Christine Bleakley says dad playing drums in bands ‘coolest thing’

London - Christine Bleakley has fond memories of The Empire Music Hall in Belfast, especially as her father used to play drums in a number of bands there.

Bleakley, from Northern Ireland, was formerly a co-presenter of the show ‘Daybreak’ and now hosts ‘Dancing on Ice’ with Philip Schofield. She is engaged to footballer Frank Lampard.

Her association with the Empire Music Hall goes back to her teen years.

“As a teenager I used to love nights out at The Empire Music Hall in Belfast. It’s a beautiful old building that smells of beer the moment you walk in. All the greats have played there - including my Dad, Frederick,” the Daily Mail quoted her as saying.

“He used to play drums in several bands. Louis Walsh managed one of them. I remember going to the Empire with friends at 16, and them asking was that my Dad playing the drums? It was the coolest thing,” she said.