Stars all set for Sunday For Sammy concert

Feb 7 2010 Sunday Sun

“Charlie was one of the first people on the phone last year to ask when we were doing the gigs and whether she could be involved. She loves it, but she’s really poorly. She would never let us down.”

Thankfully, such are the little black books of the cast - and such is the good-time reputation of the Sunday For Sammy gigs - that another well-known former soap actress, (who will remain nameless until curtain-up), was quickly en route to Tyneside to save the Slack Lasses’ day.

Although the surprise element to the day is one of the concert’s biggest charms, we were allowed in to see the rehearsals for the much-loved Auf Wiedersehen, Pet sketches.

And Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais - the show’s original writers - also took their places in the stalls to watch their work being rehearsed on stage.

The pair, who both live in Los Angeles, always make the effort to attend the biennial gatherings.

Dick said: “We always try and plan a trip to the UK around this, when we get the date from Tim.

“We hate to miss this, because it’s just such a lovely, fun occasion with a fantastic atmosphere. And it’s such a treat to revive these characters every couple of years.”

Although both of today’s concerts have sold out, a DVD of the performances will be released later in the year, with 75% of profits going to the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund, which benefits young North East performers.