Ed and Trevor are delighted to announce that one of their sketches is being performed at this year’s Sunday for Sammy concerts at the City Hall in February.
The sold-out shows on February 12 are one of the highlights of the Geordie calendar and though the nature of the sketch and the performers involved is a closely guarded secret, Ed promises that it will be a hoot:
“I can’t wait to see it myself. We haven’t written a sketch before but when Ray Laidlaw asked us if we’d like to get involved we jumped at the chance. It’s a real honour to be a small part of such a great team and to contribute to a fantastic cause. The Memorial fund helped us when we were just starting out and it’s great to get the chance to give something back,” he explained.
The bi-annual entertainment extravaganza, held to raise money for the Sunday for Sammy Trust in memory of the late actor Sammy Johnson, will take place on February 12 2012. A star-studded line-up of famous faces – and at least one surprise guest – will take part in the show – the proceeds of which will be used to support rising upcoming new talent in the region.Sunday for Sammy stalwarts include Benidorm star Tim Healy and Lindisfarne drummer Ray Laidlaw, who produces the show.
Tim, who is Chairman of the Trust, said: “Sunday for Sammy has become one of the highlights of my professional life and I’m really looking forward to the next show which will be our seventh.
“The 2010 gig was tremendous and we’re going to have to pull out all the stops to top it. As usual, we won’t be revealing any names before the show but I can guarantee a brilliant cast and some great surprises. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Past participants in the show include Loose Women star Denise Welch, Brian Johnson of AC/DC and actors Kevin Whately, Jimmy Nail and Timothy Spall, who all co-starred with Tim in hit TV drama Auf Wiedersehen Pet.
To add to the glittering line-up, organisers wow the audience at each event with a mystery, big-name guest with Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler topping the bill in 2010.
Unknown performers looking for their big break are currently auditioning for the Trust in the hope of winning a grant to help with the cost of training.
Grants are awarded by the Trust twice a year and, since the Trust, formerly the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund, was established there have been more than 180 recipients and almost £500,000 has been raised to support talented North East performers.
The Trust was founded following the death in 1988 of Sammy – real name Ronnie – Johnson, an actor who had worked alongside many of today’s famous faces on dramas like Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Catherine Cookson’s The Gambling Man.
Ray Laidlaw said: “Sammy was a great bloke and he’d be thrilled that these concerts in his memory have become such a North East institution. They are a logistical nightmare to organise but, without a doubt, my favourite gig of the year.”