Pop star Becky Hill surprises Bolton Lads and Girls Club members

The star took to the stage at Bolton Lads and Girls Club in Greater Manchester to perform Only You, which features in the McDonald’s festive advert.

Ten pence from every UK download of the track will go to Children In Need.

Children at the club, which receives funding from the charity to support music sessions, danced along to Hill’s three-song set before having the opportunity to take selfies with her and ask for autographs.

Becky Hill at Bolton Lads and Girls Club

She also met youngsters in the recording studio at the centre, where they have the opportunity to take part in sessions on music production, digital arts, photography, film-making and blogging.

Becky said “I’ve just seen some very talented people in a studio, aged from 13 to 20, making great music, nurturing their talent and giving them the confidence to take that talent forward as well.

“That’s the kind of stuff I wish I had.

“My safe space now is the studio, and to get given that at such an early age, I think is amazing.

“That’s just one of the projects that Children In Need help with so I think it’s very important to give to such an incredible charity.”

She said the reception from the 150 children who gathered for her visit was one of the best she had had all year.

“I’ve had the best time!” she said. “Honestly, I told them they were the best audience I’ve had all summer.

“There is nothing more pure than kids just going for it for a song.

“What an incredible place, and I really enjoyed singing for them all and seeing all their faces, knowing all the words, it was super cute.”

The song, originally performed by ’80s pop duo Yazoo, is the backing track to the McDonald’s festive advert, which aims to show the importance of family time.

Becky first recorded the song following the death of her grandfather in 2019 and said he would be “super proud” to see the advert.

She said: "I loved surprising the kids with a performance and seeing my excitement reflected back at me!

"My late grandfather showed me The Flying Pickets version of Only You when I was a child, so the song is really close to my heart. If people want to help families who need it most, then please download the song, as 10p from every download goes to BBC Children in Need.”

"I feel very grateful to have seen first-hand at Bolton Lads & Girls Club exactly what the McDonald’s and BBC Children in Need partnership helps fund.

"The work done by youth workers at the project is truly remarkable.

"Local Bolton based McDonald’s restaurants are set to embark on a partnership with youth workers at the project to help with training and employment opportunities, as well as supporting the work being done there around mental wellbeing and confidence building, which could have an invaluable impact on the lives of so many young people.”McDonald’s is supporting Children In Need for a second year and has backed more than 60 youth projects with the £1.2 million raised so far. It hopes to raise a further £1 million.