Rhod Gilbert to host comedians boxing

In aid of cancer-stricken tot

Rhod Gilbert has been named as the host of the comedians' boxing match next month.

It has also been announced that the event at the Blyth Sports Centre in Northumberland will be in aid of Newcastle toddler Kian Musgrave's fight for pioneering cancer treatment in the US.

Last month, Chortle revealed that 20 comedians, including Carl Donnelly, Phil Nichol and Patrick Monahan, will be stepping into the ring for a boxing extravaganza on February 7.

It has been put together by comic Kai Humphries, whose Punch-Drunk comedy nights have previously raise funds for two-year-old Kian.

He was first diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in October 2013, when 27 tumours were found in his his body. After a gruelling eight-month bout of treatments, the cancer was no longer detectable, but last month the disease returned. Now the Musgrove family are trying to raise around £500,000 for specialist relapse treatment in New York.

Box office profits from the boxing night will be going to his campaign, while all the comedians taking part are raising their own sponsorship, too, with many of them choosing to donate the proceeds to Kian.

Other comics involved in the contest are Gavin Webster, Adam Rowe, Barry Castagnola, Elliot Steel, Bobby Mair, David Hadingham, Mark Nelson, James Dowdeswell, Matt Reed, Chris Martin, Jarred Christmas, Barry Dodds, John Hastings, Tom Houghton and Milo McCabe. And there will be a female bout between Luisa Omielan and Penella Mellor.