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Mum says son dancing with Madness in Lincoln is 'still surreal'

BBC Published Jun 29, 2026 Reviewed Jul 1, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Mum says son dancing with Madness in Lincoln is 'still surreal'
Henry was invited on stage to dance with his heroes at the Lincoln Castle concert on 19 June.
Madness are on a UK tour as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.
50 years · anniversary
Madness will perform at Lincoln Castle in 2026.
A video of Henry dancing with Madness has been seen by more than three million people.
more than 3000000 people · viewers
Madness are scheduled to perform at Lincoln Castle again in 2026.
2026 year · performance year
Rebecca said her son Henry danced on stage with Suggs in front of 6,000 people.
6000 people · audience Rebecca, Henry's mother
Rebecca said a photographer returned after about 20 minutes to ask if Henry would like to meet the band.
about 20 minutes · photographer's return Rebecca, Henry's mother
Rebecca said Henry danced on stage in front of 6,000 people during the song 'Night Boat to Cairo'.
6000 people · audience Rebecca, Henry's mother

The mother of a six-year-old boy whose dancing on stage with Madness went viral says it still feels "very surreal".

Henry, from Gainsborough, was invited on stage to dance with his heroes at the Lincoln Castle concert on 19 June.

Since then, a video posted on social media has been seen by more than three million people.

Rebecca said: "It does still feel very surreal that he was on stage with Suggs in front of 6,000 people. Henry doesn't realise how big of a thing it is because he's only six."

Henry was spotted by a Lincoln Castle photographer before the concert.

After taking Henry's photo, the photographer went off to talk to "some important people," Rebecca said, speaking on BBC Breakfast on Sunday.

"After about 20 minutes he came back and asked if Henry would like to meet the band."

Henry learnt some dance moves from his grandfather and through watching other people on Vespa and Lambretta scooter rallies where they play ska, reggae and 2 Tone, said Rebecca.

Henry, who said Baggy Trousers was his favourite song, said: "I was nervous to start with but daddy and grandad made me feel confident.

"Grandad took me backstage to meet the band."

Rebecca previously said she "couldn't have been more proud" when she saw Henry go up on stage.

"Lee Thompson, the saxophone player, brought Henry on stage and he stood next to Suggs and as they were doing Night Boat to Cairo he was dancing along on stage in front of 6,000 people."

The London band, who had a string of top 10 hits in the 1980s, is on a UK tour as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North.

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