Extra Slice star Tom Allen has issued a powerful statement honouring Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the National Comedy Awards for Stand Up To Cancer, describing him as a ‘brother in comedy’.
Ever since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine under the orders of Vladimir Putin, Zelensky has inspired people across the world with his strong leadership from the heart of the warzone.
However, before he became leader of the nation in 2019, he previously found fame as an actor and a comedian, entertaining scores of viewers with his comedy, acting roles and with his victory on the first season of Ukraine’s version of Dancing With The Stars.
On Saturday evening during the airing of the National Comedy Awards on Channel 4, fellow comedian Allen told the audience that he wished to ‘talk with respect about one of our number, a man who started off as a fellow comedian who is not here tonight but who is in fact many miles away’.
For the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, visit our live blog: Russia-Ukraine live
‘As he well knows, comedy can bring all of us together in laughter,’ Allen stated.
‘It can also hold a mirror to society and at its most subversive shine a lot on corruption and satirise those in authority, but tonight through circumstances and personal bravery, he has found himself going beyond laughter to lead a population in an unimaginable situation in the defence of democracy and freedom.’
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The host emphasised that those in attendance at the event ‘are but humble entertainers’, and they ‘cannot offer much other than to highlight the plight of the people there and pressure those in power to offer them a place of safety and refuge here in the UK’.
He added that they can also ‘stand shoulder to shoulder with our brother in comedy President Zelensky and the courageous people of Ukraine’.
The guests at the National Comedy Awards, which included the cast and crew of Sex Education and comedians such as Greg Davies and Rosie Jones, erupted with applause for Allen’s tribute to Zelensky.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Zelensky had survived three assassination attempts within the past week, after the plans were allegedly foiled.
In a self-taped video message he delivered at the end of last month, the President said: ‘I am here. We will not lay down our weapons.
‘We will defend our country. Our weapons are our strength. This is our land. Our country. Our children. We will protect all of them.’
The National Comedy Awards will be available to watch on All 4.
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