Entertainment

Comedian helps raise thousands of pounds for charity with Wham! game

Daniel Sloss donated £102 to Social Bite despite only lasting until December 2 before hearing the song Last Christmas.
Daniel Sloss donated £102 to Social Bite despite only lasting until December 2 before hearing the song Last Christmas.

Comedian Daniel Sloss has helped raise more than £5,000 for a homelessness charity through a game encouraging “players” to avoid hearing Wham!’s Last Christmas.

Various versions of Whamageddon are attributed online from the last decade with the game running between December 1 and 24.

The Scot, who had two Netflix specials released in 2018 and has gone on to make numerous TV appearances in the US, decided to use the game as a way of fundraising.

Nearly a week after the Christmas Eve deadline more than 300 people had raised £5,180 for Social Bite.

In the GoFundMe page he explains: “The player must go as long as possible without hearing Wham!’s Christmas song Last Christmas.

“Only the original version of Last Christmas applies, the player can listen to remixes and covers of the song.

“The player is out as soon as they recognise the original version of the song.”

He adds: “Social Bite run five sandwich shops across Scotland, employing people who have been homeless and provide free meals for people experiencing homelessness and food poverty.

“Not only will you be raising money for an amazing cause but it raises the stakes when playing the game.

“An early elimination will only cost you a fiver (minimum donation on the site) but if you survive until Christmas Eve, then Social Bite get a £24 donation and you get to feel like a great person.”

The comedian donated £102 despite only lasting to December 2.

Royal visit to Edinburgh
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during a visit to Social Bite in Edinburgh (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Famous faces visiting the Social Bite shop in Edinburgh over the last few years include George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The charity’s Sleep In The Park fundraising drive grew into the Big Sleep Out, which earlier this year expanded across 52 cities with an estimated 60,000 people taking part including Hollywood stars Dame Helen Mirren, Will Smith and Brian Cox.

Co-founder Josh Littlejohn said: “Massive thanks to Daniel and everyone who joined him in playing along and raising so much money.

“2019 has been an incredible year for Social Bite, and this creative bit of fundraising is a great way to end the year.”

A spokeswoman for Sloss said he was “delighted to have had people join in the game to raise money for such an amazing organisation”.