• Virgin Radio and The Sun partner to give away 35,000 free tickets to key workers as a Big Thank You for their heroic front line work

• Tour dates will take in The SSE Arena, Wembley (Wednesday 28 October), Manchester Arena (Thursday 29 October) and The SSE Hydro Glasgow (Sunday 1 November)

• Wembley show will incorporate The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards, celebrating our amazing healthcare workers battling the virus

• Line up of major acts - and very special guests - to be announced

Virgin Radio and The Sun today open registration for the Big Thank You Tour, offering key workers across the UK 35,000 free tickets for three very special arena shows in London, Manchester and Glasgow this autumn. The London show at the SSE Arena, Wembley will also incorporate The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards, celebrating staff going beyond the call of duty to care for patients and make the NHS the treasure it is. 

The unique Big Thank You Tour will be packed full of chart-topping talent - and very special guest appearances - as Virgin Radio and The Sun pull out all the stops to lay on three fabulous parties, as an enormous national thank you to our brave and brilliant coronavirus key workers. 

Registration couldn’t be easier. Simply go to bigthankyoutour.co.uk and fill in your details to be in with a chance of you and your plus one attending one of these exclusive, money-can’t-buy shows. It will definitely be a night to remember!

Anyone who has been classified as a key worker during the coronavirus crisis is eligible to apply for a pair of tickets: from health and social care workers to teachers and child carers; utilities and transport workers to shop assistants and distribution drivers. You just have to select your area of employment and occupation on the form.

Registrations open today and will stay open until the end of June. Once closed, a ticket ballot will be used to randomly select the gig-goers. All attendees must be aged 14 or over, and under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Opening registration, Mike Cass, Content Director for the Virgin Radio network, said: “Our fantastic key workers have done the most amazing job of keeping Britain going through the coronavirus lockdown. We owe our brilliant bus drivers and posties, our fantastic shop workers and delivery drivers - and of course, our wonderful health and social care workers - the sun, the moon and the stars for their hard work and commitment. 

“We can’t deliver on the first two, but stars we can do. And we plan to fill three of the biggest arenas in the UK chock-full of rock and pop royalty to entertain tens of thousands of key worker this autumn. If you’re a key worker, register now. And keep listening to Virgin Radio and reading The Sun as we start to make some very special announcements in the weeks to come.”

Big Thank You Tour registration opens as The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Appeal in partnership with NHS Charities Together hits its £1m target after less than a month, as Sun readers dig deep to support our brave front line NHS Workers.

The Sun partnered with NHS Charities Together - a coalition of NHS charities supporting front line workers and volunteers - to raise urgent funds to give vital support to staff in their hour of need. A host of celebrities including Rob Rinder, Lorraine Kelly, Amanda Holden, Anthony Joshua, Claudia Winkleman, Eamonn Holmes and Christine Lampard have got behind the Who Cares Wins Appeal.

Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together said: “The money you’ve donated is being used right now by NHS charities to support staff, volunteers and patients in this unprecedented crisis. It helps charities across the UK meet the needs of staff, volunteers and patients – giving them somewhere comfortable so they can take a break, nutritious food and drink, electronic-tablets so patients, staff and volunteers can stay in contact with loved ones, counselling support to protect mental health and help staff and volunteers process what they are dealing with. Right now these things are invaluable and we’re able to provide them thanks to you – thank you.” 

The Big Thank You Tour will kick off at the SSE Arena Wembley on Wednesday 28 October with The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards, celebrating staff who go beyond the call of duty to care for patients and make the NHS the treasure it is. The annual awards, now in their fourth year, were set up to allow Sun readers to pay tribute to the selfless medics, researchers and volunteers who have touched – and saved – their lives. Nominations for this year will open on Tuesday 12 May.

Victoria Newton, Editor-in-Chief of The Sun, said: “The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards recognise the hard work, dedication and sheer brilliance of our NHS staff from the porters to  the nurses to the surgeons. This year, with so many incredible heroic stories emerging from the national COVID-19 emergency, the Awards will be bigger than ever, and on a bigger stage than ever. And what better way to kick off the Big Thank You Tour, giving thousands of key workers a 'thank you' party to remember!”