Simply The Best returns to Sheffield City Hall - with Gok Wan as host

The event will return on Sunday 2 October 2022, after being launched a year ago by the Croke family, from Sheffield, in memory of their beloved mum and wife, Bev – who sadly passed away from breast cancer in March 2021 aged just 61.

Michael, Rachel, Sean and Matthew Croke launched the charity fund BB With Love, in association with Weston Park Cancer Charity, to continue Bev’s legacy and help other people diagnosed with, or affected by, cancer in South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire.

Simply The Best raised more than £35,000 in its first year, with the family aiming to surpass that total in 2022.

Producers Rachel and Matthew Croke have put together a star-studded cast of film, TV, West End and music stars who will join them along with Gok Wan on stage.

The cast will include:

• Returning stars Hayley Tamaddon, Melissa Jacques, George Ure and Jahz and Darius Duncan, who starred as 2Che on The Voice
• Leading West End star Layton Williams
• TV and film star Daniel Brocklebank
• West End performer and star of RuPaul's Drag Race Season Three, Ella Vaday
• Comedian, impressionist and Britain's Got Talent 2022 finalist Ben Nickless

The event will also feature Sheffield Cancer Choir and young stars from RMC Academy of Theatre Performance, who performed in front of their biggest-ever audience in 2021 when they took part in Simply The Best.

Bev Croke was a much-loved member of the Choir before she passed away, which made for a particularly poignant performance at the City Hall in 2021.

Other events and fundraising, organised and hosted by BB With Love, have also contributed to the charity’s 2021 fundraising total – including a special ‘Night at the Musicals’ event held by Matthew Croke at Bakewell Showground.

Sean Croke also got the ball rolling for the family’s 2022 fundraising when he raised more than £2,000 by completing the Sheffield Half Marathon earlier this year.

Rachel also continuously raises money all year round with her very talented RMC students in different events around Sheffield.

Michael Croke said: “We’re so excited for the second edition of Simply The Best. The response we received last year for the event was really quite moving.

“This is our way of continuing Bev’s legacy. The inspiration to do all this revolves around Bev, and the love and support both she and our family received during her treatment, and the support we have received since she passed away.

“Bev always wanted to help people. She never wanted others to feel that they were alone, and that they could reach out. By setting up and developing BB With Love, we’re essentially saying ‘from Bev – with love’. Through us, she’s still able to help people.”

For more information or to buy tickets for BB With Love’s Simply The Best 2022 at Sheffield City Hall, visit https://www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/event/bb-with-love-2022 or call 07593 070743.