Comedian Dave Gorman and the UK’s leading crossword setter John Halpern are inviting the public to help them create a crossword in the theme of the band Madness this Friday 12th February in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity). The virtual event will involve the public helping to choose the words, and mysterious clues as the crossword is put together before their eyes.    

John Halpern is the cryptic crossword king who has written for The Telegraph, Guardian and Independent will be joined by comedian Dave Gorman. Last year Dave turned his talents to creating crosswords for national newspapers under the pseudonym Bluth, fullfilling a lifelong dream and joining the world of cruciverbalism.

To join the event people are asked to make a donation to GOSH Charity in return for a ticket, with all the money raised going to deliver the best care for seriously ill children who are treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).  This includes support services for patients and families like parent accommodation; pioneering research to find treatments for the most complex childhood illnesses; providing advanced equipment and supporting the rebuilding and refurbishment of the hospital to provide state-of-the-art facilities to match the hospital’s world-class care.

To sign up to the event please visit: johnhalpern.co.uk/dave-gorman

To donate please visit John and Dave’s JustGiving page here: justgiving.com/john-halpern-dave-gorman

John Halpern said, “Celebrity Create a Crossword was set up in honour of my late brother Paul, to raise £1million for charity by the time I’m sixty. I asked a number of top crossword-solving (and in Dave's case setting!) celebrities to name a charity to which attendees would pay a donation for their ticket. Dave chose GOSH, where I once sang with my school choir back in the 1980s, and was first moved and inspired by the brilliant work staff do there every day.” 

Dave Gorman said, “It's rare to get to collaborate with the best in the business... but I'm sure John won't let me down. It ought to be fun for both seasoned solvers and those who are merely crossword-curious, and of course it's for a cause that is very dear to my heart.”