TWO Bolton icons have raved about the reasons they love their hometown in a stream watched by thousands.

Star of ITV's The Chase, Jenny Ryan, and musician Badly Drawn Boy joined Lancaster-born Jon Richardson for a one-off show celebrating everything about Lancashire.

The pair, who were not compensated for their time, featured in a line up that included Salford-hailing Jason Manford, and Catherine Tyldesley, and Blackburn comedian Tez Illyas for the show, streamed live on Monday night.

Jenny Ryan ran a short quiz, asking people to figure out what linked five questions, treating the audience to a short performance on a ukelele as a hint.

She said: "I'm so proud of being from Bolton, which is, I like to say, the place that put the 'er' in Greater Manchester because anyone from outside the area has no idea where Bolton is.

"We're virtually joined onto Manchester, there's nothing green in the way, and yet if you go the other way we've got the wonders of Lancashire all the way up to the lakes.

"It's a wonderful place to be from, we've got the best of culture, so many amazing people are from this area – in fact the people here are the best around.

"So basically, suck it Yorkshire, we're the best."

Badly Drawn Boy gave a performance of Once Around the Block, a song from his debut album released in 2000.

He also donated a signed copy of his latest album on vinyl for Jon to give away to one of the people who donated.

The singer recalled fond memories of the town, listing Carrs Pasties, Peter Kay, the town hall, the Octagon Theatre, and Winter Hill as some of his favourites.

He added: "I grew up in the great town of Bolton and I've lived in Chorlton for 25 years.

"You move to Chorlton and no one's heard of black peas for a start, and they still haven't so I associate black peas on bonfire night with Bolton.

"Whenever I go back to Bolton I get a warm fuzz, my folks still live there it still holds a special place for me, it's all my early memories that went into my soul as a person."

The two hour show, streamed live from 8-10pm on Monday evening, has raised over £26,000 for charity.

All money raised will go towards St Johns Hospice, the Lancashire Community Foundation Covid-19 Fund, NHS Charities Together, and the United We Stream Solidarity Fund which supports pubs, venues, performers, and cultural organisations across Greater Manchester, The Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Charity and music therapy charity, Nordoff Robbins.

For more information on how the funds will be split, or to donate to the fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/campaign/NoAudienceJonR.