Amnesty line-up revealed

The line-up for this year’s Secret Policeman’s Ball has been announced – with Chevy Chase heading the bill

Comics performing at the Amnesty International fundraiser have been confirmed as Eddie Izzard, Russell Brand, The Mighty Boosh, Jennifer Saunders, Jon Culshaw, Omid Djalili and Meera Syal.

Al Murray, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Culshaw, Jessica Stevenson, Ronni Ancona, Seth Green, Richard E Grant, Andrew Maxwell, The Gorillaz characters and The Magic Numbers complete the music-and-comedy line-up.

And there will be animations, featuring Patrick Stewart, Joanna Lumley, Jimmy Carr, Tara Fitzgerald, Jo Brand and Brian Cox.  

The ball will be held at the Royal Albert Hall. on Saturday 14 October, and broadcast on Channel 4 television soon after.
 
Kate Allen, UK director of Amnesty international, said: ‘We’re bringing back The Ball because it’s never been more important to stand up for human rights. Using the international language of comedy, we intend to bring people together to celebrate and stand up for humanity.’

Jimmy Carr added: ‘I support Amnesty International because who knows when I’ll be chained to a radiator and beaten with a rubber truncheon.  I think it’s Thursday, 4.30, Soho but I’ll have to check my diary.’

This is the first Secret Policeman’s Ball since 1991, although Izzard hosted the simlar WE Know Where You Live fundraiser at Wembley Arena in 2001.

Public support for Amnesty increased by 700 per cent after the first three shows, which started in 1976 , and featured the likes of John Cleese, Peter Cook’ and Rowan Atkinson.

Monty Python star Terry Gilliam, who performed in the original series, said:  ‘Now, as in the days of the early Secret Policeman’s Balls, governments are really keen on locking up people they don’t like. We have to have eyes and ears out all the time and voices that will shout out and say this is wrong, this is terrible.’

Tickets are available from today from the Royal Albert Hall box office  on 020 7589 8212.

Published: 16 Sep 2006