BOYZONE popped down to the Frog & Parrot on West Street before their opening night at the Arena.

For a quick snifter to wet their tonsils? Nope. They were taking part in a TV scam.

Unsuspecting fans, who thought they were doing a meet and greet, were inveigled to go upstairs to what appeared to be an illegal gambling den.

Then the group urged them on to bet large amounts of cash.

The whole scene was filmed by hidden cameras for Channel Four's Sunday Night Project which can be seen this week.

Frog boss Nick Simmonite says: "We used to use the room as an illegal drinking den so it wasn't hard to get it looking right."

He calls them "a smashing bunch of lads" although he failed to persuade them to come back and do a gig after the bar's £250,000 refit – an extension, revamped beer garden and stage – this summer.

Ooh Ecc, what're they on about?
STUDENTS rate Sheffield second only to Newcastle as their fave uni town or city.

A lot of them like living on or near Ecclesall Road.

Just a pity most of them can't spell it.

They told a survey by a student accommodation agency it was, variously, Ecallsal, Eccalsall, Eccellsall, Eccelsal, Eccelsall, Eccleshall and only sometimes Ecclesall Road. That's edukashun for you these days.

Time's up, Anne
IS Sheffield's last Tory councillor still trying to cling on to a seat in the Town Hall?

Anne Smith is still listed as the Dore and Totley councillor on the Sheffield Conservatives website, six weeks after losing her seat.


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