Tragic death inspires search for comedy talent

Philip Richardson died in 2013.

The family of a musician who drowned in Whitley Bay in 2013 have decided to remember him with a competition to find talented comedy scriptwriters from the North East.

As well as being a talented musician, Philip Richardson was also popular on the 'open-mic' comedy circuit in the region.

Now, thanks to the North East charity, The Sunday for Sammy Trust, ten comedy writers will be given the chance to have their sketches professionally performed as part of a competition.

Well-known comedians Jason Cook and Gavin Webster will judge initial entries and then ten people will go forward to a day school at The Stand comedy club in Newcastle.

Following Philip's death his family and friends raised funds for the Sunday for Sammy Appeal.

One of the people behind the charity, Lindisfarne drummer Ray Laidlaw, approached Richard's mother Patricia with the idea.

The bi-annual Sunday for Sammy Show at Newcastle City Hall have become a fixture on the North East calendar.

Since the first one in 2000, the charity has helped many young people become established in the performing arts.

Tickets for the next Sunday for Sammy Show will go on sale this summer.