British Airways Announces Smile High Gig Sets New Guinness World Records
British Airways has announced that it set a new Guinness World Record title for hosting the 'highest stand-up comedy gig in the world'.

WEST SUSSEX, ENGLAND, March 19, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- British Airways has set a new Guinness World Records title with comedians Dara O Briain, Jack Whitehall and Jon Richardson, for hosting the 'highest stand-up comedy gig in the world'.

The smile high gig, which took place on March 12, 2011 as part of the airline's partnership with Comic Relief, raised almost GBP100,000 for Red Nose Day.

The comedians performed for 45 minutes at 35,000ft to a crowd of 180 guests and prize winners to set the new world record. The comedy gig was hosted on flight BA9230c on a dedicated British Airways A321 aircraft. The flight took off from London Heathrow's Terminal 5 and flew over the UK for two and a half hours.

Keeping the crowd in high spirits, Jack Whitehall joked: "I was looking forward to today - after all it's the only gig where people can't walk out. If you want to heckle you'll have to press the call button."

Dara O Briain, who was last to perform, said: "I told the Captain I'd bang twice on the locker like this when I was on - so he can take the aircraft to 37,000ft and beat Jack and Jon's record!"

Since the partnership launched in June 2010, the airline has raised in excess of GBP700,000* for 'Flying Start' - the airline's charity partnership with Comic Relief, which aims to transform the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the UK and around the world.

British Airways Captain Brian Connolly said: "It was an honour to Captain this very special flight today. I'm proud to be able to say that I'm a Guinness World Records holder and, of course, a member of the Smile High Club!"

Footage from the event will be made available shortly at: www.youtube.com/britishairways.
Further information can be found at www.facebook.com/britishairways.

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Katja Cooper
British Airways
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