HAVING TWO well-known TV stars opening your local flower show certainly brings in the crowds — they were queuing up when comedian and game show host Les Dennis and his actress wife Amanda Holden did the honours at Shebbear on Saturday.

It was a real coup for the little village. Paparazzi photographers were in abundance as they tried to get the best snap of the stars who are never far from the front pages of the tabloids.

The celebrities agreed to come and open the show because Amanda's mother, Judy Collister, lives in the village and works in the local post office.

Secretary of the flower show committee Geraldine Slade said the only thing that would have stopped the couple coming was if they were filming.

'If they have no commitments this time next year Les has promised to visit the show again which is brilliant,' she said.

'It was really exciting for everybody and I have never seen so many people at Shebbear for the flower show — when the doors opened they were queuing up.'

The couple threw themselves into the job and did a bit of a double act in the style of game show Family Fortunes, which Les hosts. They also judged entries and presented prizes.

Mrs Slade said they stayed for most of the afternoon: 'They were absolutely marvellous and really down to earth — they just fitted in.'

Amanda won praise for her comedy role in The Grimleys and is currently starring in the second series of Hearts and Bones on BBC1.