Sunday for Sammy is a series of biennial charity concerts held in aid of the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund, which benefits young performers.[1] The fund was established in memorial to Sammy Johnson, an actor from North East England, who died suddenly in 1998.[2]
The concerts have been held at Newcastle City Hall, with the exception of 2006, when the show was hosted at Sage Gateshead. Due to the popularity of tickets, the 2018 and 2020 events were held at Metro Radio Arena. Following Covid-19, the next event was expected to be held in 2023; however, "due to the cost-of-living crisis" and the high production costs, the charity's trustees decided that the event would not be a good use of the charity's funds.[3]
The show is performed twice on one day, with each being recorded for a DVD release, from which 75% of profits go to the fund.[1] As of 2024, there have been eleven events,[2] with nine filmed for DVD release.[4]
The concerts are hosted by Tim Healy and (until 2008) Jimmy Nail, who were close friends of Sammy Johnson, and features a range of personalities hailing from North East England, including Denise Welch, Billy Mitchell and Brendan Healy. It has featured guest appearances from people such as Ant and Dec and Mark Knopfler.[5] Writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais contribute sketches based on their television series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, which have featured guest appearances from the surviving original 'magnificent seven'.[1] The concerts usually conclude with all of the performers returning to the stage to sing, most commonly Lindisfarne's "Run for Home".
Tribute shows for Sunday for Sammy are also popular. Most recently a competition for sketches was organised by North East based playwright Ed Waugh.[citation needed]
Shows
Number
Date
DVD number
1
2000
n/a
2
2002
n/a
3
2004
The first show released commercially on DVD. The ensemble perform Lindisfarne's "Run for Home".
4
2006
Performed at The Sage Gateshead. The ensemble perform "That's What Friends Are For", also featured youth ensembles Young Sinfonia and the Swing Bridge Singers. A young Matthew Healy, future frontman of the indie rock band The 1975, also performed a solo rendition of the Leonard Cohen song "Hallelujah ".
A guest appearance from Mark Knopfler, who played extracts from a number of his songs, before playing, on the orders from a specially-recorded video message from Alan Shearer, "Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero)".[2]
Features a tribute to the late Brendan Healy, during his traditional slot following the interval.
10
February 2018
Held at Metro Radio Arena. With Brenda Blethyn, Tim Healy, Denise Welch, Joe McElderry, Kevin Whately, Johnny Vegas, Ryan Molloy, Charlie Hardwick, Chelsea Halfpenny, Stephen Tomkinson, Dave Johns, Jill Halfpenny, Jason Cook, Laura Norton, Christopher Fairbank, Billy Mitchell, Angela Lonsdale, Trevor Horn, Ralph McTell, Julia Tobin, Peter Peverley, Rosie Ramsey
11
February 2020
MWMDVD132
The 20th Anniversary shows ere held at Newcastle Arena on 23rd February 2020.[8]
