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BRITAIN turned blue tonight and joined in a mass round of applause to thank NHS heroes battling deadly coronavirus.

Landmarks lit up for frontline healthcare workers, while Brits up and down the country clapped and whooped in a joint show of support.

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 Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince George show their support for the NHS
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Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince George show their support for the NHS
 A girl follows advice to stay indoors and claps from her window
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A girl follows advice to stay indoors and claps from her windowCredit: PA:Press Association
 Brits took to their balconies to join in with the applause
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Brits took to their balconies to join in with the applauseCredit: PA:Press Association
 Cheers could be heard across Britain
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Cheers could be heard across BritainCredit: PA:Press Association
 Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
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Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster HospitalCredit: Reuters
 Brits clap from their balcony in support of frontline workers
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Brits clap from their balcony in support of frontline workersCredit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun
 The Beckhams join in with the mass applause
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The Beckhams join in with the mass applause
 Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig pay their respects to NHS staff
Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig pay their respects to NHS staff
 Britain has turned blue in support of the NHS
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Britain has turned blue in support of the NHSCredit: AFP

 

 Brits should clap from their windows tonight at 8pm
Brits should clap from their windows tonight at 8pm

The Clap For Carers campaign, which started online, was staged because "during these unprecedented times they need to know we are grateful", according to the organisers.

At 8pm, grateful Brits obeyed government advice to stay indoors and instead showed their support from inside their homes, on balconies and in their gardens.

Some set off fireworks as loud cheers rang across the UK to thank those risking their lives to fight the deadly virus.

 Jamie and Jools Oliver clap with their family
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Jamie and Jools Oliver clap with their family
 Bond star Ben Whishaw joined his co-stars to applaud health workers
Bond star Ben Whishaw joined his co-stars to applaud health workersCredit: Twitter / James Bond
 Naomie Harris clapped in a video with her Bond co-stars
Naomie Harris clapped in a video with her Bond co-starsCredit: Twitter / James Bond
 NHS workers at Royal Liverpool University Hospital also join in the round of applause
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NHS workers at Royal Liverpool University Hospital also join in the round of applauseCredit: PA:Press Association
 Some appeared emotional as well-wishers showed their support
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Some appeared emotional as well-wishers showed their supportCredit: Mercury Press
 Prince Charles clapped NHS heroes while in isolation
Prince Charles clapped NHS heroes while in isolationCredit: Instagram
 The Duchess of Cornwall was photographed clapping from her window
The Duchess of Cornwall was photographed clapping from her windowCredit: Instagram
 Police patrolling Royal Liverpool University Hospital show their support
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Police patrolling Royal Liverpool University Hospital show their supportCredit: PA:Press Association
 Staff from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital glance out a window at those supporting them
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Staff from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital glance out a window at those supporting themCredit: Reuters
 NHS workers respond to the applause in Leeds
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NHS workers respond to the applause in LeedsCredit: PA:Press Association

Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis joined in to show their support along with a host of celebs including Jamie Oliver and Amanda Holden.

Kensington Palace tweeted a video of the young royals, saying: "To all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by #COVID19: thank you. #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForCarers #ThankYouNHS #ClapForNHS".

Prince Harry and Meghan Mark also showed their support for Britain’s NHS heroes.

Sharing a post on their Instagram account, they wrote: “Thank you for all that you continue to do!

“Applauding you from across the pond #clapforourcarers #NHS”

Prince Charles appeared for the first time since being diagnosed with covid-19 to mark the celebration.

Clarence House posted an Instagram video of the Prince showing his appreciation while Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, was seen clapping separately from an open window as the couple self-isolate in Balmoral, Scotland.

While Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak posted a video outside Downing Street with the caption: "On behalf of the whole country, I want to thank all the incredible nurses, doctors, NHS support staff & carers who are working flat out to fight coronavirus. #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForNHS

"To help them, and protect the NHS, we need everyone to stay at home #StayHomeSaveLives".

And as part of the movement, landmarks including The Wembley Arch, the Principality Stadium, the Royal Albert Hall and Lincoln Cathedral were lit up in blue during the salute.

It is part of the #lightitblue campaign which has been organised by members of the events and entertainment industry as a way to say thank you.

 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle posted their support on Instagram
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle posted their support on InstagramCredit: Instagram
 Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak join in
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Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak join inCredit: PA:Press Association
 Amanda Holden and her family show their support
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Amanda Holden and her family show their support
 Katie Price and her son Harvey joined in with national applause
Katie Price and her son Harvey joined in with national applause
 Stacey Solomon and her son Rex filmed themselves clapping
Stacey Solomon and her son Rex filmed themselves clapping
 Frankie Bridge clapped with her family
Frankie Bridge clapped with her family
 News UK staff clap at Broxbourne printers
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News UK staff clap at Broxbourne printers
 A tower block in East London is lit up with applause
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A tower block in East London is lit up with applauseCredit: Ben Wright
 A family stand on their doorstep to join with the mass clapping
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A family stand on their doorstep to join with the mass clappingCredit: Splash News
 'My god that was emotional!' Cheryl Tweedy took to Twitter to show her support
'My god that was emotional!' Cheryl Tweedy took to Twitter to show her supportCredit: twitter
 'What a moment' Rylan Clark-Neal gave the NHS a clap on Twitter
'What a moment' Rylan Clark-Neal gave the NHS a clap on TwitterCredit: twitter
 Ricky Gervais said the cheers around him were 'amazing'
Ricky Gervais said the cheers around him were 'amazing'Credit: twitter
 Locals in Northampton join the call to arms
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Locals in Northampton join the call to armsCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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Blackpool Tower featured a blue heart while Tyne Bridge was lit up blue in support of the NHS.

Medics last night praised the “great nation” for its outpouring of thanks and said the gesture had boosted morale.

The Doctors’ Association UK said: “To see the outpouring truly makes us feel part of a great nation and valued as NHS workers. We feel honoured.”

Dame Donna Kinnair, from the Royal College of Nursing, said: “Nursing staff coming off a brutal shift will have been heartened by the public support shown tonight.

“So thank you to the public for this show of support — it will continue to be needed in the weeks and months ahead.”

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, from the British Medical Association, said: “To see people show their gratitude in this way is giving healthcare workers across the country an immense morale boost.

“The British public has always pulled together in times of crisis, and this is no different.”

 A woman follows advice and claps from her window
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A woman follows advice and claps from her windowCredit: Reuters
 A person claps in front of a NHS sign in Piccadilly Circus
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A person claps in front of a NHS sign in Piccadilly CircusCredit: Reuters
 Kent locals practice social distancing for their round of applause
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Kent locals practice social distancing for their round of applauseCredit: Rex Features
 A family joined in at 8pm
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A family joined in at 8pmCredit: Guzelian
 People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
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People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe HospitalCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Nick and Karen Giddens and their dog Macy in Leicester join in
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Nick and Karen Giddens and their dog Macy in Leicester join inCredit: PA:Press Association
 Locals in a London tower block show their support
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Locals in a London tower block show their supportCredit: Reuters

It came on the same day army of volunteers enlisted to help the NHS passed 670,000.

It smashed the initial target of 250,000 recruits needed for tasks such as driving patients and supplies and making phone checks on the vulnerable.

The Government has now increased the target to 750,000 - three times the initial goal.

Health service boss Sir Simon Stevens said: “The response we are seeing from the public to join us in our country’s greatest time of need is extraordinary.”

Gary White and Chuck Crampton, who jointly started the #lightitblue campaign, said all venues will use existing LED technology to create a flash of blue on facades and screens.

In a statement, they said: "The events and entertainment industry finds itself in an unprecedented state of enforced inaction.

"The best thing we can do - apart from staying at home - is to use our skills and networks to say thank you to everyone who is supporting the NHS and risking their own health to help others during this pandemic."

 Tower Bridge turns blue to back our heroes
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Tower Bridge turns blue to back our heroesCredit: Reuters
 Tyne Bridge is lit up blue
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Tyne Bridge is lit up blueCredit: Reuters
 Portsmouth shows its support for NHS workers
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Portsmouth shows its support for NHS workersCredit: Chris Gorman / Big Ladder.
 Liverpool's St George's Hall is also behind the campaign
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Liverpool's St George's Hall is also behind the campaignCredit: PA:Press Association

Celebs and the royal family earlier urged Brits to back the moving event to show hardworking NHS medics they have our support.

The Palace tweeted: "#ClapForOurCarers is an opportunity to show our thanks and appreciation for @NHS workers, volunteers and all those working on the frontline.

"Join in at 8pm tonight!"

Radio X presenter Chris Moyles rallied his listeners to "make some noise for the thousands and thousands of people (in the NHS) that we'll probably never meet, just to say 'thank you' for everything they are doing for us" with a powerful message.

 

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Radio station LBC has collected video messages from key political figures who shared their own gratitude to the frontline workers.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "My colleagues in the NHS do so much to look after us, especially in our hour of need and never more so than during the coronavirus crisis, so let's join together at 8pm tonight to say thank you to everyone in the NHS."

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also recorded a video for LBC and said he wanted to thank every person working in the NHS in London and around the country.

"You truly are the best. Your hard work, dedication and courage is saving lives every single day and we need you now more than ever before. I urge everyone to join together and applaud for our NHS," he added.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "I applaud the NHS, I clap for the NHS, I love the NHS. Well done everyone who works for the National Health Service and our care services and all the GP practices and everywhere else.

"You're doing a fantastic job and I think the whole country has begun to realise how much we rely on you and on each other to get through this particular crisis. Thanks a lot and well done."

 The Shard in London turned blue to support the NHS
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The Shard in London turned blue to support the NHSCredit: PA:Press Association
 Lincoln Cathedral shines bright across the city
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Lincoln Cathedral shines bright across the cityCredit: PA:Press Association
 Penshaw Monument in Sunderland is lit up
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Penshaw Monument in Sunderland is lit upCredit: PA:Press Association
 The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue tonight
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The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue tonightCredit: PA:Press Association
 The London Eye turns blue to thank those risking their lives
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The London Eye turns blue to thank those risking their livesCredit: Dan Charity - The Sun
 Blackpool Tower is illuminated in blue to honour the NHS workers
 Blackpool Tower is illuminated in blue to honour the NHS workersCredit: Getty Images - Getty
NHS honoured as landmarks turn blue to salute doctors and nurses on coronavirus frontline
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