Call My Wine Bluff hopes to top £1m in money raised at May 8 event

By Richard Siddle

Published: 27 March, 2014

Call My Wine Bluff, founded by UK wine trade consultant Jerry Lockspeiser, hopes to again raise much needed money for AcionAid when it takes place on May 8 in London's Gibson Hall.

The event has also become a firm favourite of those in the UK wine trade prepared to put their tasting skills to the test as they try and decipher which of the guest celebrity panellists are telling the truth, or bluffing as they tell an amusing story about different wines.

The night is based on the popular Call My Wine Bluff BBC TV show which has recently been re-invented as Would I Lie To You with comedian Rob Brydon replacing Robert Robinson in the chair.

Those attending the Call My Wine Bluff event on May 8 will have to wait to find out which celebrities will be taking part this year. Previous guests have included actress Emma Thompson, who thought the concept was a "brilliant idea", Clive Anderson, Hugh Dennis and Philip Schofield. Last year's event was compered by veteran radio and TV quiz host Nicholas Parsons.

Lockspeiser, who is a long-time supporter of ActionAid, held the first Call My Wine Bluff in 2008 and since gone on to raise over £900,000 for relief projects around the world. He describes the night as "a frolicking evening of riotous humour with great food and wine to raise funds for ActionAid's work with millions of the world's poorest people".

He said he hoped this year's event would take total fund raising past the £1 million.

He told Harpers.co.uk: "This will be a fantastic achievement by everyone who has come and enjoyed the event, the celebrities who have given their time for free, and the ActionAid team.

"I support ActionAid because it tackles the causes of global poverty not just the symptoms, enabling poor people to take control of their lives and solve problems themselves. It works.

"This is a double the money year - every pound we raise is being matched by the government. It's a really big opportunity to have a fantastic fun evening and sow the seeds of change in lives around the world at the same time. Come and join us."

Laithwaite's is the official sponsor of Call My Wine Bluff.

Tickets for the May 8 event at Gibson Hall, Bishopgate, London cost £295 a head, or £2,750 for a table of 10. Contact winebluff@actionaid.org if you are interested.

You can watch a video of previous events here.

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