Charity drive in aid of food banks

Aisling Bea and some of her comedy friends are playing ‘reverse Santa’ this Christmas – to take gifts OFF anyone who steps into their grotto.

But it’s all in a good cause, as the donations will be going to food banks.

Comics and actors will be donning the white beard as part of a day of Christmas entertainment at the Bill Murray comedy venue in Islington, North London, on Wednesday.

The line-up promises ‘a host of award winning comedians, TV presenters and actors from your favourite movies, TV and comedy shows like Derry Girls, The Lost Daughter, Game Of Thrones, Fleabag, This Is Going To Hurt, This Way Up, Big Boys, Doctor Who, Taskmaster, QI and Strictly’.

As well as the grotto, there will be an afternoon of games and refreshments, followed by a rooftop singalong featuring London City Voices and then a comedy gig with Bea,  Joel Dommett, Ed Gamble, Tatty Macleod, Sikisa Bostwick-Barnes and more.

It’s all in aid of Hackney Food Bank – with audience members encouraged to bring food donations – and tickets are available here

Bea said: ‘The cost-of-living crisis has brought many people and families to their knees the last few years and the people in food banks and The Trussell Trust are often their only line of defence.  Their donation needs have escalated beyond belief.

‘Governments everywhere are lucky to have these charities but instead treat them as if they are temporary crisis centres rather than, for many people and areas, a long-term way of managing and staying alive.

‘I am trying to drum up as many donations as possible for my local Hackney foodbank. With the help of the Bill Murray comedy pub and a lot of my comedy and acting pals and the lovely members of the public, I hope we can make that happen while also raising awareness to how badly things have escalated.’

Creative and managing director of The Bill Murray, Barry Ferns, added: ‘We’re incredibly keen to make this important event as impactful as possible. Food poverty (and poverty in a wider sense) is one of the most pernicious problems in society today.

‘We're delighted and proud to be working with the human-dynamo that is Aisling Bea and hope with a bit of celebrity stardust and some hard work locally we can make a small difference for some people this Christmas and beyond.’

Published: 19 Dec 2022