Michael Ball and Alfie Boe take to the sky to SMASH 'fan meeting' world record

~ Daily Star ~ 27/10/2017 ~

And the Daily Star Sunday went along for the ride. We teamed up with the musical duo as they dashed across the UK, meeting hundreds of fans and signing copies of their new album, Together Again.

Ball and Boe covered 300 miles and met more than 600 fans in just 12 hours – obliterating the record time for five public appearances by a musical group.

It was previously held by Westlife, who did it in 36 hours in 2002.

We were the only newspaper invited along on an epic journey that saw us jump in a helicopter with the duo, dash through busy rush-hour traffi c in blacked out cars and ride on the back of motorbikes

Michael said: “We smashed it! We’re delighted. It’s been a knackering but amazing day. Our fans were wonderful – it was incredible meeting so many all in one day.

“Our message to the Westlife boys? Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough!”

The epic journey started at 8am in Boe’s hometown of Blackpool, where the duo hit HMV, chatting to fans and signing hundreds of albums before darting to Manchester by motorcade.

Next came HMV stores in Meadowhall, Sheffield, and Nottingham – where we jumped into a James Bond-style helicopter and were whisked through the night sky to London.

Alfie was on great form as we flew over the London skyline, excitedly pointing out the major landmarks and taking photos.

He said: “This has been the highlight of a brilliant day. It’s absolutely bonkers. I can’t believe we’ve got a helicopter with our name on it. We’re going to smash this record and have boasting rights for life.”

After landing in Battersea, we were whisked by motorbike to HMV on Oxford Street where the boys were greeted by jubilant fans and presented with the world record. Michael said: “We’re chuffed to bits, that was magic.”

Alfie added: “We did it in under 12 hours – amazing.”

Fans queued for hours to meet the stars – something that comes with the territory for Michael, 55, who’s been a chart-topping singer and musical theatre star for three decades.

He has some of the most fanatical fans in showbiz – including one woman who tried to whisk him away on a dirty weekend in Rhyl.

He said: “When I was in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a suitcase arrived at the stage door. I opened it and inside was a pair of underpants, a vest, some socks, a toothbrush, a packed lunch and a soap on a rope.

“Tucked in among all that was a train ticket to Rhyl, where this lady had booked us a caravan for the weekend!”