If you hate Cancer as much as we do, you’re probably going to need to watch the upcoming Stand Up To Cancer 2014 night on Channel 4 later in October and get yourself set to pledge at least a little support. With a whole host of comedy genius behind it, including Will Ferrell, Richard Ayoude, Martin Freeman, Josh Widdicombe, Jack Whitehall and the guys from Men Behaving Badly, it’s shaping up to be a class night, while also doing a hell of a lot for a very worthy cause.
The fundraiser will air on the 17th October 2014 for a whole evening of entertainment and alternative charity fun as the team aim to beat their last tally of £8m back in 2012, when the UK-based Stand Up To Cancer first launched in association with Cancer Research UK. It’ll all begin at 7pm on the Friday night, ploughing relentlessly into the small hour in their bid to support the development of new medical solutions to improve the survival rate for cancer sufferers.
However, if you’re super keen you can phone 0300 123 4444, with lines open until 27th November, or to give £5 or £10 text FIVE or TEN to 70404 (one standard rate message cost will apply – UK residents and 16+ only). 100% of your donation will go to Cancer Research UK in support of the SU2C campaign.
The charity show is being hosted by Alan Carr, Davina McCall and Dr. Christian Jessen once again, following the success of the debut year for the bi-annual fundraising event. For any Gogglebox fans there’s going to be a Celebrity Special of the random TV commentary reality show, where we’ll get to hear what the people usually on the inside of the little box think when they’re watching TV.
There’s also going to be a bizarre comedy sketch spoof of the making of the Andy Murray: The Movie, starring the Wimbledon champion himself alongside Richard Ayoade (IT Crowd, The Double) as they screen test big names stars to be cast in the film. However, it’s a random collection of celebs that make up the casting list, including Pharrell, Gordon Ramsay, Michael Sheen, Rory McIIroy, Sir Terry Wogan, Cesc Fabregas and Britney Spears to name but a few.
If that isn’t enough, comedian Jack Whitehall will also be on hand to talk balls, as usual, in a sketch about testicular cancer. Luckily, it doesn’t sound like his dad will be helping him out this time, but he will be joined by Martin Clunes and Neil Morrissey, the original Men Behaving Badly duo, as they work on the finer points of checking your gonads for possible signs of testicular cancer, probably with a can of Stella in one hand.
Will Ferrel (The Anchorman 2, The Lego Movie) will be putting in an appearance as the legendary Ron Burgundy, in a sketch to show his own brand of support for the Stand Up To Cancer 2014 cause. If his appearance in similar cameo crop- ups is anything to go by, it should be short, sweet and about as controversial as Ricky Gervais’ closing joke at the 68th Golden Globes back in 2011.
There will also be a look behind the scenes of the front-line celebrity call handling team of Jessie J, Bruno Tonioli, Rizzle Kicks, Vernon Kay, Little Mix, Angelos Epithemiou, Professor Green, Joey Essex and McBusted, who will be doing everything the can to eek as much as possible out of the phone donations. The Celebrity Telephon Towers sketch looks as random and surreal as the rest of the night, but if it helps to raise awareness and increase the coffers on the night, as well as dishing out a few laughs, then it’s all good by us.
To add even more much-loved might to the fundraiser night festivities, The Last Leg team of Adam Hills, Josh Widdecombe and Alex Brooker do their bit to stand up to cancer by hosting brief snippets of elements from their Channel 4 show. They’ll be joined by celeb guests live throughout the night for their own unique, and probably vaguely controversial, take on cancer, as well as answering as many Is it OK? questions as they can muster.
If you’re wondering how your hard earned money will be spent after the show, the money from the last event helped finance 12 clinical trials around the UK, including the most sophisticated bowel cancer trial ever to be undertaken in the world. Research has already allowed us to reach the point where two in four people will now survive cancer for at least ten years after being diagnosed, and with new trials already being worked on and the proceeds from the upcoming fundraiser, the aim is to reach the point where three in four people will survive cancer in the next 20 years, so there are some pretty impressive targets behind all of the hilarity.
