Kenneth Branagh to Present Star-studded Patrick Doyle Concert

Famous actor,director,writer and producer Kenneth Branagh has announced that he is to present a one-off concert entitled Music from the Movies: An All Star Celebration. The concert is a celebration of Patrick Doyle's most famous movie score creations such as that from 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'.

Taking place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 28 October in aid of cancer charity Leukaemia Research, stars from all over the world will join him in introducing music from some of the greatest Patrick Doyle film soundtracks of all time such as, 'Bridget Jones's Diary' and 'Calendar Girls'. Names confirmed so far include Dame Judi Dench, Alan Rickman, Sir Derek Jacobi, Robbie Coltrane and Richard E. Grant.

The music will be performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Chorus, conducted by Dirk Brossé and will include the premiere of a violin concerto especially composed by Patrick for the evening.

Patrick Doyle was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1997 but was successfully treated and is now in remission.

Patrick Doyle said: "Being diagnosed with leukaemia was such a shock. I'm very aware that due to the ongoing research and the extraordinary work of the doctors and nurses, particularly at St George's Hospital in Tooting, I am one of the ones that came through, and am still in remission. The only way to give everyone with blood cancer the best possible chance of survival is to improve treatments, and this can only be done with continued research.

"But research costs money - a lot of money. By organising this concert I hope that we can help Leukaemia Research continue their amazing work and bring encouragement to everyone who is diagnosed with this dreadful disease."

Kenneth Branagh said: "When Patrick approached me about directing a concert in aid of Leukaemia Research I thought it was an excellent idea and was delighted to help. So many people are affected by blood cancers, yet relatively little is known about them. It'll be a fantastic evening but it means nothing without an audience. We are determined to pack the Albert Hall to the rafters and at the same time raise essential money and awareness for an important, hardworking charity."

Tickets start at £20 and are available from the Royal Albert hall box office on 020 7589 8212 or by visiting www.royalalberthall.com.

For more information about the concert please visit www.patrickdoyleconcert.co.uk or call 020 7405 0101.

Notes to Editors

1. The actors that have confirmed they will be attending so far are: Brian Blessed, Richard Briers, Robbie Coltraine, Dame Judi Dench, Richard E. Grant, Celia Imrie, Sir Derek Jacobi, Gemma Jones, Alan Rickman, John Sessions, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, Regis Wargnier, Greg Wise and Jimmy Yuill. These appearances are all subject to availability.

2. Patrick Doyle was born in Uddingstone, near Glasgow, in Scotland. He studied singing and piano at Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and after graduating became a music teacher. He spent ten years writing and performing in theatre, television and radio before meeting Kenneth Branagh, who asked him to compose the music for his film, 'Henry V'. The film was a box-office smash and Patrick hasn't looked back since. The films he has composed for include: 'As You Like It', 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', 'Nanny McPhee', 'Calendar Girls', 'Gosford Park', 'Bridget Jones's Diary', 'Love's Labour's Lost', 'Quest for Camelot', 'Great Expectations', 'Donnie Brasco', 'Hamlet', 'Sense and Sensibility', 'Frankenstein', 'Carlito's Way', 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Henry V'. In 1997 Patrick was diagnosed with leukaemia, but continued working and wrote 'A Quest for Camelot' whilst being treated. Patrick is currently working on a new Scottish opera.

3. Leukaemia Research is the only national charity devoted exclusively to improving treatments, finding cures and learning how to prevent leukaemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma and other lymphomas, myeloma and the related blood disorders, diagnosed in 24,500 people in the UK every year.'

4. Over the next five years, Leukaemia Research urgently needs to raise over £100million to commit to new research. From basic laboratory research to clinical trials with patients, Leukaemia Research is committed to saving lives by funding high quality, carefully selected research throughout the UK. Further information, including patient information booklets, is available from www.lrf.org.uk or on 020 7405 0101.