Comedian Ricky Gervais has donated almost £2.5m to a group of animal charities from the proceeds from his recent stand-up tour.
The 22 charities to benefit include two from Kent – Flori’s Friends Animal Rescue in Chartham Hatch and Retreat Animal Rescue in High Halden – and one in West Sussex – Safe Haven for Donkeys in Haywards Heath.
The 64-year-old said the donations were “to celebrate the spirit of Christmas”.
The Office and Extras star posted on Facebook: “These are the lovely charities I’ve chosen. Merry Xmas, critters.”
He added: “My mum always used to say ‘you can’t take it with you’.
“No I can’t mum. But I could’ve bought 30 speedboats and raced them round the Med with my mates.
“Anyway. Too late now.”
Gervais gave £1.9m to charity in 2023 after a previous tour.
Flori’s Friends Rescue, in Chartham Hatch, is getting £100,000 towards the charity’s overheads and costs.
The charity’s paralysed dog rescue centre helps animals with broken spines by supplying them with wheelchairs.
Natalia George, its founder, told BBC Radio Kent: “This is absolutely incredible news.”
Ms George said: “I think Ricky was looking for an up-and-coming charity carrying out specialist work.
“Our mission is to normalise disabilities in dogs.
“Ricky has made such a difference to so many paralysed dogs.”
Andy Foxcroft, CEO of Safe Haven for Donkeys, said: “Ricky’s generosity comes at a time of exceptional pressure for our teams supporting donkeys in Gaza and the West Bank.
With demand for urgent veterinary care continuing to rise, this donation will help us keep our life-saving work going in extremely challenging conditions.”
Four charities will receive £150,000, 17 charities will receive £100,000, and the remaining £132,000 will be donated to Nowzad.
Nowzad is based in Bradninch, near Exeter and delivers animal welfare in Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Pen Farthing, founder and CEO of the charity, said: “For us this is a huge amount of money.
“We are just so chuffed that Ricky decided to donate some of that money to us.”
Along with his stand-up career, Gervais is known for co-creating, co-writing and starring in BBC sitcoms The Office, Extras, and Life’s Too Short with Stephen Merchant.
He also created, wrote and starred in Channel 4’s Derek and Netflix’s After Life.
