A BOURNEMOUTH woman is fighting her recent Covid-19 grief, due to the passing her father, with a comedy night to be held in Bournemouth this evening.

Showbiz journalist and stand-up comedian Victoria Garofalides will be bringing the Funny Boiler to the Bournemouth Electric Sports & Social Club tonight at 7.30pm.

Victoria has said that she has been fighting Covid grief with comedy and that along with her family and friends, this comedy night is the only thing keeping her going.

She added: "We all need laughs more than ever. I've spent most of the year crying because I lost my incredible father in April to Covid and, as for many of us, it's been a living hell.

“It still is but concentrating on comedy feels like a positive way to pick up a few pieces of my broken heart.

“My inspirational dad Basil Garofalides, a much-loved and respected doctor in Essex, hailing from Greece, always taught us that laughter is the best medicine.

“But along with my lovely mum and sister, and so many other people, it's been very hard to laugh this year.”

Victoria hosted her first Funny Boiler event in 2019 at The Natural Philosopher in Bethnal Green, with big names such as Al Murray and Mae Martin, and wanted to bring it down to Bournemouth - where she live wither six-year-old daughter Lyla.

With the help of local comedian Mark Haines and former owner of Funny Bones comedy Mick Callaghan, Victoria has managed to put on a comedy night under his new management at the social club on Broadway Lane in Bournemouth.

Victoria said: “We've had 48 hours to put on this show - and it's been somewhat stressful with a few expletives thrown in.

“We just thought, screw it. This might be the last time this year we get to perform, so let's go out with a bang.

“Unbelievably, we've managed to score the fabulous comedian Hal Cruttenden, as seen on Live At The Apollo, who is insanely brilliant. He headlined my night Funny Boiler in London at the start of the year and tore the roof down.

“I'm so delighted to have such a big talent come down to Bourmemouth and can't wait for him to wow everyone.”

Victoria was expecting to host another event on Thursday November 19 which has been cancelled due to the second national lockdown, which will come into force from Thursday November 5.

Talking about hosting the event just before the country’s second lockdown, Victoria added: “In hindsight, this wasn't one of our smartest moves as people are - rightly so - not in the party mood and no one has money to burn.

“But if we can support live comedy and put some smiles on faces for a while, then we're winning."

As well as performances from Hal Cruttenden and Victoria, the line-up for the event also has up and coming comics including Karim Dinoulis, Ben Keenan, Vicki Delirious and Glenn Braley.

Homemade oven-baked pizzas will also be on offer for £10, and there will be socially distanced table service throughout the night.

Doors will open at 6pm with pizzas available from opening, with the show to run from 7.30pm to 10pm.

Tickets for the event are £10 with both members and non-members welcome.

To purchase tickets, visit the ‘Funny Boiler’ event page on Eventbrite.