ABSOLUTELY Fabulous! Joanna Lumley has added her unique celebrity sparkle to the Winchester Hospice Big Push campaign by filming a special message of support.

The award-winning actress, who won two BAFTA TV Awards for her role as the outrageous and hilarious Patsy Stone in the BBC comedy Absolutely Fabulous, is backing the campaign calling on local people to participate in, and support, sponsored events that will help the Winchester Hospice appeal reach the £3.7million target to get the hospice open next summer.

Burrell House, a former nurses’ home on the Royal Hampshire County Hospital site in Romsey Road, is being transformed into a modern 10-bed hospice that will help and support local people and their families.

Joanna filmed the short video to encourage people to support the Big Push campaign, which is drumming up public backing for the drive to raise the final £400,000 to complete the hospice and open its doors.

Joanna said: “We have only got to get another £400,000 – let’s do it. You know how badly Winchester needs a hospice.”

Nick Vaughan, chair of the Winchester Hospice charity, said: “Thank you so much to Joanna for this special message of support – it will really help us as we continue to raise the profile of the Big Push campaign.”

Nick added: “Everyone involved in the hospice is delighted the builders are back on site but the COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on our fundraising campaign.

“Like so many charities, we have had to cancel planned fundraising events and we are having to look at different ways to raise the final £400,000 to get the hospice open by next summer.

“The wonderful support we have had from the local community has been at the heart of the massive effort that has so far raised £3.3m. We hope that a collective community effort will get us to the finish line and will enable us to open the hospice next summer.

“We can do this but we can only do it with the support of local people, businesses and benefactors who can help us to get back on track with our fundraising.”

The national lockdown caused by the pandemic meant work had to be halted on transforming Burrell House in March. However, workers from Reside Construction have been back on site since the end of May and have been pressing ahead with the construction.

Winchester Hospice will be run by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Its palliative care team have been a driving force behind the ambitious project as they know how important it is to have a local hospice facility that will help, support and care for the people of Winchester and the surrounding area.

Winchester Hospice will be the hub for specialist palliative care, providing inpatient care for up to 10 patients, as well as a host of outpatient and community support for people in their own homes.