Gwyneth Paltrow to produce cancer telethon

Gwyneth Paltrow has stepped in to replace Laura Ziskin as executive producer of a cancer telethon after the moviemaker lost her fight with the disease last year (11).

Ziskin co-founded Stand Up To Cancer (SUTC), a charity to raise research funds, during her health battle, but passed away in June last year (11).

The organisation has been supported by two telethons since its inception in 2008, with stars including Michael Douglas, Jennifer Aniston and Halle Berry taking part - and now Paltrow, whose father lost his fight with cancer in 2002, has been unveiled as an executive producer for the 2012 fundraiser.

In a statement, she writes, "This broadcast has become a global call-to-action for all those touched by cancer. Like so many people, I know what it's like to lose a family member to this disease, and I'm honoured to stand up in my father's memory."

The telethon will air on 7 September (12).