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Update – 15 September 2010: this press release posted on 17 August 2010 has been updated to reflect up-to-date Septemberfest programme information.

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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 5 Live's Septemberfest, the station's annual festival, is coming to Newcastle and Gateshead on Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 September with 5 Live programmes broadcasting live from Newcastle city centre, off-air interactive activities in the 5 Live Igloo and live coverage of 30th Great North Run.

Many of the 5 Live presenter line-up, including Colin Murray, Richard Bacon, Nicky Campbell, Gabby Logan, Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode, will host their programmes live from the city during the festival.

Septemberfest brings together all the elements of the 5 Live mix – news, sport and entertainment – in front of live audiences. Highlights of the four day festival include:

• Fighting Talk hosted by Colin Murray – the ever popular points for punditry panel show hits the road once again for an entertaining live show from the Sage Theatre with special guests including journalist and broadcaster Martin Kelner; sport commentator John Rawling; comedian Simon Day; and former footballer and Hull City manager, Phil Brown.
• The cult Kermode And Mayo Film Review is live from the Centre for Life – Mark and Simon will be joined by special guests, reviewing the latest releases and taking questions from the audience.
• 5 Live Sport's Friday night preview show, Kicking Off With Colin Murray, is live from the Centre for Life with a focus on North East football. Colin will be joined by regulars Pat Nevin and Perry Groves plus special guests to preview the weekend's football with a lively local audience.
• Meet The Commentators. Hosted by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Newcastle's Simon Pryde, a chance for listeners to hear tales from behind the microphone with Radio Newcastle's Mick Lowes and 5 Live's Alistair Bruce-Ball and Ian Dennis, live from the Centre for Life.
• A Night With Alan Shearer – the Newcastle and England legend looks back on his playing career and takes questions from the audience at the Centre for Life.
• Richard Bacon will be live from the Centre for Life with special guests including comedian and actor Les Dennis, Dani Harmer, star of C³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Tracy Beaker, and music from local band Maximo Park.
• Tony Livesey, live from the Souter Lighthouse, with special guests including The Futureheads.
• Gabby Logan, live from the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in Newcastle, on Thursday 16 September, from 12-2pm, joined by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer and members of Sir Bobby's family – including his three sons.

For a chance to obtain the free tickets for the special live shows and further information on Septemberfest visit .

In addition to the live shows, the famous Radio 5 Live Igloo will be at the Health and Fitness Show on Gateshead Quayside, between The Sage and the Baltic Centre, on Friday 17 September from 10am-4pm and on Saturday 18 September from 10am-6pm. Free interactive activities in the Igloo include:

• Try your hand at football commentary with expert advice from the 5 Live commentary team.
• Have a go at radio presenting in a specially constructed 5 Live studio, with advice from the experts.
• Friends and relatives can leave their messages of support for Great North Run competitors in the 5 Live Vox Box, a selection of which will be played live on-air on 5 Live ahead of the big race and be available to view on the 5 Live website.
• Be an online star for the day on the 5 Live website
• CBeebies singing sensations the ZingZillas will be performing live hourly from 12pm each day.
• Kids area

Adrian Van-Klaveren, Controller 5 Live, says: "We are delighted to put on one of the biggest outside broadcasts in 5 Live's history to help celebrate the Great North Run's 30th anniversary. It will encompass everything from live audience shows to off air events in our igloo to the performing Zingzillas!

"I'm delighted that Radio Newcastle will be hosting our meet the commentators event; Fighting Talk, in front of 1,000 people in the Sage will be very special, but most important of all, we want people to come along to our igloo and have a go at being a commentator or presenter. Who knows, we may unearth a future star!"

In addition to the live audience programmes, Nicky Campbell will present 5 Live Breakfast from the A&P Shipyard, focusing on the economy in the north east of England; late night host Tony Livesey will be hosting his programme live from the Souter Lighthouse, South Shields; 5 Live Weekend Breakfast will be live from the Gateshead Harriers Athletics Club on Saturday and live from the start of the Great North Run on Sunday morning with all the build-up to the big race, followed by coverage of the race itself.

Gabby Logan will also broadcast live from the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in Newcastle. Former Newcastle and England manager Sir Bobby Robson, who died last year, fought cancer five times in the 17 years following his first diagnosis.

In the final 18 months of his life, Sir Bobby established the charitable foundation to help fund the early detection and treatment of cancer. Gabby will broadcast live from the foundation to hear about the important work they do and will be joined by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer and members of Sir Bobby's family – including his three sons.

On Saturday 18 September, there is live coverage of the Great North City Games from Newcastle's quayside on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One, from 1-2.30pm.

This event is presented by Jonathan Edwards and Colin Jackson and will see top athletes from England and Australia pitted against each other in an exciting street competition of track sprints, road races, pole vault, long jump and shot put. Steve Cram and Paul Dickenson are on commentary duty with Brendan Foster.

This is followed by a special documentary on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One, from 2.30-3pm, Michael Johnson's Great North Run, looking at 30 Years of the event.

As final preparations are made to stage the 30th run, Michael Johnson travelled to the North East to find out why we have such a love affair with The Great North run, which has grown to become the biggest half marathon in the world and an event that captures hearts and minds.

Michael feels the buzz as veterans, fun runners and fundraisers talk of the pain and pleasure of taking part. One of the greatest long-distance runners of all time, Haile Gebrselassie tells him of his pride at taking part this year for the first time.

Michael also shares the intimate and sometimes heart-rending stories of those who have benefited from the millions the run raises for charity.

On Sunday 19 September, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport brings comprehensive television coverage of the Great North Run on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One, from 9.30am-12pm, via the Red Button from 12-1.40pm and again on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One from 1.40- 2.25pm, presented by Sue Barker, with commentary from Steve Cram, Brendan Foster and Paul Dickenson.

Jonathan Edwards, Phil Jones, Katharine Merry and Rob Walker will be out on-course reporting on the action. In addition, from 10.50-11.20pm, on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two, Jonathan Edwards will present a highlights programme.

Notes to Editors

5 Live's Septemberfest schedule:

Thursday 16 September

7am-10am – 5 Live Breakfast with Nicky Campbell, live from the A&P Group shipyard, live on 5 Live

12-2pm – Gabby Logan, live from the Bobby Robson Foundation, with Alan Shearer and members of Sir Bobby's family

2-4pm – Richard Bacon and guests Les Dennis, Dani Harmer and Maximo Park, live on 5 Live, Centre for Life (tickets available)

6-7pm – Meet The Commentators, live on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Newcastle, with Ian Dennis, Mick Lowes, Alistair Bruce-Ball and Simon Pryde, Centre for Life (tickets available)

8-9.30pm – A Night With Alan Shearer, Centre for Life

10.30pm – Tony Livesey, live from the Souter Lighthouse South Shields, live on 5 Live, with guests including The Futureheads

Friday 17 September

2-4pm – Kermode And Mayo Film Review, live on 5 live, Centre for Life (tickets available)

7-10pm – 5 Live Sport: Kicking Off With Colin Murray, with Pat Nevin, Perry Groves, Steve Cram, Sid Waddell, live on 5 Live, Centre for Life (tickets available)

Saturday 18 September

6-9am – Weekend Breakfast with Phil Williams and Rachel Burden, live from Gateshead Harriers Athletics Club, live on 5 Live

11am-12pm – Fighting Talk, live on 5 Live, hosted by Colin Murray with Martin Kelner, John Rawling, Simon Day and Phil Brown, Sage Theatre (tickets available)

Sunday 19 September

6-9am – Weekend Breakfast with Phil Williams and Rachel Burden, live from the Great North Run, live on 5 Live

9am-12pm – Great North Run, live on 5 Live

Notes to Editors

Please note all details are subject to change

Saturday 18 September
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One
1-2.30pm
Great City Games

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One
2.30-3pm
Michael Johnson’s Great North Run

Sunday 19 September
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One
9.30am-12pm
Great North Run

Red Button
12-1.40pm
Great North Run

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One
1.40-2.25pm
Great North Run

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two
10.50-11.20pm
Highlights – Great North Run

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