Grandma shocks family on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

A Lancing bed and breakfast owner has shared her experience of being a '˜groovy gran' on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
Barbara Gunn with Ant & DecBarbara Gunn with Ant & Dec
Barbara Gunn with Ant & Dec

Barbara Gunn, 68, who runs Elm Grove Lodge, in Elm Grove, went on the ITV show last Saturday night to surprise her family after secretly learning ‘cool’ skills like street dancing.

“It was absolutely one of the best experiences of my life,” she said.

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“I have got a lovely husband and family, but this was an experience everyone should have.”

Barbara Gunn with singer Fleur EastBarbara Gunn with singer Fleur East
Barbara Gunn with singer Fleur East

Her son Nick and his family were told they had won charity tickets to a day in London, including seats in the studio, but this was a ruse by ITV producers to get them to the studio.

As the family took their seats, they were unaware Barbara was actually sat two rows behind.

They were then brought onto the stage, where they discovered she had been living a secret life learning how to be ‘cool’.

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Barbara said: “I saw an advert asking ‘would you like to impress your family?’. I’ve actually been learning how to street dance with a private tutor three times a week, and I had to keep making excuses about where I was going.”

Barbara Gunn with singer Fleur EastBarbara Gunn with singer Fleur East
Barbara Gunn with singer Fleur East

The challenges saw Barbara meet heavy metal band Bring Me The Horizon, who taught her how to do screamo music and hang out with YouTube vloggers Malfie.

She then put one of her new skills into practice live on the show by street dancing with singer Fleur East.

She added: “Meeting Ant & Dec was my highlight because that was what attracted me to do it, and also surprising my family. When I got to the studio, Ant & Dec came over and said ‘hello Barb’, as if they’d known me forever. They have a lot to say and wanted me to be part of the act. Everyone at the studio was proud of me.

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“They gave Slimming World a massive plug (where Barbara is a member), and I got a clap when I went in this week. My friend didn’t even know it was me so that was funny.”

The evening included an extra bonus for Barbara and her family, as they also won an all-expenses-paid trip to Cyprus.

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