Pudsey And Friends Go Behind The Scenes At Parliament Buildings

It's not every day you get exclusive access behind the scenes at Parliament Buildings in Belfast.
But for Helen and Robert Eagleson and their son David from Cookstown they got just that earlier today (Tuesday) with a tour which money simply cannot buy.

After bidding £450 in Hugo Duncan's on-air auction for this year's BBC Children in Need Appeal on his Radio Ulster programme on Monday afternoon, they were treated to a trip around the building to remember.
The VIP experience was arranged courtesy of the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, William Hay MLA to support Children In Need. During their visit, Helen, Robert and David were treated to tea and buns with the Speaker, before beginning a private tour around the building together with Hugo Duncan and Pudsey Bear. The couple and their son then sat in the public gallery to observe the Assembly in session, wrapping up their time with lunch in the private Members' Dining Room.

Of their exclusive tour Helen Eagleson said: "Our son David is really interested in politics and he is always asking us when he can go and visit Stormont, so when we heard Hugo's programme in the car yesterday and the chance to go behind the scenes David asked us to bid for it. So we did and here we are on our first visit to Stormont and it has been fantastic and for such a good cause!"

Join the Hugo-Thon on BBC Radio Ulster

It’s that time of year again when fundraisers from across Northern Ireland start to prepare for this year’s BBC Children in Need. In the run up to the big night, which this year is on Friday, November 18, BBC Radio Ulster’s Hugo Duncan leads the way rising to the challenge of raising thousands of pounds for the Appeal in BBC Radio Ulster’s fifth ‘Hugo-Thon’.

For five days, from Monday, November 14 to Friday, November 18, Hugo will call on listeners to be as generous as ever in supporting an auction, which last year raised around £27,000. This year’s grand total will be announced live at the end of his Pudsey Party from BBC Northern Ireland’s Studio A.

Hugo Duncan said: “BBC Children in Need has been very close to my heart for many years and the whole team is really looking forward to yet another Hugo-thon. “Last year’s total really surprised and delighted us and we are aiming even higher this time round! “I know that all our listeners - at home and out on the roads - will be ringing in to pledge as much money as they can for such delights as

• a trip for two to a Manchester United Football Match,
• wedding package valued at £1200,
• Ultimate Irish Country MusicWeekend for two in Blackpool,
• flights in a light aircraft,
• meals and hotel breaks right across Northern Ireland
• and just the thing if you fancy a bit of ‘do it yourself’ building - a cement mixer.
  

“There will also be the chance to co-present the programme with me. All this and lots of good music along the way and for such a good cause, sure you wouldn’t want to miss it. And remember Children In Need is all a bit of fun but it’s no joke.”

Tune in each day to Hugo Duncan on BBC Radio Ulster from 1.30-3pm to phone in to bid or just simply make a donation – on 08459 555 678 – and don’t forget all your requests and dedications via email and
text: 81771.
Hugo recently staged a special concert at the Millbrook Lodge, raising around £4,000 for the Appeal, in the company of many of Ireland’s Country Legends. Listeners can tune in to hear Hugo’s Children in Need
Highlights on BBC Radio Ulster on Friday, November 18 from 8pm.

And Hugo rounds off his week of fundraising with a live broadcast from the BBC’s Blackstaff Studios in Belfast on Friday, November 18 from 1.30-3pm. Other BBC Radio Ulster programmes will be carrying stories about fundraising activities throughout the week in the run-up to the big night. Last year’s BBC Children in Need total raised on the night in Northern Ireland was £568,919. The national total was £36m of which £3.2m was spent here to support around 300 projects. For more information on how to get involved with this year’s BBC Children in Need or to make a donation log on to: bbc.co.uk/pudsey or call: 0345 607 3333 to request a fundraising pack.