Russell Howard has broken his silence on the death of his newborn son.
The British comedian, 46, revealed on Instagram Thursday morning that he and his wife, Cerys, lost their baby boy, Felix, earlier this year just hours after he was born. Howard described the loss as the moment their family “changed forever” and praised the hospital staff who helped them through what he called “the most devastating time of our lives.”
“During the most devastating time of our lives, the hospital staff who cared for us showed extraordinary compassion, kindness and humanity,” Howard wrote on Instagram. “They helped us navigate an unimaginable heartache and gave us support when we needed it most.”
Howard singled out a bereavement midwife named Lauren for particular thanks. Lauren had retrained as a midwife after losing her own baby, a decision Howard said she made so she could help other families facing the same tragedy.
“We were assigned a bereavement midwife, Lauren, who had experienced a similar tragedy,” he shared. “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.”
Following Felix’s death, the couple was able to spend precious final hours with him thanks to a “cool cot” provided by the hospital. Howard said those hours became “among the most precious memories we have of Felix” and that the experience led them to make a promise to help other families in what he termed “the same devastating circumstances.”
That promise has now taken shape as The Felix Foundation, named after the son they miss “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,” Howard wrote.
The foundation will launch with a charity stand-up gala hosted by Howard himself at The O2 in London on 8 February 2027. He has assembled a lineup of major British and international comedy stars who are all performing without pay.
“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,” Howard announced. “Every single one of these incredible performers is giving their time completely free of charge. I will never forget their generosity.”
Howard said he hopes attendees will help make “Felix’s legacy something truly special” and described the evening as “a night of comedy, laughter and celebration, all in aid of a cause that means everything to our family.”
The comedian and his wife had kept the pregnancy and loss private until this week’s announcement, which he posted on September 4. Alongside his thanks to medical staff and fellow performers, Howard expressed gratitude to colleagues and friends for what he called their “extraordinary generosity” in supporting the foundation’s launch.
The Felix Foundation website is now live for those seeking information about the gala or the charity’s broader mission.