Comedian Russell Howard has revealed that his baby son Felix died earlier this year shortly after his wife Cerys gave birth, describing the loss as "the most devastating time of our lives". In response to the tragedy, Howard and his wife have established The Felix Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting families experiencing similar bereavement.
In a statement released on Friday, Howard expressed his gratitude to hospital staff for their care during the period following Felix's death. He praised the "extraordinary compassion, kindness and humanity" demonstrated by the medical team, and highlighted the particular impact of a bereavement midwife assigned to the family named Lauren, who had herself experienced a similar loss and retrained specifically to help other families facing such circumstances.
During our time in hospital, Felix was placed in a cool cot, which meant that my wife and I were able to spend precious hours with our beautiful boy. We could hold him, talk to him and tell him how much we loved him. Those hours are among the most precious memories we have of Felix.
Howard and his wife had not publicly announced their second pregnancy at the time of Felix's death. The couple, who have been together since 2004 and share another son born in August 2024, made a commitment following their loss to channel their experience into helping others.
Her care meant more to us than we could ever put into words. We were overwhelmed by the care we received, and we made a promise to each other: that we would try to help other families who find themselves facing the same devastating circumstances.
What will The Felix Foundation do?
According to , The Felix Foundation was registered in England and Wales in June 2026 and will focus on funding training, equipment and improved hospital spaces for bereaved parents. The charity aims to support families affected by miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, neonatal death and related bereavement, providing specialist support, practical assistance and resources for healthcare settings.
The foundation's work builds directly on the experience Howard and his wife had during their time in hospital.
We were overwhelmed by the care we received, Howard reflected, emphasising how the quality of bereavement support can profoundly affect families during their darkest moments.
How will the charity raise funds?
A major fundraising event, titled The Felix Foundation Charity Stand-Up Gala, will take place at The O2 in London on 8 February 2027. According to Ticketmaster, the line-up includes Michael McIntyre, Jimmy Carr, Aisling Bea, John Bishop, Mo Gilligan, Greg Davies, Guz Khan and Michelle Wolf, with additional performers still to be announced.
Howard expressed his gratitude to the comedians involved in the event.
I will never forget the generosity of my fellow comics, who are giving their time to the show completely free of charge.The 46-year-old, known for his work on shows including Mock The Week and Russell Howard's Good News, said the support from the comedy community had been instrumental in bringing the fundraiser to life.
Pre-sale tickets for the gala are scheduled to open on 10 September 2026, with the full event taking place on 8 February 2027.
What is Russell Howard's background?
Howard is one of the United Kingdom's most recognised stand-up comedians, with a career spanning television and live performance. Beyond his television appearances, he has performed extensively at major festivals and continues to tour the country with his stand-up material. His wife Cerys works as an NHS doctor, and the couple have built their life together since meeting in 2004.
The decision to establish The Felix Foundation reflects Howard's determination to transform personal tragedy into meaningful action that could benefit countless other families. The foundation's focus on improving hospital environments and training for bereavement support represents a direct response to the care the family received during their own experience.
What happens next?
Pre-sale tickets for The Felix Foundation Charity Stand-Up Gala open on 10 September 2026, with the main event scheduled for 8 February 2027 at The O2. Families and supporters interested in the foundation's work can expect further announcements as the charity develops its programmes and initiatives throughout 2027.
If you have been affected by bereavement following the loss of a baby, support and help are available through various organisations specialising in perinatal loss and bereavement support.
