HOSPICE patients got a surprise visit from reunited boy band Blue as part of their charity bid for the number one Christmas single slot.

Bands who starred in ITV show The Big Reunion last year – including Five and Atomic Kitten – have come together to release a cover of Wizard’s Christmas classic I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day.

The single, which is being released on December 15, will see all profits going to ITV’s Text Santa charity appeal, and a behind-the-scenes documentary, which includes footage shot at Teesside Hospice, is being shown on ITV2 at 9pm this Thursday, December 12.

Patients from Teesside Hospice are also featuring on the video for the single.

Blue fan and patient Amanda Bowcock was visited by the band who dropped in to the hospice in October to help make mince pies and film the video,.

The Hospice has had to keep the visit secret until now, the day before the documentary is screened.

Text Santa is ITV’s annual charity appeal and this year is raising money for six UK based charities, including Help the Hospices, of which Teesside Hospice is a member.

During the hospice visit Blue took part in a cookery class for patients and performed some of their hits before leading a festive sing-a-long.

Later Amanda and her sister Sarah, along with other patients were taken in a limousine to a Blue concert in Newcastle.

Mother-of-two Amanda, 35, was diagnosed with spinal neuroblastoma – a rare condition usually found in children – five years ago – and is undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She said: “The lads were so down to earth and lovely they made me feel so special. They had such an impact on all the patients in Day Care, it lifted our spirits and allowed us to forget about our illnesses and struggles for a couple of hours.