A comedy night in tribute to a publican who nurtured talent on the stand-up circuit for over twenty years would have gone down well with him, his close friend has said.

Top comics including telly funnyman Milton Jones are performing at Leicester Square Theatre on Monday (March 21) to raise cash for St Joseph’s Hospice where much-loved East Ender Pete West spent his final weeks.

Mr West, who lost his battle with cancer last summer, was a huge comedy fan and organised regular events at the Oporto pub in East India Dock Road with his pal Geoff Boyz.

Mr Boyz, who had known the publican since the early 90s, said: “Pete loved comedy so it seemed like a fitting thing to do. He helped me a lot when I started out. I did a lot of learning on stage and we did a lot of laughing.”

Mr West spent the last eight weeks of his life in the Mare Street hospice and a week before his death he married his long-term partner Donna there.

Hi pal added: “We tried to make his last days as fun as possible and the hospice staff were the same. We were blown away by them.

“It’s a light, friendly, chatty place - not all doom and gloom like you might think.”

Donna West said: “What a marvellous event and way to celebrate pete’s life, as he loved comedy, as he did his music. “I would like to thank everyone who has donated to St Joseph’s Hospice who do a great job and made Pete’s life as comfortable as possible.”

Mr Boyz said tickets are selling very well and if the show is a success he would like to make the fundraisers a more regular thing.

Other comics performing including Adam Bloom, Phil Butler, Simon Bligh, Tim Clark, Paul McCaffarey and Michael Fabbri with music from James Fox.

To get tickets for Stand Up for St Joseph’s call 0844 847 2475 or visit leicestersquaretheatre.com.