Saturday 4th April 2020

THE EVENT

Enjoy some of the best comedy and entertainment out there from the comfort of your very favourite armchair. Our comics will be streaming from their homes all over the UK. 

Following our enormously successful inaugural performance, on our second date, half the money raised will be going to the Trussell Trust, and the other half to our (self-employed) performers to support them in this time of uncertainty.

The event will take place on Saturday 4th April 2020 at 7pm (UK time).

You can purchase a link to the live stream or alternatively join our ‘front row’ seats where the performers will be able to see and interact with you (make sure you have a webcam and microphone).

THE ACTS

Kiri Pritchard Mclean

Your host is Welsh Comedian Kiri Pritchard-Mclean – a double Chortle Award winning stand up comedian, writer and satirist. Recent television appearances include Have I Got News For You, The Russell Howard Hour (which she writes on) and Stand Up Central. Kiri hosted both Stand Up at BBC Wales and Wales at the Edinburgh Fringe for the BBC where she introduces a throng of the most exciting comics in the UK. She will be in upcoming episodes of Hypothetical, Roast Battle and the Comedy Central Specials.

A regular on BBC radio, Kiri has appeared many times on The Now Show and the News Quiz. She often co-hosts on Rhod Gilbert’s radio show and guest hosted Newsjack Extra. Kiri is a writing/ directing member of Foster’s Comedy Award nominated sketch group Gein’s Family Giftshop who have a third installment of their radio series in the pipeline.

Kiri is a co-creator and co-host of both the All Killa No Filla podcast and the live juggernaut Amusical. All Killa No Filla is a podcast about serial killers that has a gigantic following worldwide. Co hosted with Rachel Fairburn, the podcast’s live adaptation sold out The Leicester Square Theatre in minutes and toured the United States. Amusical is a phenomena that started in Backyard Comedy Comedy and has run monthly for just over a year. Comedians sing their favourite songs from the musicals, hosted by Kiri with Jayde Adams and house band Dave and the Quavers. In the short time since it’s conception it has sold out the Pleasance Grand in Edinburgh twice and been made into a pilot with Burning Bright for Comedy Central.

Nish Kumar

Since beginning his comedy career in 2006, Nish has achieved global success on the stand-up circuit with his rave-reviewed solo stand-up shows receiving huge recognition from industry and fans alike.

Nish is a double Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee, panel show regular, and hosts The Mash Report (BBC Two) with comics Ellie Taylor, Steve N Allen, Jason Forbes, Tom Neenan and Rachel Parris. He has also hosted BBC Radio 4 Extra’s topical comedy show Newsjack.

“Critically acclaimed comic, internationally famed meme & wonderfully nice gentleman, Nish Kumar is a comedian, and a bloody good one at that.” (Time Out).

“The affable comic expertly blends comedy and commentary in a routine that snipes unpityingly at Britain’s political class.” (The Guardian).

‘Impressive and accomplished… full of confidently delivered, wryly witty tales that delight in the quirks and possibilities of language’ (The Scotsman)

Tom Allen

Tom Allen is a comedian, writer and actor. He started as a stand up at the age of 22 and went on to win both So You Think You’re Funny in Edinburgh and the BBC New Comedy Awards in the same year. Since then he has honed his unique style of sharp, acerbic wit and camp, riotous storytelling by performing to audiences all over the UK and around the world.

He recently made his first appearance on the BBC’s iconic Live at the Apollo.

He has also been making several appearances on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Mock the Week, The Great British Bake Off’s Extra Slice, Celebrity The Crystal Maze as well as the John Bishop Show and Channel 4’s Comedy Gala at the O2 along with several appearances on Just a Minute including the 50th anniversary episode alongside Prince Charles.

Last year he supported Sarah Millican on her sold out tour of Australia, New Zealand and the UK. He has also supported Josh Widdicombe, Romesh Ranganathan and Michael McIntyre.

After a sell out run of his show ‘Indeed’ at the Edinburgh Festival Tom recently brought it to the main space at London’s Soho Theatre before extending his current tour ‘Absolutely’ to even more places around the UK.

Like Minded Friends, the weekly podcast he records with friend and compadre Suzi Ruffell has now reached the hundreds of thousands in its listenership.

As a teenager he was the youngest member of the Noel Coward Society. He responds well to deadlines and strong women.

Nina Gilligan

Sometimes outrageous, always hilarious, observational and storytelling comedy for all. A persona you will fall in love with.

Award-winning comedian Nina Gilligan exploded on to the comedy scene in 2011 and is now a regular on the UK circuit, performing at clubs and venues all over the UK. She is now also proving to be a success on the after dinner and sporting dinner circuit.

Over the past few years, Nina has been a finalist in Hilarity Bites, Breaking Acts, Kill for a Seat and Real Radio XS Judged. She won an award for Hot Water Comedian of the Year in 2013 and was a finalist in English Comedian of the Year 2016.

A bolshier Mrs Merton, she’s not one to suffer fools lightly – so watch out for a razor sharp wit used at will. Her act will leave you shouting for more!

Grace Petrie

A Mojo top 10 album winner in 2017 and 2018. A folk singer, songwriter and activist from Leicester, UK, Grace has been writing, recording and touring relentlessly for ten years. Her unique takes on life, love and politics, and the warmth and wit with which they are delivered, have won over audiences everywhere, across the alternative, folk, political and comedy scenes.

‘She writes the sort of songs you want to pin the lyrics of on your bedroom wall, or on the office door, to remind you and everyone else who might read them what is important and true’. – Buzz Magazine

‘A millennial’s Billy Bragg’. Songlines.

‘”Hello,” said Grace Petrie sweetly. “I’m a protest singer.” Murmurs of approval. “Actually I’m a socialist, feminist, lesbian, left wing protest singer…” The place erupted.’ The first lines of The Guardian review of Cambridge Folk Festival

‘She’s an effervescent charm-bomb of a performer, even alone with an acoustic guitar, as she was that night, singing about Theresa May. “We’re getting standup and music,” a woman next to me said.’ The New Yorker

THE CHARITY

The Trussell Trust support a nationwide network of food banks and together  provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.

In the UK, more than 14 million people are living in poverty – including 4.5 million children. TT support more than 1,200 food bank centres in the UK to provide a minimum of three days’ nutritionally-balanced emergency food to people who have been referred in crisis, as well as support to help people resolve the crises they face. Between April 2018 and March 2019, food banks in their network provided a record 1.6 million food supplies to people in crisis, a 19% increase on the previous year.

We know it takes more than food to end hunger. That’s why we bring together the experiences of food banks in our network to challenge the structural economic issues that lock people in poverty, and campaign to end the need for food banks in the UK.

FAQs

How do I access the livestream I paid for?

You will receive an email on Saturday evening containing a link to the livestream. You will be able to watch the whole show live through there.

Can I share my livestream link?

Please feel free to share the livestream link but consider making another donation to The Trussell Trust.

Will it work this week? Seriously?

We’re so sorry about the livestreaming problems last week. We promise that we’ve ironed out the issues. It will work!

How do I access my ‘front row’ ticket?

You will receive an email on Saturday evening containing a link to a live broadcast using the software Zoom.us. The software is free and available on any tablet, computer or smartphone. Please download in advance of 7pm Saturday so you are ready to go.

Can I share my ‘front row’ link?

We only have limited capacity for the ‘front row’ tickets so please don’t share your link with anyone else. You will be stealing someone’s seat!

My ‘front row’ link is not working, what do I do?

Please keep trying the link or alternatively whilst in the Zoom app try joining a meeting with the meeting ID provided in the email. If you are still having issues then please watch using livestream link.