Chappers rings UK airports to persuade them to rename themselves after Jo Whiley, with surprising success at Blackpool International, whose marketing department actually agrees to raise the proposal at a board meeting.
With Scott Mills away, Danny Howard guests on the show and introduces a feature where Chappers attempts to get an airport renamed after Jo Whiley. The premise is simple but absurd: airports are often named after famous people, so why not a radio presenter?
Chappers calls Blackpool International Airport and is initially put through to the marketing department. He explains that Jo Whiley, a radio and TV presenter, has fond memories of Blackpool from holidays after the war and would be thrilled to have the airport named after her. The marketing team is polite but sceptical, pointing out that Jo isn’t particularly associated with Blackpool in the way that John Lennon is with Liverpool. However, they’re charmed enough by Chappers’ pitch that they agree to raise it at their board meeting later that week as top of the agenda.
The bit is so successful that Blackpool International Airport subsequently adds a poll to their website asking the public whether they’d support renaming it “Jo Whiley Airport.” Jo herself is present during the reveal and hilariously points out that she’s never actually been to Blackpool, despite the team’s claims about her nostalgic connection to the town. The feature becomes a genuine small win for the show, with the airport’s marketing department actually following through on their promise.
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