Stars' present lists boost cancer fund

Actress Helena Bonham Carter revealed she would like skinny thighs for Christmas this year.

Along with a host of other celebrities, she confided her dream Christmas stocking wishes to help raise cash for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

As well as pampering luxuries and tinted contact lenses, the star of Planet of the Apes admitted she'd also love a day in a recording studio to record her own song.

Her stocking raised a total of £4,200 for the charity.

Gifts

The stars also offered their own personal gifts for the stockings.

These ranged from a pair of Versace shoes signed by Liz Hurley, who raised £3,200, to signed ballet shoes from ballet dancer Darcey Bussell.

Actor Dougray Scott raised £1,300 by donating his script from the film Enigma, complete with his notes, as well as a signed Hibernian FC strip.

Former BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter Sue Macgregor said her dream Christmas presents would include a CD of Handel's Messiah, a magnum of champagne and two tickets for Radio 4's News Quiz recording.

The journalist, whose Christmas stocking raised £1,500, said it was important everyone did their best to hep fund cancer research.

"Four in 10 of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime - and that may mean someone close to us - so I was delighted to give Macmillan my Christmas stocking wish-list.

"I hope the money raised from my stocking will help make a real difference to someone living with cancer."

Actor Nickolas Grace, co-host of the auction, said the event had been hugely successful.

"The frenzy of bidding was thrilling and the £50,000 raised will help Macmillan make a real difference to the lives of people with cancer."