THREE more acts have confirmed they will perform at a charity concert in aid of children’s respite hospice Helen and Douglas House.

Comedians Jason Manford, Hal Cruttenden, and Tommy and the Weeks will join Rob Brydon in the line-up for Childish Things 6.

Student a capella group Out of the Blue will also appear, but two of the biggest names will only be revealed on the night.

Organiser Lizzie Pickering said she could not reveal the identities of the two performers, but was confident people would not be disappointed.

She said: “The thing we want each year is for people to have had really good value for their money and, if no-one else confirmed, they will definitely have that with our two surprises.

“We have put the ticket price up very little over the years because we want to keep it as a heart of Oxford show.

“We always have a really mixed audience which is why the atmosphere is so electric.”

For the first time, the show will take place on a Saturday – March 20 – and all the 1,800 tickets for the event at the New Theatre, George Street, have been sold except for a handful of single seats.

Since the first Childish Things was launched, it has raised £170,000 for the charity, and organisers are hoping to push that figure over £200,000 with this year’s event.

All the performers take part free of charge, while the New Theatre provides the venue for free, along with donating profits from ice cream sales and the bar on the night.

Five more acts are in discussions about appearing on the show and it is hoped there will be another announcement about performers closer to the event.

Mrs Pickering, who first became involved with the East Oxford hospice when her son Harry received respite care there 15 years ago, urged people to snap up the remaining tickets.

She said: “There is such a misconception in Oxford that Helen & Douglas House is a wealthy charity because our profile is high due to the celebrity supporters we have, but we desperately need more money.

“It is a lot of money to run the two houses and we do need people to put their hands in their pockets so we would ask people who come to Childish Things to help us spread the word throughout the year.”

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk Tickets cost from £20 from the box office in George Street, from newtheatreoxford.org.uk, from Helen & Douglas House shops or from ticketmaster.co.uk