One of the North East's best loved actors is coming to Teesside in October to take part in a four day celebration of film and creative media.

Arc Stockton Arts Centre will host An Evening with Robson Green, the headline event of the Tees Valley International Film Festival which returns to the area for its second year .

There is a packed schedule of celebrity guests, gala screenings and workshops all designed to help develop new actors, writers and filmmakers across Teesside and Darlington. 

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Celebrated local actor Mark Benton is coming back to his beloved Middlesbrough to host the event.

Mark said he is overjoyed to have the opportunity to interview his good friend front of a live audience in the heart of Teesside. 

He said: "It’ll be a real pleasure to work alongside Robson again.

"We’ve acted together many times over the past 20 years and have been firm friends from the start.

"So to be sharing a stage with Robson in my homeland will make the show even more special.” 

Mark also took part in the headline event of last years Tees Valley International Film Festival and after his experience of it, was keen to be more involved with things this year. 

He added: “I love what the festival is doing for the area. So rest assured, Robson and I are already deep in plans of how we’re going to make the night a wonderful occasion for all that attend”. 

After arriving on our TV screens in 1989 in the long running BBC drama Casualty, Robson Green found stardom after his role in ITV series "Soldier Soldier" led to Simon Cowell persuading he and his co-star Jerome Flynn to release a version of "Unchained Melody" as a single.

The song went on to sell over 1.8 million copies and became the biggest selling single of 1995.

Major roles in "Wire in the Blood", "Waterloo Road" and "Grantchester" followed and made

Robson was an easy choice for festival director, Michael Luke, when it came to selecting a VIP celebrity guest for the headline event. 

The Northern Echo: Bill Fellows, Michael Luke and Mark Benton at TVIFF 2022 Bill Fellows, Michael Luke and Mark Benton at TVIFF 2022 (Image: Contributor)

Darlington born Michael said: "Robson was always our first choice for this year's headline guest.

"Not just because of his illustrious and longstanding career, but also because stories of his journey to the top of British TV from the streets of the North East will really resonate with people in our area that hope to carve their own path in film and television, and the fact that Robson will be interviewed by his dear friend will add to the huge entertainment that this unique event will bring to all."  

Relishing the chance to connect with his fans and fellow creatives in Teesside, Robson said: “I was very fortunate to have Mark show me round some of the hidden gems in Teesside when we filmed 'Weekend Breaks' in Saltburn last year.

"It was an incredibly joyous and entertaining few days with someone who is still very proud to call this part of the world home and I’m sure the joy and entertainment will flow once again when we’re onstage together at Arc in Stockton." 

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Also recognising the unique vision of the Tees Valley International Film Festival Robson said: “It’s a fab event that Michael's built in Teesside and it’s an absolute pleasure to be a part of it”. 

The festival runs from Oct 25 to 28 and is made up of many different events all based within Arc, Stockton.

Other shows include 'An Evening with Pete Bennett and Anthony Hutton' in which the two former Big Brother winners will tell all about the highs and lows of celebrity and how it affected their lives after they left the BB house.

Oscar winning film producer David Parfitt will also be in attendance to talk about his illustrious career and advise Tees Valley creatives on how they too can forge a path to the top.  

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Festival Director Michael added: "The closing ceremony itself is going to be a broad and varied occasion which, as well as the interview between Robson Green and Mark Benton, will include the presentation of awards to the winning filmmakers that've submitted their short films for inclusion in the festival and also the final of Tees Valley's Got Talent, a monologue competition designed to showcase and reward undiscovered acting talent in Teesside and Darlington.

"I can think of no better way to end this celebration of creative media in our homeland.

"We're in for an absolute treat." 

A full list of events and links to buy tickets can be found here.