British Airways has set a new Guinness World Records title with comedians Dara O Briain, Jack Whitehall and Jon Richardson, for hosting the ‘highest stand-up comedy gig in the world’.
The smile high gig, which took place on Saturday, March 12, raised almost £100,000 for Red Nose Day, as part of the airline’s partnership with Comic Relief.
The comedians performed for 45 minutes at 35,000ft, to a crowd of 180 guests and prize winners, to set the new world record. The comedy gig was hosted on flight BA9230c, on a dedicated British Airways A321 aircraft from London Terminal 5, flying over the UK for two and a half hours.
Keeping the crowd in high spirits, Jack Whitehall joked: “I was looking forward to today – after all it’s the only gig where people can’t walk out. If you want to heckle you’ll have to press the call button.”
Dara O Briain, who was last to perform, said: “I told the Captain I’d bang twice on the locker like this when I was on – so he can take the aircraft to 37,000ft and beat Jack and Jon’s record!”
Since the partnership launched in June 2010, the airline has raised in excess of £700,000* so far for ‘Flying Start’ – the airline’s charity partnership with Comic Relief, which aims to transform the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the UK and around the world.
British Airways Captain Brian Connolly, said: “It was an honour to Captain this very special flight today. I’m proud to be able to say that I’m a Guinness World Records holder, and of course – member of the Smile High Club!”
Footage from the event will be made available shortly at: www.youtube.com/britishairways
Red Nose Day takes place this Friday (March 18), when the great British public will once again be asked to Do Something Funny for Money.
