UK cinemas to broadcast live BBC Radio 2 event for the first time to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day, during which Patrick Stewart will play Sir Winston Churchill.
The BBC is to stream a live D-Day concert from the Royal Albert Hall to cinemas across the UK on June 6.
Picturehouse Entertainment co-ordinated the deal, which will see equal mapping of cinemas through Cineworld, Picturehouse Cinemas, Vue and independent cinemas across the UK.
Mindful of the fact that many veterans are in their late 80s and 90s, the live cinema broadcast has been organised to allow them and others who are unable to travel to London or France to take part in the event and mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
The concert will be part of BBC Radio 2’s D-Day activity which culminates in a special Friday Night Is Music Night, ‘D-Day 70 Years On’ at the Royal Albert Hall on June 6.
Hosts Jeremy Vine, Dermot O’Leary and Louise Minchin will re-tell the story of key moments of D-Day alongside a cast of actors lead by Patrick Stewart playing Sir Winston Churchill.
The backdrop to the narration will come from the BBC Concert Orchestra and a military band featuring musicians drawn from all three UK Armed Forces.
It will be streamed to cinemas with a special 5.1 surround sound mix. Profits from the Royal Albert Hall concert and the cinema release will be donated to the charities The Royal British Legion, SSAFA and SkillForce.
Marc Allenby, director of distribution at Picturehouse Entertainment said: “Cinemas were the lifeblood of information in wartime Britain and the main social centres for sharing news. They united the country in 1944 and will do so again 70 years on.”
D-Day 70 Years On is produced by TBI Media and Snappin’ Turtle Production for BBC Radio 2.
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