ITV has launched this year’s Text Santa charity campaign, urging viewers to “do their bit in a Christmas knit” to raise money for charities Save the Children, Make-A-Wish UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

This year’s fundraising is based around the Christmas jumper, building up to Christmas Jumper Day on the 18 December.

On 1 December, Phillip Schofield will pop up in every show in the ITV schedule from 6am to 10pm, wearing a different Christmas jumper every time. Eagle-eyed viewers will be encouraged to tweet using the hashtag #Pipknit when they spot him to be in with a change of winning one of Schofield’s festive sweaters, or tickets to the live Text Santa show.

ITV will trail a series of adverts for the campaign, showing familiar ITV faces in a forgetful mood, remembering only to wear their Christmas knits and donate to the appeal.

The annual appeal, which forms part of ITV’s Corporate Responsibility strategy, is now in its fifth year, having already raised £21 million for charity. This year’s donations will be split equally between the three charities.

Schofield said, “I’m so excited about doing my bit in a Christmas knit and I get to wear a lot of Christmas jumpers throughout the campaign so I will have the ultimate Christmas jumper wardrobe!”

The campaign will culminate on 18 December in a live show, where Schofield will be joined by fellow presenters including Holly Willoughby, Alesha Dixon and Paddy McGuinness.