THREE of the UK’s top comedians have signed up to take part in a massive fundraising event in aid of pioneering East Oxford hospice Helen & Douglas House.

Jo Brand, Patrick Kielty and Sean Lock will all be taking to the stage at Oxford’s New Theatre, in George Street, for the fifth annual Childish Things on Thursday, May 14.

Since the event first took place, it has raised more than £135,000 for the Magdalen Road hospice, which provides respite care for children and young adults with life-limiting conditions.

Kate Day, who co-ordinates and produces the show along with Lizzie Pickering, said she was delighted.

She said: “I think it’s fantastic.

“I think we have got a wonderful line-up of performers and I believe there is going to be something for everybody in that.”

Along with Brand, Kielty and Lock, comedian and actor Kevin Eldon, who has performed in a host of British comedy programmes including Fist of Fun, I'm Alan Partridge, Big Train, Brass Eye and Jam will be performing, along with Oxford contemporary a cappella group Out of the Blue.

Three of the Comedy Store Players, Richard Vranch, Andy Smart and Lee Simpson – who specialise in improvisation – will also be taking part.

Miss Day said: “It’s so lovely that we have got Out of the Blue back again, last year they had a manic dash back from the States so they were slightly limited to what they could do and they were so keen to be involved.

“We are just staggered and so grateful that these big names will come and do it for us.”

Each year, the performers give up their time free of charge.

Tickets are already on sale and, so far, 60 per cent of the those available – which range in price from £20 to £50 for ‘gold’ tickets – have been snapped up.

Miss Day said: “It’s massive for us to have an event right in the centre of Oxford and to keep up awareness within our local community is vital.

“One of the reasons we have kept the ticket price as low as we have is because we really feel that we want it to be an event that our local community and supporters can afford to come to and so it’s fun.”

Tickets are available from the New Theatre box office, Ticket Master on 0844 8471585 or ticketmaster.co.uk, and can also be bought from Helen & Douglas House shops in Abingdon, Chipping Norton, Thame and Witney.

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk