Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis has spoken out about the many comedians who rely on the aid of Red Nose Day to boost their careers and offset their tax liabilities.
‘We are asking people to think of the poor comedians and to pick up the phone and donate’, said Curtis. ‘Comedians need Red Nose Day. Take Lenny Henry for example, it's one of the few opportunities he gets to venture out of his Dudley Premier Inn.’
‘If it transpires that this year’s show doesn’t generate enough donations, then budgets and comedians will be cut for next year’s show. In preparation, we have already lined up Russ Abbott, Les Dennis, Cheggers and, if he’d ever answer his bloody phone, Frank Carson.’
Curtis also had to admit that people shouldn’t be fooled by the large sums of money shown on last year’s giant totaliser, these were actually just Jimmy Carr checking his bank balance.
This year however, more comedians are rallying to help raise their profiles and hopefully also raise some money. Comedienne Miranda Hart is undergoing her ‘Mad March’ series of madcap challenges that generally involve the lovable lady-Hagrid buffooning her way around whilst performing comedy falls. Elsewhere, a celebrity team including Dara O’Briain and Jack Dee jumped at the challenge of riding a dingy down the Zambezi river rapids – the sick and underprivileged children who were originally intended for this particular water sports holiday, were told ‘maybe next year’.
With the expectation of high viewing figures, the National Grid has been forewarned that there could be a colossal power surge from millions of boiling kettles during what’s being described as the ‘One Direction slot’.
