Couple aged in their eighties rack up over 1 million views Leave a comment

An elderly couple with a combined age of 170 have become unlikely social media sensations after their daughter began filming them dancing to cheer them up during lockdown.

Joseph, 88, and Sylvia Dolan, 82, who live in Doncaster, Yorkshire, have taken TikTok by storm with footage dancing both romantically and playfully to classic songs. 

Joseph occasionally has to sit down because of a weak heart and Sylvia might not twist the way she used to because of osteoarthritis and breathing problems caused by COPD, but that doesn’t stop the pair throwing some shapes to their favourite songs.

Their daughter Jackie Broadbent, 60, had the idea to get them moving, when she became concerned they were not getting out and seeing people enough because of the pandemic.

In just a couple of weeks, nursing administrator Jackie’s TikTok channel featuring Joseph and Sylvia dancing in their home attracted more than 120,000 followers and amassed more than 1.5million likes.

A video of the couple dancing to Elvis’ song ‘Don’t be cruel’ has been watched more than 8.4 million times. 

Jackie said: 수원셔츠룸 ‘They were getting really low during the first lockdown and they were just vegetating sitting there all day unable to go anywhere and 수원가라오케 barely seeing anyone.

‘I knew I had to do something and they’ve both always loved a dance, so I started playing their favourite songs and got them up moving.

‘It’s been marvellous for them. It has really lifted their spirits and kept them positive.

‘My mum wasn’t talking much, she was just sort of sitting there.

Singing and dancing has just kept them going.

‘When I go down now, they can’t wait to do another little dance.

Mum will say ‘do we have to’ but she’s then straight back up.

‘Dad had filmed a TikTok video with one of his great-granddaughters, Jessica, 13, before all the lockdowns came in and she’d asked me to send one over as she was missing him.

‘That’s where it all started really.’

Retired chef Joseph has always been a showman but wife Sylvia who is a retired tailor for Burtons takes a little more persuasion.

Jackie said: ‘Dad has always been a showman though.

We went on a cruise a few years ago and he basically took over.

‘Every night he was up singing karaoke.

By the end of the holiday everybody knew him. He came from a big family of singers so it’s obviously in his blood.

‘I keep joking with him that it’s taken him until now to get famous.’

Their channel has seen them reach countries all over the world, and not only has it made the couple more positive, it has also cheered their followers up.

Jackie said: 인계동셔츠룸 ‘I read them as many messages as possible, I can barely keep up with them.

Every time I go down and see them, dad says he’ll sing for them live.

‘We’ve had people from all over the world contacting us.

As far away as Australia, Siberia, Hawaii, Mexico. It’s been amazing.

‘We’ve had people telling us how much it’s lifted their moods, given them a reason to go to work that day.

‘Mum and dad have absolutely loved all of the comments they’ve been receiving.

‘The reaction to their videos has been overwhelming.

The fact we’ve made people’s lives just that little bit better over the last few months has been amazing.’