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08 July 2014
News Chase and Status, The Unthanks and Jill Halfpenny join line up for GNR Million Opening Ceremony
Local Hero Mark Knopfler will be joined by multi-platinum selling electronic music duo Chase and Status and Mercury Music Prize nominees The Unthanks at the North East’s most spectacular event of the year. The Great North Run Million Opening Ceremony on the Thursday 4th of September will also feature narration from local actress Jill Halfpenny and will celebrate a momentous world first, the Bupa Great North Run becoming the first running event in the world to reach a landmark one millionth finish.

Set to close the show, festival favourites, Chase and Status are looking forward bringing their award winning, quintessentially British live show to the banks of the Tyne. With headline spots at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds last summer, and huge headline slots at Global Gathering and London’s Lovebox this Summer, they have toured the world’s biggest and best festivals. They have produced for and collaborated with some of the music industry’s biggest names, including Rihanna and Snoop Dog. The duo released their third, chart storming, studio album in autumn 2013, followed by a sold out UK headline arena tour ending at London’s O2 Arena.

Also contributing to the evening’s musical line up are Northumberland based folk group The Unthanks. The Mercury Music Prize nominees, who featured on Sting’s album "The Last Ship”, will be performing a new piece, specially commissioned for the event. Definable only by their restless, peerless eccentricity, The Unthanks are storytellers outside of time, forging links between folk worlds old, new and other - The Unthanks occupy a unique place in music

Jill Halfpenny, who won a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance in "Legally Blond”, will be narrating acclaimed North East author David Almond’s new script that will celebrate this world-first. Gateshead-born Jill, well-known for her previous roles in "Eastenders” and "Coronation Street”, has just completed filming Danny Boyle’s Channel 4 series "Babylon” and Kay Mellor’s next BBC drama "In The Club”, and is looking forward to her new role:

Jill said, "The Bupa Great North Run is at the forefront of events that have positioned the North East as one of the most globally recognisable locations, along with the Tyne Bridge, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and the Angel of the North. I am so excited to be a part of this special celebration that will be a world first – the millionth finish – and it’s going to happen on my home territory of which I’m so very proud. ‘

Tickets are on sale for the event at www.gnrmillion.org priced at £12 for adults and £7 for children.

You can also buy tickets at the following outlets, subject to availability:

The Journal Offices, Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1ED

Newcastle Tourist Information Centre, 8-9 Central Arcade, Newcastle upon Tyne

Live Theatre, Broad Chare, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3DQ

Sage Gateshead, St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2JR 

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