Coventry friends hit the telly big time; STAR STRUCK: Cheerleaders light up Sharon Osbourne's new peak time chat show.

Byline: By Kerry Beadling

AN ENERGETIC group of Coventry women took centre stage on Sharon Osbourne's new TV show last night.

The Coventry Phoenix Adult Cheerleaders squad are a bunch of friends, mostly mums, from Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore.

They set up a group to bring their community together while keeping fit and having fun.

But their hobby took on a whole new glamourous twist last night when they appeared on national telly on the much-feted tea-time chat show during its second week on air.

Director of the group, Rosalyn Scanlon, aged 29, was surfing the web when she saw an advert for the show. It asked for anyone with interesting stories and talents to contact the producers.

She did - and was amazed when she and the squad were invited to London on Sunday to record a spot.

They also got the chance to meet celebrities like Lemar and actress Honor Blackman who were also on the show.

Miss Scanlon, of Almond Tree Avenue, Wood End, Coventry, admitted they had all enjoyed their taste of the high life - and said her children Shannon Egan, aged nine, and Conell Egan, aged five, were impressed.

She said: "Lemar was really nice - very sound and very funny and he did a video message on my phone for daughter."

And there was not a trace of celebr mum Sharon's more critical side as a judge for TV talent search X-Factor.

Miss Scanlon said: "Sharon was lovely with us and her dog loved our pom poms.

"We all had the best time having our hair and make up done.

"We wanted to raise our profile to show the kids but also because we have two championships coming up next year so we want as many people to know about us as possible."

The brush with fame has made the women aim even higher.

"I would like us to perform at Coventry City now," said Miss Scanlon.

The club - which also has a thriving junior section - is supported by Coventry New Deal Communities, a government funded, community-led initiative. In April 2000, the Coventry New Deal for Communities area of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore, was awarded pounds 54million.

Earlier this year, the Phoenix Cheerleaders scooped 14 trophies at the UK Cheerleading Association National Championships in Manchester.

Squad member Suzanne Rollason said: "We're proud to represent Coventry NDC and would like to take this opportunity of thanking our sponsors, partners and volunteers for supporting us."

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ALL STARS TOGETHER... The cheerleaders with Lemar and (inset) the programme's host Sharon Osbourne.