Paul was approached by ITV bosses to use the hit song With A Little Help From My Friends to make with a host of A-listers and the NHS Choir

IT’S been 51 years since The Beatles released classic With A Little Help From My Friends. Paul McCartney has been approached by ITV bosses for permission to use the track for a Band Aid-style charity single to mark the 70th birthday of the NHS.
Paul has given permission.
And as Sir Paul gave the OK, American super-producer Timbaland has now been brought in to pull the project together — with backing from The NHS Choir and a host of A-listers.Chiefs want to include stars born throughout the seven- decade history of the health service, with big names including The Script, Alesha Dixon, Eblow’s Guy Garvey, Rita Ora, Jessie J and UB40 all signed up.
Sources say the final line-up will be a who’s who of British pop, with major rockers including Chris Martin and Coldplay approached, along with the likes of Little Mix, Robbie Williams and Olly Murs. There is to be a handful of TV faces too.Timbaland will be producing the song.
An industry insider said: “This is going to be huge.Think Band Aid but for a cause much closer to home. Obviously everyone involved has a ­personal link to the NHS.
At some stage it has had an impact on everybody’s lives, which is why so many of the stars have been quick to say yes.It’s early days but the hope is that by the time the final line-up is confirmed, it will be all of the biggest names in the business.The first stage was to get Sir Paul to agree to the song being used and he gave it his blessing — although the rights are actually owned by a publishing company, which had the final say.Sadly he has prior commitments when the actual studio recording is taking place but they were delighted to have his approval. It will make huge amounts for charity.”
The project will also be filmed as part of a major ITV documentary set to air in the coming months — with proceeds from the single going to a range of good causes ­connected to the NHS.

source:thesun