A BLUE plaque is to be unveiled commemorating North-East music hall ‘star’ Ned Corvan.

The plaque has been placed on an outside wall at Newcastle’s Central Station, formerly the site of the Royal Olympic Concert Hall, where the virtuoso violinist, comedian and artist made his public debut, in his own name.

Edward ‘Ned’ Corvan, who lived from 1827 to 1865, wrote more than 120 songs celebrating working class life in the region, including Who Hung the Monkey?, popularising the Hartlepool monkey legend, an early protest song, Toon Improvement Bill, and most famously, The Cullercoats Fishwife.

The plaque commemoration follows a new autobiography by Dave Harker, while a play, Mr Corvan’s Music Hall, by Ed Waugh, will tour the region later this month, premiering at the Gala Theatre, Durham, on May 25.

Newcastle’s Lord Mayor, councillor Hazel Stephenson, will perform the honours, with Mr Harker and Corvan’s great grandson, Joe Wilkes, at 10.30am on Tuesday.