But a London-based global finance firm opened its doors yesterday to a host of celebrities as they tried their hand on the trading room floor for an annual fundraising drive.

Among the famous faces who were at the event were stars of the acting world including Keira Knightley and Danny DeVito as well as television presenters Mary Berry, Davina McCall, Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby.

Model and actress Liz Hurley, singer Ellie Goulding, comedian Alan Carr and his fellow Radio 2 DJ Melanie Sykes as well as singers Sarah Harding and Frankie Bridge also took part in the charity event which was  held at London’s Canary  Wharf.

As well as raising money for about 50 charities, the charity day also commemorates the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks in New York.

While attending yesterday’s event, Sykes said: “What’s so great is that in a ... feisty and fiery... room like that, is that all this money is going to go to charity.

“I just closed two deals, I don’t know how to do it. I was told what to say and it worked!”

And Former Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, who also took part, added: “I’m just worried I’m going to make a mistake!”

Sophie, Countess of Wessex was also at the fundraising event along with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Charity days held in previous years have seen other leading members of the Royal Family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, take part in the fundraising.

The charity day is organised by the global financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Partners, which lost 658 of its 960 workers in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

All of the funds from global revenues which are raised during the charity day are donated to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund as well as dozens of charities throughout the world.

Stars sample cut and thrust of the trading room floor