Gary Jerry, 19, of Doxford Place, is hoping to live his dream of becoming an actor after being accepted onto a musical theatre degree course at the prestigious Arts Educational Theatre School in Chiswick, London.

Now, the talented youngster has been hand-picked as one of ten lucky stars to obtain a grant from the fund.

Gary, who studied at Cramlington Community High School before completing a musical theatre course at Newcastle College, said: "I auditioned on Sunday and I was told I would be getting the grant, it was fantastic.

"I will be moving to the capital for three years to continue my studies from September 2008 in a bid to become a professional West End performer, and musical theatre schools can be very expensive.

"Fees are currently more than £9,000 per year even without taking into account the cost of living so close to central London, so this grant will go a long way to helping me achieve my dream."

On Monday Gary sang for an audience at the launch of the Sunday for Sammy 2008 DVD, which helps raise money for the fund.

The all-star charity DVD, filmed at Newcastle City Hall on Sunday, February 10, was released on Tuesday, and features Tim Healy, Timothy Spall, Kevin Whately and Christopher Fairband as the Merry Men, and Brendan Healy as Robin Hood – taking their Auf Wiedersehen Pet characters to a building site in Sherwood Forest.

The first Sunday for Sammy was staged in 2000 by Tim Healy and Jimmy Nail to commemorate the life and work of their friend, Tyneside actor Sammy Johnson, who died suddenly in 1998.

The 2008 shows were the latest in a series of events held every two years to raise money to help gifted young performers make a start in the entertainment business.

Sammy's daughter Lynn said she was so proud of the work that had gone into the fund and was delighted her father's memory could live on.

"The Sammy Johnson Fund is such an amazing thing, because it helps so many youngsters who are trying to get into performing arts.

"It is ten years since he died, and eight years ago Tim Healy told me he wanted to start the fund and do the Sunday for Sammy concerts, and it's just escalated from there.

"On Sunday we held auditions to choose who would be given the grants, and there were so many talented youngsters, it was great to see so much talent.

"It's all about helping young people."

Tim Healy added: "Those who want to relive the night and those who couldn't be there can buy the DVD and experience the best of the north east's singers, dancers and actors doing what they do best, for a very worthy cause.

"It has become something of a Geordie variety show, and we all have great fun and we are in a wonderful position to help people in the area get involved in the performing arts."

The DVD also features Lindisfarne front man Ray Jackson, Billy Mitchell and Ray Laidlaw, and 75 per cent of the proceeds from the DVD sales go straight to the Sammy Johnson Fund.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Gary can contact him on easystages04@hotmail.com