Gesture matched by Underbelly venue

Al Murray is donating profits of this weekend’s gigs in London to victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.

And the Underbelly Festival on the South Bank, where he is playing tonight and tomorrow, have vowed to match it.

Murray tweeted a message last night saying:  ‘All profits from my Pub Landlord's Summer Saloon shows this Friday and Saturday at the Underbelly Southbank will be donated to the people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

‘Underbelly will also be matching the contribution up to £10,000.’

His pledge follows the announcement of a massive comedy gig in aid of the cause at the Eventim Apollo on Tuesday June 27.

Michael McIntyre, Kevin Bridges, Alan Carr, Micky Flanagan, Jo Brand, Rob Beckett, Josh Widdicombe, Jon Richardson, Katherine Ryan, Seann Walsh, Adam Hills and Russell Kane are all on the bill – and tickets go on sale at 10am today.

And at  Battersea Arts Centre on Monday Daniel Kitson hosts another sold-out benefit, featuring Jeremy Hardy, Josie Long, Heydon Prowse, Mark Thomas and Imran Yusuf.

At least 17 people died in the inferno, although that figure is expected to rise, possibly to more than 100, as fire chiefs do not expect to find any more survivors in the burnt-out tower in North Kensington.

Published: 16 Jun 2017