'Not with money, just this shitty little video...'

Ricky Gervais has backed a fundraising campaign for the comedy club that gave him his first paid stand-up gig.

The Office and After Life creator has recorded a short message to help Just The Tonic raise £17,500 towards running its venues at next year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

In the clip, Gervais says: ‘This is me giving something back. Not money, just this shitty little video. I want you to [contribute].’

Just The Tonic founder Darrell Martin says he needs to raise money to keep staff on once the government’s furlough scheme ends, as well as covering tax bills and other ongoing costs and planning for next year’s festival.

Last year, Just The Tonic hosted more than 180 shows a day in 17 rooms over seven venues, and was on course to offer even more this year.

It also runs gigs in Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham, Reading and Watford - all, of course, currently closed because of coronavirus.

Martin said that refunding all the advance payments to this year’s Fringe performers and tickets to cancelled comedy club gigs has left the company with no reserves.

He added: ‘For years, the comedy clubs and Fringe venues have been the training grounds for the TV stars and arena-filling comedians

‘Comedy clubs, venues and promoters all need to survive so that there is somewhere for the next generation’s Graham Norton, Micky Flanagan, Jimmy Carr, Sarah Millican, Greg Davies etc to learn their craft so that TV can have some talent.’

The government has announced a £1.57billion bailout fund for the arts and cultural sector, though it has not yet been made clear if comedy ventures are eligible for this, or how they might apply.

Published: 20 Jul 2020