“Just five extra minutes… just five though.”
“Imagine working with two people who have been banned — criminals.”
“Will you pass Elvis a drink, sir?”

❄️ A Freezing Thursday & Scott’s “Five More Minutes” Rule

Scott began the show under freezing UK temperatures, telling anyone still in bed to take “just five extra minutes… just five though” . Snow reports started early, with listeners from Cornwall, West Oxfordshire and Carmarthenshire calling in. He reminded everyone of the rule: if you see even a single flake, you must go “full Eddie Brennan” and announce “It’s snowing!”

Ellie entered the studio shivering and asked Scott if she could “put another bar on” the heater, prompting talk of thermostat battles at home and who’s in charge of the temperature. This led to Scott admitting he’d been told by his dad to bleed the radiators — something listeners later guided him through in detail, explaining the rad key, the cloth and the hissing noise.

The team also revisited their adventures on pre-loved selling apps. Ellie told the story of accidentally listing a £7 T-shirt for £1,750 after forgetting the decimal point, while Tina continued to relive her “Tina Delivery” nickname. Scott branded them both “criminals” in jest, amazed that two members of his team were technically “banned.”

Listeners were encouraged to revive an old Radio 2 tradition — not sacks of letters, but virtual email “mailbags” to [email protected]. Tina read out the first of these from a listener named “F,” whose husband secretly resold her Christmas gift on the pre-loved app. The team had strong feelings, with suggestions including anonymously buying it back, re-gifting it to him, or framing the listing for Christmas Day.

📮 Vintage Mishaps, Radiators & Selling Gone Wrong

The chemistry between Tina and Ellie ran throughout the morning. Their vintage selling exploits continued to spiral when Ellie explained her accidental four-figure listing, while Tina admitted to having previously been accused of doing deliveries “in the transit.” Scott encouraged them both, particularly loving the listener text that called Tina “long-distance Clara” from Pigeon Street.

A huge portion of the show became dedicated to the science of bleeding radiators after Scott asked for help. Tina said she’d already spoken to her dad about hers. Scott learned about rad keys, dripping water, and the importance of a cloth. Ellie delivered travel updates in worsening snow conditions, breaking down the state of the A939, A90, A57 Snake Pass and more.

When Scott launched into the EastEnders-style flash-forward sketch and introduced “Robot Ellie”, Tina completely fell apart on air, unable to stop laughing as the robot described charging its batteries by asking a stranger for help on a bus. By the time Scott said, “Tina, Tina, it’s not that funny. My job’s at stake here,” she was already crying with laughter, and when he told her she could leave the studio, she gasped, “I need to go somewhere… I need to pass out,” before dissolving again into uncontrollable giggles. Moments later, Scott added, “We’ve broken Tina; I’ve never heard her like that, have you?” — and honestly, she was gone.

Listen back to the moment here.

🍷 Janes flies in for Beaujolais Day

Jane joined from a flight heading into Wales, having travelled from Newcastle and being collected in Bristol before going straight to Swansea for Beaujolais Day. She explained that her best friend Sian, originally from Swansea, had gathered a whole group for the celebrations, and Jane was excited to join them.

Her main concern was that she had failed to fake tan. After reading her WhatsApp messages far too late, she realised she was the only one arriving “pale,” and feared Swansea bars might have an unofficial policy against it. Scott sympathised, asking whether venues would really refuse entry for being “too pale” on Beaujolais Day.

Scott suggested an emergency fake-tan sprint in the bathroom at the airport or the bar. He then reminded Jane of Claudia Winkleman’s famous gravy-granule tan and proposed it as a desperate option. She seemed to genuinely consider it, planning to grab whatever she could from a supermarket on arrival.

Jane shared the glamour, the outfits and the wildness of the Swansea tradition, which Scott recognised immediately, recalling “I was actually in Swansea this time last year — I saw some sights.”

He sent her off with the rhyme “drinking wine, feeling fine”, giving her his full blessing for the day of festivities ahead.

🎙️ Jimmy Tarbuck — Elvis, Tom Jones & A Lifetime of Legends

Jimmy Tarbuck joined Scott with warmth, humour and a library of stories from six decades in showbusiness. Scott was visibly thrilled to meet him, calling him a “legend,” and Jimmy told him he’d once felt the same arriving at the London Palladium for the first time.

He remembered his break on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. After a shaky rehearsal, he was reassured by the director. That night, he was given six and a half minutes but performed for nine, ignoring frantic off-stage signals telling him to wrap up. When he reached the dressing room, friends insisted he go back out because the applause hadn’t stopped. He returned for an encore — all live on TV.

Jimmy spoke about meeting his heroes, including Max Miller, Tommy Cooper, and Bob Monkhouse. On Tommy Cooper, he recalled the iconic moment on a Royal Variety show when Cooper knelt on a cushion, looked up at the Royal Box and said, “Just in case.”

Scott then asked about Tom Jones, and Jimmy confirmed Tom had taken him to Vegas, where he met Elvis Presley. He described standing backstage when someone said, “Will you pass Elvis a drink, sir?” Elvis thanked him personally, asked where Liverpool was, and wondered whether people would come to see him in the UK. Jimmy told him Wembley Stadium would sell out five times over.

The following night, Elvis entered Tom’s dressing room, spotted Jimmy and said, “Hello, Jimmy, how are you?” — a detail Jimmy repeated with pride.

Jimmy also spoke about his daughter, Lisa, from Radio 2, saying she had done everything “on her own steam” and that listeners often recognise him as “Lisa’s dad.”

Scott ended the interview visibly delighted, and Jimmy thanked the British public for “everything you’ve given me.”

🥄 Sandwich Spread, Crispy Pancakes & The Fate of Emilio

Emilio from The Scott Mills Show

Emilio — Scott’s Millennial counterpoint on Elder vs Millennial — tasted sandwich spread for the first time. Scott had sent Sam out the night before to find it in a “big shop,” and Emilio was given a classic 1980s white-bread sandwich.

His reaction was immediate: tangy, creamy, salad-like and filled with “bits.” He asked what the bits actually were, and no one had an answer. Tina described it as “plaggy,” and Scott admitted this was a lunchbox staple for kids growing up in the 80s alongside chicken or fish paste.

Listeners warned that sandwich spread often “returns an hour later,” and Ellie joked it sounded like the cause of Scott’s coughing fit. Scott promised Emilio that crispy pancakes — another 80s classic — were coming next.

🎿 Ellie’s Travel, Thundersnow & A Pembrokeshire Dangler

Ellie’s travel bulletins were dominated by severe weather. Roads closed across Scotland, Derbyshire and Northumberland. Lorries jackknifed on the A1 near Alnwick, Snake Pass shut entirely, and visibility dropped on high ground.

Scott introduced the term “thundersnow,” describing heavy snow falling like rain, and referenced the “Pembrokeshire Dangler” causing showers in Wales. He was amazed to learn that people were skiing in the Highlands.

Listeners texted photos of dogs refusing to walk, households battling frozen windscreens, and chickens being defrosted before school drop-off.

🎤 The Easiest Quiz — Darren vs. The Banana Split

Darren, a canicross runner from Colchester, attempted the Easiest Quiz. He started strongly, firing off answers. But Scott distracted himself mid-quiz by craving a banana split after Darren mentioned it as an ingredient.

This distraction cost Darren timing precision. On the final question, he paused before answering “jump up and down,” and the quiz adjudicators ruled the gap too long. Darren insisted he’d said it, and Scott insisted he’d distracted him. The quizzes concluded it was Scott’s fault, and offered Darren the consolation prize: shouting “Blame Scott!” during the 8am song.

Darren returned at 8am and delivered a wonderful, loud “Blame Scott!” on cue.