Chris and Rosie Ramsey to play Newcastle's Utilita Arena this Christmas for Laffs4Kids Charity Show
North East comedy power couple Chris and Rosie Ramsey are joining the lineup for Laffs4Kids on Sunday 15th December at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle.
The charity comedy and variety event, dubbed “the happiest comedy show in the North East”, is the brainchild of Newcastle-based writer and comedian Jason Cook, creator of the sitcom Hebburn starring Chris Ramsey and whodunnit series Murder, They Hope with Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson.
Tickets are priced at just £20, in order to cover production costs, and audience members are asked to bring new and unwrapped Christmas gifts to donate for local children living in poverty.
The gifts collected at Laffs4Kids go to the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas appeal, the largest children’s Christmas gift appeal in the UK, run in conjunction with Hits Radio North East.
All gifts donated in the North East stay in the North East, and in 2023 the appeal provided Christmas gifts for over 41,000 children across the region at risk of waking up to nothing under the tree on Christmas Day. Now in its ninth year, Laffs4Kids audience members have donated over 80,000 gifts to date and hope to hit 100,000 this year.
Speaking about the upcoming performance, Chris and Rosie said; “Being from the North East and living in the North East, it’s always heartbreaking to hear that children from our region may go without presents at Christmastime. So being part of a night of fantastic entertainment and comedy that will help to stop that happening is a dream come true. It’s going to be brilliant!”
Previous acts at the adults-only event have included Sarah Millican, Tim Healy and Lost Voice Guy. Due to demand, this year’s show has moved to the Utilita Arena from its previous home of Newcastle City Hall.
As Jason Cook explains, “The City Hall is one of our greatest venues in Newcastle, but sadly, even though we would sell it out twice in one day, we just couldn’t collect enough presents. This move means that we may be able to solve the problem in one night. The arena is a huge space, but the show we are planning will be like nothing anyone has ever seen. Comedians, music, dancing - it’s the ultimate Christmas night out, and all for a good cause.”
“Most people bring about four or five gifts,” further comments Cook, “although we have had people that bring HUNDREDS. It’s a real feel-good event and the kindness in the air is something I’ve never experienced in 25 years of doing comedy.”
Dan Slee, Charity Manager for Cash for Kids North East, said; “Laffs4Kids is our favourite event of the year and key to the Mission Christmas appeal. The generosity of the North East truly shines through – without it we simply wouldn’t be able to help so many children and families. With the move to the arena, Jason and his team are working on something truly special and we’re over the moon to have Chris and Rosie Ramsey on board!”
Other acts confirmed so far include Adam Rowe (Have a Word Podcast and Live at the Apollo), fellow Live at the Apollo regulars Scott Bennett and Brennan Reece, plus MC Hammersmith (Britain’s finest gangster hip hop comedian), Clinton Baptiste (Phoenix Nights) and local comedy star Carl Hutchinson.
Further information and tickets can be found at laffs4kids.co.uk.
