Hugh Grant surprises Londoners by serving Christmas dinner to 500 elderly residents
Hugh Grant spent Christmas Day spreading joy among Londoners by serving a festive lunch.
The 63-year-old who helped out at the Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch was described as ‘the real Love Actually’ as he surprised locals.
The event allowed older residents of Hammersmith and Fulham, who would otherwise have been alone, to enjoy Christmas together.
Grant was seen socializing with guests and fellow volunteers, in addition to waiting on people in West London.
A council spokesperson said: ‘Thank you to everyone who joined us for the annual Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch – including a very special guest, Hugh Grant.
Hugh Grant was spotted serving Christmas dinner to his London neighbors at the Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch
The actor helped with the event which allowed elderly residents of Hammersmith and Fulham, who would otherwise be alone, to enjoy Christmas together
He was seen socializing with guests and fellow volunteers at the Novotel hotel in Hammersmith
A council spokesperson said: ‘Thank you to everyone who joined us at the annual Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch – including a very special guest, Hugh Grant.’
“This was actually real love,” the spokesperson added, after reportedly raising £40,000 to host the event
‘Hugh helped us serve lunch to 500 local elderly people who would otherwise have celebrated alone. This was actually real love.’
Deputy leader of the council, Councilor Ben Coleman, added: “Big thanks to Hugh Grant for his surprise performance while serving guests at our Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch.
‘We were all happy to see him. He made an already fun occasion even more special.”
As well as the celebrity appearance and a two-course Christmas dinner, attendees at the Novotel hotel enjoyed live music and their own gift bags filled with ‘festive treats’ – with free transport for anyone who needed it.
The Evening standard reported that £40,000 was raised through donations from local businesses and crowdfunding to make this possible.
It wasn’t the only example of a celebratory donation by the Wonka actor, himself a Londoner, who was also recently reported to have donated £20,000 to ‘Britain’s friendliest plumber’ James Anderson.
The 55-year-old has helped thousands of disabled and elderly people through his charity DEPHER, which stands for Disabled and Elderly, Plumbing and Heating Emergency Response.