Footballer turned Hollywood hard man Vinnie Jones is to visit Redbridge next month for an exclusive black-tie event.

Hosted by luxury event promoters Simply Prestige, 'The evening with Vinnie Jones' will take place at The Willows in Forest Road, Hainault, on May 8. 

The former midfielder, who rose to Hollywood fame with Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, is touring the UK to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

The nine-day tour will see him start in Middlesbrough on April 29 before heading to Redbridge and ending the tour in South Shields. 

Speaking exclusively to the Guardian last month, the 50-year-old said he was most excited about fundraising for the BHF and seeing his baby grandson, Harry.

Vinnie has been a long-standing supporter of the BHF since his wife, Tanya, had an emergency heart transplant 28 years ago at the age of 21. 

He said: "Working with Simply Prestige is another way of raising money for the British Heart Foundation and Harefield Hospital.

"Many people know my wife has had a heart transplant and I want to raise awareness of CPR."

He became the face of BHF's Hands-Only CPR campaign in 2012 with his training video to the Bee Gee's 'Staying Alive'.    

Speaking about the commercial, he added: "When you save 30 or 40 people's lives with a really funny commercial, it’s great. 

"I really underestimated it at the beginning and didn’t realise how big it was going to become. I’ve got some fantastic letters in my office from people that have been saved by the commercial. 

"It’s really heart warming." 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

 Vinnie as frontman of the hard-fast hands-only CPR campaign

The Q&A will see Mr Jones reveal all about his life on and off the pitch and his rise to stardom in America. 

Simply Prestige have said "it is guaranteed to be a wild and outrageous interview and an opportunity to see some highlights of Vinnie’s ‘best bits’ on our big screens."

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:  

The Willows is a popular wedding destination close to Fairlop Waters Country Park and set in 18 acres of landscaped gardens.