Gio proves handful at Channel 4’s Comedy Gala

Gocompare.com's larger than life opera star Gio Compario will be making a special appearance at Channel 4's Comedy Gala, in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, to be broadcast on April 5th on Channel 4.

Gio is set to feature in a special ad break during the Gala in which comedian Jimmy Carr interacts with six high profile TV ad campaigns, and pokes fun at the brands involved. Jimmy looks to continue the comedy from the Gala into the ad break, and will appear in all of the commercials. During the Gocompare.com ad, Jimmy will appear during Gio's trademark high note and attempt to silence the tenor.

Gio, played by real life opera star Wynne Evans, has been credited with boosting Gocompare.com's customer numbers by more than 20 per cent since the TV adverts featuring the tenor popping up unexpectedly first appeared back in August 2009.

Wynne Evans, who plays the fictional tenor said; "Gio is such a fun character to play and I'm delighted he's helping to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Children really enjoy the Gocompare ads but I expect there will be a few people cheering Jimmy Carr on as he takes his revenge."

The Gala will air at 9pm on April 5th on Channel 4, and is being filmed on March 30th at the 02 Arena. The line up includes Alan Carr, Andy Parsons, Bill Bailey, Catherine Tate, Christine Bleakley, David Mitchell, The Fonejacker, Jack Whitehall, Jack Dee, James Corden, Jason Manford, Jo Brand, John Bishop, Jonathan Ross, Kevin Bridges, Kevin Eldon, Lee Evans, Mark Watson, Michael McIntyre, Noel Fielding, Patrick Kielty, Rich Hall, Rob Brydon, Ruth Jones, Sean Lock, and Shappi Khorsandi , with Stomp performing two major routines with Alan Carr and Bill Bailey.

Plus Robert Webb, Ricky Gervais, Derren Brown, Kevin Bishop, Jimmy Carr, Gok Wan, Stephen Merchant and Johnny Depp have given up their time for free to shoot funny sketches and bespoke VTs specially for the night.