Rowan Atkinson heads star-studded benefit

Rowan Atkinson is to make a rare live appearance at a star-studded comedy benefit show next year.

Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse are also on the bill of the 100 Hearts Charity Gala alongside the likes of Michael McIntyre, Rob Brydon, and Jo Brand.

The event, at the West End’s Adelphi Theatre, is in aid of genetics programme at Royal Brompton Hospital, where medics use groundbreaking  DNA testing to diagnose genetic heart and lung conditions early enough to circumvent the need for a transplant. 

Enfield said: ‘No one gets to my age without a bit of heartache – but I’ve lost very good friends through heart attacks.  The Brompton can now diagnose cardiac disease through DNA testing. Which sounds a pretty good idea. So Paul Whitehouse and I offered to help, but instead they asked us to be in a show and let them get on with the science stuff."

The bill on February 26 also includes Nina Conti,  James Acaster, Bridget Christie, Angus Deayton and Nish Kumar.

100 Hearts is the brainchild of composer and actor Philip Pope, and his wife Rosie, whose son Will was saved by a heart transplant at Harefield Hospital on New Year’s Eve in 2012, at the age of 20.  

Pope was a member of 1980s sketch teams Who Dares Wins and Radio Active, has toured with Rory McGrath, and appeared in TV and radio shows including The Life of Rock with Brian Pern, Old Harry’s Game and  Only Fools and Horses 

He also co-wrote Spitting Image’s No 1 hit Th Chicken Song with Red Dwarf creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor .

Tickets for the benefit, priced from £45 to £154.50 are available here.

Published: 9 Dec 2016