It’s behind you! Lee Brennan is about to play the title role in Aladdin at Leeds. 

Other things are also behind Lee, such as the cancer he suffered as a child. 

Now the 911 singer is staging an event in Carlisle in aid of cancer sufferers.

Today he launches Shine a Light – a charity ball taking place at the Shepherd’s Inn, Rosehill, on Saturday, May 7 next year.

Lee is aiming to raise at least £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support in a glamorous evening featuring celebrity guests.

Off the record he mentions some of the stars who he hopes will attend.

One name already confirmed is former Border TV favourite John Myers, who will compere the event.

“It’s going to be a black tie evening with a three-course dinner,” says Lee, who grew up in Harraby and Currock.

“The whole place will be decorated. I want to bring a bit of glamour to
Carlisle.

“I’d like to get a sports star, an actor and a singer as guests. There’ll be an auction and a raffle. I might get up and sing a song.

“It’s all about the charity. But I really want people to embrace the whole occasion.

“It’s a nice positive thing. It’s called Shine a Light because I want to shine a light on the things we’re raising money for.”

Lee, 42, was just nine when first diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. After chemotherapy he was in remission for six years.

The illness came back before chemotherapy banished it again.

But cancer hadn’t finished with Lee. He says: “I’m doing Shine a Light in memory of Steve McAlindon, my step-dad.

“Macmillan nurses were there at the end of Steve’s life, when he died from lung cancer. They do a great job. And they always need money.”

Lee hopes the ball will become an annual event.

It follows two coffee mornings he organised at the Shepherd’s Inn, in 2013 and 2014, which raised £2,500. “I thought, let’s try and raise even more money with a bigger event. There’ll be 30 tables of 10 people. We’re looking for sponsors and people to donate prizes. Lorna Jenkins from Pioneer is helping to organise it.”

Tickets go on sale tomorrow. Lee will throw himself into finalising details for the event in the new year.

Before that he has 64 performances of Aladdin to star in at Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds. This will be his eighth panto, having played Peter Pan five times and Aladdin twice.

“I know it’s going to be an absolute blast,” he says. “You meet a new crew of people. We all have a laugh in rehearsals. I’ve spoken to [director] David McNeill a couple of times on Facebook. It will be good having somebody from Carlisle there.

“They might want me to do Bodyshakin’ and A Little Bit More , 911’s number one single.”

It’s 16 years since 911’s last hit. But the band remain popular.

“We’ve just finished our 20th anniversary tour. It was eight dates in major cities. It was brilliant, one of our best ever tours.

“We thought it might be our last tour but people still come out. We’ll definitely tour again, and hopefully come to Carlisle next time.

“We’re looking to go to China and Asia next year for our first shows there in 16 years. 911 were even bigger there than in the UK.”

Lee is living in South Yorkshire and recently split from his girlfriend.

“I haven’t really done the dating thing for 20 years so I’d like to start dating again after a few months of being single. I’m enjoying the single life at the moment, and looking forward to an exciting 2016.

“I might come to Carlisle for Christmas but there’s two Aladdin shows on Boxing Day. I might just have Christmas dinner for one.”

  • Tickets for Shine a Light cost £65. Call 07444 729204 to book. Sponsorship packages are available. Visit www.shinealightball. co.uk from November 27. Email -  shine@shinealight ball.co.uk ; Twitter – @shinealightball; Facebook – Shine A Light Ball.