Shorts weather
Scott, Tina and Ellie debated whether the warmest day of the year so far justified wearing shorts. Scott said he usually changed as soon as the temperature reached around 16C, while listeners reported everything from air conditioning in vans to frozen windscreens elsewhere.
Tina had marked the warmer weather with margaritas on the balcony at 5pm. The discussion reflected the familiar British tendency to treat a modest rise in temperature as a heatwave.
Ellie prepares for Will Smith
The offer for Ellie to open for Will Smith at Scarborough Open Air Theatre continued to dominate the programme. Listeners encouraged her to accept and began suggesting additional material.
Scott reminded her that one rap would not fill a support slot and that she would need to think seriously about Roger the cat, rehearsals and a stage set.
The Easiest Quiz: Jonathan scores 11
Jonathan from Llangoed on Anglesey lived in his dream home with a wildflower meadow, an orchard and five sheep used as “marvellous munchers” to keep the grass down.
His daughter had spent weeks asking him to enter the quiz. He eventually promised to apply if she finished breakfast by 8am, and she immediately ate everything and dictated the email.
Kay’s 32 points were the score to beat. Jonathan answered questions about football teams, umbrellas, sinks, bedrooms, worms, restaurants, paper and Romeo and Juliet.
A phone-line mix-up occurred when Scott asked for something beginning with S and Jonathan heard F, answering “Freddie”. When asked again, he initially gave another F word before eventually reaching “sugar”.
His run ended on the Spice Girls lyric “If you wanna be my…” Jonathan answered “girlfriend” instead of “lover”. Scott played Wannabe afterwards with the amended introduction: “If you wanna be my girlfriend.”
Jonathan finished with 11 points and said he was pleased to reach double figures after being pushed into the quiz by his children.
Jason Manford
Jason Manford joined Scott for a broad conversation about comedy, television and performing live.
He discussed the discipline of stand-up and the constant process of testing and rewriting material in front of an audience.
Scott asked about Jason’s ability to move between comedy, acting, musical theatre and presenting. Jason said the variety kept the work interesting but required different kinds of preparation.
The conversation also covered family life and the way ordinary domestic experiences continually became potential material.
Jason stayed involved with the programme’s lighter stories and reacted to Ellie’s unexpected Will Smith offer.
Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones
Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones joined before beginning a 24-hour roller-skating challenge for Comic Relief.
Neither knew the full sequence of surprises ahead, but both understood they would need to keep skating continuously through the day and night.
Gethin had first put on roller skates only six weeks earlier. He could move and turn but admitted he still could not stop confidently.
Helen compared the anticipation with waiting to give birth: she knew the experience would not be pleasant, but it had to happen.
Scott arranged to speak to them again at 6.30 the following morning, when they would be entering the final hours.
20 March 2025: Vernon Kay
The handover revisited Helen and Gethin’s challenge and Ellie’s proposed support slot. Vernon also advised Scott on the day’s warmer weather and the likelihood that the roller-skaters’ legs would be “in bits”.
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