A BUDE sea shanty group saw their work propelled to a national level after they were invited to perform on Amanda Holden’s Heart Breakfast show.
The Barrel Seagals, a female singing group based in Bude were invited to take part in the breakfast show, live from Amanda’s mother's house near the town ahead of the radio presenter and talent TV judge’s 250-mile cycle ride from the house to the studios in London’s Leicester Square.
They were invited to join in as a pre-cycle ride surprise to Amanda, prior to performing on the radio.
A spokesperson for the group said: “Barrel Seagals helping to put Bude on the map.
“We had a fabulous early morning slot with Heart surprising Amanda Holden at the start of her epic charity cycle ride from Bude to London.”
The group’s appearance comes as the 53-year-old celebrity nears the completion of her gruelling 250-mile bike ride challenge from Bude to London while battling the inclement weather seen across the United Kingdom this week.
She will complete the ride over five days, in stages, billed as the ‘longest commute to work’ and in aid of her employer’s Global Make Some Noise campaign which seeks to raise money for UK based charities and groups.
Day one saw Amanda begin her route from Bude to Taunton, in Somerset, with day two taking her from Taunton to Frome.
Today (day three) will hopefully see her cross the half way point in the five day challenge, cycling from Frome to Newbury, Berkshire, before Thursday’s ride will take her from Newbury to Kingston Upon Thames prior to the final leg on Friday from Kingston Upon Thames to the Heart studio at Leicester Square.
As for Bude’s very own Seagals, their moment of national fame doesn’t detract from the entertainment of audiences across Cornwall. The group will be off to perform at the Mevagissey Shanty Festival this weekend before returning home for a performance at Bar35 in Bude on October 20 for the Bude Shanty Day.