TELEVISION presenter Jeremy Kyle will host a charity Christmas concert next week. The Christmas Countdown 6 at Hull New Theatre will showcase the depth of East Yorkshire talent.
Straight-talking Mr Kyle, who fronts his talk show on ITV, has agreed to host the concert, being held by the Local Entertainers and Performers Society (Leaps) to raise money for charities.
X Factor star Ryan Mathie has also agreed to perform and will take the stage alongside seasoned stars such as Edwina Hayes.
Leaps was formed in 2008 to raise money for charities by staging shows.
The Christmas concert on Tuesday, November 26, will be the fifth of its kind and organisers are hoping for a sellout crowd.
Mally King, Leaps chairman and organiser of Christmas Countdown 6, is delighted Mr Kyle has agreed to host the concert.
He said: "Mr Kyle spent six weeks in East Yorkshire filming at the Leconfield driving School and our secretary spoke to him about our work.
"He told us to let him know if we needed any help so we asked to take part in the concert and he agreed.
"Obviously, he is a very exciting addition to the concert but we have such a depth of local talent.
"This is the biggest show of the year that celebrates local talent."
There will be a wide variety of performers with singers, dancers and comedy acts.
Mr King said: "We have The Inflations this year, who are a musical comedy duo who rarely come back to Hull even though they are from here originally."
As well as a variety of acts, there is also a wide age range.
Mr King said: "This concert really gives youngsters a chance to perform on the big stage.
"We have performers as young as nine and ten while we also have older acts such as Alf Berry who is in his late 60s."
The concert is widely regarded as the first major festive event after Hull's lights switch-on but Mr King is keen to point out it is not all about Christmas.
He said: "It is not Christmas music all night.
"There will be festive tunes but it isn't all about that."
This year's show will take place at Hull New Theatre on Tuesday, November 26, at 7.30pm.
Money raised from this year's show will go to The Samaritans and Cystic Fibrosis charity Chief.
Leaps is managed by a small committee of unpaid volunteers.
The organisation provides a chances for youngsters at the start of their careers in showbusiness to be able to perform in large venues alongside established acts, absorbing their advice and expertise.
Several of the more experienced acts in this year's show have performed on national television while many spend time away on cruise ships touring the world.
As well as Mr Kyle, other patrons include Joe Longthorne, Mick Miller, Billy Pearce, Carlo Paul Santanna, Steve Womack and Graham "Grumbleweed" Walker.
Last year's concert, which took place at City Hall, managed to raise £3,025.
Mr King said: "Hopefully we can match and even beat last year's total as it is all for such great causes."
