WHEN the organisers of one of the biggest comedy fundraisers the city has ever staged began looking for hosts, two names immediately sprang to mind.

As a celebrity auctioneer, comedy queen Karen Dunbar has generated thousands of pounds for the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice by driving up bids.

As a schoolboy, DJ and stand-up Des Clarke raised money for the same good cause while growing up in the Norfolk Court high-rises in the heart of the Gorbals.

And having spent six weeks starring together in panto at the King's Theatre, the venue where next month's stand-up extravaganza will be held, they've developed a natural chemistry that makes them the perfect hosts for the PPOWH! benefit.

The duo will be the comedy glue that binds together a dozen top acts from the worlds of comedy and showbiz.

The idea of any inter-act rivalry on the night is just as alien to this fast-talking pair as awkward silences.

"There's other people?" jokes Des, "I thought it was just us doing an hour each!"

"I'm a bit disappointed," adds Karen. "Nah, there's no competition.

"There can't be when you're the hosts ... we've already won!

"Between the acts that we've got, the venue that we've got, and the cause that we're doing it for, it's the highlight of the Glasgow Comedy Festival."

The line-up so far features Des McLean, Fred MacAulay, Bruce Morton, Michelle McManus, Janey Godley, Michael Redmond, Scott Agnew, Raymond Mearns and headliner Dylan Moran, creator of Channel 4's cult series Black Books and star of Shaun of the Dead and Notting Hill.

With so many egos packed on to one bill, will the hosts have control over the flashing light that typically signals time up for each of the acts?

"There's no flashing lights. We're literally going to go on and punch them," jokes Des.

"There's no light involved – just flashing," quips Karen.

"That usually gets folk off the stage - or out of the theatre!"

Chewin' the Fat star Karen is no stranger to hosting events for the hospice.

Generating as much money as possible at auctions has become her party piece.

"Out of all the different things that I do, I really love the auctions," says Ayr-born Karen, who first visited the hospice more than 10 years ago after becoming an ambassador for the Prince's Trust.

"I tend to slag auction lots off, and then I realise that the people who made or donated them are in the room.

"There's a good bit of comedy in it.

"I'll emotionally blackmail people – I'm really good at that.

"I pretend I've forgotten how much it was. I'll say: 'Is that not a thousand there?' when it's actually £800, but they'll often just give a thousand."

It's a strategy that raises a smile with Capital FM breakfast host Des.

"The auctions are the important bit of the night, they're the bit that bring in the money," he says.

Des has known about the hospice since taking part in school fundraisers as a pupil at St John's Primary in the Gorbals.

But he took his first steps inside its doors last week for a tour of the converted Georgian HQ on the banks of the Clyde.

"It's often the nominated charity at events that I do – lots of companies support it – but it's just a name and you don't always think of the difference it makes," says Des.

"Being there you see practically how telling some daft jokes in front of people wearing suits translates into the work that they do.

"It's nice to see that comedy can actually do something that's a wee bit worthy and serious at the same time."

The fundraiser is one of 411 shows in the 11th annual Glasgow Comedy Festival, which has attracted TV favourites such as Mark Thomas, Jimmy Carr, Harry Hill, Al Murray, Sean Lock, Paul Merton and Chris Addison.

A few names amid the programme's pages are must-sees for Karen and Des.

"I want to see Jimmy Carr – to find out who his accountant is," laughs Des.

"And Harry Hill, I love him. I remember seeing him at the King's when I was a teenager."

"I've always got to go and see Dorothy Paul," adds Karen.

"She's like the Shirley Bassey of Scottish comedy; a big inspiration to me."

Glasgow Comedy Festival has chosen the hospice as its nominated charity for 2013.

Proceeds from tickets sales for the PPOWH! benefit will go towards providing palliative care to patients with terminal or life-limiting illnesses.

The Evening Times is backing the hospice's Brick by Brick appeal, to raise £15million to build a new 16-roomed hospice on a site by Bellahouston Park.

Audience members will also be encouraged to pledge via text – and to make donations in the collection tins.

The night's serious subject matter makes comic relief a necessity, according to the hosts.

"I don't know if it's a Scottish thing, but certainly when the chips are down, that's when you really find a sense of humour and that's when you need it most," says Des.

"It's that gallows humour."

"That's exactly it," adds Karen.

"I mean, we were doubled over during the Highland Clearances.

"We couldn't get up for laughing. We couldn't get up because they'd knocked the legs from us."

Des picks up the thread: "I mean, you don't see the out-takes of Braveheart, when the last bit they cut was his funny bone.

"William Wallace was literally doubled over, and then quartered over.

"That's the Scottish sense of humour."

Hospice fundraiser Cassie Oliver said: "It might come as a surprise, but humour plays an important role in the work that we do at the hospice, so this event is a perfect fit in helping us raise much-needed funds.

"Although more performers are still to be announced, we are sure this is going to be one of the festival's outstanding events."

lThe PPOWH! Benefit is at the King's Theatre on Monday, March 18 at 7.30pm. Tickets priced £20, plus £1 restoration levy, are available from 0844 395 4005.