Riyadh Khalaf , broadcaster, author, BBC Sounds podcast host, 2020 Celebrity MasterChef champion and LGBTQ+ activist, is delighted to be hosting the world premiere of Captain Sandy LIVE on 16 May 2022 at the Lyric Theatre, in London’s West End.
Riyadh will join Captain Sandy – the undeniable star of the smash hit reality series Below Deck Med – to delve deep into her incredible career, how she beat cancer, survived a life- threatening bike crash and built an outstanding reputation as an elite class of superyacht captain. He will also channel questions from the audience regarding the stunning locations, pinpoint precision parking and the never-ending drama on board!
Riyadh Khalaf said: “ I’m so excited to interview the iconic Captain Sandy! The night is going to be packed with laughs, juicy gossip and a look into Sandy’s life as we haven’t seen it before. I’m a self-confessed Captain Sandy superfan so the audience can be guaranteed that no stone will be left unturned. We will dig into some behind the scenes secrets from the show, her personal life, her career before Below Deck Mediterranean and stories from a life at sea!”
Captain Sandy said: “ I’m looking forward to connecting with the people of the UK! London is a city which I love and have visited several times to see live shows. It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to share with all of you how I made it from the streets to the top of my industry and I assure you there will be lots of laughs involved!”
Sandy’s partner, acclaimed Gospel singer Leah Rae , who will perform on the night, said: “ There is never a dull moment with my partner Captain Sandy … and London definitely isn’t dull. It seems like there is excitement around every corner! I’m beyond thrilled to be coming to London and to sing in one of the finest theatres, supporting Sandy. Performing in London has always been a dream of mine, and now it’s coming true.”
Riyadh Khalaf is a TV and radio broadcaster, author, online video creator, podcast host, public speaker and LGBTQ+ activist. Riyadh was crowned the Celebrity MasterChef champion in 2020 after impressing the judges with his show-stopping culinary creations. This quick-witted powerhouse is best known for fronting the ground-breaking BBC documentary series Queer Britain . Riyadh hosted the official BBC podcast to accompany smash hit Normal People and the award-nominated Radio 1 comedy podcast Unexpected Fluids , the latter also had sold-out live performances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival for two years running. Riyadh’s viral videos including celebrity interviews, documentaries and comedy skits have been viewed over 50 million times and been featured on CNN, BBC, Channel 4, The Guardian and Vanity Fair to name a few. His debut book titled Yay! You’re Gay! Now What? was released worldwide in May 2019 and became a number one bestseller. This led to Riyadh being named as one of London’s ‘50 most inspirational people’ by Bumble Biz.
“You call me Captain… Captain Sandy” Captain Sandy is one of the most recognisable Reality TV stars of the past ten years. She has taken part in five seasons of Below Deck Mediterranean and has accrued a huge fan base in the UK and throughout the world. Below Deck and Below Deck Mediterranean became increasingly popular during lockdown, with Season 5 receiving some of Bravo’s highest viewing figures to date. Captain Sandy has a growing fan base and now has over half a million followers on Instagram.
As a leader, hero, international speaker and businesswoman, Captain Sandra Yawn’s exceptional leadership style has helped her to break through every obstacle in her path – from the glass ceilings and near-fatal accidents on land to pirates and fires at sea! As a renowned superyacht captain with over 30 years of international maritime experience, Yawn’s integrity and courage have earned her an outstanding reputation as an elite class of captain, and recognition from the International Superyacht Society, who bestowed upon her the prestigious Distinguished Crew Award for her bravery in the midst of a catastrophic fire and pirate threat that occurred in 2006 off the coast of Yemen. Tapping into her signature conviction and affinity for adventure, Yawn charted a new course in 2015 when she became a series lead on Bravo’s hit series Below Deck Mediterranean . She recently appeared on The Ellen Show . Season 7 of Below Deck Med will soon be streaming on hayu.
Captain Sandy LIVE on 16 May 2022 at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue is now on sale online: ; by phone: 0330 333 4812 . The show is produced by New Frame Productions.
Date: Monday 16 May 2022 Time: 7.00pm Duration: 75 minutes (no interval) Ticket prices: £51.50, £41.50, £36.50, £26.50, 21.50, £17.50 (including restoration levy) Box office: ; by phone: 0330 333 4812
Check out more Entertainment Now theatre news, reviews and interviews here.