Chris Evans launches online auction to raise money for Ukraine

Chris Evans has launched an online auction of classic showbiz items to raise vital money for Ukraine.

The auction is hosted by online auction company Bid-In free of charge and will be live until Friday March 25, with all proceeds going towards the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).

Chris told Virgin Radio UK listeners this morning: “The Frothy Coffee Man has done the best job ever with this. Basically everyone we contacted to get involved has said yes.

“If we raise a tenner it’s a tenner they don’t currently have – but let’s hope it’s a bit more than that. We are not attached to any kind of optimistic outcome, we are just going to do it and send the cheque where it needs to go as soon as possible when the money comes in.”

The lots available for bids include:

  • Owning all the rights to an unpublished song by Boy George which he wrote about Ukraine after performing in the country.
  • A Bid & Breakfast extravaganza at Chris’ house & VIP Pub in the Park
  • A pair of VIP season passes for all nine Pub in the Park events
  • Lunch hosted by Matthew Goode, Matt Smith, Hugh Bonneville & Colin Firth (with a bonus Jack Savoretti thrown in)
  • Lunch hosted by Benedict Cumberbatch, Jamie Dornan, Eddie Redmayne & Tom Hiddleston
  • Lunch hosted by Dame Emma Thompson, Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby & Michelle Dockery
  • Tickets to Las Vegas for a meet and greet with Rod Stewart and three-night stay at Ceasars Palace
  • Coldplay meet & greet live at Wembley on August 16
  • A signed guitar from Stereophonics
  • Afternoon tea with David Walliams at his house
  • Sting at The Palladium with meet & greet, attend the soundcheck & signed guitar
  • Benedict Cumberbatch’s sling ring as worn by Dr Strange
  • Signed guitar from Seasick Steve
  • Orange smoking jacket worn by Taron Egerton in Kingsman the Golden Circle
  • David Jason signed ‘Only Fools & Horses script’
  • A four ball at Wentworth with Colin Montgomerie, Damian Lewis, Peter Jones & Georgia Hall
  • A four ball at Queenwood with Jamie Redknapp & Thomas Bjorn plus a pair of tickets to the sold-out Ryder Cup next year in Rome with a meet & greet with Peter McGinley

Other household names donating items include: Ant & Dec, Bear Grylls, Ben Miller, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bonnie Langford, Boy George, Claudia Schiffer, Coldplay, Dame Judi Dench, Damian Lewis, David Jason, David Walliams, Dawn French, Eleanor Tomlinson, Fay Ripley, Gaby Roslin, James Acaster, James Martin, James Purefoy, Jaqueline Wilson, Joanna Lumley, Joe Wicks, Keira Knightley, Kenneth Branagh, Kit Harington, Lee Mack, Matthew Goode, Matthew Vaughn, Phoebe Dynevor, Queen, Rob Brydon, Rod Stewart, Russell Howard, Sally Phillips, Seasick Steve, Sir David Jason, Stephen Fry, Stereophonics, Steven Cree, Sting, The Masked Singer, The Propstore, The Wine Show and Tom Stoppard.

Anyone can bid for all lots at auctionforukraine.com. The auction closes at midnight on March 25 with the winners announced on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky on Virgin Radio UK.