Top 10 fun, bizarre and weird Worcester News stories of 2020

IN a terrible year of the pandemic, there have been lots of hard news stories reported in your Worcester News.

But 2020 also had its share of fun and bizarre tales too.

Here are 10 of the best bizarre, weird and fun stories from the past year:

Shower curtains solution

A CAFE boss's bright idea to use shower curtains to protect his customers from coronavirus made international news.

During the first lockdown Francini Osorio's wild and wacky idea to hang 35 clear plastic shower curtains at Francini Cafe De Colombia in Angel Place grabbed attention.

It cost him £2,000, all designed to ensure his customers were as safe as possible.

After featuring in the Worcester News the invention went viral and reached an international audience, appearing on Fox News, Sky News and in The Times, the Daily Mirror and The Telegraph.

And it even was joked about on topical BBC One comedy show Have I Got News For You in May.

UFO sightings

IN September we revealed that dozens of reports of UFO sightings in the county had been revealed in previously confidential government files.

The files showed 21 reports of unidentified flying objects made by county residents between 1997 and 2009.

Reports made in Worcester involved teddy bear-shaped objects, moon-sized balloons and red and yellow stars.

And in one report in Worcester in August 1997 a UFO "the size of an aircraft" was spotted travelling across the sky at huge speed.

The Ministry of Defence stopped taking UFO reports after December 2009 stating "in more than fifty years, no sighting reported to the department has indicated the existence of any military threat to the UK."

‘No Sushi’

COMEDIAN David Baddiel was left disappointed when he stopped off in Worcester for a meal in February.

The star tweeted to say his meal at Yo! Sushi wasn’t up to much and joked it should he called ‘No Sushi.’

The comedian had been performing at his show Trolls: Not the Dolls at Huntington Hall, when he stopped off for the meal.

The star, known for his long running partnership with Midlands comedian Frank Skinner said: "Intensely depressing pre-show gyoza at Yo Sushi in Worcester. I didn’t eat them. And I f****** eat everything."

'Zoombombers'

BY September the world was familiar with Zoom, Teams and Houseparty, with many meetings and get-togethers regularly being held on the platforms.

But that month churchgoers from the Worcester Diocese had a bizarre and unpleasant experience when their online zoom meeting was infiltrated by hackers.

‘Zoombombers’ joined the virtual meeting without an invite and shared some 'offensive and disturbing content on both their profile pictures and in the chat'.

It led to the Diocese increasing their security, and the incident was reported to police.

Lockdown postie

A CHEERY postman put smiles on residents' faces by delivering the post in full fancy dress during the first lockdown in May.

Droitwich postie, Brandon Clark, turned up to work as Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, the Genie from Aladdin and even a hot dog.

Carole Brady, from the Westlands estate in Droitwich where Brandon delivered post, said her postie made everyone’s day.

“He dresses up each day in different costumes to bring a little cheer to what is a difficult time for many," she said.

"The children, (and grown-ups) look out for him from Monday to Friday to see who is delivering the letters that day."

Ginny Lemon to make TV return

DECEMBER brought the fantastic news Worcester's own Ginny Lemon will be back on our screens as one of the 12 queens competing to be crowned the UK’s next drag superstar, on the second series of BBC Three’s Drag Race UK.

Ginny Lemon, 31, will be trying to impress RuPaul, but they have already faced a fearsome panel of judges, having made it to boot camp on The X Factor in 2017 after a very unique performance of Just A Little by Liberty X in the auditions.

Ginny, who has the signature catchphrase 'fancy a slice?', memorably burst onto TV screens saying - "I'm from Worcester- just like the sauce", during auditions of that show.

Drag Race UK will premiere on January 14.

Troll doll warning

A CONCERNED Worcester mum warned parents about a children’s toy that she said made ‘sex noises’ in August.

The Hasbro Trolls Doll was recalled after a video of the toy making gasping and giggling sounds when a button between its legs is pushed went viral.

Linda Solway, a mother from Worcester, saw the video and wanted parents to be aware of the issue, adding: "Big brand names should not put profit before protection.”

A spokesman for the US company, Julie Duffy, issued a statement to The Providence Journal and apologised to parents, saying "we are happy to provide consumers with a replacement Poppy doll".

Music teacher makes Bake Off appearance

A MUSIC teacher from Pershore stole the nations heart with his can do attitude and fun on screen presence during an appearance on Great British Bake Off in September.

But sadly during bread week Rowan Williams become the third amateur baker to be eliminated from the show.

In a comedy put-down, Paul Hollywood described Rowan’s soda bread as “like eating lemon drizzle cake in a sandstorm”.

And his tree-shaped showstopper, inspired by the black pears of Worcestershire, was dubbed “all style and no substance”.

"I've had a wonderful time. It is exhausting, but very rewarding," he said as he left the tent.

Strictly appearance for Jacqui

WORCESTERSHIRE'S Jacqui Smith made a surprise appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in October.

The former Home Secretary, who was born in Malvern, danced with partner Anton du Beke and wowed audiences.

But sadly Ms Smith, a former Redditch MP, only managed one week before she was escorted off the dance floor.

The former Hagley school teacher also made an appearance on Pointless Celebrities with Ian Dale that month.

The dynamic duo made it through to the final two but didn't get the pointless answer they needed to bag the jackpot.

Ms Smith however still went home with £500 for her chosen charity, The Jo Cox Foundation.

'There's only one'

AND in December author Michael Rosen’s tweet about the lack of availability of Worcestershire Sauce unwittingly reignited an age-old debate – Lea & Perrins or Henderson’s Relish.

Mr Rosen’s post on Twitter that “several shops” had “run out” flagged up a shortage of supply which parent company Kraft Heinz confirmed was down to the unavailability of bottles.

Mr Rosen said in the tweet: "What’s going on? Has Lea scarpered? Is Perrins on the run?"

Some posted the author towards Henderson’s, but Worcester councillors and Worcestershire sauce advocates Lynn Denham and Richard Udall were quick to point out there was only one original.

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