Comedy stars including Hugh Dennis, Jenny Eclair and Simon Brodkin raised thousands of pounds at a fundraising gig in memory of a Hampstead teacher.

April Foolery at The Criterion in the West End was raising money for the Lund Fund set up by Hackney-based education charity Eastside.

It commemorates David Lund, a former UCS English teacher, who inspired a love of music and performance in his pupils by organising jazz and comedy gigs at the school.

He left Eastside £10,000 in his will, and the charity's CEO Matt Lane is his former pupil who wants to set up a £1m fund to offer creative opportunities for under privileged children.

Ham & High: Highgate comic Hugh Dennis is a former head boy at UCS in Hampstead and hosted the eveningHighgate comic Hugh Dennis is a former head boy at UCS in Hampstead and hosted the evening (Image: Katy Gorniak)

Dennis, a former head boy at the Frognal school hosted the evening and performed a satirical skit with his Now Show comedy partner Steve Punt.

The audience were treated to some of the laughs they have shared with the Radio 4 audience over 25 years as the news-based sketch show comes to an end.

Ham & High: Rajiv Karia was among the performers on the night at The Criterion TheatreRajiv Karia was among the performers on the night at The Criterion Theatre (Image: Katy Gorniak)

Also appearing were Jenny Eclair, who in 1995 became the first woman to win Edinburgh Festival's prestigious Perrier comedy award.

Alastair Beckett-King, Rajiv Karia, Jordan Gray and Bella Hull also took to the stage before the headliner Simon Brodkin.

Ham & High: Simon Brodkin is another former UCS pupil who grew up in Hampstead Garden SuburbSimon Brodkin is another former UCS pupil who grew up in Hampstead Garden Suburb (Image: Katy Gorniak)

The comic and prankster, currently on tour with his show Screwed Up, was raised in Hampstead Garden Suburb and also went to school at UCS before as he told the audience being "expelled for smoking weed behind the bike sheds."

The night with ticket sales, donations and raffle raised nearly £30,000 for the Lund Fund.