An original shooting script of much-loved Christmas romcom Love Actually is among the lots up for grabs in an auction to support charity War Child.
The script from the 2003 film contains three unseen storylines “which we eventually cut,” say director Richard Curtis and screenwriter Emma Freud, “lots of jokes which didn’t work, and some childish swearing which we were forced to remove by adults.”
They add: “Many of the stories are also told here in a different order as it turns out that writing a multi-story plot can be as complex as playing 3D chess, and we couldn’t tell until we saw it put together which bits were in the wrong places.”
The script is one of some 70 items currently available for bidding on the Spring Clean auction, which runs online until 16 May, raising money for the charity which seeks to protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children living through war around the world.
Other key lots include a Saltburn-branded bathplug and mini bathtub signed by the cast and crew of Emerald Fennell’s film.
Most of the wardrobe from Netflix series The Crown is also on offer, including togs worn by Emma Corrin as Princess Diana, Imelda Staunton as Elizabeth II, Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret and Gillian Anderson as Mrs Thatcher.
Meanwhile, Anderson has also donated souvenir jacket from the set of Sex Education, and musicians have also donated a variety of clothing, including three T-shirts worn and signed by Muse and Neil Tennant’s coat from the Pet Shop Boys album cover Loneliness.
John Lithgow has donated items of outerwear given to him on the set of The Old Man, as well as a signed copy of his memoir, and original artwork from 3rd Rock from the Sun. You can also bid on a white dutch oven used and signed by Stanley Tucci.
Musical instruments available include a drum head used by Coldplay and signed by the band, a signed guitar owned by Ed Sheeran and a handmade guitar signed by Bob Geldof, Chrissie Hynde, Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, Pete Townshend, Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey and more.
There is also Kate Bush signed artwork inspired by Running Up That Hill, the four members of Take That have signed a 2015 show poster and the Chemical Brothers a signed 2002 print.
Other signed items from the world of film and TV include a Barbie poster signed by Margot Robbie, a Maestro book and album signed by Bradley Cooper, a Hulk action figure signed by Mark Ruffalo, an Evita script signed by Jonathan Pryce, a Spice World poster signed by Mel C and a Secret Invasion poster signed by Olivia Colman.
Earlier this month, bidding ended on the Cinema for Gaza auction set up by a collective of London-based female film-makers to fundraise for humanitarian relief in Palestine. The total donated was over £260,000, including £21,000 for lyrics to Sweet Dreams are Made of This handwritten by Annie Lennox and £11,000 for posters for The Zone of Interest and Under the Skin signed by director Jonathan Glazer, producer James Wilson and composer Mica Levi.
The highest-grossing celebrity experience lot was a cup of tea over Zoom with Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn, which went for £10,000.
