Husband and wife team Graham and Lorraine MacPherson applied to BBC Radio Scotland's 'Let's Do The Show Right Here' show after spotting an advert in the 'Strathy' asking for communities who wanted to raise money for a good cause to get in touch.

The Beeb's fly-on-the-wall documentary followed the Boat of Garten couple's progress in organising a show which would do just that – with the big draw being McManus herself.

She was thrust into the limelight after winning ITV's second Pop Idol contest in 2003, despite Simon Cowell not being her greatest fan.

He was proven wrong, however, when her first single, 'All This Time', debuted at number one on the UK singles charts in January, 2004, and stayed there for three weeks.

The Glaswegian singer's latest single, 'Just for you', is to be released on November 5, and her second album is due out a short time after that.

Mrs MacPherson said that the new village hall, which only opened in August, was packed to capacity – with the fundings going towards buying a new set of curtains for the hall made from Boat of Garten's very own tartan, which was launched in the summer.

Insanity, a young band from Boat, kicked off the show with their rendition of a Kinks favourite, 'All Day and All of the Night', which was followed by 'The Failure', their own composition.

Next up were clarsach and flute duet – and mother and son – Patsy and Stewart Burr, who played a piece originally composed by the former to celebrate the opening of the new community facility.

Michelle McManus with organisers Lorraine and Graham MacPherson and Showboaters Freddie Masson and Dod Keir, who opened Saturday's show.

Also performing on the night were Kevin Redgewell and Valerie Fairweather; Allan Bantick, accompanied by his wife, Heather, and the village's own amateur dramatic group, 'The Showboaters'. An inter-village quiz completed the entertainment.

Commenting on the night, Mrs MacPherson said: "Michelle McManus didn't let the audience down. Her big personality shone brightly, and her rendition of Madonna's 'Material Girl' got local children and a couple of nuns joining her on stage and the rest of the audience on its feet. Her number one hit, 'All this time', really went down a storm.

"The audience fair enjoyed themselves, and that was the most important thing, quite apart from the fact that they raised over £4,000 on the night towards the cost of curtains and blinds for the new hall."

Mr MacPherson said: "We were delighted with the response from everyone. All the performers, including Michelle, gave their time freely for this worthy cause."

The show was recorded, and excerpts from the evening will feature in the half-hour show which will be broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland 92-95FM and 810MW in February next year.

b.henesey@sbherald.co.uk

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