Eighties pop legend Nik Kershaw counting down to Telford charity gig

He will be playing at a charity concert at Telford's Oakengates Theatre next Saturday in aid of the Ben Corfield Football Fund, which is supporting Cure Leukaemia.

Shooting to fame in the 1980s, his songs include Wouldn't It Be Good, Dancing Girls, Human Racing and The Riddle.

His 62 weeks on the UK singles chart through 1984 and 1985 beat all other solo artists and he has also penned a number of hits for other artists – including UK number-one The One and Only, sung by Chesney Hawkes.

The 59-year-old Bristol-born singer-songwriter, who is starting a UK tour the day before the show, said he was looking forward to visiting Shropshire.

He met Ben Corfield, who inspired the Ben Corfield Football Fund, at the Let's Rock concert in Shrewsbury earlier this year.

He said: "It's amazing what a special kid he is. I'm looking forward to meeting him again on Saturday."

Kershaw and his band are lined up to play for over an hour.

Other bands set to star in the show on Saturday are The Goldroom, TT4, Rhi & Ed, Ralph Porrett and The Acoustic Underdogs.

Kershaw added: "It's lovely to be asked to play.

"People come along and they are going to want to hear the hits. We won't disappoint in that regard. There will be a few songs they don't know and maybe a couple of cheeky covers to liven things up."

Ben Corfield, from Little Wenlock, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in February 2015 at the age of just seven.

Despite the gruelling treatment Ben was positive from the start and determined to get well.

Being passionate about football, from playing to watching, Ben was adamant that illness would not stop him enjoying the game he loves.

The Ben Corfield Football Fund was born out of that love of football and a desire to help raise money for sick children like Ben, the charities that support them and the hospitals that treat them.

So far, it has given more than £40,000 to good causes and proceeds from the concert will be given to Cure Leukaemia, which is working to expand the centre for clinical haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Ben's father Jason, 46, said: "I want it to be the best night it can be.

"We just want to put on a great evening of live music where everyone can enjoy themselves and have a great night out while doing something positive.

"Oakengates theatre has been fantastic and I want to thank our sponsor Rollinson Smith Insurance Brokers in Telford. Nik is a lovely fella and he cares about causes like ours."

Ben, who is now nine, is currently on a three-and-a-half year treatment plan, which is due to finish next July, and has regular check-ups at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital.

Jason added: "He's doing very well. The treatment he has had has been tough on him but he's dealt with it fantastically and he's an inspiration to everyone around him."

Last year, Go West headlined a charity concert for the Ben Corfield Football Fund at Oakengates Theatre and it raised £6,000 for Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Tickets are on sale for £25. The show starts at 7pm. For tickets, call the box office on 01952 382382.