Fund to help comics in need tops £50k

A new fund to help comedians struggling because of the coronavirus lockdown has hit its £50,000 target within a day.

The efforts have been boosted by big-name comics, starting with Richard Herring who injected £10,000 into the fund.

Then Sara Pascoe added £5,000, followed by Friday Night Dinner star Tom Rosenthal who added another £2,000, joking: 'Well Herring and Pascoe have made me look like a prick here.’

Another anonymous donor added £5,000, with more than 250 others donating including Dawn French, Adam Kay, Robert Webb, Susan Calman, Jo Caulfield, Al Murray and Lee Mack.

Richard Herring was the first TV name to come in on the fund, urged others to follow suit. He said: 'We need to raise a lot more to keep live comedy in business through this difficult time. Any working TV comics please consider giving a large amount to help our industry. Everyone else, every penny counts.'

Sarah Henley, NextUp co-founder says  "Comedians across the UK have lost their primary source of income due to the impact of the Coronavirus. It’s devastating to see venues closing down and live events being cancelled. If you value live comedy as much as we do at NextUp and respect the performers who dedicate their lives to bringing us laughter - let’s band together and #hecklethevirus".

Comics struggling to pay bills as their live work evaporates during the lockdown can apply to the fund, being administered by comedy-on-demand subscription service NextUp, for help.

The target has now been raised to £100,000, with the company saying: ‘We are completely humbled to see so many of you supporting those comedians that have lost work over this difficult time. Together we will make sure the comedy industry prevails.

Donate here – where there is also a form for comics to apply for help if they need it.

Published: 19 Mar 2020