A GRANDMOTHER aged 93 has become an internet sensation — after a video of her rapping online went viral.

Amazingly, Lillian Thomas has been seen 2.3 million times online after her teenage grandson recorded her with Dubsmash – an app that allows users to film a compilation of themselves lip-syncing to popular songs.

But when 18-year-old Jon Cornfield told his Nan about the film’s success, a few things were lost in translation. 

Jon, of Hunger Hill, who shot the impromptu movie last weekend, said: “When I told her it had gone viral she said: ‘what? I’ve got a virus?’ 

“I was watching Dubsmash videos on Facebook when my nan had a look and asked me how they were doing it. I asked whether she wanted to be in one and she said ‘yes’. I put it on my Facebook and it got 38,000 views, then the Lad Bible Facebook page posted it.”

Within two days the video had been watched 2,268,135 times. At the time of going to press, it had 64,320 likes, 18,156 shares and had attracted 20,560 comments.

But Mrs Thomas, whose husband Brynley died 15 years ago, is not looking to be the next Lauryn Hill or Missy Elliott.

She said: “I had a phone call from Britain’s Got Talent the other day, but I don’t think I will be going on it!

“It is amazing, it was just a laugh between the family but it has gone mad. I don’t understand why people do it.

“I love all kinds of music, and used to go dancing. I hear a lot of music through the children in the family.”

“It’s crazy,” said grandson Jon, an animal care student. “People in Spain, China, Canada; from all over have been watching it.”

As the oldest of six children, Lillian worked in factories when she was younger while helping raise her five siblings.

Herself a mother-of-six, Jon described his Nan as ‘an older person with the mind of young person’.
“She has gone through the decades and developed quite a broad taste in music. She likes her 60s music mainly,” he added.

“She’s always had lots of energy. She loves being outside.

“Lots of people wind down when they get to a certain age, but there’s no sign of my Nan stopping anytime soon.”