The horse had been found
The show opened with exactly the phone call Scott and Chris needed.
Sarah from Coventry had heard they were looking for a pantomime horse for Billie Eilish’s Big Weekend entrance.
She had one.
There was a slight problem.
The head and body did not properly match.
One section was furry and the other was not.
With only days to go, Scott and Chris considered that a minor detail.
They accepted immediately.
Then came the practical discussion about which presenter would occupy which end.
Scott volunteered for the back after being told it might be the roomier section.
Chris took the front.
They also agreed that certain foods should probably be avoided before two people spent time folded together inside a horse costume.
Alfie Templeman reviewed Alfie Templeman
Alfie Templeman had been in Radio 1’s Live Lounge and was heading to Big Weekend.
The show used its recurring idea of making artists review their own performances immediately afterwards.
Alfie listened back to his cover of Harry Styles’ “As It Was” and critiqued the vocal in real time.
He noticed tiny details and pitch choices which ordinary listeners would probably never have questioned.
Scott enjoyed how quickly musicians became their own harshest critics once forced to listen back in a studio.
One listener had a wedding problem
The show landed on caller Eleanor, who was getting married in Cornwall that Saturday.
She was genuinely excited about the wedding.
She was also slightly devastated that it clashed with Big Weekend.
Scott briefly imagined combining the two and holding the wedding at the festival.
There were two immediate problems.
The wedding was already arranged elsewhere and Eleanor did not have Big Weekend tickets anyway.
She accepted that getting married probably had to win.
Everybody packed for Coventry
The final hours before departure brought the usual argument about clothing.
The weather did not feel remotely summery despite June approaching.
Producer Amy had packed shorts, dresses, trousers and six pairs of underwear.
Chris and Scott debated how many spare pants were reasonable and whether shorts were a reckless choice in 14-degree weather.
Old memories of freezing at previous Big Weekends suggested they should take layers.
The programme ended with bags nearly packed, a borrowed horse secured and Coventry finally close enough to feel real.
COMMENTS