We are fortunate to have the support of a number of celebrities who are ambassadors for the charity. Many who support us because of their personal experiences of kidney disease.
Our ambassadors are committed to raising greater awareness about the life-limiting condition of kidney disease, while promoting the vital work we do to help those affected by it.
Andrew Cole
Andrew Cole is a former professional footballer who played for 12 teams in his career, including Manchester United and Newcastle United. Find out about the Andy Cole Fund.
Bruno Loubet
From France, Chef Bruno has resided in both the UK and Australia. He has had a successful career and has written three cookbooks and has appeared on BBC’s Hot Chefs, Junior and adult Masterchef and Austrailia’s The Great South East.
David Brabham
David is a former Grand Prix racer, three-time Le Mans winner and is brand owner of the Brabham Group Ltd consultancy firm. David's father, Formula One world champion Sir Jack Brabham, suffered from kidney disease and sadly passed away in May 2014. David is committed to championing Kidney Research UK, most recently supporting our charity partnership with the Silverstone Festival.
Ed Drake
Ed represented Team GB in Alpine skiing at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Frances Edmonds
Frances Edmonds is an acknowledged expert in the business of cross-cultural communication.
Dame Jacqueline Wilson DBE
Dame Jacqueline Wilson is famous for her brilliant children’s novels including her Tracy Beaker series. After suffering heart failure, her kidneys were damaged, she went on to receive dialysis three times a week. Jacqueline has now received a transplant.
Julia Watson
Julia Watson is a British actress, best known for playing Baz in the BBC medical drama Casualty.
Kate Ford
Kate is an actress who has featured in a number of well-known shows such as Eastenders, Doctors and Coronation Street.
Lauren Laverne
The former indie band member, turned radio and tv broadcaster, whose father was hospitalised following sudden kidney failure. Lauren supported our Making Every Kidney Count appeal when she hosted the BBC Lifeline Appeal on BBC television.
Lawrence Keogh
Celebrity chef, Lawrence, developed chronic kidney disease and had to undergo surgery to have a kidney transplant in 2000 at the age of just 35.
Lucy Davis
Lucy Davis is an actress best known for being in the BBC comedy The Office and the horror-comedy movie Shaun of the Dead. Lucy had a kidney transplant from her mother after being diagnosed with kidney failure in 1995.
Matthew Amroliwala
Matthew Amroliwala is a BBC television newsreader. He is also well known as a co-presenter on Crimewatch.
Nina Nannar
Nina Nannar is the Arts Editor at ITV News. Her family's life has been significantly impacted by kidney disease and in May 2022 she lost her husband, Steve, to complications caused by the disease. Read more about her personal story.
Nina Wadia
Actress Nina Wadia is star of Goodness Gracious Me and BBC soap EastEnders. Nina has first-hand experience of the damage that kidney disease can do, as her mother passed away as a result of polycystic kidney disease.
Dame Patricia Routledge DBE
Dame Patricia Routledge DBE is an English actress and singer. Described affectionately as a national treasure, she is best known for her television roles as Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances and as the private investigator in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.
Richard Pitman
Former champion jockey and journalist, Richard Pitman became an ambassador after he donated one of his kidneys altruistically. Richard’s decision to donate his kidney stemmed from witnessing his close friend suffering from kidney disease.
Stefan Booth
Former EastEnders star Stefan Booth pledged his support to the charity following his personal experiences of the illness. Stefansaw the effects that kidney disease can have on people’s lives, having lost his mother to polycystic kidney disease.