Founder hits back in Red Nose storm

CRITIC Lammy blasted Stacey COMIC Relief co-founder Richard Curtis says the charity is on a “never-ending journey towards doing the right thing” after a “white saviour” row.

Labour MP David Lammy blasted Strictly Come Dancing winner Stacey Dooley for an Instagram image of her holding a Ugandan child on Red Nose Day last month.

He said it promoted “her as heroine and a black child as victim” and perpetuated “an old idea from the colonial era”.

Responding to the politician’s comments, the screenwriter and director said: “It’s a never-ending journey towards doing the right thing.

“All I would say is, I hope we will be on the right side of history and above the curve.”

The charity, which Curtis founded with comedian Lenny Henry in 1985, raised £64million this year. HUGH Grant and Julia Roberts will reunite for a sequel to their 1999 hit Notting Hill if writer Richard Curtis gets his way.

Richard, 62, revived Love Actually and Four Weddings And A Funeral for Comic Relief and now wants to do the same with Notting Hill.

He said: “I’m going to talk to Julia about it sometime soon.”

Julia, 51, has hinted she might consider reviving her character Anna, who dated Will, who was played by Hugh Grant, now 58.

But she said they would have to be “the parents of the people that are romcom-ing”.

Julia has said: “There came a point in my career where people thought I had turned on romantic comedies.

“I love them, I love to be in them, I love to watch them. But sometimes, they just don’t work at a certain point of life experience.”

Roger Michell, 62, who directed Notting Hill, said: “Are Will and Anna still living in Notting Hill with a load of grumpy teenagers running around? I just don’t know. In love stories, you have to split up and then get back together again.

“If you did that with a middle-aged couple living in Notting Hill, it would feel contrived.”

Richard spoke to the Mirror at the launch of the #TOGETHERBAND, a friendship wristband from sustainable luxury brand Bottletop.

In a speech at the event, he said: “I think the goals are aiming to make us the last generation to be threatened by climate change.” HOPE Richard Curtis