Jack Whitehall returned to Soccer Aid on Sunday, but his comeback came with little sleep, plenty of emotion and a tough night for his beloved Arsenal still fresh in his mind.
The 37-year-old comedian admitted he had flown back to London from Budapest just hours before the charity match at the London Stadium.
After staying up in the early hours, Arsenal relived their Champions League penalty shoot-out defeat 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 game alone in his hotel room.
“Not great, I just flew back from Budapest,” he said.
“I was up until 3am alone in the hotel room re-watching the penalty shoot-out, crying, drinking, but it’s fine, I’m here surrounded by United fans and Tottenham fans, I feel good!”
The comic, who last featured in Soccer Aid a decade ago, joked through the heartbreak as he pretended to sob over Arsenal’s defeat.
Despite the lack of sleep, he still made it into the tunnel alongside a host of celebrities and football legends ahead of the annual charity clash, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
The match, held in aid of UNICEF, has now raised more than £121 million since its inception in 2006, with this year’s star-studded line-up including Danny Dyer, Olly Murs, Sam Thompson, Tom Hiddleston and sprint legend Usain Bolt.
