COMEDIANS Jimmy Carr and Rob Brydon lead the line up for Helen & Douglas House hospice’s last-ever Childish Things fundraiser.
The popular music and comedy event is in its 10th year and has raised £500,000 over the past nine years for the East Oxford hospice.
This year’s show will run on March 24 and 25 at the New Theatre, Oxford, marking 10 years since the official opening of Douglas House.
Didcot Xtra Factor presenter Matt Richardson, QI founder John Lloyd, musician Ally Craig, Oxford magicians Morgan and West, city a capella group Out of the Blue, and UK Beatbox champion Grace Savage also feature.
The show’s organisers decided to finish the fundraiser to focus on other methods because it was getting harder to recruit in-demand names.
Co-producer and hospice event manager Lizzie Pickering said: “A lot of the cast are excited about going out with a bang. A lot of people have been involved over the years and are happy to be back for year ten.”
She added: “The line up is a great mix of comedy and music and a bit of magic thrown in.”
Childish Things was the brainchild of actor Tom Hollander, whose niece is a visitor to Helen House.
The star, who has appeared in the films Enigma and Gosford Park, organised a one-off benefit evening at Oxford Playhouse in 2004, but thanks to its success, it became an annual event, raising £70,000 last year.
Previous performers include comedians Michael McIntyre, Bill Bailey, Rowan Atkinson, Jo Brand and Graham Norton.
Helen & Douglas House cares for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions and supports their families.
Helen House was the world’s first children’s hospice when it was built in 1982 and Douglas House opened in 2004 as the world’s first hospice for young adults aged 16 to 35.
- Ticket prices start at £25 at avgtickets.com or newtheatreoxford.org.uk
THE LINE-UP
Monday, March 24:
Jimmy Carr
John Lloyd
Matt Richardson
Hal Cruttenden
Morgan and West
Out of the Blue
Ally Craig
Grace Savage
Philip Selway’s House Band
Tuesday, March 25:
Jimmy Carr
John Lloyd
Rob Brydon
Alistair Barrie
Morgan and West
Out of the Blue
Ally Craig
Kevin Eldon
Philip Selway’s House Band
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