It's ten years since the first Sunday for Sammy show was staged at Newcastle City Hall to celebrate the life of Geordie actor Sammy Johnson who died suddenly in 1998. Since then the bi-annual show has gained legendary status and the cast list has featured the cream of North East stage, screen and musical talent.
The 2010 show in February thrilled the sell-out audience once again and surpassed all previous productions. The DVD of the show is released on the Tuesday 27th April and is poised to follow its predecessors into the best-seller list, raising more cash to support the next generation of Tyneside performers.
Sunday for Sammy regulars Tim Healy, Kevin Whately, Christopher Fairbank, Brendan Healy and Billy Mitchell were joined by Julia Tobin (Neville's Brenda) and Corrie's Kevin Kennedy in a spectacular show jam packed with comedy and music.
Timothy Spall was beamed in to join his Auf Wiedersehen Pet pals in a hilarious sketch set in Colditz Castle and Alan Shearer was on-hand to give surprise guest star Mark Knopfler some advice on his music.
Denise Welch was joined by Andrea McLean, Gaynor Faye, Pam Royle and Angie Lonsdale in 'Slack Lasses' a hilarious parody of 'Loose Women' and Kathryn Tickell added some authentic Northumbrian Music to the heady mix.
Also featured in the show were some of the young artistes who have benefitted from the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund. They stunned the audience with their performances and graphically illustrated how well the Sunday for Sammy funds are invested in the stars of the future.
One young performer in particular, Emily Hoile, has fulfilled the promise she showed when she first applied to the fund for support by recently being accepted by the hugely prestigious Julliard School of Music in New York.
Another recipient currently enjoying success as a result of a grant from the fund is local girl, Emilie Fleming from Boldon Colliery who is currently wowing audiences in the BBC TV hit show “Over the Rainbow”, Andrew Lloyd Webber's search for a girl to play Dorothy in the West End.
As usual the demand for tickets was enormous but only 4,000 lucky people saw the show live. Now everyone can experience the magic that is Sunday for Sammy 2010 on a DVD that features the entire show, two hours and forty minutes of fantastic entertainment from the North East's superstars of the present with help from the potential stars of the future.
The DVD is available from JG Windows branches in Newcastle and the Metro Centre priced at £16.99 - from www.sundayforsammy.com priced at £17.00 and from HMV Shops. 75% of the profits from sales will be donated to the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund.
The DVD will be launched at the Vermont Hotel on Monday 26 April at 7.00pm for 7.30pm in Marthas Bar. Press are invited to attend. Please RSVP to Jo Beddows, Hilary Florek PR on: 0191 285 7100 or email jo@hilaryflorekpr.co.uk
The event is sponsored by the Port of Tyne and supported by The Vermont Hotel, NB Group, Newcastle City Hall, Hilary Florek PR, BBC Radio Newcastle and the Community Foundation.
For further information: Jo Beddows Hilary Florek PR Tel: 0191 285 7100 Email: jo@hilaryflorekpr.co.uk
