The every-other-year extravaganza that is Sunday For Sammy packed ‘em in once again yesterday. SAM WONFOR was there and is happy to report it was showbusiness as usual

THE Sunday for Sammy spirit – and a top drawer double bill of sell-out shows – trumped any celebrity tittle tattle yesterday as the biennial charity gathering made its return to Newcastle City Hall.

It would be fair to say that in its 12-year history, the North-East-soaked concerts haven’t provoked quite as much attention from the tabloid press as they have this time around.

Ever since Geordie actress and presenter Denise Welch announced the end of her 23-year marriage to Tim Healy on live TV last week (and fuelled by the furore surrounding her winning stint on Celebrity Big Brother), celeb-watching publications have been waiting for the curtain to come up on the couple’s first public appearance.

But anyone hoping for even the smallest glimmer of awkwardness or tension between the pair would have been disappointed. No, from the last-minute rehearsals and on-stage surprises, this was business as usual – that business being an afternoon and then evening of kicking feel-goodness from an ensemble of some of the region’s best known and loved entertainers in memory of one of their own.

Ronnie “Sammy” Johnson, best known for his role as Stick in BBC series Spender with Jimmy Nail, died suddenly in 1998, prompting his long-time pals to set up a fund in his name to support up-and-coming performing talent from the North East.

Fundraising concerts have been held every two years since they debuted in 2000 – each building on the success of the last and every one rounded off with a Run For Home sing-a-long.

Yesterday’s concerts certainly did that and saw Tim and Denise come together as always to share a mic for the swaying finale. In the three hours before, audiences had been treated to yet another bill of music and comedy from a mixture of Sunday For Sammy (SFS) veterans and newcomers.