Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker's emotional video to thank Leeds teenager over British Sign Language fundraising film for Mencap

Seray Hatton, 17, of Cross Gates and her 19-year-old friend Kat Campbell arranged for around 40 Jodie Whittaker and Doctor Who fans to sign as opposed to sing along in the YouTube video featuring Jodie singing Coldplay track Yellow.

Mencap supporter Jodie, from Skelmanthorpe in West Yorkshire, released the song in 2019 in memory of her three-year-old nephew Harry Whittaker, who had Downs' Syndrome.

Child actor Harry, who played Leo Dingle in Emmerdale, died in 2014.

Seray and Kat came up with the idea for fans to each cover one line of the song, but instead of singing they signed the words using British Sign Language.

After Jodie saw the video on YouTube her brother Kristian tweeted a video message from Jodie to both girls.

Jodie said in the video:"I just wanted to say such a massive thank you. That video, it emotionally broke me, I was very teary watching it.

"I loved it and I'm really touched and proud even though I don't know you. I know that if Harry was here he would have been signing along.

"And just the effort that you have all gone to for such an incredible charity, an incredible cause, so thank you so much from the bottom of my heart."

Seray and Kat, who have never met in person, became friends on Instagram two-years ago after bonding as both were big Jodie Whittaker fans.

Seray said: "Jodie does a lot of charity work and she's very kind and cares about other people.

"She is from West Yorkshire like me and she is very humble, down to earth and funny."

Donations to Kat and Seray's Jodie Whittaker Project fundraising page on VirginMoneygiving.com have reached more than £3,000..

Seray said: "We are overwhelmed. We just didn't expect it to do so well."

Seray's mum Sarah Holmes, said: "They have spent months sorting it out and Seray has spent hours every night editing it.

"The result is amazing, it brought tears to my eyes. It’s such an emotional video and I am so very proud of them both."

"When Seray went to her Twitter account and found the video she started crying instantly and was shaking.

"It means the world to her hearing from Jodie and I’m so happy that Jodie put the video together. She seems such a lovely person who genuinely cares about her fans.

"Jodie also made a donation of £1,300 to their fundraising page, which matched the amount they had raised up to that point."