STEPHEN TOMPKINSON will join the Laffalang Gang in South Shields in June when the comedy troupe stage a show to raise money for the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign.

The television A-lister is best known for the award-winning ITV show DCI Banks but he has a host of other top television credits to his name, including dramas Wild at Heart, Ballykissangel and, currently, The Split as well as highly acclaimed sitcoms Trollied and Drop The Dead Donkey. He has also starred in the films Brassed Off and Harrigan, while his stage work encompasses Spamalot, Charley's Aunt and a recent number one theatre tour of Art.

Directed by Gareth Hunter and written by Ed Waugh, who co-wrote Dirty Dusting and is the writer of recent smash hits Hadaway Harry and Mr Corvan's Music Hall, the Laffalang will feature two hours of hilarious sketches, stand up and rib-tickling songs.

Stephen said: "I have worked with members of the Laffalang Gang at the brilliant Sunday for Sammy and when I was asked to come along to perform again with them I jumped at the chance. It's for a great cause; it's important we campaign to save NHS services.

"I'll be performing in three sketches," said the Stockton-born actor. "In one of them I get to wear a Middlesbrough strip, which is great as my whole family are Boro fans.

"In another, I interpret the words of Wor Geordie's Lost His Penka, whatever that is, and I'm the Narrator in the Geordie Nativity, which I performed in at the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in Newcastle Cathedral last December."

Roger Nettleship, chairman of the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign said: "This is a massive coup for us.

"Stephen is a huge star and he's coming along to help us in our bid to save vital services at South Tyneside hospital."

He continued: "We are asking South Tynesiders to buy tickets for what will be a brilliant, hilarious show. Every penny of profit will go to the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign."

The Laffalang shows are on Friday and Saturday, June 15 & 16 at 7.30pm (both days) at Westovian Theatre (Ocean Road, opposite Haven Point), South Shields, NE33 2JS