UKTV channel Dave has announced Comedy Against Living Miserably, a three-part series of filmed stand-up specials produced by Spirit Media to raise awareness for mental health charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably).  The three one-off fundraising events will air on Dave next year, with comics waiving their fee to donate to the charity.

Comedy Against Living Miserably is the latest initiative in Dave’s partnership with CALM since the “Be the Mate You’d Want” campaign launched last year, with an ad break takeover where airtime was given to encourage viewers to spend that time texting or calling a mate.

Teaming up with Spirit Media, who enjoyed success with #IAMWHOLE and Music 4 Mental Health, the series creates the perfect opportunity for the comedy community to join in and get behind the mission towards a more positive and open culture when it comes to mental health. 

The three-part series of stand-up comedy specials will star some of the nation’s biggest names in comedy.  Each episode will be hosted by a headline act and feature three leading comedians. The stand-up specials are being held at EarTH (Theatre) Hackney and tickets for the first show, hosted by Nish Kumar, are now available at https://earthackney.seetickets.com/event/comedy-against-living-miserably-with-nish-kumar/earth-theatre-/1455777, with proceeds going to CALM. 

Before taking to the stage, the nation’s favourite funny people will discuss their own mental health stories and what it feels like to feel sad when your career is built around making other people laugh. 

Comedy Against Living Miserably is commissioned by Joe McVey, UKTV commissioning editor, and ordered for Dave by Richard Watsham, director of commissioning, Luke Hales, Dave channel director and Steve North, genre manager, comedy and entertainment. Spirit Media creative director Matt Campion will executive produce the series alongside Morgan Jones, former head of creative for Comic Relief whose recent credits include A Royal Team Talk featuring Prince William, Duke of Cambridge for BBC1. 

Joe McVey said, “While Comedy Against Living Miserably in aid of Campaign Against Living Miserably is a great joke, you can expect a higher calibre of comedy from the actual comedians. That’s why they earn the mega bucks (which they’re donating to CALM – what lovely people).”

Luke Hales said, “The whole Dave team are really proud of the work we do with CALM, we are so glad we have managed to make these three stand-up specials happen as they promise to be brilliantly funny and are for such an important cause. The aim of these shows is to help raise awareness and lots of money for CALM to help them as they continue their incredibly important work saving lives.”

Spirit Media’s Matt Campion added: “Comedy Against Living Miserably is such an amazing follow up for Spirit to the event we produced last year, Music 4 Mental Health, which saw the biggest names in the music industry come together to help combat the stigma surrounding mental health.  Not only does this series promise to deliver on the funny, but we hope along with CALM, Dave and some of the UK’s biggest comedians, we can build a new TV-led awareness raising platform that uses comedy and the gift of laughter to make a meaningful difference to those of us who are struggling with mental health."  

Simon Gunning, CEO of the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), said: “We're delighted to continue our partnership with Dave and UKTV for Comedy Against Living Miserably. We've seen how comedy can be an effective vehicle for conversations around mental health, suicide, and generally being there for your mates when things get tough. This series of events, in collaboration with our friends at Spirit Media and the brilliant comics who are on board, will promise bags of fun with an important message underneath." 

Since launching its partnership with CALM last year, Dave’s ambition is to encourage its viewers to reach out to their mates and Be the Mate You’d Want in a bid to bring about a behavioural change in society.   Earlier this year Dave aired a “Comedy Festival in an Ad Break”, as well as launched its hit podcast Conversations Against Living Miserably, hosted by mental health author Aaron Gillies and stand-up comic Lauren Pattison, now in its second series. 

Tickets available for the first stand up special on Thursday 21st November and hosted by Nish Kumar, can be found here: https://earthackney.seetickets.com/event/comedy-against-living-miserably-with-nish-kumar/earth-theatre-/1455777

Proceeds will go towards the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).