Starry Starry Night

The HOPING Foundation’s ‘Starry Starry Night’ at London’s Café de Paris on Thursday 19th June 2014 lived up to its name as Sir Elton John, Noel Gallagher, Russell Brand, Nick Grimshaw, Jools Holland, Naughty Boy, Thabo and HollySiz took to the stage to raise funds for the children of Palestine. 

The charity’s founders and trustees, Bella Freud and Karma Nabulsi, created yet another momentous occasion in HOPING’s incredible history and were joined by an equally starry audience that included Gillian Anderson, Eva Herzigova, Danny Huston, Jemima Khan, Laura Bailey, Mary McCartney, Jake Chapman, Marc Quinn, Jameela Jamil, Sheherazade Goldsmith and Alfonso Cuaron.

Host Nick Grimshaw and Sotheby’s auctioneer Oliver Barker worked the crowd to raise over £360,000 for the charity. The highlight of the night was an astonishing £80,000 bid for 'Unchained Melody' performed by Sir Elton John accompanied by Jools Holland on piano. Jemima Khan upped the bids for boyfriend Russell Brand’s existential, ingenious stand-up, and Noel Gallagher dedicated 'Don’t Look Back in Anger' to the comedian’s Hollywood career. Jools Holland prompted the crowd to sing 'Happy Birthday' to Jeremy King whose Delaunay Restaurant provided a feast of hot dogs, fries and black forest gateaux. Sir Elton John (who first performed for HOPING in 2007) touched the audience with his words of support for the charity before raising them to their feet with a standing ovation for an epic performance of 'Tiny Dancer'.