Aisling Bea leads all-star line-up for Hackney Foodbank

Comedian and actress Aisling Bea and Angel Comedy are holding a Food Drive with a difference for Hackney Foodbank this winter.

The event includes a huge comedy show with a stellar line-up (Aisling Bea, Nish Kumar, Sara Pascoe, Rob Delaney and more) at EartH Venue in Dalston on Wednesday December 20 and Thursday December 21.

From 2pm till 6pm on December 20 Aisling and Friends will be at the Bill Murray (39 Queens Head St, Islington) alongside a whimsical garden grotto with various stars dressing as Santa. They’re urging people to come along, join a singalong with a celebrity choir (and later the London City Voices) and take a festive selfie.

The entertainment will feature a lineup of acclaimed comedians, TV presenters, and actors from hit shows like Drag Race, Heartstopper, Derry Girls, The Lost Daughter, Game Of Thrones, Fleabag, This Is Going To Hurt, This Way Up, Big Boys, Doctor Who, Taskmaster, Qi, and Strictly. It’s hoped their presence will help generate more donations, raising awareness of the cost-of-living crisis and supporting local families.

Organiser Aisling Bea said: “The cost-of-living crisis has left many people and families struggling in recent years, with food banks, such as The Trussell Trust, often being their sole lifeline. The demand for donations has surged, and I'm rallying for as many contributions as possible for my local Hackney food bank. With the backing of The Bill Murray Comedy Pub, my fellow comedy and acting peers, and the generous public, I hope we can make a meaningful impact while bringing attention to the severity of the situation."

Last year’s Food Drive collected 1.3 tonnes of food. Barry Ferns, Creative and Managing Director of The Bill Murray, expressed his excitement, stating, "Food poverty is a pervasive issue in today's society, and collaborating with the dynamic force that is Aisling Bea, we aim to make a positive difference this Christmas and beyond."

Pat Fitzsimons, CEO of Hackney Foodbank, said: “Aisling’s support for Hackney Foodbank has been unwavering and we are so incredibly grateful. Times are very tough here – we’ve seen a 66% increase in demand this year, with pensioners and single parent households among those impacted most by the cost-of-living-crisis. We urgently need more donations - so the timing of this Food Drive couldn’t be better.

“Not only are Aisling and Friends and the Angel Comedy Club making a tangible difference to people in crisis this Christmas, they’re also cheering us all up! Our very heartfelt thanks go to everyone supporting the event.”

Hackney Foodbank has seen a huge surge in demand this year, with referrals between January and December up 55%, compared with the same period last year and food donations down.  The charity say demand is particularly high from people aged over 65 and single parent households.

Tickets for the Wednesday night show at EartH have sold out but Aisling was swift to offer another event the following night. Click here for tickets.