麻豆约拍

Kitchen Disco Queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor has completed an amazing 24 Hour Danceathon, so far raising over £1 million for Children in Need.

Sophie has been entertaining the nation during the pandemic with her Kitchen Discos, which started as a social media sensation, and more recently became a weekly mix on 麻豆约拍 Radio 2 and 麻豆约拍 Sounds.

Taking to the 麻豆约拍’s Radio Theatre stage for her biggest ever Kitchen Disco, she’s been joined in person and virtually by a host of celebrities and Radio 2 presenters, supporting her through day and night.

Here are some of the many highlights, amazing surprises, and truly memorable moments, from Sophie's challenge.

Sophie was joined by Dermot O'Leary and Edith Bowman about an hour into her challenge which was great fun. Dermot gave her some insights into what his original Day Of Dance was like in 2015:

"At three or four in the morning it went really weird - EVERYONE went home..." said Dermot. "But it's honestly the best thing I've ever done - apart from marriage and kids - it's 24 hours of love!"

Sophie told Dermot about her musical loves growing up: "I always loved pop music, and then I was an indie kid, and then, it was really Groovejet that introduced me to dance and disco."

"When I was really little I loved A-Ha, and Belinda Carlisle [who joined Sophia via video-link later in the challenge.] I love her, and I love Madonna, Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson - all that stuff..." The pair discussed how amazing Madonna is with Sophie remembering "I got into her probably from Like A Virgin onwards actually. I just thought she was brilliant... she's a brilliant pop writer, 'Like A Prayer' is probably one of my favourite songs of all time".

While Sophie was preparing for things to get a little trippy in the wee small hours she couldn't have predicted the bizarre scenes so early on in the challenge when Edith Bowman came into the kitchen and began looking at all the costumes and props, then Dermot found the fancy dress box... cut to five minutes later and there were sparkly capes and animal masks. "I feel we've gone a bit 2am already!" said Sophie. A really great moment to help get the challenge underway - three mates chatting, doing Coldplay impressions and having a good old boogie.

Three hours into the challenge and Sophie was visibly thrilled as the iconic Beverley Knight took time out from her West End rehearsals to join her in the kitchen for a duet on a cover of 'Don't Leave Me This Way'.

Beverley said "It's just one of THE great disco songs".

Jeremy Vine reflected to the pair that it had been a while since the nation had seen ANY live performances so the song had been a particular treat. Sophie, who's currently on tour with Steps added: "The atmosphere at the gigs and shows are just better than ever because everybody's in it together with that YES feeling".

In hour four of Sophie's challenge, Bonnie Langford and Rylan dropped by to see how she was getting on... It's the double act we never knew we needed - but we're glad it happened!

Highlights from their hilarious half hour with Sophie included:

• Bonnie Langford's dance tips, such as the shallow step and the hand roll, punching the air... and some high kicks on the floor!
• Sophie on dancing to her own tunes: "I've got a policy for that, if I'm already dancing I have to keep dancing, cos you can't leave the dancefloor when your own song comes on, if I'm not dancing I don't START dancing cos you also can't go - oh it's ME! Great!"
• Rylan - who had tried to talk Sophie out of the challenge from the outset ("just don't do it babe") was on his way to the dentist for a new set of teeth that afternoon... "I'm gonna donate them (his old teeth) to Children In Need! You'll see Pudsey next year looking like me!"
• The three of them raving to Insomnia by Faithless. Priceless.

"I've been doing this ten minutes" panted Michael "I'm KNACKERED!"

During the half hour that Michael Ball and Tamzin Outhwaite spent inside the kitchen disco during hour six of Sophie's Danceathon, the playlist was a rich and varied affair and so were the dance styles that accompanied it! There was The Timewarp, Morris Dance moves to Sir Terry Wogan's The Floral Dance, line dancing to Achy Breaky Heart, joyful interpretive dance to Wuthering Heights and they all had a go at Gangnam Style too.

It was a scene to behold - and donate to!

It's another one of those combos that we never knew we needed until it was on screen - Tony Blackburn and Gemma Collins.

The pair exploded into the Kitchen Disco! Tony brought his own sequined jacket and choreography to some classic oldies and he, Gemma and Sophie sang along to all the hits, including Summer Holiday.

What a feeling! Writer and presenter Dawn rocked up to the kitchen disco looking (in her words) like a Christmas bauble to belt out a version of Flashdance with Sophie during hour 9 of her challenge.

The pair discussed Sophie's rail of FABULOUS costume changes and the emergency Negroni in Sophie's handbag. "I may not need it, but I like knowing it's there."

Pop royalty Sir Elton and Ed sent a voice message to Sophie from the set of their forthcoming music video - big smiles all around!

Just before the half way point in the challenge, a disco suited Dan from The Feeling joined Sophie for a rendition of Lionel Richie's All Night Long.

The pair have known each other for twenty years as Sophie is married to Dan's bandmate Richard. Sophie described Dan showing up at that point in the challenge as being "like a warm hug".

The pair pulled out their best aeroplane moves to the end of Fill My Little World as Sophie passed the 12 hour mark!

On reaching the halfway mark, Sophie said: "That is magic! You know what that is, that is magical because that's the top of the mountain isn't it. So, let's do it baby. I'm still gung ho. I'm ready!"

Sophie was very excited to be joined by Belinda Carlisle 15 hours into the challenge "I've been looking forward to seeing you for hours now!"

"I have been a fan of yours since I was a little girl!"

"I adore you" Belinda replied.

A little chat with one of your childhood heroes can be just the tonic during a Danceathon!!

There were tearful scenes as Sophie's husband Richard Jones, mum Janet Ellis, and her children all bundled into the kitchen to dance with Sophie for the final twenty minutes of her epic Danceathon while Pudsey boogied on the screen behind her.

"Was Joe Wicks crying while he was lunging? I can't stop weeping!"

At the end of the 24 hours Sophie had raised a whopping £803,384, a figure that has now surpassed £1 million - but you can STILL !

We're not crying - YOU'RE CRYING!

Richard was in the room with Sophie for the whole challenge and was posting about it on Instagram throughout:

What an amazing 24 hours, what an achievemet. Well done Sophie!

• As It Happened - relive our live coverage of Sophie's 24 Hour Kitchen Disco Danceathon

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