How a former DJ is keeping people in Harborough entertained every afternoon with his 'Isolation Pop Quiz'

A former DJ is being hailed a 'lockdown hero' as he entertains scores of people in Market Harborough and beyond every afternoon.

Fred Perrett, 54, hits all the right notes as he stages an online “Isolation Pop Quiz” for his fun-loving Facebook friends day in day out.

The cake baker’s daily dose of musical nostalgia and pop posers has rapidly become a cult show as his rapt audience make sure they tune in without fail.

Now one of his loyal army of fans, Adrian Coombes, has told the Harborough Mail: “Fred’s quickly become a local hero.

“He’s doing brilliant work entertaining so many Harborough folk at 3pm every day on Facebook.”

Now living on the Isle of Wight, he stressed: “It's so entertaining and it makes a lot of people's day, mine included.

“I'd love to see Fred honoured in some way! He does this for free.

“Fred’s so bright and cheerful and I think we all need something bright and cheerful in these horrid times.”

Modest Fred, of The Ridgeway, Harborough, said: “It’s so good of Adie to appreciate what I do so much but I’m no hero.

“We’re just having a bit of a laugh and it’s great to put a smile on people’s faces at a time when we are facing this crisis.”

The magic music man launched his brainwave on the day the UK was locked down by Prime Minister Boris Johnson – Monday March 23.

“I run Freddy’s Cake and Party shop on Northampton Road.

“Once I was forced to shut that I had a lot of time on my hands so decided to entertain a few friends through Facebook,” said Fred.

“I play the intro to 12 tunes every afternoon at 3.

“It’s belt and braces stuff that I broadcast through Facebook.

“I have a different theme every day – it might be boys’ names, girls’ names or the 80s and 90s.

“We’ve got about 40 regular players now and people just love it, it’s really taken off.”

He said contestants unwittingly add to the non-stop mix of fun and shenanigans by hammering out a string of hilarious typos.

“Auto correct kicks in and we get all sorts of answers.

“Kylie Magnolia was a classic while Show Me the Way to Armadillo was another.

“Everyone loved Goatbusters instead of Ghostbusters.

“And Can You Hear the Drums Fernandinho, the Manchester City footballer, rather than Fernando by Abba was just pure gold!”

Also a Volkswagen fanatic, Harborough born-and-bred Fred said his Facebook pop quiz fame had spread fast.

“My sister Lynda doesn’t miss a beat from her home on Guernsey, we get a DJ mate of mine from London tuning in and a guy called Tom Gilbert from America.

“But mostly it’s friends and neighbours I’ve known for years right here in good old Market Harborough.

“This isn’t about competing or being the best,” said well-known Fred, who’s also passionate about American cars, drag racing and his iconic VW campervan.

“It’s all about finding humour in these testing times, sharing a right old laugh and bringing people together.

“No one comes first or last in my pop quiz – everyone’s a winner.

“We don’t have any negativity or swearing, just a barrel of laughs every day of the week!”