BBC Radio 2 will celebrates Bill Kenwright’s 50 years in show business in a special programme this summer.
The Liverpool-born theatre and film producer’s milestone will be marked in a Friday Night Is Music Night special on June 3rd.
Recorded at the London Palladium and hosted by Don Black, the special will feature performances from Kiki Dee (Blood Brothers), Marti Pellow (Jekyll and Hyde), Martin Shaw and Simon Bowman (Are You Lonesome Tonight), Madelena Alberto (Evita), Kris Harding (Starlight Express), Joe McElderry (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Danielle Hope (The Sound of Music), John Partridge (La Cage Aux Folles), Glenn Carter (Jesus Christ Superstar) and Tommy Steele (Scrooge).
All performances will be accompanied by the 60-piece BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Mike Reed.
Kenwright, also the chairman of Everton FC, said: “I’m really humbled that Radio 2 should honour me in this way – it’s going to be a lovely night.”
Radio 2 will also be paying homage to The Bee Gees in a three-hour special on Bank Holiday Monday May 1st to mark the 50th anniversary of their first single.
Tony Blackburn will present The Songs Of The Bee Gees as well as a selection of the best cover versions of their songs from artists including Barbra Streisand, Take That and Diana Ross.