16/08/2026
Dear Comedy Fans and other people of Leicester… unless you have had your head in the sand, then I suspect you are aware of the problems with Leicester Comedy Festival as overseen by Big Difference Charity.
Well, we thought that we should let you know that the Big Difference Charity have spent your ticket that was meant for us (we are owed around £13500) and other comedians, promoters, venues and also another charity are owed an amount estimated between £100,000 and £200,000. This has caused a huge amount of damage to the comedy industry, largely in Leicester and also nationally.
Today there was a zoom call meeting organised by the Live Comedy Association with the aim of discussing the issue. The following people from the Board of Directors were asked to attend. As we all had some questions that we would like answered. This is the people on the board, according to a government website (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03121538/officers)
Emma Anderson
Simon Brown
Laura Hailstone
Robbie Kerr
Jonathan Kerry (now resigned, but had the nerve to call me unprofessional for emailing a sarcastic letter… even called me intimdating and abusive… I was not)
Ravi Kotecha
Professor Kevin Schurer
Christine Traill
But none of them thought it would be helpful to join the meeting.
During the meeting it was brought to our attention that the board were warned in March 2023 that unless structural changes were made that the ‘charity’ was heading towards bankruptcy. We all wondered if any such changes were made.
In a zoom call in November 2025, attended by the CEO Michael Harris Wakelam, and attended by a large number of the producers and promoters, we were told by Michael that the ticket money would be ring fenced and not used for any other purposes. It is clear that this was a lie. That the money was not ring fenced, and as admitted in later emails, was used to pay ‘operational costs’ which they ‘prioritised’.
It must have been clear to anyone within the organisation that they were spending ticket money from shows for day to day costs in all of that time. I can only think of one word for taking money that is not yours, without consent and spending it. I am sure there is a legal term for it. I think anyone reading this will know what I am saying.
Possibly the most upsetting thing to hear (apart from the knowledge that Just the Tonic may never get back the £13500 which we are owed) was seeing the founder of the festival (who retired a good few years ago) Geoff Rowe have to talk about the destruction of his years of work
The whole thing stinks.
Apparently the board have already lodged a report to the Charities Commission.Here they are: Charity Commission Everyone in the meeting suspects that it is an attempt to pre-empt any investigation and to cover themselves. One of the board is a lawyer.
If you are disgusted by what you have seen reported, or by the figures and facts above (this is only a slice of the story) then why not help us to make to try and make the board be found personally liable by writing to the charities commission. Because this sort of activity does make you wonder what charities are for, and who is overseeing them.
You could help your local festival performers and producers recoup a bit of money by donating to the fund started by the Live Comedy Association, which can be found here https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/lcfsupportfund. The money will be given to those affected
Also, there will be a festival next year. Local promoters Alex Hylton and Colin Bowles have been working flat out and have got all of the main people together and we will all be working to bring a festival to Leicester again in 2027. Follow it here: Independent Comedy Festival Because the festival worked, it was the big people that held the ticket money that did not work.
So, if you know any of the board, maybe ask them where the money went. Because they did not let us do it. If you are appalled by the actions of a charity and you feel it makes you question the integrity of charities as a whole, please contact the charities commission Charity Commission . If you would like to help those affected then donate to LCA fund and if you would like to laugh again, please support local comedy in Leicester and Leicester Comedy Festival 2027. We will be back!
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