CHARITY EVENT: STAND UP FOR HOPE

Comedian Shappi Khorsandi hosted a benefit gig with comedy chums Milton Jones, David Baddiel, Paul Chowdhry, Dan Antopolski and Peyvand Khorsandi in aid of Hope for the Young.

The event took place at Soho Theatre on Sunday 24 February and raised £3000 on the evening that will help Hope for the Young provide peer mentors, financial, educational and psychological support for disadvantaged children in India and vulnerable unaccompanied young refugees in the UK, giving them the chance to transform their lives. Omid means hope in Persian.

Shappi herself was forced to flee Iran with her family following the Islamic Revolution, and understands all too well the culture shock and uncertainty that faces children who arrive in the UK.

She says: “I am delighted to support Hope for the Young and through them bring some hope to children’s lives in the UK and in India. I know all too well how scary it is to arrive in a foreign country, not knowing what is going to happen to you. I was lucky to have my family with me, but that isn’t the case for many young people who struggle against great adversity to get to safety in the UK, and then find themselves scared, alone and unsure of what to do next. Hope for the Young provides these children with a life line for the future; I would like to thank everyone that supported us on the evening”.

The line up…

Shappi Khorsandi is an Iranian born comedian and has appeared on many BBC Radio 4 programmes including Quote…Unquote, Loose Ends, You and Yours, Midweek, Just A Minute, The Now Show and The News Quiz as well as BBC Television’s Have I Got News For You and QI. She has appeared on the BBC stand-up television show Live at the Apollo alongside Russell Kane and Al Murray and on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and 8 Out of 10 Cats. She has also published a memoir: A Beginner’s Guide to Acting English.

David Baddiel is a comedian, novelist and television presenter. He is known for his work alongside Rob Newman in the ground-breaking The Mary Whitehouse Experience and partnership with Frank Skinner.

Milton Jones‘s style of humour is based on one-liners involving puns delivered in a deadpan and slightly neurotic style. Jones has had various shows on BBC Radio 4 and is a recurring guest panellist on Mock the Week

Dan Antopolski is a Triple Perrier Award Nominee and Winner of the 2009 Dave Award for Funniest Joke of the Fringe. He is known for his surreal sense of humour.

Paul Chowdhry began his career in 1998 and is a regular on Mock the Week and more recently has appeared on Live at the Apollo.

Peyvand Khorsandi is the brother of Shappi and is a stand up comedian and writer.