TV comedian Hugh Dennis returns to the Isle of Dogs in London’s East end on Sunday where he spent much of his childhood as a vicar’s son—to open a fete at his dad’s old church.
He was just a baby when his father, the Rev John Dennis, took over at Christ Church in Cubitt Town where he was vicar until 1971.
The star of TV shows such as Mock the Week, Have I Got News For You, Outnumbered and Radio 4’s Now Show opened the fete in the vicarage garden where he used to play as a kid in the 1960s.
“We finally got Hugh to return to his old neighbourhood after trying for a long time,” said the current vicar, Fr Tom Pyke. “He’s going to cut the ribbon and make a speech as well as donate a prize to our raffle.”
Hugh kept newts in the bath at the vicarage when he was a kid, according to Fr Pyke.
The church aims to raise £4,000 for its community services at Millwall and Cubitt Town such as youth work, visiting the elderly and supporting schools on the Isle of Dogs.
The fete has stalls, community choir, raffle with prizes such as dinner for two at Canary Wharf’s Four Seasons, a bouncy castle and other children’s activities.
Hugh Dennis, whose dad went on to be Bishop of Edmonton in 1986, cuts the ribbon at the vicarage at 158 Manchester Road at 2pm.
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