(posted 7697 days ago)BBC News
Satellite concert for troops
Stars from the entertainment world including singer Claire Sweeney are holding a variety concert to boost the morale of troops fighting in Iraq.Forces sweetheart Sweeney, comedian Al Murray and Pop Idol contestants Hayley Evetts and Jessica Garlick will perform to a celebrity audience on Sunday.
The concert, being held in London, will be recorded and beamed around the world to British troops by satellite.
It will also be converted into a DVD so it can be sent to forces fighting in the Gulf.
The star-studded audience will also be entertained by broadcaster Nicholas Parsons, Hi-Di-Hi star Su Pollard and comic Paul Zenon at the Thai Pavilion restaurant in Kennington, south London.
Hosted by Gary Wilmot, invited guests include actors Tom Conti and Joely Richardson and stars from Coronation Street and EastEnders.
In between acts the audience will get the opportunity to record their own personal messages for the troops.
Support
A letter of support written by the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, will be read out on the evening by General Sir Roger Wheeler.The concert is being organised by producer James Black on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and Combined Services Broadcasting.
The event has been hastily been put together in less than a week as a production team works around the clock to get the variety show ready.
Mr Black said everyone had been keen to take part in the event, offering their services for free.
"Everyone wanted to help out. There is a strong feeling that we now must show our support regardless of political differences because they are our troops out there fighting," said Mr Black.
The show will be seen by up to 200,000 service personnel around the world, including the thousands of men and women fighting in the Iraq war.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/2892611.stm
Published: 2003/03/27 16:29:24
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