Elton John has today taken on the editorship of both the Independent and its new sister paper i for a special World Aids Day issue. The newspaper is donating all circulation revenues for the day to the Elton John Aids Foundation.

John says: “I was thrilled to be invited to guest edit the Independent. I’m really looking forward to spending a day in the editor’s chair, and I’m pleased to get the chance to put the subject of Aids at the top of the editorial agenda. The Elton John Aids Foundation is very grateful to Evgeny Lebedev and The Independent for the donation of circulation revenues from that days issue.”

Today’s contributors include: Gary Hume, who has provided some striking cover art; Stephen Fry on Bwindi Hospital in Uganda; and Bill Clinton on Aids in an age of austerity.