BLACKPOOL Grand Theatre is in the pink with local entrepreneur Basil Newby.

For the Blackpool business man behind Funny Girls and Fayes and the flamboyant head of In The Pink Leisure has pledged his support and his pocket to the entertainment venue for another season.

"I was brought up in Blackpool and in a theatrical background watching the likes of Hilda Baker," said Basil. "Entertainment has a real place in the North and there are some lovely theatres to go to. And the Grand offers such a cross section of entertainment -- it's wonderful.

"I was one of the first businesses to sponsor the Grand and it must be getting on for £500,000 worth of sponsorship for them now.

"The nature of my business and the nature of me means that I am always interested in supporting shows that people wouldn't normally see and I have the credibility to get away with it.

"And also attitudes are much more relaxed now. I remember years ago people being shocked by a drag queen and then the other day I was in Marks and Spencers in town and a fully made-up drag queen was shopping merrily away and nobody batted an eyelid!

"People come into Funny Girls feeling a little bit apprehensive but leave feeling comfortable and that they've had a really good time. And so they trust my judgement with sponsorship and will come and see something they wouldn't ordinarily see and they love it!

"This year I am particularly excited about Rent and Dillie Keane. Rent has just a fabulous reputation as a thrilling new musical and Dillie is a founder member of Fascinating Aida whom we have sponsored in the past and are the funniest duo since French and Saunders."

Neil Thomson, acting general manager of Blackpool Grand Theatre, said: "We are indebted to Basil and In The Pink Leisure Ltd for their long and continuing association with the theatre through regular sponsorship.

"Thanks to Basil's outstanding commitment we are able to bring new work to The Grand, in particular, contemporary dance and modern musicals such as the upcoming production of Rent."

ITP will sponsor Ready Steady Dance with Wayne Sleep and Melanie Stace, Think No Evil Of Us...My Life With Kenneth Williams, Dillie Keane in Back With You, Rent, Sing-A-Long-A-Sound Of Music and the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company.

For details on any of the shows contact the box office on (01253) 290190.