TV stars broadcast the best of Great Yarmouth Golden Mile to the nation
Daytime TV viewers across the nation were today treated to some of Great Yarmouth’s best views and seafront attractions when Visit Great Yarmouth hosted presenters Matt Johnson and Jake Quickenden on the seafront.
ITV Daytime chose Great Yarmouth to promote its competition to win a luxury lodge at Lovat’s Waxham Sands and £100,000 cash by 14 short live broadcasts at different locations along the famous Golden Mile.
The best Great Yarmouth has to offer was beamed into the nation’s sitting rooms in live ‘hits’ during Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.
Matt Johnson on Britannia Pier
Matt Johnson – known for his work on ITV’s This Morning and Channel 5’s OK! TV, as well as his advocacy for mental health awareness – fronted the first broadcast before 7am by the sea behind the Venetian Waterways with Scroby Sands offshore wind farm as a backdrop.
He launched a whistlestop tour of Great Yarmouth in bright summer sunshine until 1.15pm.
Matt moved into a rowing boat at the Waterways, where he met Lauren Ashley and Martyn Lambert, who manage the café for the Access Community Trust, before jumping on to an open top bus from Great Yarmouth First Bus to the Britannia Pier, where he broadcast with spectacular views of the beach and the Golden Mile, meeting the crowds.
There, he handed over to singer, presenter and Dancing on Ice winner Jake Quickenden, who spoke to viewers from the top deck of the bus heading to Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach.
Inside the Pleasure Beach, he rode the historic carousel, learned to make candy floss with William Hart, who has worked at the Pleasure Beach on and off for more than 20 years, and has now been joined by his three sons, and took a trip into the Fun House.
Jake Quickenden at Great Yarmouth Pleasurebeach
It was Jake’s first visit to Great Yarmouth, which is only less than two hours’ drive from his Essex home.
“It’s absolutely lovely. The atmosphere is buzzing and there’s something to do for everyone from attractions like The Pleasure Beach, the pier, lots of entertainment and the beautiful beach itself.”
Jamie Jones, director of Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, said: “It is great that we have been chosen to be on national TV to publicise all that Great Yarmouth has to offer. It puts us and Great Yarmouth on the map and shows the huge variety of what we have here – all the best elements of a traditional seaside day out.
Asa Morrison, CEO of Visit Great Yarmouth, said: “We always enjoy hosting our friends from ITV Daytime to support its publicity for its competitions. It’s the fourth time we have welcomed them to our destination.
“Today has been another opportunity to showcase Great Yarmouth at is best, bathed in sunshine with a busy seafront, beach and attractions showing viewers the best possible snapshot of our wonderful destination and all it has to offer.”
Keith Wakefield, staff manager at Great Yarmouth First Bus, who drove the stars and crew around all morning, said; “Today has been a real experience. It’s good publicity for our town and our services. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
