Posted: Tue 29th Mar 2016

Llanelli Beach On Ant & Dec’s ITV Hit Show

news.wales / newyddion.cymru
This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 29th, 2016

Over 16 million viewers tuned in to see ITV’s hit series Saturday Night Takeaway’s sofa challenge at Llanelli Beach. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Discovery Centre was one of four locations featured on the popular Ant & Dec show where viewers had to guess the area, get to the destination with a suitcase and passport, and register for a seat on the cream sofa to be in with a chance of winning a holiday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Stormy weather conditions helped the show’s producers and Millennium Coastal Park staff to keep things under wraps until the show was aired at 6pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Minutes after Llanelli Beach was flashed on the TV screen hundreds of onlookers and people with suitcases and passports flooded North Dock. Cars came to a standstill as contestants battled their way through the crowds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s coast and parks manager, Rory Dickinson said: “What a platform this was for the Llanelli Beach and the Millennium Coastal Park. To be recognised on a popular primetime television show that attracts over 16 million viewers is priceless. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

I’d like thank my staff who had to remain tight lipped to avoid jeopardising the visit and the chance to put Llanelli on the map.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Some 43 contestants registered and winning number 18 was whisked off in a limousine for a two-week Mediterranean cruise after the one hour show. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Winner Richard Barrett, aged 60, said: “I was cooking food and the picture flashed up on the screen. I ran out of the door all the way to the centre. When I got there I was told I had to have my suitcase and passport which I had missed Ant & Dec announce, so I ran back home and back again, the rest is history. I have never won anything and I can’t believe it. Number 18 was my old house number so it’s definitely lucky.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​



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