A fundraising evening is being organised to complete post-production on a new short film celebrating the life and laughter of beloved British comic Barry Cryer.

JOKE has recently completed filming and will feature 12 of Barry’s favourite jokes, turned into sketches by some of Britain’s finest talents, like Dame Judi Dench, Sir Stephen Fry, Alison Steadman, Harry Hill, Rebecca Front and Miles Jupp.

It is being directed by his son, the actor and writer Bob Cryer and will honour not just the gags that defined Barry’s unique sense of humour, but also the warmth, generosity and silliness that endeared him to generations.

JOKE will premiere at the Slapstick Festival in Bristol next February, but in the meantime, an event to raise money will take place on the 12th December at 4pm at The Leicester Square Theatre. Details here.

It will involve celebrities like Shappi Khorsandi, Arthur Smith, Colin Sell, John Moloney, Alex Lowe, Mitch Benn, Bennett Arron, Simon Evans, Alan Cox and Justin Edwards talking about Barry and his legacy whilst telling some of his jokes.

The Film will feature 12 more of Barry Cryer’s best-loved jokes, reimagined for the screen.

The Premiere is now confirmed to be during the Friday Gala at the Slapstick Festival in Bristol on February 6th February 2026. Details here.

Barry Cryer was most famous as a founding panellist on Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue and as a comedy writer for Morecambe & Wise, The Two Roonies, Les Dawson, Tommy Cooper and Kenny Everett passed away in 2022, aged 86.

Bob Cryer, an actor on The Interceptor, The Gold, Eastenders, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, previously co-hosted the podcast Now Where Were We? with his father, before authoring the 2023 biography Same Time Tomorrow? (Bloomsbury) chronicling his dad’s life and work.