Raval Luxury Restaurant and Bar in the heart of Newcastle and Gateshead

TV STARS will be out in force at a glittering awards ceremony on Tyneside this weekend.

More than 500 celebrities and guests will attend the region’s Royal Television Society Awards at The Sage Gateshead on Saturday.

The event – one of the biggest awards shows outside London – will be hosted by Songs of Praise presenter Aled Jones.

Comics Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer will be among the guests, along with stars of North East-based shows Tracy Beaker Returns, Vera, Inspector George Gently and Geordie Shore.

The director of BBC North, Peter Salmon, the doyen of BBC News Kate Adie, screen writer Michael Chaplin and Horrible Histories author Terry Deary are also on the guest list.

And many of the famous names will party into the early hours after the ceremony at a private function at Indian restaurant Raval.

Graeme Thompson, chairman of the RTS in the North East, said: “We are delighted that Aled Jones is hosting this year’s event.

“It’s the one occasion each year when all of the creative industries professionals get together to celebrate what has been achieved over the past 12 months.

“This has been another landmark year with network drama commissions such as ITV’s Vera, more great documentaries including BBC3’s ratings-busting Junior Doctors and a well-deserved BAFTA for the news team at ITV Tyne Tees.”

The event is now in its sixth year at Gateshead’s prestigious music venue and for Raval restaurant owner Avi Malik it will mark the fifth time he has hosted the post-awards party.

He said: “We’re delighted to once again welcome the region’s finest television talent to our restaurant.

“It’s a great honour to be chosen for the fifth year in a row. It shows we must be doing something right.”

Raval has previously served up dinners to stars including Cliff Richard.

Source: The Journal