Rosie Ramsey, Nadine Shah and Nigel Begg announced as latest Honorary Fellows at Customs House Academy

The three will be inducted at a special fundraising event for The Customs House Trust Ltd, the charity behind The Customs House, later this month.

Ray Spencer, Executive Director of The Customs House, celebrated the news on Monday, March 2 and spoke of the trio’s achievements.

He said: “It is great to have the opportunity to celebrate the lives and achievements of three South Tynesiders as they join our Honorary Fellowship.

“Rosie has a long-standing relationship with The Customs House, having appeared in pantomime, concerts and shows over the years, before going on to be a radio and television presenter and co-host of the hugely successful podcast.

“We will also be celebrating Whitburn’s very own Nadine Shah, whose music career spans over a decade. This singer and songwriter spans the genres of indie rock, jazz, post-punk and folk rock and we are very pleased to welcome such a talent to our fellowship.

“In just over a decade, Nigel led the team at Aspire to become the most successful IT company in the region, going on to win awards and drawing an impressive client base from royals to political parties.

“He has used his business acumen to help many charities, becoming a trustee of the Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust and making a significant contribution to The Customs House’s IT infrastructure, for which we will be eternally grateful.”

Other Fellows include Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall, X Factor winner Joe McElderry and comedians Chris Ramsey, Sarah Millican and Jason Cook.

Rosie, who hosts a hit podcast with comedian husband Chris, and Mercury Prize-nominated singer Nadine will be in conversation with BBC Radio Newcastle’s Stephanie Finnon at the fundraiser on Sunday, March 29 from 3pm.

Tickets for the event, which includes afternoon tea and a glass of fizz, are £30 and are available now.

Contact 0191 454 1234 or visit www.customshouse.co.uk to book.