading a global effort to increase assistance to developing countries to enable them to solve urgent problems of disease and poverty - especially in Africa.

"It is a crucial initiative and the lives and livelihood of millions of people depend on its success," he said.

"If governments are to commit funds of this magnitude on behalf of their country they must have confidence that the money will be distributed wisely."

Music stars including Coldplay, Madonna and Paul McCartney will play at the Live 8 concerts on 2 July to help raise awareness, which has been led by the Make Poverty History campaign.