The day Oti Mabuse, Rylan and Comic Relief came to visit
It was so exciting to be joined by the Comic Relief team, including Rylan and Oti Mabuse at our Wimborne St Giles Jolly Day this week. Comic Relief were filming us for BBC’s Red Nose Day and we’re told it will be broadcast on the 14th of March. We’ll keep you posted.
It was only just over a week ago that Oti and Rylan completed their Red Nose Challenge with Emma Willis. The three of them reached the summit of the snow-capped Cairngorm Mountains in the Scottish Highlands (1245m above sea level) after spending three days climbing and wild camping in their bid to raise funds for Comic Relief. When I asked them if they’d recovered from the climb Rylan joked that he never would! He also said that because he’s so tall his sleeping bag only came up to his chest!
Before they arrived I was interviewed and shared a bit about In Jolly Good Company, how we started, and how we’ve grown in the last 5 years. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve all achieved and I couldn’t have done it without the support of the Jolly team.
Oti and Rylan spent the whole day with us and really got stuck in, even helping to dish up and serve our delicious lunch prepared by The Friendly Food Club. We enjoyed a Punjabi-themed Mughal chicken korma with cashews (with a Quorn version for the veggies), lentil dahl, mango chutney, basmati rice and peshwari naan. It was lovely to see Oti ask for seconds and Nikkita, the Producer, who’s originally from the Punjab, told George how authentic it tasted. He was over the moon to hear that. The dessert was gajar ka halwa (Indian carrot cake) served with a cumin seed biscuit.
After lunch, we all had a jolly good old sing-song, led by the wonderfully talented Paula. It was hysterical when we sang Hey Big Spender as Rylan, who was sitting next to Margaret, was doing high kicks. He then decided to help Margaret with her high kick by lifting her leg into the air, and then he got down on the floor and supported her leg on his shoulder. It was so funny and such good fun. Margaret and Ray were delighted when Oti and Rylan invited them onto the dance floor to strut their stuff. Then it was onto a percussion session, which is always popular. Rylan and Oti were on djembe and did a fantastic job.
Some of the group then took time out for a little walk around the village before we returned for tea and biscuits.
Oti and Rylan rounded the afternoon off with a song around the piano with Kate, before they said their goodbyes.
Kate said that when she gave the two Margarets a lift home they couldn’t stop talking about what a wonderful time they’d had. They were so excited and told her the last time they were on the telly was Songs of Praise in 1976!
A huge thank you from us to Comic Relief, we are very grateful for their support.
Enjoy looking through the gallery of photos and watching the videos.
Sarah x
Singing in rounds with Paula, Kate and Sarah
Oti, Ray, Rylan and Margaret take to the dance floor and show off their moves
Oti and Ray having a little sing-along together
A wonderful drumming and percussion session led by Paula
Until we meet again… a beautiful song to end on
