Stand-ups to perform UK's highest gig

Five comedians are to perform the UK's highest ever stand-up gig on the summit of Ben Lomond.

The performers will be cracking gags atop the 3,196ft peak at 2pm on Monday, following a trek to raise money for mountain rescue charities.

Gary Little, Mark Nelson, Chris Forbes, Vladimir McTavish and Alan Anderson are the comics taking part in the adventure – and most are regular 'Munro baggers'. Munros are Scottish mountains more than 3,000ft high, and baggers aim to climb all 282 of them. Ben Lomond is the most southerly Munro.

However Nelson is a novice, claiming that the highest he has climbed is the stairs at Hampden to watch his beloved Queen of the South

The shows are in aid of Scottish Mountain Rescue and Trossachs Search and Rescue Dogs.

Anderson, who also organised the gig, said: 'The idea came about after meeting the Trossachs team and the dogs at Glasgow Stands Up For The Clutha fundraiser. The comics were all shocked that they received no state funding for their worthy work.

'As keen hillwalkers we wanted to do something to raise funds for them, and also those from Scottish Mountain Rescue, who give up their time and put themselves at risk in order to keep us safe when on the hills.

'Bank Holiday Monday is typically the busiest day on Ben Lomond. Hopefully the sun will come out and so will people's cash."

'The hardest part of the day isn't going to be making the climbers laugh. Because the gig is outdoors and miles from the nearest power source we have to carry our PA system with up and down the mountain.'

However the comics will be a long way short of the world's highest stand-up gig if another expedition succeeds. On October 3, Tommy Tiernan, Craig Campbell, Glenn Wool, Rhys Darby and Stewart Francis are set to perform to 50 fans at Mount Everest Base Camp – 17,601ft above sea level.

Meanwhile, another group of comics are hoping to raise money this Bank Holiday weekend by tackling the 84-mile trek.

Fifteen walkers, led by Nick Banks and including Seymour Mace, Patrick Monahan and John Cooper, take off from Newcastle today on an eight-day adventure, offering free gigs on the way, with a collection for Alzheimer's Research UK at each.

Banks said: 'We've done this a few times now. In our first year we did the trek in April and found ourselves camping in temperatures of -9C, but hopefully this time of year will be a Lot warmer. It's a big challenge, and it can be tough, but everyone is always in good spirits when we all get together and with so many comedians in one place it should be a good laugh.

'The first two walks raised £10,000 for charity and if we can beat that, we'll be very happy.'

Click here to sponsor the group.

Published: 21 May 2015