Katie Thistleton to join Going Home

Tights on heads and internet behaviour Wednesday kicked off with Scott very much aware that the internet had been busy the day before — especially after a video of him with tights on his head surfaced overnight. Ellie was clear it was “terrifying” as a first-thing-in-the-morning watch, while Scott insisted it was simply “a new trend” involving putting tights over your head and trying to blow out a candle. Tina immediately wanted answers about why there were tights in Scott’s house at all, only for Scott to calmly explain, “I’ve just done panto. I’ve got a lot of tights.” Listener Kate summed up the collective reaction perfectly, saying Scott and Sam had her “absolutely howling,” though Scott conceded it’s “a lot to watch” before you’ve fully woken up. The Traitors, showers, and playing a blinder With The Traitors entering its final week, Scott found himself unable to let something go — not the secret traitors, not the untouched breakfast buffets, but the relentless overuse of one phrase. “She’s playing a blinder,” “absolute blinder,” “playing a blinding game” — Scott counted it happening “roughly five or six times an episode.” Ellie immediately clocked that now it’s been mentioned, it’s impossible to unhear, much like last series’ obsession with “I voted for myself.” Texts flooded in agreeing, with listeners also flagging “I’ve got heat on me” and “100% faithful” as phrases pushing people over the edge. Scott even threatened to write to Points of View, not about the language alone but also the constant shower shots, declaring them “gratuitous” and insisting, “It’s a classy show. Let’s keep it that way.” Naturally, the team couldn’t resist remixing the phrase into a full-blown Traitors-style montage. “Honestly, blinder,” became the catchphrase of the morning — again. Tina’s radio highlight and the hole in the wall Scott revealed his radio highlight of the previous day was Tina on Jeremy Vine’s show, specifically a live cross to a literal hole in a wall in Ilkeston that’s become a tourist attraction. Tina described children diving through it on their way to school, before reporter Matt was instructed to do exactly that — promptly disappearing mid-cross. “Matt’s just dived through the famous Nat West hole… and we have yet to hear from him again,” became an instant classic, with Scott admitting he’d rewound it several times on BBC Sounds just to relive the chaos. Sound baths and the Good Morning Minute Inspired by listener Leslie, 51, heading to her first sound bath of the year, Scott floated the idea of a breakfast show team bonding session that involved not talking. Ellie immediately questioned whether that defeated the point of a team activity, but Scott was keen, especially after Charlotte Church’s previous enthusiasm for sound baths. Listeners confirmed it can work as a group activity, which only encouraged him further. The Good Morning Minute delivered the usual mix of school runs, scrapyards, holidays, slow cookers and sunbathing in Goa — with Scott threatening to fetch a “tiny violin” for anyone texting in from a beach. Pause for Thought and a very practical gift Steve Chalk arrived for Pause for Thought with an unexpected present: a portable Blu-ray/DVD player, solving Scott’s long-running problem of owning many DVDs but nothing to play them on. Steve explained it was partly inspired by Scott mentioning he’d never seen Love Actually, prompting Scott to declare him “one of my favourite Pause for Thoughts.” Steve’s reflection focused on the loss of his friend Pete Meadows, exploring grief, hope and the idea that “though death might end a life, it doesn’t need to end a relationship.” Scott thanked him for something both “lovely” and “positive,” before happily noting he could now finally watch his DVDs. The Easiest Quiz: porridge-gate Ellen from Scarborough took on the Easiest Quiz with confidence, casually mentioning she once shared a hot tub with James Morrison in Melbourne — strictly no photos. She powered through the questions, complete with enthusiastic animal noises, but controversy erupted when she answered that you put milk on porridge. The quiz room descended into chaos, with Scott arguing that if it says “porridge” on the packet, then adding milk absolutely counts. Despite falling just short, Ellen racked up an impressive 41 points, prompting Scott to admit his heart rate had been higher than hers by the end. The porridge debate rumbled on via texts for the rest of the hour. Tony Blackburn: pure radio joy Just after 8, Scott finally got his dream moment as Tony Blackburn joined him in the studio, record box in hand. Tony took over with half an hour of soul classics, including Four Tops, James Ingram and Michael McDonald, while casually announcing he invented the radio time check back in 1964. Scott, understandably, was beside himself with joy. Listeners texted in groan-worthy jokes, Tony reminisced, and Scott admitted he was “DJ-ing for his life.” It was one of those mornings where you could hear the grin through the speakers The handover “We’ve had to move studios twice today — it’s like the hokey-cokey in here,” laughed Scott, before handing over with a cheerful goodbye that felt very much earned after a show that had, in Scott’s own words, been “playing a blinder.” The post 21 January 2026: Playing a blinder, tights on heads and Tony Blackburn joy first appeared on Unofficial Mills.View the full article

Phil Williams in for OJ this evening.

Here's a show that turns 20 years old tomorrow. They are like time capsules listening back to them.

OJ Borg is in for Sara Cox that week as well.

Lauren Layfield sits in for Katie Thiselton on Going Home Joining Emil Franchi on Monday 2nd February  It will be good to hear these two presenting together again!   Connor Coates sits in for Charlie Hedges on Saturday 14th February

“We Haven’t Been Taken Off Yet” Scott opened Tuesday by calmly pointing out the obvious milestone, welcoming everyone to the show’s first birthday and noting, with relief, that “we haven’t been taken off, which is good — it’s a start.” Listener messages poured in immediately, with Scott admitting he’d happily take “98% positive” and leave the rest behind. There was something quietly affectionate about the way he talked about the year, acknowledging how fast it had gone and how strange it felt that the very first caller, Claire from Chester, rang back in exactly a year later to mark both of them still being there. Scott clearly loved that symmetry, thanking her for “checking back in” and gently insisting they should “stop mentioning it’s our birthday,” before immediately mentioning it again. The Jumpsuit (A Bold Choice) Early on, Scott flagged that he was “a bit nervous” about what he was wearing, admitting it was a “bold choice” for someone “quite conservative with clothing.” What followed was a full studio reveal: a light blue corduroy jumpsuit, inspired directly by Stephen from The Traitors and purchased with “one click, next day delivery.” Ellie and Tina did not let him off lightly. Ellie described it as “giving children’s TV presenter,” while Tina confirmed, diplomatically, that it was “a little CBeebies.” Scott took it surprisingly well, saying it was “a happy outfit,” confessing it was “that level of comfort where you put your pyjamas on on Christmas Day,” and announcing he no longer cared if people thought he was “on the wrong side of 40” to be wearing it. Listener reaction split instantly. Some loved it. Others suggested “Mr Tumble.” One asked if he’d consider completing the look by putting his shoes on the wrong feet again. Scott accepted all of it, promising a photo “as soon as possible,” while repeatedly getting distracted and not posting it. Off-Air Truths (Caught on Mic) The jumpsuit saga escalated when Scott revealed he’d secretly recorded what the team were saying about it off air. What followed was brutal. Comparisons to Benson Boone, “midlife crisis” accusations, and multiple people admitting they’d rehearsed what to say to him on air so as not to upset him. Scott took the reveal with good humour, mock-spiralling into talk of Harley Davidsons and secretaries, before announcing he did, in fact, have “a change of clothes” ready if things got too much. The jumpsuit had already done its job. Pause for Thought That Stopped the Show Miriam Lorie delivered a Pause for Thought borrowed from Joseph, a man she met while working as a hospital chaplain. His words about gratitude, faith, and holding “no hate in your heart for anyone” landed heavily, especially as Miriam explained this wasn’t about cancer changing priorities, but about “the resources and life philosophy people bring into treatment.” Scott responded simply, calling Joseph “a very wise man” and joking gently that Miriam had found herself a mentor. It was one of those moments that didn’t need anything added. The Easiest Quiz: Pedantry Returns Mark, a PE coach from Eastbourne, took on the quiz and did well — very well — until the quiz did what it always does. A pause too long here, “milk” instead of “brown” there, and suddenly the mood shifted. Scott fought for him, appealed to his work with children, issued a metaphorical yellow card, and blamed “too much spider content” in the questions. Mark finished on 25, the current streak of the week, while Scott admitted “the quiz is on to me again,” and briefly lost control of his own format. Nigella, But Make It Sensible Scott addressed the Bake Off news head-on, confirming Nigella Lawson as the new Prue and explicitly refusing to do “what all the other breakfast shows will be doing,” namely impressions and innuendo. He immediately undermined himself by inviting listeners to send Nigella impressions instead, before regretting it almost instantly when they arrived. One soggy bottom reference was enough. Scott shut it down. “Do You Remember 30 Years Ago…” By the time the clock hit eight, the emotional spine of the show was fully in place. Scott replayed Gary Barlow’s original Take That announcement, calling it “a day that shook pop music,” reminding everyone there’d been a helpline, and confirming, with no hesitation, that “yes, we’re reopening it.” When Gary, Mark and Howard walked in, the atmosphere shifted completely. Scott greeted them like old friends, wished Mark a happy birthday, and watched them sing to him live on air, complete with a suspiciously BBC-safe caterpillar cake. Take That for an Hour (And Not a Minute Less) When Gary, Mark and Howard arrived just after eight, the mood in the studio shifted instantly. Scott introduced them with obvious excitement, calling it “one of the most successful and loved boy bands in pop history,” before immediately clocking that it was also Mark’s birthday. The band forgot. Scott didn’t. What followed was a slightly chaotic, very affectionate live rendition of Happy Birthday, described as “one of the few songs Gary Barlow didn’t write,” complete with harmonies and laughter, setting the tone for the hour. Before any deep chat, Scott presented Mark with a BBC-safe caterpillar cake, carefully avoiding naming which one it was “because it’s the BBC.” Mark revealed his mum used to work in the bakery that made them, casually dropping that she’d been involved in producing the originals, including a Batman cake that once had to be recalled for turning mouths blue. It was one of those wonderfully unnecessary detours that felt completely on brand for both the band and the show. Tour prep came next, and it quickly became clear this is still a competitive environment. Gary talked about cardio and stage fitness, Mark admitted he was “slowly getting into it,” and Howard revealed he’d been doing Pilates twice a week. Scott delighted in the fact that nobody officially announces when prep starts, explaining that “nobody actually really tells anybody — it’s still a competition.” Mark then escalated things by admitting he’d bought a unicycle to practise a specific tour moment, calmly noting he’d already been on it, even though he’d eventually be doing it in front of 70,000 people a night. The conversation naturally moved to the new documentary, which Scott said he’d already watched and thought was “fantastic.” Gary explained it grew out of conversations around the This Is Us tour, after Netflix approached them and then disappeared for over a year. Scott was particularly taken by the early footage of the band travelling up and down the country in a van, playing schools with a ghetto blaster, laughing at how “Spinal Tap” it all felt — including clips of them standing awkwardly while someone tried to press play on the wrong button. Throughout the hour, the chat never felt rushed. Scott reminded them he’d once introduced them himself at a roadshow in Bristol, they swapped memories of chaotic early gigs, and the whole thing unfolded like a reunion rather than an interview. With the helpline reopened, the anniversary still hovering in the background, and the documentary landing that day, it felt less like a booking and more like a moment — three old friends on the sofa, letting it all breathe. The post 27 January 2026: The Birthday Show, the Jumpsuit, and Take That for an Hour first appeared on Unofficial Mills.View the full article

It seems to be these days that each show team inc production has been told to have 2 weeks off around Christmas and most have gone for before Christmas 1 of which has to be limbo week for weekday presenters 

As it's been a year since the major daytime schedule changes on 2, I thought I'd start a new review topic for everyone's thoughts on Scott, Trevor and Spoony now that their shows are well bedded in.  For me: Scott - you could tell from his afternoon show that he was missing someone to bounce off and in specifically Ellie but definitely also Tina he's got that. He sounds tonnes better on breakfast and has really come into his own on 2. Plus he's developed a strong format with the quiz and elder vs millennial standing out.  Trevor - It's a more music heavy and less personality based show (though he injects it brilliantly where he needs to) but it really suits him and his features are very strong. He's got good banter with Richie and Bobbie and I think people are enjoying the variety of music on that show as well.  Spoony - Fits in to late nights absolutely seamlessly, his format is full of very good quality entertaining features and Spoony's really getting his personality across loads. 

“January Drags On, But We’ve Got a Whole Week” Scott opened Monday with a promise and a plea, admitting that January was still “dragging on,” but insisting the week ahead would fly by thanks to “amazing music and loads of fun and great guests.” He immediately asked for gossip, calling out to the “faithful” and setting up what was coming after eight: “a long overdue catch-up with my mate and your long-time morning companion Zoe Ball.” He also flagged the danger zone early, warning listeners that at 8.30 “your melons will be twisted” by Shaun Ryder and Bez, adding, with caution, that he did have the emergency beep button ready “at any time.” Shoes on the Wrong Feet (It Will Not Go Away) Before 7am, Scott accepted reality: the Radio 2 family photo had officially become a thing. He admitted that “all of my messages on social media at the weekend from you guys are about my shoes,” confirming that, yes, they were on the wrong feet and, worse, “clearly visible right at the front of the picture.” The situation escalated when he sent listeners to Josh Widdicombe’s Instagram, pointing out that Josh had travelled from Devon to be in the photo only to be “ball-blocked,” with “just the head of Michael Ball and Josh’s glasses” visible. Scott called it “Where’s Wally level” cruel. Admin Night: Wine, Panic and Passwords A casual chat about procrastination quickly turned into a fully-formed lifestyle proposal. Scott admitted he’d been doing “the daily double — done nothing” for three weeks, while Ellie described herself as “a deadline woman” who waits for “that panic feeling” before becoming efficient. Tina, unsurprisingly, revealed she has “lists upon lists upon lists.” Scott’s solution was immediate: a communal admin night. Everyone brings wine, wears comfies, and finally does all the life admin they’ve been avoiding. Subscriptions, passwords, inboxes, camera rolls, passport renewals — everything. He pitched it as “something you don’t want to do but becomes almost enjoyable,” before Ellie pointed out that it mainly sounded like “coming to your house to do your admin.” Scott did not deny this. Wrong Shoes Support Group Nadine from Bideford rang in with a story designed to make Scott feel better, describing her husband discovering mid-meal in a posh restaurant that he was wearing two completely different shoes. Scott listened carefully before admitting the fatal detail: “At least he didn’t have them on the wrong feet.” The segment turned into a confessional, with Scott revealing he’d once gone to the gym wearing “two completely different trainers, one black, one white,” prompting Nadine to suggest pairing shoes before putting them away, like a toddler. The Easiest Quiz: Monday Cruelty The first Easiest Quiz of the week reset the streak, which Scott described as “great news for everyone” after the previous run of 41. Aaron from Burton-on-Trent played for an egg cup for his new flat and got off to a shaky start with a very slow “rocket.” Things fell apart on “how do you get rid of knots in your hair,” where Aaron said “untie them.” Scott fought for him, Ellie tried to reason it out, but the quiz — still haunted by Olive Oil Gate — refused mercy. Aaron went out on five, becoming “technically streak of the week,” which Scott described as “something.” Robbie Breaks the Record Amid the chaos, Scott dropped genuinely huge chart news: Robbie Williams’ Britpop had gone straight in at number one, giving him 16 UK number-one albums — more than The Beatles. Scott called it “massive” and “huge,” noting how long Robbie had wanted this and how “absolutely over the moon” he was on socials. Take That Tomorrow (Finally Allowed to Say It) Scott then revealed what he’d been sitting on: the new Take That documentary landing, which he’d already watched in full and described as “everything,” packed with footage he’d never seen before. He explained that the boys mostly narrate rather than appear on screen, which he said made it “even better.” Then the real reveal: “Tomorrow on this show, Gary, Mark and Howard will be here. A full hour. Eight till nine.” He admitted he’d been “keeping this a secret for a while” and immediately played Never Forget, calling it “perfect for my Monday morning.” Zoe Ball Back Where She Belongs Just after eight, Zoe Ball walked into the studio and immediately acknowledged the weirdness, saying it felt like they were “sat in the wrong seats.” Scott welcomed her with visible relief, and Zoe reassured everyone she was not there to reclaim the breakfast show, despite everyone’s panic. They talked shoes (obviously), winter wake-ups, the luxury of not doing breakfast radio anymore, and Zoe’s joy at doing the school run, which she described as her favourite part of the day. She spoke warmly about gardening, batch cooking, and having time she never had before, while Scott admitted he loves her podcast with Jo Whiley and learning things he “absolutely did not expect.” It was relaxed, affectionate, and exactly what it needed to be. The post 26 January 2026: Admin Wine Night and Zoe Ball Returns first appeared on Unofficial Mills.View the full article

Shaun is also in for Liza Tarbuck tonight, 7th and 14th February. Josh Widdicombe sits in next week.

A huge pop emergency at 6.30 Friday began with Scott binning the usual warm-up completely. “We begin the show differently this morning because this is a huge, huge pop emergency,” he announced, before revealing that brand new Harry Styles music had landed at midnight. Scott was fizzing as he explained that not only was the single out, but Harry had also “casually announced a world tour last night as well.” Before 7am, Radio 2 became the place where the new era officially began, with Aperture getting its first breakfast show spin. Scott promised a proper catch-up with Harry too, reminding everyone, “this is the place that the biggest stars in the world talk to first.” Harry Styles, sweat, shorts and staying human When Harry joined Scott just after the track, the mood was instantly warm and familiar. Scott apologised for their last encounter, admitting, “I had just been to the gym… and I think I said something really rubbish like, ‘I hope things are going well.’” Harry reassured him it was “a totally normal and nice thing to say,” before Scott fondly recalling, “You had very small shorts on, if I remember.” Their chat drifted into how Harry values normality — being spotted in bookshops, at marathons, or just out for a coffee. Harry explained how important it was to stay in the world, saying it’s hard to write about “the human experience” if you’re not living one. Scott reflected on how different things are now compared to the early days when Harry barely left hotel rooms, clearly delighted at how grounded he still is. Aperture, openness and Treat People With Kindness Talking about Aperture, Harry revealed it was the last song written for the album and became a kind of mission statement. He described it as being about “opening and kind of allowing for more things,” including accepting mistakes and transitions rather than denying them. Scott leaned in, listening closely, before teeing up Treat People With Kindness and reminding Harry how loved he is on this show. Later, Scott and Ellie both admitted the song already felt like summer, with Ellie saying it made her think of “summer festivals, being with your mates,” while Scott thanked Harry once again for mentioning the shorts. Shoes on the wrong feet Back in breakfast show business, Scott addressed the Radio 2 presenter AGM photo doing the rounds on Instagram. He’d been tipped off that something wasn’t quite right. Sitting proudly at the front next to Ellie, surrounded by Radio 2 legends… Scott had his shoes on the wrong feet. “I thought that you and me had a pact,” he said, reminding Ellie of the breakfast show code about stains, hair, or lipstick on teeth. “Why not do him the favour and tell him he’s got his shoes on the wrong feet?” After initially doubting it, photo analysis confirmed it: “They are 100% on the wrong feet.” Scott suggested either exhaustion or someone sneaking in overnight and “changing my legs over without me noticing.” Pause for Thought and small first steps Carl Mawson returned for Pause for Thought, gently opening by checking Scott’s footwear. Carl shared a story about his great-niece Poppy learning to flip over, connecting it to the idea of starting small. Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., he reminded listeners that “faith is taking the first step,” even if you can’t see the whole staircase. Scott thanked him warmly, noting how much last week’s Pause had resonated. The Easiest Quiz and a brutal banana skin Friday’s Easiest Quiz brought family listening pride and heartbreak. John from Battersea was playing along with his whole household and full of Friday feeling, but the quiz lived up to its reputation. After sailing through, he stumbled on the classic trap: “What colour’s honey?” His answer of “gold” wasn’t enough. Scott pleaded his case but VAR ruled him out. Even so, John signed off with a heartfelt thank you, telling Scott, “Life is always a bit better when you’re on the radio,” prompting Scott to raise a virtual glass to the next 20 years. Big Guest Friday: Peter Andre (five paragraphs) Peter Andre arrived with instant Big Guest Friday energy, greeting Scott like no time had passed. Scott reminisced about Radio 1 days and a more recent run-in at Trecco Bay Holiday Park, recalling how a relative had nearly “wet herself with excitement” at seeing Peter. Peter laughed it off, saying how much he loves meeting people and how nice it is to reconnect after all these years. The conversation quickly turned reflective as Scott dropped the bombshell: it’s 30 years since Mysterious Girl. Peter admitted the era was “a blur” but remembered it fondly, joking about the sheer amount of baby oil involved and how “life’s too short for abs” now. When asked if those days were over, Peter agreed, saying you’ve got to let things “hibernate” and enjoy life instead of chasing perfection. Scott revealed Peter has re-recorded his back catalogue to mark the anniversary, prompting a playful “Alright, Taylor Swift” from Scott. Peter explained he wanted to own his masters but also reconnect with the original songwriters, many of whom now feature on the recordings. He named Brian McKnight, Kenny Thomas and others, describing the project as full-circle and celebratory rather than nostalgic. A major moment followed as Scott premiered Peter’s brand new track Rock You Right. Hearing it on the radio for the first time clearly meant something, with Peter saying he wrote it as a nod to the music he grew up loving. He spoke about the legendary musicians involved, including Mo Pleasure from Earth, Wind & Fire, and how the sound reflects his love of 70s and 80s funk and soul. As the chat wrapped, the tone stayed warm and affectionate. Peter praised Scott’s Harry Styles interview, Scott praised Peter’s energy, and both seemed genuinely delighted to be sharing the morning. It felt like one of those Big Guest Fridays where history, new music and easy chemistry all lined up. Big Guest Friday: Michelle Visage (five paragraphs) Michelle Visage swept into the studio with the confidence of someone who knows exactly what early mornings feel like. Scott immediately hailed her as a radio legend, reminding listeners she spent 17 years doing breakfast radio in the US. Michelle laughed, explaining she stayed on after RuPaul left, joking, “He got smart. He didn’t have to get up.” Fresh from hearing Peter Andre’s new track, Michelle described it as “very vibey,” praising its disco-funk feel. Scott filled her in on the Harry Styles chat she’d missed, promising she’d love the new song and describing it as electro-poppy with a “Robin feel.” Michelle was instantly intrigued, agreeing Harry “has something” and joking that he might just make it in the business. The conversation turned personal when Scott asked Michelle to confirm a long-standing rumour — that she’d won a Madonna lookalike competition at 16. “Confirm,” she said instantly, before explaining how Madonna, and before her Belinda Carlisle and The Go-Go’s, gave her permission to be herself. She spoke about not fitting in and seeing strength in women who broke the mould. Michelle described Madonna as someone who smashed glass ceilings and crossed every line, though she admitted she has no desire to meet her. The honesty landed well, with Scott listening intently as Michelle spoke about influence, admiration and keeping idols exactly where you need them. By the time the chat moved on, Michelle felt fully woven into the morning — funny, reflective and completely at ease. It was classic Big Guest Friday energy: big stories, no rush, and room to breathe. The post 23 January 2026: Harry Styles pop emergency and wrong shoes first appeared on Unofficial Mills.View the full article

W/C 16 Feb Shaun Keaveny in for Jo Whiley Angellica Bell in for DJ Spoony

“If I’m the First Voice You’re Hearing Today, Hi” Scott opened Tuesday gently, welcoming anyone drifting in after Owain, setting up a packed morning and casually dropping in that “depending on what generation you are, you will know today’s guest,” before listing almost every possible Michaela Strachan reference point in one breath. He also noted, slightly surprised, that radio DJs “don’t get letters anymore,” before immediately contradicting himself by announcing “hundreds — not in the post, but virtually by email,” ready for the mailbag later. The Owl Thing (No One Knows Why) The show quickly latched onto what became the uncontested theme of the morning: owl impressions. Scott admitted he didn’t understand where it had come from, saying it was “either the Beckhams or owls” on social media, but that didn’t stop him going all in. Voice notes poured in from everywhere, with Scott inviting “owls all over the land — Manchester, Cardiff, Belfast, Norwich, Edinburgh, Aberdeen,” and opening the door to celebrity owls too. Tina and Ellie were swiftly dragged in. Tina delivered a composed “twit-two,” while Ellie went rogue with “ee-bye-hoo.” Scott was delighted and faintly alarmed, noting he’d “never seen so many voice notes come in this early in the morning,” before declaring the UK “a nation of owls” and accepting that “we just need a bit of a laugh, don’t we?” Wedgie-Gate and Newsreader Trauma Somehow, the word “wedgie” became a talking point, after Scott revealed he hadn’t expected to hear it said repeatedly in a news bulletin. He admitted, incredulous, that he’d never said it “on the radio. Full stop,” before imagining the internal struggle of having to read it aloud on air. Tina confirmed she’d never said it either, and Scott gleefully replayed the moment, admitting he could hear the panic in the delivery. It was one of those moments that existed purely to make Scott laugh — and therefore stayed alive far longer than necessary. Pause for Thought That Properly Landed The mood shifted with Pause for Thought from Krish Kandiah, who spoke about mornings shared with his son reading How to Train Your Dragon, and how a Shared Lives placement had quietly changed their family dynamic. Scott listened closely, later reflecting that it wasn’t too late — “here we are on the 20th of January, nearly February” — to finally start reading properly himself. The chat rolled naturally into Tina’s goal of reading 52 books in a year, which Scott described as “an impressive amount of books,” before admitting he hoped they were “all short ones.” Michaela Strachan: Five Paragraphs, No Notes Michaela Strachan joined just after eight, with Scott admitting he felt like he already knew her because he’d been watching her for years. Michaela returned the love, saying she listens to Radio 2 “all the time when I’m in my car,” instantly establishing mutual fandom. They talked Winterwatch returning that night, Michaela explaining the aim was to help people “feel relaxed, feel comfortable, really embrace the outdoors,” while learning about British wildlife. Broadcasting from Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland, she revealed they’d adjusted their start time to avoid clashing with The Traitors, joking that “you don’t want to mess with that.” Michaela ran through the wildlife lineup — badgers, pine martens, red squirrels, otters — calling it “an absolute mammal fest,” while Scott helpfully clarified she meant mammals, not “middle-aged men in Lycra.” The pair also teased a Traitors-inspired feature called “nature’s traitors,” with Michaela proudly explaining her assigned angler fish, complete with prop, because “regulars of the Watches love our props.” She gamely reacted to the owl impressions too, praising a Cilla Black owl as “inspired,” before Scott promised to play her the new Bruno Mars track and ominously hinted they’d be revisiting “something from the past” after. Take That Trauma, Reopened Later, Scott unveiled the trailer for the new Take That documentary, admitting he’d already watched it and found it “incredible,” packed with unseen footage and drama. He described watching it with his son, who wasn’t around for the original era but was now fully obsessed, wanting to “watch another one” immediately. Scott reminded listeners of the emotional impact of the original split, vividly recalling the press conference and the now-legendary Take That helpline, which he confirmed “was real and is featured in the show.” He asked, gently but pointedly, whether anyone listening had actually called it at the time, fully aware of what he was about to unleash. The post 20 January 2026: A Nation of Owls, Wedgie News and Michaela Strachan first appeared on Unofficial Mills.View the full article

Here's one I put up a few years back. This show will be 25 years old this coming Thursday (22nd January 2026). Frightening, it sounds like just a few years ago listening back.

Blue Monday? Absolutely not. Scott opened the week in full rejection mode, immediately binning the idea of Blue Monday and asking for voice notes instead of texts. “I’d much rather hear your voice than just a text,” he said, inviting weekend gossip straight into WhatsApp. He also flagged what the whole morning would orbit around: Dolly Parton’s 80th birthday, promising that his half-hour chat with Dolly would be replayed later because “it just feels right”. By the time Republica and Beyoncé had done their thing, the tone was set. A listener celebrating their first ever 5K was congratulated, another proudly announced there was “no Blue Monday here”, and Scott made it official: “Yeah, we’re not having that.” Ellie’s back, AI nearly takes over, and the medical vape returns Ellie Brennan returned to the studio after being floored by illness, sounding better but admitting she was still tired. Scott revealed that during her absence they’d used “AI Ellie more than we normally would”, before reassuring her that while it can laugh and say “I’m from the north”, she still has “at least a couple of years” before it takes her job. This spiralled into talk of tonsils, how everyone had them out “in the 80s”, and Ellie revealing hers were “great balls of fire” last week. Tina then brought up Ellie’s steam voice machine, described lovingly as her “medical vape”, prompting Scott to say he once walked in and thought “we had a new pope”. Tina added it was like “Stars in Their Eyes DIY”, with Ellie insisting “a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do”. The slippers, the jeans, and fashion regret The conversation drifted — as it always does — into footwear. Ellie admitted she wore her fur-lined shoes into work, which Scott insisted were slippers, regardless of protests. They were described as something you could “put the bins out in”, possibly with socks, definitely with granddad energy. After admitting everyone in the office had been staring at her feet because they’d heard the show, Ellie announced the slippers had now been “banished from public life”. They are now strictly house-only. Fashion chat escalated further with the return of skinny jeans, carrot jeans, barrel jeans, and — worst of all — the ballet pump. Ellie recalled needing spare socks when visiting people because “your feet would smell so bad”, with Scott agreeing January was absolutely not ballet pump season. Singing names, listener messages and zero tolerance for misery After Sabrina Carpenter, listeners messaged in about slippers having USB-C chargers, ballet pumps making toes curl, and accusations that Ellie suspiciously took time off when snooker was on. Scott shut that down immediately. Whitney Houston led into a moment where Ellie suggested singing your name to “I’m Every Woman”, which worked perfectly for “I’m Ellie Brennan” and “Aunt Tina Dehealy” but absolutely did not work for Scott, who declared, “It’s my song, guys.” Scott then formally declared the show the happiest place on the radio and asked for clips that always make people laugh. Blue Monday was “a load of rubbish” and they were “banishing the blues” regardless. Old clips, Tony, and AI Ellie meltdown Listener requests poured in, including the infamous Tony from the quiz — “What was your name again?” — which Scott replayed with delight. Another favourite emerged quickly: the mocked-up AI Ellie clip, particularly Tina’s reaction. Scott reintroduced it by reminding everyone they joke AI will take their jobs, before replaying Tina completely losing it and Scott pleading, “Tina, it’s not that funny, my job’s at stake here.” Scott noted he could still see Tina on the newsroom camera laughing afterwards. Good Morning Minute only, thank you very much Scott then demanded a “really good” Good Morning Minute. No complaints allowed. What followed was exactly that: tax returns completed, new schools started, braces coming off, brownies baked, swimming lessons, retirement plans, coffee, dogs, grandchildren, and wedding dress shopping. Scott noted the sky was already getting lighter and said, “brighter days are coming”. Pause for Thought: Mum, eyes, and quiet tears Rabbi Miriam Laurie joined for Pause for Thought, sharing a story about her optometrist mum, childhood mischief during eye tests, and how her mother had just retired after nearly 40 years. Miriam spoke about eyesight, listening, and care, saying her mum helped patients far beyond the appointment time. Scott quietly reacted throughout, ending with, “I love that you didn’t tell your mum about this,” before admitting his own recent eye test had blurred into endless “one or two… similar… three or four”. The post 19 January 2025: AI Ellie panic, slippers banned and Blue Monday rejected first appeared on Unofficial Mills.View the full article