Dame Helen Mirren, Joanna Lumley and new Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi are among the stars who are supporting a new foster carer recruitment campaign in the U.K.

The actors have offered up cherished snaps from their childhood as part of leading charity Barnardo's Create My Memories initiative, which urges Brits to take vulnerable children into their homes.

The collection of pictures will be projected in busy shopping areas in London and Manchester in England, and Glasgow, Scotland as part of the annual Fostering and Adoption Week, which starts on Monday (13Jan14).

Other stars who are supporting the scheme include pop singer Nicola Roberts, actress Amanda Holden and veteran model Twiggy.

Brenda Farrell, head of fostering and adoption at Barnardo's, says, "Without the right foster family to care for them, many vulnerable children may never experience the love and stability they so desperately need and happy memories will remain a distant dream. We are truly grateful that so many household names are helping us to broadcast our plea for people to consider becoming foster parents."