Benedict Cumberbatch and Cate Blanchett were among the famous faces who gave readings at an evening of carols raising money to tackle food poverty.
They joined celebrities including Sheila Hancock, David Morrissey and Beverley Knight last night at the eighth annual Fayre of St James’s concert in Piccadilly which raised £230,000 for food waste charity The Felix Project.
An audience of 500 Londoners gathered in St James’s Church, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, to hear Blanchett read Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s Ring Out, Wild Bells.
They were also entertained by performances from singers including Craig David and Noah Stewart before heading to Burlington Arcade and taking part in a silent auction where they could bid for lots including tea with Stephen Fry and a private shopping trip at Fortnum and Mason.
Rory Bremner read AA Milne’s King John’s Christmas, delivering the poem as a series of impersonations including Boris Johnson and Donald Trump.
He told the Standard: “We have to reignite people’s passion to support causes and this is the perfect time for it.”
The Felix Project collects food from about 170 suppliers including Tesco, Eat and Costa, and delivers it to 350 charities and primary schools, reaching 125,000 vulnerable people each week.
The event was hosted by Quintessentially Foundation in partnership with the Crown Estate. Quintessentially Foundation, founded by Ben Elliot in 2008, has helped The Felix Project raise almost £2 million since 2017.
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