Dear Scott
The Posh Radio 4 Lady read messages sent to the programme about the first week back after Christmas.
Scott and Beccy responded to questions, corrections and comments about recurring features. The correspondence also prompted more discussion of the programme’s podcasts and the way listeners followed episodes outside the UK.
Excuses for ending phone calls
Scott said he often claimed that somebody was at the door when he wanted to end a conversation.
He had recently called a friend after not speaking to her for around 18 months. She answered by saying she was busy with her baby, even though Scott had not known she had one and initially wondered whether the baby was an excuse.
Thirteen people were then asked what they would say to end an unwanted call. One claimed she had to put her cat down. Another said there had been a death in the family. One person suggested saying they had lost their phone despite still being on it.
Several chose the toilet. One person said she would turn on taps to make the excuse sound convincing, while another demonstrated a fake bad signal by repeatedly saying she could not hear the caller.
The toilet was the most common answer, giving Beccy the point.
Pippa and “Phil McAvity”
Scott returned to Pippa, a Radio 1 colleague described as extremely helpful and therefore easy to fool.
Producer Stewie told her that Sara Cox was expecting a new dental expert named Phil McAvity, but that he had gone missing while buying a sandwich. Pippa immediately left the office and searched nearby shops.
She asked staff and customers whether they were Phil McAvity and stayed on the phone while Stewie redirected her between locations. The prank lasted one minute and 35 seconds before it was stopped.
Chappers had predicted she would continue for about a minute and won the point.
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