Channel 4's Comedy Gala raises over £800k
It was announced today that Channel 4's Comedy Gala, the mammoth live stand-up show which took place in March, has raised over £800,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The comedy showcase, dubbed the biggest live stand-up show in UK history, featured over 30 of the nation's favourite comedians. A live audience of over 15,000 comedy fans flooded into the O2 Arena on 30th March to see the likes of Bill Bailey, Jo Brand, Alan Carr, Jack Dee, Lee Evans, Noel Fielding, Jason Manford, Michael McIntyre and Sean Lock. The extravaganza, which was organised by comedy agents Off The Kerb and the linked TV production company Open Mike Productions, was then broadcast on Channel 4 on Monday 5th April to a further three million fans.
Lee Evans, Alan Carr, Michael McIntyre, Kevin Bishop, Jack Dee and Shappi Khorsandi today presented staff and patients at the London children's hospital with a cheque for the money raised. The impressive £869,492.81 handed over is a combination £669, 492.61 from the 02 Box Office, plus a further £200,000 from Universal Pictures for advanced sales of the forthcoming DVD release out on Monday (Pre-order).
The gala was so successful that plans are now underway to hold an event of the same magnitude next year, with the aim being to pass the million pound mark next time.
Alan Carr, who opened the show on the night, said: "Wow! What a night! And what an amazing amount of money for Great Ormond Street - bring on next year!"
Michael McIntyre (pictured) added: "I'm absolutely thrilled that so much money has been raised for such a fantastic cause. This event will help so many children and I'm delighted to have taken part."
The money raised will fund two new anaesthetic rooms, allowing parents to stay with their child right up until they enter the operating theatres. Dr Jane Collins, chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust explained that going to hospital for surgery is one of the most traumatic experiences a child can face but the new anaesthetic rooms will help staff do their utmost to minimise stress to the patients and parents. She added: "We're very grateful to Channel 4, Open Mike, Universal and, of course all the comedians, for working together to raise such a phenomenal amount of money for our hospital."
Channel 4 TV boss Kevin Lygo added: "We're delighted to have raised so much money for Great Ormond Street hospital, and grateful to all the comedians who waivered their fees to help us put on such a spectacular event. If only the comedians had been a bit funnier maybe we could have reached the magic million. Ah well, next time."