Comedians and actors filled The Bill Murray to support Aisling Bea’s Christmas Food Drive on Wednesday (December 21).

People bringing food and household goods for foodbanks in the area got the chance to meet stars including Iain Stirling, Clara Amfo, Louisa Harland and Laura Whitmore.

The food drive was followed by a live comedy show.

Aisling said the event was about “getting together with my celeb pals in the hope to drive donations … doing something a bit positive at this time of the year”.

She said: “Donation numbers are staggering at foodbanks.”

All donations from the event go to Hackney Foodbank and Islington Foodbank.

Islington Gazette: Piles of food donations at The Bill MurrayPiles of food donations at The Bill Murray (Image: James O’Donnell)

Aisling said: “It’s not just about the actual donation bit. That’s important, but it's showing that there is something else - there’s a sadness around foodbanks. The comedy food drive alleviates that and alleviates the shame.”

Aisling praised the “amazing volunteers” at foodbanks and said: "People don’t want to make foodbanks permanent structures - but they are here forever.”

Cecelia Danielsson, a stand-up comedian since 2003, talked about the need to tackle the shame around foodbanks. 

She said: “When you are pushed to process poverty internally as shame - that’s the issue and we don’t discuss it enough.”