A GUINNESS World Record which was set by a secondary school in St Helens was given a mention on the BBC's latest episode of QI.

Aired on Friday evening the panel show, presented by Sandi Toksvig, had Thatto Heath comedian Johnny Vegas as one of its guests in an episode appropriately titled 'Saints & Sinners'.

And during the show, a world record set by De La Salle Catholic High School in Eccleston was mentioned.

During the episode, Sandi asked Johnny: "Did you know that the largest bug hotel in the world is in your former school?"

In June 2019, De La Salle had the idea of attempting to construct a bug hotel as part of our work towards achieving Eco-schools status.

The school beat the previous record for the biggest in the world, which was held at Martin Mere WWT in Lancashire at just less than 19metres 3cm.

The current world record, now held by De La Salle is 81.26metres, with the bug hotel used as the focal point for expanding wildlife area along the Mill Brook which runs through the school site.

St Helens Star:

The bug hotel at De La Salle

Meanwhile, Johnny, always one to champion his hometown to a wider audience, spoke of his pride in St Helens during the show.

"I'm just dead happy we're talking about St Helens on telly," he quipped. 

He spoke warmly about the town and St Helens being "innovators back in the day".

Johnny went on to give a mention to St Helens Theatre Royal and the Citadel, where his career launched.

"That's where I cut my teeth, basically. I went and I heckled and they asked me to come back and compere."

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Johnny said how he would be paid with free drinks to perform and that for his second gig he was offered £30 bit had to "buy his own drinks!"

"I love my hometown, I'm lost for words, it's lovely." 

  • View the episode in full here.