Laura’s Diary had become one of the biggest features on Scott Mills’ Radio 1 show by the end of 2006, and its success was now attracting attention well beyond Radio 1.
The Sun featured Laura Sayers in its 27 December edition, looking back at how her teenage diaries had gone from something hidden away in her old bedroom to being read out to millions of Radio 1 listeners.
Laura explained that it all started when her younger sister Mary discovered the diaries and decided to read an extract on Scott’s show. What began as a joke quickly became a regular feature after listeners wanted to hear more.
The diaries followed Laura from the age of 14, documenting school, nights out, crushes and increasingly complicated relationships as she got older. Laura admitted that hearing some of the more personal entries broadcast nationally became increasingly embarrassing.
“Looking back they’re so cringy, but then they were deadly serious,” she told the newspaper.
The popularity of the feature led to the release of Laura’s Diary as a book and also inspired One Night With Laura, Scott Mills’ nationwide attempt to find the then-single producer a boyfriend.
Scott, Mary, Laura’s dad Stephen and friends travelled around the country auditioning potential dates before listeners chose Gareth from the final five. Laura and Gareth were sent to Disneyland Paris together, although Laura later said there was no romantic spark between them.
There was, however, another twist. Laura subsequently started a relationship with James, who had finished fourth in the competition.
By the time of The Sun’s interview, Laura revealed that the pair had moved in together and described her love life as considerably more settled.
She also confirmed she was still keeping a diary, although after everything that had happened on Radio 1, she joked that she intended to keep the new ones rather better hidden.
The newspaper feature was another sign of just how large Laura’s Diary had become during the Scott Mills era, growing from an accidental on-air discovery into a recurring Radio 1 feature, a book and one of the show’s most elaborate listener-led dating experiments.
This article refers to an interview originally published by The Sun on 27 December 2006.
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