Cheerleaders are TV advert stars (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Cheerleaders are TV advert stars

1:00pm Wednesday 27th June 2012 in Local By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter

A BASINGSTOKE cheerleading group are the stars of a new television advert.

The senior and adult squad of the Basingstoke Wolverines were cast in the Plusnet commercial, after facing stiff competition from other squads.

Squads from all over the UK went through the casting process, but the Wolverines secured a place in the final two, going head to head with a professional, London-based cheerleading company.

The group of 18 had to drop everything to film a last-minute video for the casting agency, and find a venue for filming in Basingstoke with just two days’ notice.

The team, led by head coach Sabrina Steele, managed to hire Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College in Wessex Close, where they showed off their cheerleading skills to the agency.

It was a nervous few days as the squad waited to hear if they had secured the deal, but there was good news when they finally received the call to say they had.

The squad, all aged 17 and over, then spent a day rehearsing in Pimlico, London, before travelling to Ilkley in West Yorkshire to film the broadband advert.

Debbie Steel, chair of Basingstoke Wolverines, was also commissioned to make the outfits for the cheerleaders through her company Pink Fudge.

She said: “We knew we had the skills and the camaraderie. The girls were phenomenal.”

Each of the 18 members of the team were paid £425 for taking part in the advert, which is now being broadcast on most channels, including ITV.

Mrs Steel said: “The team are great at what they do and are so committed. They really deserved this.”