Sunday for Sammy is a biennial entertainment extravaganza held in memory of the late actor Sammy Johnson. First held in 2000, the iconic shows feature Northern stars from the worlds of TV, theatre and music, raising funds for creative, talented and enthusiastic young performing artists from the North East.
On Thursday 6th February, to mark 25 years since the first Sunday for Sammy show, a flash mob of dancers from Gateshead College made a real song and dance about the highly-anticipated return of Sunday for Sammy. The day of celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the Sunday for Sammy shows began with a Breakfast for Sammy featuring special guests and performances, hosted by comedian Kelly Rickard, who will be the new host for the Sunday for Sammy show when it returns next year. She’ll be the first female host in its 25-year history.
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet star and local legend Tim Healy is chairman of the charity, and following an emotional screening of ‘Round Here’, a short film narrated by Tim celebrating the region, he talked about what Sunday for Sammy has achieved over the last 25 years. He was close friends with Gateshead-born actor Ronnie (Sammy) Johnson. They met at the Live Theatre Company in 1973 and became best friends. Tim recalled queues forming right around the City Hall for tickets to the show, and explained how, as the shows continued to grow in popularity, they moved to Newcastle’s arena.
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet's Kevin Whately, Jimmy Nail, Timothy Spall and Christopher Fairbank have all featured in Sunday for Sammy shows since 2000 along with North East actors Denise Welch, Charlie Hardwick and Jill Halfpenny. The charity has also helped support local talent including singer Hayley McKay, who performed her song Wild West at the breakfast.
It has also been revealed that Vera star Brenda Blethyn is one of two new patrons for Sunday for Sammy. In a pre-recorded message she said she was ‘very happy to accept’ the offer to become a patron of a charity which ‘helps lots of youngsters in the North East to gain experience and maybe employment in the entertainment business’. Tim’s son Matty Healy, who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for pop rock band The 1975, is the second new patron. In his message he said, ‘I’m very proud. It’s been in my family and in my heart for as long as I can remember and I’m very interested in helping young people in this economy from working-class and different backgrounds be facilitated in the creation of art. It’s important for them, it’s very important for our society, and people from the North East to be part of the cultural production of our country’.
The lineup for the 2026 Sunday for Sammy show is still to be announced, and A Sketch for Sammy (previously compered by Hebburn comedian Jason Cook), is also set to return.
Tickets for Sunday for Sammy on 15th February 2026 at Utilita Arena Newcastle go on sale on 15th February 2025 at 10am. Find out more at sundayforsammy.org.
