Sunday Brunch presenter Simon Rimmer has recalled how woman of the moment Raye was performing on his Channel 4 almost a decade before winning her first BRIT Awards

Simon Rimmer has revealed how his Channel 4 show Sunday Brunch isn’t just about celebrate fine food, but also there to help platform up and coming music artists.

The culinary star, who co-hosts Sunday Brunch with Tim Lovejoy, was one of the stars at the inaugural Northern Music Awards earlier this week, with the former Strictly Come Dancing star proving he knows just as much about music as he does food.

“I think the older I get, then the more varied my musical tastes go, and we’re very lucky on Sunday brunch that we have such a diverse range of acts [performing on the show] – we really do,” Simon, 60, told the Mirror on Tuesday night ahead of presenting an award.

“For example, we had Ride on last weekend, who I hadn’t really listened to since the nineties, and they’re got a new album out and it’s fantastic,” the Sunday Brunch presenter continued.

Sunday Brunch focuses about music just as much as food (
Image:
Channel 4)

“Then equally, you’ll get somebody like English Teacher who were on our playlist and you go ‘Wow! What a fantastic different sound that they’ve got’. So my [musical taste] is incredibly diverse and even with things that I was listening to when I was growing up in the seventies, I still like. I still listen to The Eagles in Fleetwood Mac and and ELO So I I find the older I get, the more diverse my musical taste.”

Discussing the bands playing at the Albert Hall that evening, including English Teacher and Liam Fray from The Courtneers, Simon admitted the Northern Music Awards was the perfect place for him to possibly scout some new booking for future performers on Sunday Brunch.

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“I think what’s frustrating, I think from a TV point of view, is, there are very, very few shows now that have live music on,” Simon declared as he spoke exclusively with the Mirror. “We’re one of the very, very few shows that still have live music every single week and one of the very few shows that still that still showcase new music and that’s important.”

“Our booker, Nina Evans, she’s fantastic and has her finger on the pulse – she knows everyone and everyone knows her,” Simon continued. “I mean, you look at, say somebody like Raye, who has just absolutely smashed it this year and [won multiple awards at the BRIT Awards].

“She first came on our show eight years ago and she’s a proper friend of the show. Now you look at her and she’s [a huge star]. You know, we’re not the reason why she broke through, but it’s really great to see her doing so well. We were championing her eight years ago and to watch her grow is great.”

2024 BRIT Award winner Raye was performing on the Channel 4 show almost a decade ago (
Image:
PA Wire)
The Northern Music Awards kicked off with a bang in Manchester, as the city played host to the inaugural event that saw Spice Girl Mel C and One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson scoop top honours. The glittering Tuesday night bash was abuzz with performances from big names like Courteeners’ Liam Fray, English Teacher, The K’s, and Antony Szmierek, all while raising funds for a noble cause.

Set to become an annual travelling showcase of Northern talent, the Northern Music Awards will channel this year’s proceeds into the establishment of a new Nordoff and Robbins music therapy centre in the North-West. The planned Salford-based centre aims to be a hub of musical creativity and healing, equipped with state-of-the-art interactive music technology to serve the diverse communities of the North.

The inaugural event had no shortage of celebrities from all industries gracing the Albert Hall to celebrate musical offering north of London, with Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, This Is England star Thomas Turgoose and Manchester United legend Gary Neville, alongside New Order’s own Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris all in attendance.

Proceeds from the event are earmarked for a noble cause the establishment of a new Nordoff and Robbins music therapy centre in Salford, Greater Manchester. As the UK’s leading music therapy charity, Nordoff and Robbins have been instrumental in changing lives through music.

Nadra Shah, Director of Engagement and Communications at Nordoff and Robbins, expressed her delight post-awards, stating: “The Northern Music Awards are all about honouring the massive musical talent that continues to come out of this region. “We want to thank all the artists, venues, festivals, music industry teams, sponsors and music fans who have come together to celebrate with us and make this first ever awards a reality. We’ve had an amazing night honouring the enormous success of both established artists and some of the region’s most exciting new emerging talent.”

“The awards aim to support and help to grow the ecosystem of Northern musicians whilst shining a light on the transformative work that Nordoff and Robbins does with music therapy to connect with some of the region’s most isolated communities. In 2024 we’re celebrating 20 years of music therapy in Greater Manchester and we’re excited that this show will support our vision to open a brand new music therapy centre for the people of the city. helped by the money raised from these awards.”