Music legend Limahl meets his edible double

Limahl with his mum Cynthia (left) and cake creator Jules Smith

So impressed was the Wigan-born former Kajagoogoo star with the cake after its designer sent him pictures that he travelled all the way to Chester to see it for real.

But he declined the shop owner’s offer of it as a gift a) because he has to be careful about what he eats these days and b) so it could be raffled off for a good cause.

The Pemberton-born 61-year-old - best known for chart hits Neverending Story and Too Shy - lives in Hertfordshire these days but had been spending a week at his mum Cynthia Hamill’s home in Up Holland when he spied the online message from Jules Smith of CAKE.

She’s a die-hard Kajagoogoo fan and has recreated several pop heroes for display in her shop and was inspired to make one of the Wigan singer - real name Chris Hamill - after hearing his new single Still In Love.

Limahl and his 82-year-old mum therefore darted down to Cheshire for the unveiling.

He said: “It was spectacularly good. She had the outfit I wore for our second single Ooh to be Ah right down to the last detail including my stripy grey trousers.

“Jules very kindly offered it to me but I would not know what to do with something that size. Also, despite being slim, I’ve been told by my doctor that I’m pre-diabetic so I’ve got to be careful about my diet. I doubt it would have survived the 200-mile trip south either.

“Jules had offered to make a replica to raise money for the Countess of Chester Hospital but I said I would save her the trouble by regretfully and respectfully declining it. She’s a real talent. I was blown away by the cake!”

Limahl rose to fame with Kajagoogoo in the ’80s but his career continues a pace, not least through his first new single in eight years which has reached number one in the new Heritage Artists Top 30 Chart which was launched this week at United Artists DJs Radio and hosted by Neil Fox. It beat other stars including Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones, Paul Weller and Travis to the top spot. The singer was also delighted to hear Sir Cliff Richard giving Still in Love a glowing endorsement on the Mike Read Radio Show. The song can be heard at

https://ffm.to/stillinlove.

He will also be appearing in the new series of Channel Five’s Jane Macdonald And Friends performing Neverending Story, which was attended by Cynthia and sister-in-law Sue.