Happy Christmas Ipswich reveal date and expansion plans

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) announced on Friday that their Happy Christmas Ipswich is morphing into Happy Christmas East Anglia with additional shows planned for Cambridge and Norwich. 

Every year EACH hosts a comedy and music show themed around Christmas that is headed by Griff Rhys Jones.

This year that tradition will continue with a show at Ipswich Regent Theatre on December 9, and small spin-offs planned for the other two cities on the same night. 

Griff Rhys Jones said: “We’re proud and excited to be raising the stakes as Happy Christmas Ipswich morphs into Happy Christmas East Anglia.

“It’s going to be a whopper and not least because it’s five years since our very first show. We want to make this one the best yet - something for the whole region to look forward to and definitely not to be missed."

This year will mark the fifth time the how has been held, with the previous four having raised a total of £404,500 for EACH.

Last year's show featured renowned actor Dara Ó Briain. (Image: Joe Higham)

Last year brought in record-high funding of £134,500 as it featured popular stage actor Dara Ó Briain and world-renowned keyboard player Rick Wakeman.

EACH’s director of fundraising and communications, Kevin Clements, said: “I wasn’t sure how we could top Happy Christmas Ipswich 4.

“I thought we’d possibly hit a ceiling, in terms of the calibre of talent on stage and the staggering amount of money raised.

“However, Griff, in typical style, has proved me wrong and his drive and passion to take our show to the next level never ceases to amaze me."

Tickets for the Ipswich show are now on sale. (Image: Joe Higham)

Tickets for the Ipswich show are now on sale, and its line-up is to be confirmed in mid-September.

The Norwich show will be at Hooma Comedy, in Dereham Road, and is set to feature popular across Joe Pasquale, Martin Westgate, Tim Fitzhigham and John Mann.

Details of the Cambridge show are yet to be confirmed.