Chris Tarrant unveils huge hyper realistic portrait of Ukrainian refugee projected onto Royal Albert Dock

Chris Tarrant is one of the best-known faces of British broadcasting in a career spanning almost 50 years, but did you know he welcomed a Ukrainian family into his own home following the outbreak of the Russian invasion?

Tarrant has now teamed up with The National Lottery to unveil a striking artwork depicting a portrait of Ukrainian refugee Vladyslava Zhmuro, who fled the war and now helps others in similar circumstances, at Liverpool’s Royal Albert Docks.

The huge, hyper realistic portrait, by Ukrainian artist Sergey Piskunov, has been projected onto the side of the historic buildings.

The portrait is part of a campaign championing those who are doing amazing things to support the refugee crisis and help displaced people across the world.

The project also begins the build up to Liverpool hosting the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf current champions Ukraine.

Chris Tarrant’s Ukraine connection

Broadcaster and television personality Tarrant said: "I've had three Ukrainian refugees living with me. They're just the nicest people. I really love them. There's a mum, 65, then the daughter is about 20 odd, and then there's a baby. I'm now the godfather to the baby, who is now 15 months. When they came to us, they were literally sleeping on the airport floor, the three of them in Poland."

"I was saying to my missus, we must do something. It's just unreal this whole thing, and then we went through various things like getting visas, and suddenly they were coming tomorrow morning! They've been with us since the second week of March, and they're just so sweet."

Vladyslava Zhmuro’s story

Vladyslava Zhmuro, the subject of the portrait, is a caseworker for the Welsh Refugee Council and has achieved incredible things in assisting Ukrainian refugees to find a home following displacement caused by the war.

Ms Zhmuro said: "I came to the UK because of the war with Russia that is going on in Ukraine. I live in Cardiff now, and I started to work for the Welsh Refugee Council. National Lottery decided to acknowledge the work they do and the work I do.

"I wanted to get involved to help other people who are in the same situation as I was, to help them with problems they face and just make their lives easier."