The nicknames that stuck
Michelle from Lancashire opened the programme by explaining that friends called her Hyacinth Bouquet after the Keeping Up Appearances character.
Scott asked listeners whether names given to them at school or during childhood still followed them as adults.
Rachel had been called Alf in the 1980s because her enormous crimped fringe resembled the television alien.
Mick’s mother threatened him with the phrase “Spanky Pants” at his eighth birthday party. The name stuck and was eventually shortened to Spanky.
Scott also counted down a survey of common British nicknames, including Tank and other names whose original meaning had often been forgotten.
A homemade Birthday Game
Adam called after the real Birthday Game had been unable to include his friend Matthew.
During a trip to Berlin, Adam created his own version using printed envelopes, number-one singles, artwork, facts and celebrity birthdays.
Matthew rejected the Van der Valk theme and Pink’s So What before landing on Take That and Lulu’s Relight My Fire.
Scott praised the level of detail and arranged a backdated birthday balloon.
The Birthday Game: Lucy
Lucy from Kent wanted pop music from the 2000s and hoped for something connected with her university years.
Her first spin was Ariana Grande’s Positions, number one in 2020. Lucy called Ariana “OK” and rejected it.
The second was Robson and Jerome’s Up on the Roof, number one in 1995.
Lucy remembered the duo but said she would rather forget them.
Her compulsory final song was Robbie Williams’ Candy, number one in 2012.
Lucy had been a Robbie fan and accepted the result.
She wanted the balloon mainly because her sister’s dog enjoyed playing with balloons.
The Music Police
The day’s Music Police case proved unusually difficult.
The fragment drew many different suggestions and no listener provided a convincing answer.
Scott was forced to leave the case cold, an uncommon failure for the force.
Handover
Scott handed over to Sara Cox after promising to revisit the cold case if new evidence emerged.
COMMENTS