Cast Of SUNNY AFTERNOON To Perform At WORLD CUP '66 LIVE!

WORLD CUP '66 LIVE is a spectacular live event taking place at The SSE Arena, Wembley on July 30th to celebrate the 50th anniversary of England winning the FIFA World Cup. An audience of 10,000 at The SSE Arena, Wembley and many more at cinemas across the UK will be simultaneously treated to a minute-by-minute retelling of the historic game with a unique mix of film footage, live bands, personal appearances of special guests and a chance to take a trip back to the nostalgic and wonderful world that was Swinging London in 1966.

WORLD CUP '66 LIVE will unfold in real time: from the team stepping onto the hallowed turf at Wembley Stadium, through the crucial minutes before extra time, to the victorious climax with Geoff Hurst scoring the decisive goal and England captain Bobby Moore proudly lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy. Together with TBI Media, and with the support of The Football Association, BBC Radio 2 and Picturehouse Entertainment, this live event will relive the unforgettable game from start to finish bringing music, fashion, culture, history and sport together to create a live music documentary.

Bob Shennan, Controller BBC Radio 2 and Director BBC Music: "Reliving the famous football match as it happened, in Wembley - exactly 50 on years to the day, is the perfect way to celebrate this sporting moment in history. With the programme going out live on Radio 2, BBC Red Button and in cinemas UK wide, we hope many people will be able to join us in recreating the atmosphere of the exhilarating game, through a perfect blend of music and memories."

Phil Critchlow, Founding Director of TBI Media, says: "TBI are thrilled to be producing this ground breaking live event bringing together compelling match footage, fascinating stories, appearances from football heroes, and incredible songs from 1966 performed by the best of today's artists alongside some of the legends who sang them first time around. This will be a genuinely one off moment with the significant added thrill of it being delivered live, in real time. It's absolutely our intention to make this event unmissable."

Martin Glenn, FA Chief Executive, said: "We're delighted to be supporting this event on the actual day England won the World Cup 50 years ago. It's one of the flagship events in a summer of activities we're either supporting or leading to mark the moment - and to look ahead. It's also the 50th anniversary of The FA hosting the tournament, which involved the whole country, so there's a real push to get the nation involved."

Marc Allenby, Picturehouse Entertainment's Director of Distribution, commented: "We're really excited to be involved in this unmissable live event and it will be an amazing way to celebrate this iconic moment. Being able to see the event live at cinemas across the UK will allow an even wider audience to enjoy the minute by minute retelling of this legendary sporting achievement along with some of the stories behind it."

Presented by popular BBC hosts Jeremy Vine and Louise Minchin, the event will celebrate the remarkable achievements of everyone involved while offering moving and often entertaining insights into the thoughts and feelings of those affected by the game, both in Wembley Stadium and around the country.

Music will feature as a major part of the day; bands and original artists will perform a selection of 1966 chart toppers and a newly composed live soundtrack will be performed live. Artists appearing include the legendary British blues vocalist Chris Farlowe with his 1966 No. 1 hit 'Out of Time'; Reef whose members include Jesse James Wood - son of Ronnie - performing the Rolling Stones' 1966 No 1 smash 'Paint It Black'; the West End cast of 'Sunny Afternoon', written by Kinks front man Ray Davies; R&B star Lemar with 'When A Man Loves A Woman' sung by the late great Percy Sledge and special guests yet to be announced.

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