Matt Lucas and Ronnie O’Sullivan star in series of films to remember Holocaust victims

A Holocaust education charity has teamed up with British celebrities to make a series of emotional and inspirational films to remember victims of the Nazi genocide.

The five separate videos feature comedian Matt Lucas, snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan, broadcaster Robert Peston, businesswoman Karren Brady and Love Island star Eyal Booker chatting to Holocaust survivors about their horrific experiences in World War Two.

The film series, called ‘Meet the Survivors’, was made by the charity March of the Living UK and released online today to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021.

The annual March of the Living involves more than 10,000 people, led by Holocaust survivors, walking 3km from the gates of the Auschwitz concentration camp to the gas chambers at Birkenau as a tribute to all those murdered by the Nazis.

As the Covid-19 pandemic made travel to Poland impossible to take part this year, the ‘Meet the Survivors’ series was created in its place.

A Holocaust education charity has teamed up with British celebrities to make a series of emotional and inspirational films to remember victims of the Nazi genocide. Pictured: Robert Peston in Meet the Survivors

Former Little Britain star Lucas, a co-host of The Great British Bake Off, spoke for more than 25 minutes to survivor Harry Omer, 93, about the persecution his family faced in Poland.

Lucas said: ‘It’s so important to remember the Holocaust. We need to hear these stories. 

‘We need to know that they happened. You cannot take it for granted. Who knows what will happen in the future?

‘If we forget these stories and forget what happened and how and why, we are at risk of it repeating itself.’

Ronnie O’Sullivan, the six times and reigning world snooker champion, who spoke to Eve Kugler, 90, said in his film: ‘I have learned so much today from hearing from Eve. 

‘The more we can talk, and the more we can educate people, that is what it is about.’

The five separate videos will also feature comedian Matt Lucas (above) in conversation with Holocaust survivors

The five separate videos will also feature comedian Matt Lucas (above) in conversation with Holocaust survivors

Ronnie O'Sullivan, the six times and reigning world snooker champion, who spoke to Eve Kugler, 90, said in his film: 'I have learned so much today from hearing from Eve'

Ronnie O’Sullivan, the six times and reigning world snooker champion, who spoke to Eve Kugler, 90, said in his film: ‘I have learned so much today from hearing from Eve’ 

Robert Peston, the political editor of ITV and host of the channel’s ‘Peston’ show, who heard 97-year-old Lily Ebert’s testimony, said: ‘It’s incredibly important to think about events like the Holocaust.

‘There have been so many atrocities affecting so many different people in the history of mankind. 

‘This was among the very, very, very worst in a millennia of atrocities, and there are too many people who walk around naively thinking that was the past.

‘In remembering the Holocaust, we recognise that we all have a duty to be vigilant against evil.’

Baroness Brady, the current vice-chairman of West Ham United and a former Small Business Ambassador to David Cameron’s Government, walked and talked with 89-year-old Agnes Kaposi in her film.

She said: ‘When you hear the personal and enormous impact that it had on a whole generation of people, millions of people suffering just terrible, terrible circumstances because of who they are, it is so enraging and also so important that the story is not forgotten so it cannot happen again.’

Eyal Booker, who appeared in the fourth season of Love island, spoke to 90-year old Mala Tribich about her life before, during and after the Holocaust.

He said: ‘Its part of history and not everyone is very interested in history. I think they overlook it. 

The film series called 'Meet the Survivors' was made by the charity March of the Living UK and released online today to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021. Pictured: Karren Brady

The film series called ‘Meet the Survivors’ was made by the charity March of the Living UK and released online today to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021. Pictured: Karren Brady

‘I honestly think the majority of young people believe the holocaust was a longer time (back) than it actually was.

‘For them to see me talking to Mala, a real life survivor of the Holocaust who is an older lady, but fit and healthy… is going to really bring to light that the Holocaust really wasn’t that long ago, and we need to continue to change our ways.’

Ms Tribich said in the film that she wanted to speak out to ensure that those who died in the Holocaust were not forgotten.

Scott Saunders, the founder of March of the Living UK, said: ‘The Holocaust survivors are living embodiments of what it means to show resilience in the face of hatred and adversity.

‘The incredibly powerful “Meet the Survivors” series of films with Matt, Ronnie, Robert, Karren and Eyal will help to educate people about the atrocities of the Holocaust and with that knowledge hopefully make sure that something like that will never happen again.’

  • The series of films can be viewed here.