Tina is away
Scott noted Tina’s absence from the studio and adjusted the usual rhythm of the morning accordingly. EastEnders remained a major theme as the soap prepared for its live anniversary episode.
Listeners were still reacting to the previous night’s programme and speculating about what the live edition would reveal.
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro joined Scott to discuss The Alto Knights, in which he played two rival New York crime bosses. Scott focused on the unusual challenge of one actor creating both central performances.
De Niro explained that the characters needed to feel distinct without the film turning the device into a gimmick. Differences in physicality, voice and temperament helped establish them as separate men.
The conversation moved through his long association with gangster films and the way audiences bring memories of earlier roles into every new performance. De Niro resisted treating the film as a summary of his career and concentrated on the work itself.
Scott also asked about the technical process of filming scenes in which De Niro appeared opposite himself. The production required careful planning, stand-ins and a precise understanding of where each performance would sit in the final frame.
The interview retained De Niro’s understated manner. Scott later acknowledged the pressure of speaking to one of cinema’s most famous actors while trying to keep the conversation natural rather than turning it into a list of iconic films.
The Easiest Quiz: Mel scores 13
Mel from Worthing was head of English at a secondary school and believed 15 years of responding to teenagers had prepared her to answer quickly. Five points was the score to beat.
She moved through questions about piglets, playing cards, Robin Hood, Athens, words beginning with T, treasure maps, calculators, puppies, Leonardo DiCaprio films and the EastEnders closing sound.
Mel also correctly answered that a pigeon had two wings and that somebody would call the fire service after a fire. Her run ended when Scott asked who sang Here Comes the Sun and she answered Gloria Estefan.
After the buzzer, Mel remembered The Beatles but then also struggled to name George Harrison when Scott asked her to list the group. She finished with 13 points and became the new Streak of the Week leader.
Mel promised to use the egg cup for boiled eggs with Marmite toast if she won. Scott followed the quiz by playing Gloria Estefan’s Conga.
No Birthday Game segment appears in this edition.
20 February 2025: Vernon Kay
The handover centred on Robert De Niro’s appearance and the anticipation surrounding the live EastEnders episode that evening.
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