MORE than 1,300 tickets have been sold for the fifth annual Helen and Douglas House fundraiser Childish Things.

The star-studded line-up for Thursday’s performance at the New Theatre, in George Street, includes Jo Brand, Sean Lock and Patrick Kielty.

Oxford a cappella act Out of the Blue will also be taking part, and Peep Show actress and comedian Isy Suttie is the latest celebrity to confirm she will be taking part.

Jo Brand, who will be involved for the first time, said she was looking forward to a “fab evening of entertainment”.

She said: “I think the work of Helen & Douglas House is essential, admirable, touching, wonderful and amazing.

“I am happy to support them.”

On Saturday, Lizzie Pickering, who organises the evening along with Kate Day, showed Out of the Blue singers around the East Oxford hospice.

She said: “Kate and I are very excited because we’ve got the big names like Sean Lock and Jo Brand but I think the less well-known people are going to be amazing too. Each year we try and make it really different and move it on.”

Comedian and actor Kevin Eldon, who has performed in a host of British comedy programmes including Fist of Fun, I’m Alan Partridge, Big Train, Brass Eye and Jam will be taking part, as will three of the Comedy Store Players, Richard Vranch, Andy Smart and Lee Simpson, who specialise in improvisation.

Since the event first took place, it has raised £135,000 for the hospice, which provides respite and end of life care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

Mrs Pickering first became involved with the hospice through her son Harry, who had an incurable and untreatable condition called spinal muscular atrophy.

The family received respite care for Harry and he died at the hospice in 2000, aged six and a half.

Since then, Mrs Pickering has been heavily involved in fundraising for the hospice and came up with the idea for Childish Things with childhood friend and casting director Kate Day.

She said: “It’s a night of slight anarchy, mayhem and great fun and the most incredible atmosphere.

“It’s amazing for Kate and me standing backstage because the atmosphere is so fantastic and people really go for it.”

Tickets for the event, which starts at 7.30pm, cost between £20 and £27.50 and are available from the theatre or from Ticketmaster on 0844 8471585.