Charity variety show to return 'bigger and better'

Lindisfarne's Ray Laidlaw says the cast list is never revealed until the show

A charity variety show will be back "bigger and better" after a six-year break, its organisers say.

Tickets for Sunday for Sammy, which will return on 15 February, 2026 at Newcastle's Utilita Arena, went on sale earlier.

The show, which features a host of well-known North East stars, began in 2000 in honour of Sammy Johnson, known for his roles in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Spender, who died in 1998.

Over the years, funds from ticket sales have been turned into grants to help emerging local talent in the performing arts.

It was last performed in 2020 but an attempt to bring the show back three years later failed due to the cost of living crisis.

Young performers from Gateshead College have been promoting the show

Ray Laidlaw, Sunday for Sammy's producer, said the team had been "preparing for quite a while" after "Covid hit and knocked us for six".

The Lindisfarne member said: "It's taken us this long to get back but the last six months we've been preparing the ground.

"It's a variety show featuring the best of the North East... I hope the cast list will be as wonderful and varied as it has been in the past."

He said it had also been adapted to "make a big splash with young people", as "they're the ones who benefit" from grants following each show and would one day be running it "when we've all retired".

Kelly Rickard has been named as the new host

As part of the relaunch Kelly Rickard has been brought it as a new host after organisers said they wanted to refresh the show.

She said she had to keep the news secret for several months but was "really excited" ahead of its return, which she said would be a "sell-out success".

Explaining how the cast list is also kept a secret until the show begins, she added: "[There will be] really big household names in the music industry that you might associate with the North East."

It comes as former ITV Vera actress Brenda Blethyn and Matt Healy, from The 1975, have been announced as patrons.