Two buskers were left stunned after Tyson Fury began dancing to their music in the middle of Newcastle.
Jenna Cole, 20, and Olivia Irvin, 22, couldn't believe it when the boxing legend asked to hear their tunes. They pair watched as he danced in the street near Monument with fans to four of their songs.
Jenna and Olivia, who are known as Jen & Liv, were setting up to perform in the city centre at around 11.30am on Friday morning. Jenna said that Olivia had to rush to a nearby shop to buy a new mic stand as the leg had fallen off their old one.
Read more: 'Absolutely disgusting' Dad hit with £100 fine after visiting the same McDonald's twice in one day
During the five minutes she was at the shop, the Gypsy King approached Jenna and asked to hear their music. She said that due to him wearing a 'Tyson Fury' t-shirt she initially believed he was a lookalike.
Jenna, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, said: "He was dressed like a lifeguard, I thought he was a lookalike. Lots of people started getting pictures and I just didn't say anything to him.
"He came over to me and said 'Are you a singer?' I thought that's Tyson Fury, I could tell by his voice. He said 'I love street performers, what type of music do you play?' I said 'Reggae, hip hop, Fleetwood Mac, 80s' and he said 'Unreal'.
"I told him I wasn't starting yet as I was in a duo and he said 'I'm going to go and buy some trainers from JD and I'll come back and I'll watch you." He walked away from me and I was like what on earth, I was really disorientated.
"I ran to the shop where Liv was and I was standing outside fidgeting. I said 'Tyson Fury has just said he's coming back to watch us'. I was nervous but I was also excited to sing for him."
Jenna said that Tyson Fury returned to monument after visiting the sports shop on Northumberland Street and they played Bob Marley songs 'Is This Love' and 'Could You Be Loved'. She said the two-time world heavyweight champion began to video them performing. He was also dancing in the street and posing for pictures with fans.
Jenna said: "He was stood dancing with us and videoing us and he was really impressed. Everyone started swarming to him. It was honestly great, it was so surreal. It got us both really buzzing. For him to stand for four songs, he must have liked it."
Jenna said that Tyson stayed for four songs before making his way down the street. She decided they couldn't let him leave without getting a picture and they ran after him.
She said: "We thought we are going to have to get a picture we can't let everyone else get one and not us. We stopped out song half way through and pegged it after him up the street. One of the guys he was with was saying 'no more pictures' but he said 'let the singers have a picture'. He was nice, he was dead down to earth."
Jenna and Olivia, from Spennymoor, County Durham, first met when they were in a Little Mix tribute band together as Jade and Leanne. They decided to team up as a duo and they now have gigs booked for the rest of the year.
Jenna said: "Me and Liv work really hard. We're a duo and we busk and gig all over the UK.
"We do a lot of happy songs. In the street everyone does sad songs and we like to keep it upbeat and uplifting. We do work hard and we really do strive to bring a nice atmosphere to the street.
"It was great that he was able to come and see that and recognise it. It's nice to have a bit of recognition from someone who's famous."
Not long later, the professional boxer was snapped with members of staff at Babucho on the Quayside. The restaurant posted a picture of him with around 16 employees on their Facebook page.
In their post, they said: "Our Friday lunch team were over the moon to serve the heavy weight champion of the world today, he was a proper gentleman and so nice of him to take such an amazing picture with our Babucho champions !! Many thanks and good luck Tyson Fury".
Tyson has been in the North East as part of Fury Fest - The Official After Party Tour. He appeared at The Fed in Gateshead on Thursday evening.
Read more:
Newcastle couple lose baby boy Hero to rare condition which caused his organs to grow in his chest
Dec pays tribute to his 'darling brother' Father Dermott Donnelly who has died aged 55
Sadness as Dec's brother Father Dermott Donnelly dies aged 55 following serious illness
New date for Newcastle Clean Air Zone – with tolls for high-polluting vehicles on hold until 2023
