“Starting work before 10am is torture”
Scott opened the show with fresh research declaring early starts “torture for the mind and body”, immediately declaring the entire breakfast team finished. Instead, the show pivoted hard into BPE – Big Positive Energy, with texts flooding in from early risers, gym-goers and the proudly awake. The message was clear: ignore the science, power through Tuesday.
Hanson, Madonna and Faithful energy
“Hanson – Mmmbop” got its usual reverent mention (Fern Cotton’s favourite, as everyone knows), followed by a steady stream of listeners proudly justifying their early starts. Gym at six, walks before work, BCH (Big Crazy Hair) and general smugness from people who “finish earlier”.
Madonna’s “Hung Up” underlined the mood, while Scott quietly admitted he went to the gym yesterday afternoon and found it rammed with January part-timers.
Ellie’s off, Robot Ellie isn’t welcome
Ellie being off sick led to a brief but unsettling appearance from “Robot Ellie”, which Scott shut down quickly. The future, he decided, is not AI travel presenters. Enter Bobby Pryor, immediately welcomed back and instantly accused of having “the Sneaky Pete walk”.
This spiralled into Bobby being compared to the lead from Sneaky Pete, discussions of walking styles, Italian vibes, and Scott being made paranoid about how he moves across the studio.
Tonsils: the great 70s and 80s craze
Ellie’s inflamed tonsils sparked one of the morning’s longest tangents: the era when everyone had their tonsils out. Scott remembered playground flexing (“Look, ahhh”), Lucozade recovery, unlimited ice cream promises and pure envy if you hadn’t had them removed.
Listeners piled in:
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Tonsils and adenoids removed
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Being sent home with ice cream
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Surgeons boasting about “the biggest pair ever”
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One listener taking theirs home in a pickle jar
Science was briefly introduced: turns out tonsils do something useful. The nostalgia remained undefeated.
Richie Anderson’s “Abrupt Spice”
Celebrity Mastermind fallout dominated the next stretch. Richie Anderson, self-confessed Spice Girls superfan, panicked under pressure and answered “Abrupt Spice” when asked Scary Spice’s nickname.
Scott replayed the clip, lovingly dissected the moment, and confirmed Richie still did well overall. Richie then sent a voice note declaring himself “mortified”, explaining he owns everything Mel B has ever released, and promising a full explanation later with Trevor Nelson. Privacy requested. Mockery continued.
The Easiest Quiz goes nuclear
Nicola from Somerset came armed. Language-learning app streaks. Training sessions. A friend firing questions twice a day. Serious preparation.
What followed was chaos in the best way:
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Confusion over pauses
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A deliberately “crackly” phone line
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Commitment-tested wave noises
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Flirting with the quiz
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Sprung medal chaos
Final score: 28 points.
Streak of the Week. Absolute scenes. Nicola could barely contain herself. Training paid off.
Robbie Williams: Teddy, sensitivity and “don’t read the comments”
More from Scott’s chat with Robbie Williams aired, focusing on Robbie as a dad. Robbie spoke openly about daughter Teddy’s ambition, sensitivity, late-night worries, and the realities of creativity, privilege and protection. The advice he kept coming back to: don’t read the comments — while fully admitting he does exactly that himself.
It was warm, honest and very Radio 2.
Pause for Thought
Krish Kandiah delivered a reflective Pause for Thought, weaving together grief, nature, falconry and film, drawing on H is for Hawk and Hamnet. Birds, hope, feathers, and Emily Dickinson closed the moment gently before the show revved back up again.
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