Radio from inside the cycling box
Scott broadcast from the transparent box outside Broadcasting House where Nick Grimshaw was completing twelve hours of continuous cycling for Sport Relief. By the afternoon Grimmy’s back, shoulders and undercarriage hurt, the box had no air conditioning and a succession of guests had already occupied the four supporting bikes.
The show staged cycling contests involving Nicholas McDonald, Lydia Bright, Chris and other guests. Lydia worried about makeup and sweat patches, while Angel Haze had needed help because she had never ridden a bicycle. Pop stars including Gabrielle Aplin, Foxes, Conor Maynard and Richard Rawson joined the effort, alongside members of The Call Centre and Radio 1 and 1Xtra presenters.
One bike controlled the speed of the music. Scott had to pedal consistently to keep a track at its correct tempo; slowing down dragged the recording with him, while speeding up sent it racing ahead. For a presenter who had nightmares about songs failing on air, it turned exercise into a particularly effective form of pressure.
The Posh Radio 4 Lady arrived in a rainbow headband and joined the riders. Charlie Sloth also climbed onto a bike, encouraging listeners who had wanted proof before donating.
Why the money mattered
Throughout the programme, Scott asked listeners to contribute £1 by text. Reports from Sport Relief projects explained that small amounts could provide food, education and urgent support for people in poverty in Britain and abroad.
Grimmy had visited a clinic in a Nairobi slum where money raised through Sport Relief supported mothers and newborn babies. The sound of a baby being delivered safely made the purpose of the spectacle clear: the famous guests, sweating presenters and deliberately embarrassing songs were there to turn a mass audience into practical help.
Alfred’s story turns around
Alfred answered another call. He had finally told the woman in Britain that he wanted to end their relationship because of the woman he had met in Spain. She then revealed that she had also met somebody else.
Rather than being hurt, Alfred was relieved. They agreed to remain friends, removing the obstacle without the confrontation he had feared. He was still speaking to the Spanish woman, learning basic phrases and treating the encounter seriously.
Scott and Chris decided the original question remained unanswered: could somebody met once on a stag weekend really be the one? Alfred agreed to provide updates, now that the British relationship had ended neatly for both people.
Grimmy finally heard Chris’s motivational songs, including “Stop Chafing on My Perineum” and “Red Red Raw”. A cycling-themed Real or No Real confirmed that Mark Cavendish had competed in ballroom dancing and Laura Trott really did vomit after extreme exertion. Kevin McCloud did not ride a penny-farthing around London. Grimmy and Greg scored twenty points, ahead of Scott’s ten, before the cycling continued towards the evening finish.
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