Russell Howard reveals baby son died soon after birth in heartbreaking statement
Warning: This article contains discussion of baby loss which some readers may find distressing.
Earlier this year, Russell Howard and his wife, Cerys, lost their baby boy, Felix, shortly after birth.
He explained on Instagram that the family were supported by hospital staff to 'navigate an unimaginable heartache'. The 46-year-old also thanked a bereavement midwife, Lauren, whose care meant more to them 'than we can ever put into words'.
Howard said that following his death, Felix was placed in a 'cool cot' allowing Cerys and him to spend 'precious hours with our beautiful boy'.
"Those hours are among the most precious memories we have of Felix," he explained, adding that they made a promise to try and help other families in the 'same devastating circumstances'. And so, they are establishing The Felix Foundation with a charity stand-up gala confirmed for next year.
The comedian shared the tragic news this morning (4 September), writing: "Earlier this year, our family changed forever when our beautiful baby boy, Felix, died shortly after birth.
"During the most devastating time of our lives, the hospital staff who cared for us showed extraordinary compassion, kindness and humanity. They helped us navigate an unimaginable heartache and gave us support when we needed it most.
"We were assigned a bereavement midwife, Lauren, who had experienced a similar tragedy.
"After losing her own baby, Lauren retrained as a midwife so that she could help other families going through what she had been through. Her care meant more to us than we can ever put into words."
Howard explained The Felix Foundation is named after their 'beautiful son' who they miss dearly 'every single day'.
"We take some comfort in knowing that his name will stand for kindness, compassion and laughter, and that his legacy may help other families through the darkest moments of their lives," he added.
The comedian hopes for people to attend the gala and help make 'Felix's legacy something truly special'.
The Felix Foundation Charity Stand-Up Gala
Howard will host the gala at The O2 in London on 8 February 2027, as he thanked colleagues and friends for their 'extraordinary generosity'.
"We have managed to put together an incredible line-up of comedians, including: Michael McIntyre, Jimmy Carr, Aisling Bea, Guz Khan, Greg Davies, Mo Gilligan, Michelle Wolf and John Bishop," he announced.
"Every single one of these incredible performers is giving their time completely free of charge. I will never forget their generosity.
"We would absolutely love it if you could join us for what promises to be a very special evening: a night of comedy, laughter and celebration, all in aid of a cause that means everything to our family."
You can visit The Felix Foundation website here.
If you need support and advice following a pregnancy loss, you can contact the Tommy’s team at [email protected]. You can also call them for free on 0800 014 7800, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Topics: Celebrity News, Jimmy Carr, Charity
Jess Battison