A new afternoon begins
Scott began his first permanent weekday Radio 2 programme just after 2pm and described it as the new sound of afternoons on the station.
He acknowledged that some listeners had followed him from Radio 1, others were hearing him for the first time and many had listened to Radio 2 for years. He said joining a station that formed the soundtrack to so many lives was not something he took lightly.
The programme would run from 2pm until 4pm, followed by an extended three-hour Sara Cox show.
A musical welcome from Liverpool
Toni from Liverpool, a singer with the Toni James Band, opened the show and surprised Scott with a rewritten version of the Backstreet Boys’ Everybody.
The song asked whether Scott was now on Radio 2, whether he was on from two and whether he remained friends with Chris Stark.
Toni lived with her husband Roy and children Etta and Otis. She and keyboard player Neil had created the recording without Scott knowing.
Scott called it the perfect present for his first show.
The first Birthday Game
Michael turned 51 and was celebrating in Blackpool with his friend Graham.
His first choice was McFly’s Star Girl, which he rejected despite once having a picture of Danny Jones on his wall.
He also passed on Five’s Keep On Movin’, leaving him with Jennifer Rush’s The Power of Love.
Michael won two uninflated birthday balloons carrying Scott’s face.
Pingu, Eurovision and Halloween
Scott revisited an appearance on Saturday Kitchen, where he learned that wine expert Olly Smith had once been a head writer on Pingu.
He also told listeners how Sam Ryder had set off an alarm in a Rotterdam venue after steam escaped from a hot shower.
As the show launched on Halloween, listeners shared stories of failed costumes and frightening decorations. Scott recalled performing ABBA karaoke with Rylan while wearing a last-minute wig that looked more like Billy Ray Cyrus than Benny Andersson.
Speedmates: Zoe Ball and Richie Anderson
The first Speedmates tested how well Zoe and Richie knew each other after working together on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
Zoe correctly identified Mufasa as Richie’s school-play role and The Saturdays as his Mastermind specialist subject.
Richie correctly named Ian Waite as Zoe’s Strictly Come Dancing partner and Aretha Franklin’s Respect as the first song she played on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
The score finished level, so they were asked to estimate the distance between Broadcasting House and Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
Zoe guessed 76 miles and Richie guessed 90. The correct answer was 126 miles, making Richie the winner and earning him the right to choose the following morning’s 7.33 theme.
Sara Cox takes over
Scott completed his first show by handing over to Sara Cox at her new 4pm start time.
Listeners praised the music and the two new games, while Scott promised to return the following afternoon.
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