celebrities

Steve Earl

Steve Earle at the Sage   Steve Earle, the rabble-rousing godfather of the alternative country scene, is looking to set the stage alight at the Sage Gateshead on Thursday 23 May.  After years of numerous awards, extensive solo/acoustic tours, successful acting roles on HBO’s The Wire, and Treme, this current tour is in support of his new release The Low Highway released last month. The album follows up the 2011 UK chart topper I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive and the

Teesside actor Mark Benton stars in his first stage musiclal at Sunderland Empire

Teessider Mark Benton,47, has been on our TV screens for 20 years and forged a career as a top character actor. Now he's back in Sunderland in his first stage musical in Hairspray. He talks to Michael Hamilton   MH: Tell me how your new role came about. Mark: They approached my when I was doing the TV show Waterloo Road. I thought it would be a great adventure. It’s a bit of a departure for me because it’s my first musical and my first drag role – I don’t believe in doing things by half! I

Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell calls the tune. She talks about her music, family

Celebrated Northumbrian composer Kathryn Tickell - who picked up Musician of the Year at the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - talks about her music, her family and Sting. Read the archive interview and listen to her online talking about My Favourite Place - the song inspired by her mum. By Michael Hamilton Picture copyright Graham Oliver Kathryn steps off stage at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York after playing a sell-out show with Geordie heroes Sting and Jimm

A Northern Soul - Middlesbrough superstar Paul Rodgers interview

Teesside superstar Paul Rodgers is the finest blues and soul singer of his generation. He's back in Newcastle in April on his new solso tour and Michael Hamilton caught up with him. . Tell me why you moved the Newcastle gig from the City Hall to the Arena. Paul: We switched the gig from Newcastle City Hall (capacity 2,000) to the Arena (capacity 11,000) simply to accommodate everybody. I love the City Hall. It’s always had a great atmosphere and I have great memories of playing there

North East stars shine in hit TV comedy Benidorm

Hit TV comedy Benidorm is back on screen for a fourth series with famous Geordie couple Tim Healy and Denise Welch in hilarious roles. But the newest star is upcoming Wearside singer Shaun Foster Conley - playing himself. Benidorm pictures courtesy of ITV and Shaun Foster Conley images courtesy of www.goffymedia.com By Michael Hamilton The sun continues to shine on ITV’s hit Spanish sitcom Benidorm. Award-winning creator and writer Derren Litten celebrates Brits abroad in the sun, sea an

Simon Donald: Geordie comic genius is now a stand-up star

Geordie Simon Donald and brother Chris were the masterminds behind the Viz comic phenomenon. Created in their bedroom in Newcastle in 1979, it went on to top a million sales. Thirty years on Simon is forging a new career as a top stand-up comedian. Interview by Michael Hamilton MH: Why did you decide to go into stand-up after 24 successful years on Viz? Simon: I actually started out as a performer and got sidetracked into magazines. Even as a small boy I did impressions of peo

Folk on the Tyne - Ray Laidlaw on the 40th anniversary of cult North East band Lindis

It's 40 years since Tyneside folk-rock legends Lindisfarne changed the face of music with their debut album Nicely Out of Tune. The original band - dubbed the Seventies' Beatles - line-up was: Alan Hull singer and guitarist, Ray 'Jacka' Jackson on harmonica and mandolin, Rod Clements on bass, Si Cowe on guitar and Ray Laidlaw on drums. They hit the big time with their No. 1 album Fog on the Tyne and Geordie yearning anthem Run for Home. Founder member Ray Laidlaw takes a trip down memory lane wi

Geordie band Lindisfarne 40 years on - what are they doing now?

Fog on the Tyne - 40 years onIt's 40 years since Tyneside folk-rock legends Lindisfarne changed the face of music with their debut album Nicely Out of Tune.  The original band - dubbed the Seventies' Beatles - line-up was: Alan Hull singer and guitarist, Ray 'Jacka' Jackson on harmonica and mandolin, Rod Clements on bass, Si Cowe on guitar and Ray Laidlaw on drums.    Michael Hamilton catches up with the surviving members of the original line-up and finds out what they are up to

Geordie actors Robson Green and Kevin Whately talk about their ITV drama Joe Maddison

Wor heroes North East actors Robson Green and Kevin Whately talk about starring together for the first time in the smash hit ITV drama Joe Maddison's War - just out on DVD. By Michael Hamilton Pictures courtesy of ITV Former Soldier Soldier star Robson Green admits he didn’t even read the Joe Maddison’s War script before deciding to accept his role – once he realised it was the work of Jarrow-born, award-winning writer Alan Plater.  ‘They said it was an Alan Plat

Newcastle blues legend Eric Burdon talks about his early days and The Animals

Newcastle-born Eric Burdon is the finest blues singer of his generation. As lead singer of the chart-topping Animals his fame rivalled that of The Beatles and The Stones in the Sixties.Now living in California, he is still touring and making records at 69. He plays a rare hometown gig at Newcastle's O2 Academy on August 8. He gave this exclusive interview to Michael Hamilton. All Eric Burdon pictures copyright Marianna Proestou The Animals pictures copyright John Steel MH: T

Tyneside actor Kevin Whately is back as telly detective Lewis on ITV

Tyneside actor Kevin Whately got his big break as hen-pecked brickie Neville in the smash hit Eighties comedy Auf Wiedersehen Pet. And he has gone on to even greater stardom in the ITV detective drama Lewis. He's been back in the region filming a new Second World War TV drama - Joe Maddison's War - penned by Jarrow writer Alan Plater. Kevin plays Joe, a shipyard worker who joins the Home Guard with his friend Harry, played by Robson Green.Kevin talks to Michael Hamilton about his telly fame and his charity wor

Animals star Alan Price reveals the proudest day of his life - when Sunderland won th

North East singing legend Alan Price – who has had a string of massive hits in a 40-year career – reveals the best day of his life was when Sunderland won the FA Cup in 1973. Lifelong Black Cats fan Alan, who shot to fame in the Sixties with The Animals, says: ‘I’ll never forget that day. I was there.’ The Fatfield-born keyboards ace, who arranged the famous Animals hit House of the Rising Sun, even battled his fear of flying to jet in specially from California to witness the epic giant-killing

Middlesbrough superstar Chris Rea speaks exclusively about recovering from illness an

The Road to Hell and backMichael Hamilton talks to the smoky-voiced singer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Rea - he plays Newcastle City Hall on March 17 & 18, 2010 - about his surprise comeback after illness (*This interview was recorded during his last UK tour in 2008)   Middlesbrough superstar Chris Rea, who stared death in the face at the turn of the millennium, is defiant when he declares:  ‘I’ll keep going as long as I can. It gives me something to live and breathe for. I jus

Wild at Heart TV star Stephen Tompkinson talks about growing up in Stockton

Wild at Heart star Stephen Tompkinson is one of the most in-demand actors on TV. He talks to Michael Hamilton about his telly fame and growing up in Stockton-on-Tees MH: What are your childhood memories? Stephen: My dad worked for the Yorkshire Bank so we moved to Scarborough when he was made assistant manager and I was about four. A few years later he got his first branch as a manager and we moved to St. Anne’s near Blackpool. We are a very close family. Before mam and

Geordie Hairy Biker Si King is back on BBC2 with a great new series Hairy Bikers' Bak

Si's sadness for mum Stella Exclusive interview by Michael Hamilton North East favourite Si King is back on the telly with his Hairy Bikers' Bakeation show on BBC2. He visits his big sister, who lives in Italy, for the show and here he pays tribute to his mum Stella who sadly died while he was filming his Mums Know Best series a couple of years ago. The 45-year-old Geordie father-of-three paid tribute to her as his cooking inspiration. &nb

Superstar Bryan Ferry talks about his early days in Newcastle and how the North East

Superstar Bryan Ferry is the king of cool. But the suave lounge lizard has never forgotten his humble working-class upbringing in Washington and how the North East shaped his life. Exclusive interview by Michael Hamilton Pictures courtesy of Bryan Ferry MH: Can you tell me what you have coming up? Bryan: We are releasing a ‘Best Of Bryan Ferry’ compilation album (it’s out on November 23) and my new studio album should be ready for release in spring next year. We ar

Tyneside pop legend Sting is at The Sage Gateshead with Northumbrian piper Kathryn Ti

Tyneside superstar Sting played The Sage Gateshead with celebrated Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell in December (read about it on our reviews page) and featured songs from his new album If On A Winter's Night Profile by Michael Hamilton Pictures copyright Dave Hogan Gordon Sumner’s life changed forever when fellow North East musician Gordon Solomon spotted his black and yellow hooped sweater in 1973 and christened him Sting.

Geordie showbiz kings Ant & Dec are furious over the renaming of St. James' Park - ho

The Geordie kings of entertainment Ant & Dec have slammed the renaming of St. James' Park -home of their beloved Newcastle United.'The owner has got us relegated, lost us Keegan and Shearer and now he's taking away something that belongs to the people' said Dec. 'I find it so sad and frustrating. But to us and other fans it will always be St. James' Park.'Britain's most successful TV duo are in Australia presenting I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and are celebrating 20 years in showbusiness together w

North East guitar legend Mark Knopfler is a tireless worker for charity. Now he's giv

 Guitar hero Mark Knopfler has sold an astonishing 120 million albums in a 30-year showbusiness career in which he led Eighties supergroup Dire Straits to phenomenal success. But away from the rock and roll razzmatazz he is a very private man.  His new album Get Lucky is out now and all proceeds from the singles Remembrance Day and Piper to the End will go to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Profile by Michael Hamilton Mark Knopfler stepped out of the shade, into th

30 Years of Quadrophenia - Director Franc Roddam, from Teesside, speaks

Hollywood director Franc Roddam - from Norton, Stockton-on-Tees - made his name with the iconic 1979 movie Quadropenia. A new stage play celebrates the 30th anniversary Exclusive interview by Michael Hamilton MH: How did you get involved with the movie? Franc: I’d directed a film for TV called Dummy which won a Prix Italia drama prize, and the producer of Quadrophenia, Roy Baird, was looking for someone to direct

Geordie Hairy Biker Si King reveals the stories behind the hit BBC telly show

King of the roadTelly stars Si King and Dave Myers have become firm UK favourites with their hilarious Hairy Bikers show. In an exclusive interview, Geordie Si reveals the stories behind the hit BBC TV series.  By Michael Hamilton Pictures courtesy of the Hairy Bikers Geordie Si King and Lancashire lad Dave Myers have been pals for more than 20 years. They originally met while working on TV and film sets – but in those days they were both firmly behind the scen

Northumberland comedian Ross Noble - on Channel Five with his Australian Trip TV show

 Quote: ‘I don’t think you can learn comedy – you’ve either got it in you or you haven’t. You’re either funny or you’re not’  North East funnyman Ross Noble tragically lost his home in the Australian bushfires but he bravely decided to go ahead with his UK tour which hit Newcastle for five sell-out nights in May 2009 By Michael Hamilton Northumberland comedian Ross was at his farm in Victoria near Melbourne in February when the fires that have killed more than 200 people and destroyed m

Geordie dancing queen dreams of the silver screen - an interview with Jill Halfpenny

Dancing queen dreams of the silver screenGeordie actress Jill Halfpenny, who starred in the BBC detective series Inspector George Gently, set in Northumberland - she is also in Legally Blonde: The Musical at the Savoy Theatre, London from December 5 - talks about her acting ambitions Interview by Michael Hamilton Family picture courtesy Jill Halfpenny and Ray Laidlaw - Jill with husband Craig and son Harvey TV beauty Jill who made her name in Coronation Street and Strictly Come Dancing now has h

Teesside star Paul Rodgers is back on the road with a Bad Company tour

 The return of old king cool Middlesbrough star Paul Rodgers is the finest blues and soul singer of his generation. He's back in the spotlight after reforming Bad Company for an eight-date tour in April 2010. Paul and the original members – Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke - are back together for the first time in more than 30 years. They play Newcastle Metro Arena on April 7. Paul, recently named one of the top 100 singers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, says: “These dates are to thank the

Sir Bobby Robson - a knight to remember

Robson's choice: the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation lives on to raise cash to battle cancerAt home with the first gentleman of football and the North East's favourite knight Sir Bobby Robson. Three words that sum up everything any football fan ever felt was good about the game. Certainly, up to 2004 he gave his all to football. He spent 18 years as a player and 35 as a manager with leading European teams such as Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon and PSV Eindhoven under his wing as well as, latterly, Newcastle United.

Auf Wiedersehen Pet's 25th anniversary - an interview with Dick Clement and Ian La Fr

 It's 25 years since the smash hit drama Auf Wiedersehen Pet first hit our screens and it's currently showing on ITV4. In an exclusive interview comedy scriptwriting legends Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais - who penned it - take a trip down memory lane By Michael Hamilton Pictures courtesy of Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais The very first episode of Auf Wiedersehen Pet went out on ITV on November 11, 1983 and it quickly became one of the best-loved TV series ever with 16million viewers at its

Motormouth Sid Waddell hits the bullseye with a new book

Quote:‘Without a big supportive family of workers and savers I would probably have ended up selling fruit at Ashington market’   Geordie darts legend Sid Waddell is famous for his wild, ranting TV commentaries. He talks about his career and his new book to Michael Hamilton  MH: Tell me how the new book came about. Sid: I started about six years ago working on an A-Z autobiography and it contained stuff about my early life, my three years at Cambridge as a scholar of St. John’s

Hartlepool's Jeff Stelling, star of Sky's Soccer Saturday and Channel 4's Countdown t

There's only one Jeff StellingQuickfire Jeff - who hails from Hartlepool - has become a cult figure with Sky Saturday Soccer show and as the new presenter of Channel 4's Countdown. He talks about his rise to telly stardom and growing up Exclusive interview by Michael Hamilton MH: What are your memories of growing up in Hartlepool? Jeff: My childhood memories are fantastic ones, mainly. It was a tough town. I grew up on the Rift House Estate, which was one

Local heroes - Denise Welch talks about her TV fame and charity work

TV's Mr and Mrs land top charity honour Geordie screen and stage superstars Tim Healy and Denise Welch were honoured in February with a unique charity award by the northern region of the Variety Club. Denise talks telly and charity in an exclusive interview with Michael Hamilton Pictures copyright George Bosnyak There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Auf Wiedersehen Pet stalwart Tim and Coronation Street‘s Denise picked up a prestigious joint Silver Heart award at a s

Tyneside actor Tim Healy celebrates 25 years in showbusiness

Famous Geordie TV couple Tim Healy and Denise Welch were honoured with a top charity award by the northern region of the Variety Club. Tim looks back at his 25-year TV career, talks about the honour, getting his big showbiz break and what he misses most about his beloved North East By Michael Hamilton Auf Wiedersehen Pet actor Tim and Coronation Street actress Denise collected a prestigious joint Silver Heart award at a star-studded celebrity bash at Newcastle’s Civic Centre.

I’m the real Billy Elliot - Ballet dancer Wayne Sleep talks about growing up in Hartl

  I'm the real Billy Elliot Quote: ‘The Billy Elliot story is an incredible parallel with my life’ Famous ballet dancer Wayne Sleep - who was back in the North East on tour in Cabaret - talks candidly about his childhood memories of growing up in Hartlepool By Michael Hamilton Ballet star Wayne Sleep will always be remembered for a famous five-minute dance routine to Billy Joel’s hit song Uptown Girl with Princess Diana at a Royal Gala performance 25 years ago. It firmly established

The Animals' founder member drummer John Steel is back touring - celebrating 50 years

The Animals were the first North East supergroup and rivalled the Beatles and Stones in their Sixties heyday before breaking up empty-handed. They're back playing Whitby Sixties Festival on September 26, 2010. Founder member John Steel looks back without anger. Interview by Michael Hamilton It’s September 1964 and The House of the Rising Sun is sitting at No. 1 in the UK charts. The Animals touch down at JFK airport in New York ready t

The Unthanks - clog on the Tyne

Tyneside folk star Rachel Unthank - the new Unthanks album is called Here's the Tender Coming and they play Stockton Arc on November 28 - talks about her music, clog dancing and motherhood By Michael Hamilton Rising North East folk sensation Rachel Unthank is the talk of the Tyne - but her big burning ambition is to be a mum. Rachel’s brother Matthew and partner Jo are proud parents after she gave birth to a little boy Joshua last year. And now Rachel is broody. ‘I

The Likely Lads - an interview with Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais

Still likely after all these years Iconic North East TV sitcom the Likely Lads made household names of actors James Bolam, who played jack-the-lad Terry and Rodney Bewes, as aspiring Bob. Here the writers Ian La Frenais, from Whitley Bay, and Dick Clement explain why they agreed to write a stage play for a world exclusive premiere at Durham Gala Theatre. By Michael Hamilton I caught up with Dick Clement and Ian la Frenais in Los Angeles ahead of Durham Gala Theatre’s world exclusive

Newcastle comic Mickey Hutton - talks about his early days as a musician with Jimmy N

 Taking the Mickey - Ross Noble is his nephew (true fact!)   By Michael Hamilton Musician Mickey Hutton left Newcastle 25 years ago for the bright lights of London and his dream to hit the big time with his rock band. But he ended up making his name in comedy and as a TV actor. ‘My band was called Strength signed to Arista Records but it flopped harder than a big flat bloke at the baths,’ he laughs. ‘I discovered the Comedy Store and started going along to watch the acts and thought I cou

Elton John's still standing

In a glittering four-decade career Elton John has sold more than 250 million albums making him one of the most successful artists of all time. Words by Michael Hamilton  Elton John is pop’s ultimate survivor.  With the release of Rocket Man – The Definitive Hits on March 25 two years ago he celebrated his 60th birthday and broke his own record with an unmatched 60th concert at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York. And his rocking rendition of I’m Still Sta