Roger chooses Ellie
The show opened with the conclusion to the week’s most important housing drama. Ellie had found a temporary flat that came with an indoor cat called Roger, but had learned that another prospective tenant was also being considered.
On Valentine’s Day, she revealed the result: “Roger chose me.” Scott, Tina and Owain Wyn Evans celebrated as though a romantic competition had been resolved, while also recognising the more practical outcome that Ellie finally had somewhere to live.
Ellie expected to move in at the beginning of March and planned another meeting with Roger that afternoon. The team then offered cat-care advice, including treats, fish sticks and different versions of the “psh, psh, psh” noise used to summon a cat.
The Easiest Quiz: Trace beats her sister
Trace from Nailsworth in Gloucestershire played after her sister Nicky had scored 11 the previous day. Nicky had already told Scott that Trace once answered “banana” when asked to name a vegetable, and also revealed that Trace downloaded the programme for dog walks but skipped the music to hear only the talking.
Trace answered questions about days in a week, Ant and Dec, cutlery, pizza, passports, New York, Downing Street, Welsh speakers, the number after 60, toast toppings, Take That, Spanish greetings, octagons, phone apps, Romeo and Juliet and spelling “cat”.
She was eliminated after answering “Scrooge” to “Who wrote A Christmas Carol?” Scott corrected her with Charles Dickens, while acknowledging that Scrooge was at least in the book.
Trace finished with 16 points, defeating Nicky and becoming Streak of the Week. She joked that she might give her sister the egg cup for Christmas. Her dog Willow then reacted loudly when Scott prepared to play Paul Simon’s You Can Call Me Al, forcing him to choose a different record.
Michael Ball
Michael Ball joined as the programme’s “King of Love” because of his role presenting Love Songs on Radio 2. The conversation began with Steve Wright, whose programme Michael had inherited.
Michael described taking over as “big shoes to fill” because listeners had built Sunday routines around Steve’s voice. He said the dedications and stories sent to the programme remained what made it special.
Scott then played a message from Anne in Kent, who had named Michael as her enduring 1990s crush. They called her live, allowing Michael to wish her a happy Valentine’s Day.
Anne told Michael she had seen him in Hairspray, Aspects of Love, concerts with Alfie Boe and at a history festival where he had signed a book for her. Michael invited her to attend the forthcoming arena tour.
The segment became a “call from Ball”, giving Anne the Valentine’s surprise Scott had promised. Michael also discussed spreading the love-song theme across the weekends before and after Valentine’s Day for people who had remembered late.
The cast of Bridget Jones
The cast of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy joined Scott for the Valentine’s Big Guest Friday. The film returned to Bridget’s life after the death of Mark Darcy and followed her attempts to raise her children, re-enter work and consider romance again.
Renée Zellweger discussed returning to a character who had accompanied her through much of her career. She spoke about Bridget’s continuing appeal as someone who remained imperfect, hopeful and recognisably human.
The conversation considered the emotional balance of the new film. It needed to honour Mark and acknowledge grief without losing the comedy and romantic optimism associated with the series.
Scott also asked about the cast’s long relationship with the audience and the unusual experience of making a fourth film whose viewers had aged alongside its central character.
The guests discussed the mixture of familiar faces and new relationships, while avoiding details that would spoil the story. Listener messages from people who had already attended previews described laughing and crying through the film.
The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years began in 2001, the year the first Bridget Jones film was released. Geri Halliwell’s It’s Raining Men opened the sequence.
Scott then moved through 2002 with “Hold On Me” by Phixx, 2004 with The Rasmus and later years including Madonna and Alex Gaudino’s Destination Calabria. Listeners reacted particularly strongly to Phixx, with several saying they still knew every word.
14 February 2025: Vernon Kay
Vernon joined Scott during the Wonder Years and sampled one of the fragrances available in the studio, applying it with his fingers because it came in a splash bottle rather than a spray.
They discussed the week ahead, which would include Jade, Stephen Graham, Robert De Niro, another mystery guest and Rylan live from the EastEnders set for the soap’s 40th anniversary.
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