Star-studded show raises £70,000 for children's hospices

A variety show at a theatre in Suffolk has raised tens of thousands of pounds for a local children's charity.

Griff Rhys Jones played host at the Ipswich Regent on Tuesday, 3 December, welcoming on stage famous faces like Al Murray, Stephen K. Amos, and Rick Wakeman.

The event raised £70,000 for East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH), of which Rhys Jones is a regular supporter.

The other celebrities to appear in front of the sell out 1,500 audience were Lee Mack, Andy Parsons, Rick Wakeman, Matt Richardson, Jess Robinson, Rory McGrath, Connie Lamb and Liam Godwin.

The money was raised through ticket sales as well as a raffle halfway through the show and a meet and greet auction afterwards.

It will go towards the charity's three hospices in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Lesa Barker, EACH head of events fundraising, said: "Everyone left feeling uplifted and having had a wonderful evening, full of laughter.

"We’d obviously like to say a massive thanks to Griff, who put in a great deal of work on this despite having plenty other things to prepare for in what I know is a very busy festive schedule for him.

"To have the support of all his friends from the industry was fantastic, too, and we can say all the money raised is going directly to the children, young people and families offered support by EACH."

Griff Rhys Jones will be hosting another show in aid of the charity in Cambridge on 19 December.