D-day Darlings call for ‘bulldog spirit’ to get through pandemic

Britain’s Got Talent finalists the D-day Darlings have urged the public to look to the wartime generation “who are made with that bulldog spirit” amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The singing group, who competed on the ITV reality show in 2018, have released Sweetheart, an ode to Dame Vera Lynn to mark her 103rd birthday.

The song features on an expanded version of their album I’ll Remember You, which is being released to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Founder and lead singer Katie Ashby said the older generation would be most affected by the virus and subsequent nationwide selfisolation.

She told the PA news agency: “People are going to be losing that physical connection with so many people and we have got to keep them going.

“The older generation, veterans, people who are 70plus – that is the audience that we are most connected to with our music because they, first and foremost, understand all these songs.

“They have been there through the war, they have been there through all the dark times and I think we need to look to that spirit.

“We need to look to those people who are made with that bulldog spirit, and that great British attitude to things.

“We need to be learning from them as well.

“We need to be helping them, protecting them, looking after them and making sure they are safe.

“That is the most important thing for us as the D-day Darlings. It is to keep their spirits up as best we can.”