From the moment she sat down, she was fizzing with stories, positivity and her trademark cheeky humour.
“Teachers don’t want trinkets – they want wine and vouchers.” – Listener text
“That was a long time ago… I don’t do that anymore!” – Rita Ora on sending her sister to do interviews
“If Gaga re-released my single, she’d take it to number one.” – Stefan Dennis
Bake Off banter and fire alarm chaos
Scott opened with plenty of laughs about The Great British Bake Off. Contestant Ian confessed he “hates decorating cakes” – a bizarre admission on Bake Off – and was right to be worried when Paul Hollywood slated his gritty buttercream. Scott’s playful retelling set the tone, followed by the lively story of 70 Radley College boarders being woken by a fire alarm practice in their dressing gowns. Listener texts poured in, poking fun at both Ian’s cake catastrophe and the school’s abrupt wake-up call.
Tina Daheley on WhatsApp overload
Newsreader Tina revealed the sheer admin of being a class rep at her daughter’s school. Scott teased her for juggling multiple WhatsApp groups – one for reps, one for the class, one for the year – all while collecting money for endless presents. Listeners quickly joined in with solidarity, sharing their own stories of WhatsApp exhaustion and the never-ending debates about teacher gifts. The consensus? Teachers just want wine and vouchers.
Listeners’ lives and loyal Faithfuls
Faithfuls were out in force, from Blackpool College apprentices to a coach driver in Windsor and a listener converted to Radio 2 after their van aerial broke. There were also breakfast debates (waffles vs muffins) and personal milestones, like a grandad celebrating overnight and one listener baking 80 pizza muffins for tea.
Ed Sheeran and milestone anxiety
A big musical highlight came with Ed Sheeran’s I Don’t Need a Camera, which sparked a more reflective moment. Scott introduced the concept of “milestone anxiety” – the fear of missing life’s key markers. He quoted Matt Haig and even the Bible, suggesting that achievements can come at any age, and that no one is ever truly “late” in life. Tina admitted she’d turned down being a class rep to avoid the stress, which only fuelled the relatability of the segment.
Strictly fun with Stefan Dennis
Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis joined from his Strictly training with partner Dianne Buswell. Full of Aussie humour, he laughed about having “two left feet” but admitted he was enjoying himself. Scott pressed him about his 1989 single Don’t It Make You Feel Good – a cult favourite among listeners – and even played a mocked-up remix imagining Lady Gaga covering it. Stefan loved the idea, joking that if Gaga re-released it, she’d take it to number one. The chat was warm, self-deprecating and a perfect blend of soap nostalgia and Strictly buzz.
Rita Ora live in the studio
The big 8:30 guest was Rita Ora, who brought huge star energy to the studio. From the moment she sat down, she was fizzing with stories, positivity and her trademark cheeky humour. Scott admitted he’d been hyped all week for her appearance, and she didn’t disappoint.
Rita chatted about life on the road, including her time touring with Kylie Minogue, and spoke warmly about her marriage to filmmaker Taika Waititi. She described him as her biggest supporter and revealed he gives brutally honest feedback on her music. “He tells me if something’s rubbish. I need that,” she laughed.
The singer also confessed to a very old trick: sending her sister Elena to double up on interviews when her schedule was overwhelming. “That was a long time ago – I don’t do that anymore!” she admitted, grinning. Scott howled: “Imagine thinking you’re interviewing Rita Ora and it’s actually her sister!”
On the subject of fortune-telling, Rita revealed she’s a believer, saying she often carries tarot cards on tour. “I don’t make big decisions without checking in – it keeps me grounded,” she said, adding a mystical touch to her pop-star persona.
She introduced her brand-new single All Natural, which she described as her most personal track yet: “It’s stripped back, honest, and just me. No glitter, no gimmicks.” Listeners instantly loved it, texting in praise for its breezy feel and sensual sound. Scott wrapped it up perfectly: “You’re one of those guests who just lights up the studio.”
Empty nest updates and uni mishaps
The emotional heart of the show came from Stephen, the dad who’d gone viral the week before for his heartfelt message about dropping daughter Tilly at university. He called back to say she was thriving in Leeds, though not missing home as much as he hoped. The topic opened the floodgates for listener texts about the clueless but endearing messages they’d had from kids at uni: everything from “Mum, how do I put my duvet cover on?” to “Can I open the dryer once it’s going?”
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