A chance to have a good laugh with Jo Brand, and stop people dying

  • Post

  • 21 November 2013

  • Posted by Alastair Campbell

  • 0

If you like Jo Brand, if you like a good night out, if you have an empty diary on the evening of this coming Sunday November 24, and if you have a passing interest in making a small contribution to curing cancer and saving lives, then please click on here. I've been involved in An Audience With… since the very beginning, and every year it's one charity event not to be missed. In fact it’s become an Autumn Institution and a resounding success for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, raising over £160,000, so far, to help beat blood cancer. The annual event was the idea of my literary agent and leukaemia survivor, Ed Victor, and thanks to his, my and Alan Yentob's contacts books, we’ve brought audiences a unique insight into the lives of some of the most impressive people in entertainment, including Mel Brooks, Kevin Spacey, Michael Palin, Stephen Fry, Billy Connolly and Miranda. Not a bad line up, and every single one of them turning out for not a penny. Jo Brand is the next great name to step up in the same way. The beauty is that although the Criterion Theatre is full of splendour, it is still a relatively small and intimate venue, so can you get up close and personal to the celebrity guest. Alan Yentob uses archive footage as the basis for interviews, and then the audience gets to ask the questions. A highlight last year was when an over zealous fan just wouldn't shut up but Miranda just said 'Shush now' and he did! I’ve no doubt that An Audience with Jo Brand will be brilliant. I have seen her do stand up, chat, after dinner, political, and lots else besides. Whilst she may be known to most as a BAFTA-winning English comedian, writer and actress, many may not know, for example, about her life as a psychiatric nurse for 10 years, or a Crystal Palace fanatic. That’s what makes this event so unique – we go way beyond what you thought you knew about the person. I’m expecting the evening to be full of laughs – Jo is an incredibly funny lady. However, there are always twists during these evenings so expect the unexpected! And here is a reminder of how to be there

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

468. Starmer in Crisis: Sabotage From Within? (Question Time)

Has Keir Starmer lost control of his own team? Is Gen Z actually the most informed generation yet, or are they cripplingly cynical? And, why is African democracy in retreat? Join Rory and ... Continue

12 November 2025

467. The Mamdani Method Explained: Could It Shock Britain?

How did a thirty four-year old democratic socialist win over New York, and can he actually follow through on his promise to transform the city? What do Zohran Mamdani, Zack Polanski, and Nige... Continue

12 November 2025

Alastair Campbell’s diary: Dick Cheney, the unlikely anti-Trump symbol

In Trump’s eyes, Cheney was a non-person who did not even merit a comment upon his death... Continue

12 November 2025

Article

Posted by

466. Crisis Hits the BBC: Is this a Coordinated Attack?

Why have the BBC’s Director General and Head of News both suddenly resigned? Is this an internal 'coup' at the BBC or a 'concerted' attack by its usual enemies? How is American-style polari... Continue

10 November 2025

466. Crisis Engulfs the BBC: Is this a Coordinated Attack?

Why have the BBC’s Director General and Head of News both suddenly resigned? Is this an internal 'coup' at the BBC or a 'concerted' attack by its usual enemies? How is American-style polari... Continue

10 November 2025

The malign right can’t be allowed to destroy the BBC

Panorama made mistakes but this ‘scandal’ is the work of populists trying to control the airwaves. They won’t rest... Continue

10 November 2025

Article

Posted by

161. Putin, Trump, and 500 Years of Resisting Russia (Radek Sikorski)

What was it like for Radek Sikorski to be a refugee in the UK from communist Poland in the 80s? How will the war in Ukraine come to an end? Why is populism on the rise in Europe and how do we... Continue

10 November 2025

Murdoch’s Succession Battle and the Fight for Fox News

What are the key differences between Murdoch's children, particularly Lachlan and James? How do the internal family conflicts of the Murdochs mirror the TV show Succession? What will Rupert M... Continue

7 November 2025