Annual Newcastle Christmas comedy gig reaches over 100,000 presents donated to children in poverty

Comedian and writer Jason Cook welcomed thousands to Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Sunday evening (December 15) as he hosted his annual Laffs4Kids charity show.

The Christmas comedy show started back in 2015 after Jason, who was covering a show on Metro Radio, discovered that there were thousands of North East children living in poverty who face waking up to nothing on Christmas Day.

Ever since then, he has gathered a number of comedians from across the country, who give their time for free, to put on a comedy show in which the audience pay discounted rates for tickets with the premise that they bring Christmas presents to the gig to be donated.

Nine years on, the 2024 edition of Laffs4Kids saw 24,975 gifts donated to children living in poverty - meaning that the charity event has now raised more than 100,000 presents in total.

A post on the Laffs4Kids official Facebook page said: “You, the Laffs audience are incredible! 24,975 gifts donated for local children living in poverty.

“These will be sorted and distributed in time for Christmas.

“From Jason and the Laffs4Kids team, we can’t thank you enough.”

South Shields husband and wife duo, Chris and Rosie Ramsey, were very much on hand throughout the evening to help Jason put on a show for audiences - with the pair appearing in a number of skits alongside the Hebburn comedian.

Chris also closed out the show as the headline comedy act while Rosie also performed a variety of musical numbers alongside the South Shields Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

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Comedian Carl Hutchinson, also from South Shields, and Newcastle’s Lauren Pattison were also on the bill as they entertained audiences with their own individual stand-up routines.

Other acts included Adam Rowe, Brennan Reece, Clinton Baptiste, Scott Bennett, MC Hammersmith, and Glen Roughhead & Bay 6.

You can find out more about Laffs4Kids by visiting: https://laffs4kids.co.uk/.