Jack Whitehall made a whirlwind return to Soccer Aid on Sunday, but his return came with little sleep, plenty of emotion and a bruising night for his beloved Arsenal still fresh in his mind.
The 37-year-old comedian admitted he flew back to London from Budapest just hours before the charity match at the London Stadium.
After staying up until the early hours to relive Arsenal’s Champions League penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking on the pitch before kick-off, Whitehall told presenter Dermot O’Leary that he had been “up until 3am crying and drinking” as he rewatched the match alone in his hotel room.
“Not great, I just got back from Budapest,” he said.
“I was alone until 3 a.m. in the hotel room watching the penalties again, crying, drinking but it’s okay, I’m here surrounded by United and Tottenham fans, I feel good!”
The comic, who last appeared on Soccer Aid ten years ago, joked about his heartbreak by pretending to sob over Arsenal’s defeat.
Despite the lack of sleep, he still managed to enter the tunnel alongside many celebrities and football legends before the annual charity clash, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
The match, organized in support of UNICEF, has raised more than £121 million since its inception in 2006, with a star-studded line-up this year including Danny Dyer, Olly Murs, Sam Thompson, Tom Hiddleston and sprinting legend Usain Bolt.
