Crafty Craft to hit the small screen

The annual race is set to feature on Jo Brand's Big Splash on television channel Dave on Thursday (October 13)

CRAFTY Craft, the boat race from Hungerford to Newbury in homemade vessels, will feature on national television on Thursday (Oct 13).

Comedienne Jo Brand, who took part in the race in April, will present the program Jo Brand's Big Splash, on the digital television channel Dave at 9pm.

The third episode in the series will show how Brand, dressed in a wedding gown in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's royal wedding which took place earlier that weekend, got disqualified for cheating after wind, waves and a very badly designed float scuppered her plans to row all the way. Instead, her boat was towed along the Kennet and Avon canal.

The programme will feature many local faces, with the Director of Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, and former mayor of Newbury Garry Poulson throwing a ‘scripted strop' over Brand's disregard for the rules.

Crafty Craft organiser Paul Mernagh said: “It is great to get the national coverage and hopefully it will really make potential sponsors realise what a great opportunity it is to get involved.”

Meanwhile, the theme and date of next year's Crafty Craft has also been confirmed.

The race will again take place on the Early May Bank Holiday weekend, on May 7, and will have an Olympic theme.

Click on the link below for more details.