Comedian Jon Richardson hosting livestream comedy evening to raise money for St John's Hospice in Lancaster

Comedian Jon Richardson is putting on a livestream comedy evening on Bank Holiday Monday to raise money for charities including St John's Hospice, Community Foundation for Lancashire COVID-19 Fund, NHS Charities Together and Nordoff Robbins and United We Stream Solidarity Fund.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The comedy extravaganza will include Jon Richardson and his comedy friends performing via the GMCA fundraising platform United We Stream.

The last time ‘Jon Richardson and Friends’ performed live at the Morecambe Winter Gardens, the show sold out within hours of the tickets being put on on-line.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This time the show goes direct to everyone’s homes; streaming live from 8pm - 10pm on Monday May 25.

Jon Richardson performs at Morecambe Winter Gardens. Picture: Keith Douglas.Jon Richardson performs at Morecambe Winter Gardens. Picture: Keith Douglas.
Jon Richardson performs at Morecambe Winter Gardens. Picture: Keith Douglas.

United We Stream will be working hard to host the event and hope to use some of the funds raised to continue to support the entertainment economy and homelessness in Greater Manchester.

There are some big names involved from the comedy world and the event will feature the best of the regions talent from the sports and the music industries.

Challenged to raise charitable funds, Jon has invited many of his friends to join him and be part of this unique performance.

The final line up is still a closely guarded secret.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In return Jon Richardson will be asking viewers to make a donation to the charities saying: “I’ve never taken for granted the amazing work St John’s Hospice does for our community and that’s why I set up the annual gig in Morecambe.

"What I realise I have taken for granted is how much the area means to me and how much I love being able to travel there whenever I choose.

“With lockdown taking travel and the gigs away it makes sense to host an online celebration of Lancashire to raise money for charities across the county who are struggling to keep their vital services going.

“I’ve never done anything like this before so while I can promise I’ll be working my hardest and we have some amazing people contributing, just what it will look like will be a surprise to me as much as anyone on the night.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Catherine Butterworth, Director of Income Generation, St John’s Hospice said, “We are so lucky to have Jon and his friends rooting for us as we work through this pandemic.

"They are long-term supporters of St John’s and the fact they are providing their own time free of charge so we can all keep caring for makes an incredible difference.

“Jon and his friends know that charities are struggling and by putting on an amazing evening; they are making sure charity work continues.

“In the words of Dame Cicely Saunders, who was a pioneer in hospice care and initiated the hospice movement – ‘we cannot take away the whole hard thing that is happening, but we can help to bring the burden into manageable proportions’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“So please kick back, log in and donate the price of a night out and a few drinks to these charities!”

Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester said: “Through these challenging times, we all need to put some time aside and be able to bring a smile to our faces.

“UnitedWeStream.co.uk was set up to both entertain and raise money and awareness for so many people, charities and organisations at the moment.

“I am absolutely delighted that for one night, we can all sit back and laugh along together, whilst raising money for many causes across Greater Manchester and St John’s Hospice”

Fundraising events like this make such a difference to charities as they work to support their local communities throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

For more details go to www.sjhospice.org.uk.