Guinness World Records Day kicked off early in the United Kingdom today as adjudicator Ralph Hannah was invited to Heart FM studios in London, UK for Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Harriet Scott. Last year on Guinness World Records Day the fastest talker Sean Shannon and BBC Newcastle DJ Jon Harle set the record for the fastest time to recite the first verse of a song by a team of two. But today Jamie and Harriet invited the Great British public to phone in and try and set the individual version of the fastest time to recite the first verse of a song.
The rules were simple, the verse must be longer than 28 words and from an officially released song that had charted in at least one country. The song of choice this morning was Madonna's 1986 single True Blue from the album of the same name. After Alison from London had phoned in and failed to recite the verse under the required 10 seconds the Heart studios received a call from Daniel Black who had pulled over on the A10. The part-time MC reeled off the verse in an incredible 7.91 seconds, a brand new Guinness World Record!
But just as the presenters thought they had escaped there was one more record surprise in store. 100 balloons had been blown up in the studio next door in preparation for an attempt for the most balloons burst in one minute. Harriet excused herself (she is due to give birth in January) so the onus fell on Jamie who leapt into it with gusto!
One minute and one tired breakfast radio DJ later - the attempt was over and verification began.
The result, good news and bad news. The good news was that Jamie had beaten Lorraine Kelly who attempted the record last week and only managed 28. The bad news was that with 30 balloons burst, Jamie was ten short of the minimum of 40 balloons needed to set this record. Better luck next time to Jamie but congratulations to Daniel who was officially the UK's first Guinness World Records Day holder!!
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13 November 2009