Billie Eilish, Simon Cowell, Olivia Colman and Tom Hiddleston lead the stars thanking the NHS

A host of stars gathered to express gratitude for the NHS in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic. 

Celebrities shared their appreciation to key workers for their tireless efforts to keep the nation running in the third week of the lockdown during the crisis ahead of the weekly Clap for the Carers commemoration.

Among the stars appearing in the video were US singer Billie Eilish (left), Oscar winning-actress Olivia Colman (right) and music mogul Simon Cowell (centre), who all paid their own individual tributes to the National Health Service. 

In the video, uploaded to YouTube by NHS England, each public figure flashed their cards emblazoned with the slogans #OurNHSPeople and #ThankYouNHS.

Each star said Thank You – or words to that effect – to honour the NHS workers risking their lives on the front line  to battle the coronavirus.

Among the highlights were Oscar winner Olivia, who closed the video with a touching speech to honour the NHS staff.

She said: ‘All across the country, people want you to know how incredible you are and how grateful we are. You are an amazing army of brave and wonderful people. Thank you.’

US star Billie also paid her own tribute in the video, saying: ‘Thank you for what you do, we love you.’

Simon Cowell displayed his own sign in the video, along with fellow British household names Ant and Dec, Stephen Fry, David Walliams and Lorraine Kelly.

Hugh Grant added another reminder in his tribute, writing on his card for fans to ‘avoid touching their face.’     

The video was organised by film director and producer Matthew Vaughn, and was released as households across the country prepared to pay further tribute to NHS staff. 

Last week, the likes of Claire Foy, Jenna Coleman, Elton John and Jude Law paid their respects for the first time in a heartfelt clip to promote the great cause.

For a third week, millions will stand at their front doors to applaud and cheer for the healthcare workers on Thursday evening.

The event, organised by the Clap For Our Carers campaign, was expanded to include all key workers, such as supermarket staff, the emergency services and teachers who are working through the coronavirus outbreak. 

Last week, among the locations to be illuminated in blue – the colour of the NHS – were the Shard in central London and Windsor Castle. 

Despite his continued self-isolation after he contracted Covid-19, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was seen clapping at the door of Downing Street. 

Fireworks were set off across Newcastle’s city centre and drivers used their cars horns to sound their thanks in Tooting, south London. In Glasgow, bagpipes played Scotland The Brave as residents clanged pots and pans in appreciation. The initiative follows similar moves in Italy and Spain – which have the world’s highest death tolls – which created astonishing scenes over the last month as they applauded from terraces in the countries’ cities.

This is while in New York, many people have made the clapping part of their every day routines, with social media videos showing people clapping every night at 7pm local time for key workers.

Last week, Boris ordered the immediate closure of all non-essential shops and threatened people with fines or even arrest if they do not ‘stay at home’ amid the global crisis. 

The shutdown will last for a minimum of three weeks and the UK’s new state of emergency is unprecedented in modern history.

Gatherings of more than two people have been banned in the most dramatic curbs on freedom ever seen in Britain in time of peace or war, as the government goes all out to stop the spread of the killer disease.