Carols Against Blood Cancer
Three hundred guests, a full choir, celebrity readers and the last carol, Once in Royal David's City, sung by candlelight. One of Notting Hill's most-loved Christmas evenings returns.
A fundraiser that became a London Christmas tradition
Started by Charlie and Mariella Metcalfe in 2017, we've held a carol service in Notting Hill every Christmas since.
It's a fundraising event, of course, but it has also become one of the most magical carol services in London, with drinks, canapés and a host of celebrity readers and performers.
The evening
A bar will be open, serving champagne, wine, Bloody Negronis and soft drinks from 6pm.
Matthew Harris's warm mince pies and sausage rolls will be served both before and after the carols, and to take home.
Doors open: drinks and canapés from two bars at the back of the church
An address from a Blood Cancer UK ambassador, a patient in remission, speaking about life with blood cancer
A live auction of two or three exceptional lots (to be confirmed)
Carols begin, closing with the final carol sung by candlelight
Carols end. The bar re-opens, with mince pies, sausage rolls and chocolate truffles to buy and take home
Evening ends
Readers
- Helen Fielding Confirmed
- Kirstie Allsopp Confirmed
- Clarissa Ward Confirmed
- Natalie Rushdie (singing) Confirmed
- Tom Hollander TBC
Food & drink
Warm mince pies and sausage rolls by Matthew Harris, Head Chef at The Gallivant (ex-Bibendum), served before and after the carols, plus armagnac chocolate truffles to take home.
Champagne, wine, Bloody Negronis and soft drinks, with the bar open from 6pm.
Blood cancer is very common
It's the UK's fifth most common cancer and the third biggest killer, claiming more lives each year than breast or prostate cancer. Lifestyle plays little part, which is partly why it's the most common cancer in children.
But we're winning
Thirty years ago the chances of surviving a diagnosis were slim. Today most people diagnosed are much more likely to survive than die. Children surviving leukaemia:
Blood Cancer UK was started in 1960 by the Eastwood family, after their daughter Susan died weeks after being diagnosed. Since then it has funded over £500 million of research, with a profound effect on survival, not just in blood cancer but other cancers too.
It isn't just leukaemia
There are more than a hundred types. The most common in the UK include:
Thanks to people like you
A few of the public figures who have shared that they are living with blood cancer today.
What the money does
We need to raise a lot, and every pound raised goes to Blood Cancer UK's research and support work.
Could fund a Clinical Trials Nurse for a year, helping people with blood cancer access clinical trials and supporting them before, during and after treatment.
Could maintain the nurse education programme for two years, helping nurses across the UK improve best practice in blood cancer care.
Could fund a researcher for the entirety of a research project.
Could fund an entire world-class research project, running around three years, helping scientists understand what causes blood cancer, make treatments kinder and take us closer to a cure.
Could fund Blood Cancer UK's Support Services for a year, helping people feel supported and able to access the care that's right for them.
Could fund a new Service Transformation Project, dramatically increasing the help available and the number of people reached.
Why become a sponsor?
Align your brand with a charity giving real hope to patients and their families, at the time of year most associated with joy.
A real night out
Tickets included: the perfect staff or client Christmas thank you, not another box-ticking CSR outing.
300 guests
Your name on the programme every guest takes home, seen by the congregation, readers and performers.
More than a logo
Naming and branding across Instagram, Facebook and this website in the run-up to the event.
A winning cause
Back a charity aiming to beat blood cancer within 30 years, through research targeted at exactly that.
Main sponsor
- Company name and logo on the front cover of the programme, given to all 300 guests
- Full-page colour advert on the inside front cover
- Logo on the Carols Against Blood Cancer website
- Mentions in all social media promotion
- Thanks given in the Blood Cancer UK CEO's speech
- Six complimentary tickets in reserved seats at the front of the church
Programme sponsor
- Full-page colour advert on the outside back cover of the programme
- Logo on the event page of the Blood Cancer UK website
- Two complimentary tickets in reserved seats at the front of the church
Advertise in the programme
Space in the evening's programme is available to supporters.
Become a Friend
Make a donation and leave your name so it can be included in the evening's programme, or simply give anonymously. Every gift helps.
Donate nowPast readers, performers and sponsors
We've been overwhelmed by the extraordinary support given so freely to make the carol service such a memorable occasion.
Sponsor the evening or advertise in the programme
Get in touch with Tassy, who chairs the Notting Hill committee, and she'll take it from there.
The Notting Hill Committee
- Tassy Barham Chair
- Dr Lizzie Tucker
- Annick Huber
- Sophie Singh
- Beth Kuti
- Allegra Miles
- Harry Cragoe
- Nyree Tanielian
Join us by candlelight
Monday 7 December 2026 · St John's Church, Lansdowne Crescent, Notting Hill, W11 2NN · Doors 6pm