C4 Comedy Gala to return in 2011

This year's event raises £900,000

Plans are afoot for another star-studded Channel 4 Comedy Gala next year – after this year’s O2 Arena event raised nearly £900,000.

Comics who took part in this year’s event – including Lee Evans, Alan Carr, Jack Dee and Michael McIntyre – yesterday presented Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital with cheques for £869,492.81. 

Most of this was from the 15,000 tickets sold, plus a further £200,000 from Universal Pictures for advanced sales of the DVD, which is released on Monday.

The money will fund two new anaesthetic rooms, allowing parents to stay with their child right up until they enter the operating theatres.

McIntyre added: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled that so much money has been raised for such a fantastic cause.  This event will help so many children and I’m delighted to have taken part.’

Carr said: ‘What an amazing amount of money for Great Ormond Street - bring on next year!’

The extravaganza, which took place on March 30, featured 35 top comedians and aired on Channel 4 a few days later, where it attracted three million viewers. 

Kevin Lygo, director of television at Channel 4, said: ‘We’re delighted to have raised so much money for Great Ormond Street hospital, and grateful to all the comedians who waived their fees to help us put on such a spectacular event. If only the comedians had been a bit funnier maybe we could have reached the magic million. Ah well, next time.’

Click here to order the DVD.

Published: 24 Apr 2010

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