THE BIG ISSUE

MORE than one million older people in the UK could be spending Christmas Day alone, according to research by Age UK - which ambassador Dame Joanna Lumley has branded a 'crisis hidden in plain sight'.

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The actor and campaigner warned the 'silence can be deafening' for socially isolated older people especially during the festive season.

Age UK said its polling of more than 2,600 people aged 65 and over suggested 11% will eat dinner alone on December 25, while 5% will not see or speak to anyone during the entire day.

It said its findings, when considered in terms of the overall population, suggest 1.5 million people will eat alone on Christmas Day.

Dame Joanna has joined other famous faces including Dame Judi Dench, Brian Cox and Miriam Margolyes to encourage people to support the charity's campaign to provide companionship in a bid to tackle loneliness.