Sunday For Sammy honoured as it returns to the Utilita Arena

The North East Comedy Hall of Fame has announced its second inductee: a biennial charity show that has raised millions for good causes

Sunday For Sammy, which stages two performances at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena this weekend, will be honoured alongside its organiser Ray Laidlaw at a ceremony in September.

The show was launched in 2000 by actors Tim Healy and Jimmy Nail as a tribute to their friend Sammy Johnson, who had recently died at the age of 49. Over the past 25 years it has grown into one of the region’s biggest entertainment events, featuring comedy, music and sketches.

This Sunday’s performances will be hosted by comedian Kelly Rickard, with appearances from Dave Johns, Cal Halbert, Carl Hutchison and Sammy Dobson.

Laidlaw, pictured, best known as the drummer with the band Lindisfarne, is now one of the show’s main organisers. He will receive the award on September 10 at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House in Newcastle.

The ceremony will also feature a sketch written as part of Sketch For Sammy, a scheme that supports new comedy writers in the region.

Sunday For Sammy is the second inductee to be announced for the North East Comedy Hall of Fame, following the Viz comic creators Chris and Simon Donald. Six more individuals or groups will be named throughout the year.

The hall of fame itself will launch at the September gala, though its permanent location has yet to be confirmed. Organisers have described the event as ‘like the Oscars but if it was a laugh and nobody got punched’.

Elaine Robertson, director of Felt Nowt, the non-profit co-operative behind the hall of fame, said: ‘Sunday For Sammy is a huge part of the culture of the North East and we want to celebrate the comedy side of the shows as well as the encouragement to new writers that Sketch For Sammy provides.

‘Most comedians never get to play an arena so that alone makes these shows special, before we even consider the huge amounts of money they have raised for local charities.’

Felt Nowt was set up by local comedians to promote regional comedy talent and bring performances to communities that might not otherwise have access to them.

Published: 10 Feb 2026