Scott Mills came in still buzzing from the Celebrity Traitors final, and it was the morning everyone needed to debrief.
“Alan played an absolute blinder.”
“I cried. I cried. I cried.”
“Barcelona – such a beautiful horizon.”
🎭 Celebrity Traitors Takes Over Breakfast
Scott Mills came in still buzzing from the Celebrity Traitors final, and it was the morning everyone needed to debrief. Listeners were sending in voice notes of the sounds they made when the winner was revealed – everything from “Yes!” to long, guttural “Noooos!” Tina Daheley admitted she’d become completely hooked, saying “I really wanted Alan to win.” She was emotional, analytical, and hilarious all at once.
Scott joked that Tina had become “the Mark Chapman of Traitors punditry” as she expertly unpacked the final. She marvelled at Alan Carr’s deception, saying “He murdered in plain sight twice – no one had a clue!” Scott, meanwhile, confessed he’d double-booked himself for the theatre and missed watching it live, only to be sat behind “a famous TV doctor with a massive quiff blocking my view.”
By the 7am news bulletin, it was official: Alan Carr was the winner. Tina was ecstatic, calling it “absolute cinema.” The newsroom confirmed that Alan had scooped £87,500 for charity, describing himself as “awful at lying and a terrible poker player.” The team all agreed that, somehow, that made his win even better.
Listeners flooded the text lines. George in London summed up the mood: “Scott, simply, Traitors is our new national sport.” Scott nodded, saying, “You’re not wrong.” And Tina? She now has a Traitors notebook on her desk. Scott joked, “If the BBC’s looking for contestants next series, everyone would be quaking if Tina walked in.”
The highlight of the early hours was the reunion of Becky and John — the married couple torn apart by one question: did Becky secretly watch Traitors without him? When Scott demanded she reveal all, Becky took a deep breath and declared, “Right. I am, and I always have been… a traitor!” John’s gasp was priceless. Scott screamed. Tina shouted, “I believed Becky!” It was the perfect radio moment.
💄 Jayde Adams Joins Big Guest Friday
Jayde Adams burst into the studio like a human glitter cannon, ready for mischief. Scott introduced her with a grin: “We go way back, and I adore her.” The pair reminisced about their early BBC days and their Eurovision Calling podcast, which ran long before Eurovision became cool again. Jayde laughed, “It was nearly ten years ago – can you believe it?”
Jayde was there to promote her theatre debut in Treasure Island: A New Musical Adventure at the Bristol Old Vic, proudly clarifying, “It’s not panto… but it’s still got songs.” Scott teased her about sounding “sniffy” about pantomime, and she laughed, “I know! I’ve been told off for saying that. Panto’s great!” She shared how emotional it felt to finally perform on the same stage she walked past as a kid with her mum.
The conversation turned chaotic in the best way when Scott asked about her latest online shopping spree. Jayde read out her list: “A cat cone shaped like a loaf of bread, Kathy Burke’s new book, and five litres of shower gel.” Scott howled with laughter, calling her “the woman who singlehandedly keeps Amazon in business.”
Jayde talked warmly about her hometown, Bristol, describing how much it means to return for this show. “We’re rehearsing just a few streets from where I grew up,” she said. “It’s the story of Treasure Island, but it’s about Bristol too. There’s something magic about that.” She admitted she’s been learning the glockenspiel for her role — “Kids, I’m playing the clock at the Old Vic!”
The nostalgia deepened when Scott reminded Jayde of her early cabaret days performing as Adele. Jayde launched into an impression on the spot, lowering her voice to sing “trifle, crumble and Arctic roll” to the tune of Skyfall. Scott was in bits. “The UK’s number one Adele tribute act – not any longer!” he laughed.
🎸 Sam Ryder’s Heavenly Morning
Then came the glow of pure positivity that is Sam Ryder. Scott greeted him with genuine warmth: “I feel like we’ve shared some of your absolute highlights together.” Sam had played the gig of his life the night before — headlining Wembley Arena — and was still riding the high. “It was everything I ever dreamed of,” he said. “The best night of my life.”
Sam revealed that the singer from his first-ever gig, Sum 41, had sent him a good luck video before he went on stage, leaving him in tears. The full-circle moment hit home when he looked up at the seats and remembered being a fan there years ago. Scott told him, “You’re glowing with happiness,” and Sam laughed, “It’s because I got 15 seconds of sleep.”
They also talked about a touching reunion — Sam’s childhood guitar teacher came out on stage to perform with him after 22 years. “That’s the guy who put a guitar in my hand,” Sam said. “My mum told him not to teach me left-handed because left-handed guitars cost more. So I learned right-handed!” It was heartfelt and funny, the perfect Sam Ryder combo.
Sam then dropped massive news: he’s set to star as Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the London Palladium next June. Scott shouted, “I always said it — voice of God, face of Jesus!” The texts immediately lit up with fans promising to buy tickets.
To cap it off, Scott replayed Sam’s orchestral version of Spaceman from Vernon Kay’s Piano Room, describing it as “what Eurovision would’ve sounded like if we’d won.” Sam said, “Everyone has their own story with that song. It feels like magic.”
📚 Stephen Mangan and Barry Saves Christmas
Actor and author Stephen Mangan joined the fun next, bringing a calm, witty presence to the chaos. Scott introduced him as “one of the nicest men in showbiz,” and Stephen immediately got a round of applause. He was there to talk about his new children’s book, Barry Saves Christmas, about a St. Bernard who spots eyes peering out of a postbox and ends up saving the festive season.
Stephen explained that Barry is named after J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. He described how real St. Bernards used to rescue people in the Alps — “The older dogs trained the younger ones,” he said. “They’d sit with people who’d lost their way until help came.” Scott loved it: “That’s adorable!”
The book, illustrated by Stephen’s sister Anita, is the eighth they’ve done together. “She’s a year younger than me and far more talented,” he laughed. “We have the same sense of humour, so when I write a gag, she knows exactly what to draw.” Jayde and Sam were visibly charmed.
They went on to discuss Portrait Artist of the Year, which Stephen hosts. Scott admitted he can’t draw but loves watching it. Stephen agreed, calling it “magic watching people turn a blank canvas into a face.” He revealed that his first role in Treasure Island was playing Long John Silver at age 11 — “I tied my leg up with rope!” Jayde shouted, “That’s method acting!”
The conversation ended with a chaotic discussion about dogs and asthma. Jayde admitted, “I love dogs, but I’m allergic,” while Stephen insisted she could “still read about dogs safely.” It was dry, warm, and gently funny — peak Mangan.
🎶 The “Barcelona” Moment of the Morning
Scott then delivered one of his best live moments of the year. Jayde and Sam teamed up to perform “Barcelona” — the Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé duet — right there in the Radio 2 studio. It started as a joke, but quickly turned into something special.
Jayde channelled full opera diva energy, complete with power vibrato, while Sam’s voice soared on the Freddie lines. The room erupted into laughter and applause. Scott shouted, “That was epic! What a song. What an hour.”
The chemistry between all three guests was electric. Stephen sat back, clapping, saying, “I wouldn’t have missed that for the world.” Ellie Brennan and Tina Daheley were in stitches. It was unfiltered, joyful, and pure Radio 2 chaos.
Scott closed Big Guest Friday thanking each guest in turn — “Jayde Adams making her theatre debut in Bristol, Sam Ryder taking on Jesus at the Palladium, and Stephen Mangan saving Christmas one dog at a time.” It was the perfect wrap-up to a huge morning.
Then came the handover to Vernon Kay, who rolled in teasing Scott for “ruining Traitors for everyone.” They joked about spoilers, old car stereos, and who had the worst first car. Scott signed off laughing, “Have a great weekend. Cinema, absolute cinema.”
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