“Are you feeling festive? Today we are switching on Christmas on the Scott Mills Breakfast Show.”

“See, everyone mocks people that have laminators, but that’s when they really come into their own.”

“Hang your tinsel, roast your chestnuts… without sounding like a low-cost Mariah Carey, it’s time.”

🎙️ The Build-Up to the Big Switch-On

Scott arrived buzzing for the national Christmas switch-on, setting the tone early as he declared, “Today we switch on Christmas for real.” He rallied listeners for festive messages, urging everyone to text or voice note ahead of the 8am switch — “I need your messages this morning… today we are switching on Christmas.”

Listener stories poured in: Christmas mugs, pyjamas, advent calendars opened at 6am, and a surprising number of households already boasting two or more trees. Ellie and Tina joined Scott in the studio, fully embracing the chaos.

Ellie kicked things off by admitting, “I had a whole chocolate orange yesterday,” while Tina described spending Sunday at Lapland UK, calling it “the most magical experience.” Ellie had even written “Merry Christmas” into the sand on Portobello Beach to “spread festive joy early.”

Meanwhile, a giant festive map—complete with laminated Scott heads—was mounted in the studio. Ellie unveiled the enormous printed Scott face wearing a Santa hat, prompting him to sigh: “It’s a picture of my big orange face… but they are beautiful.”

🚴 Jeremy Vine: Man on the Ground

In one of the highlights of the morning, Scott crossed live to Jeremy Vine, cycling (and regretting cycling) down Oxford Street.

“I set off from home and it was not raining… and now it is raining. I feel like I made a bit of a sacrifice to you here,” he reported, absolutely sodden.

He continued shouting festive greetings at baffled commuters:
“Hang on a second… Everyone start doing it soon!”

Scott thanked him for being his “eyes on the ground,” with Vine closing his segment triumphantly:
“I’m here for you… Enjoy the nationwide switch-on at 8am.”

🎄 Ellie Brennan: Operation London Eye

Just before 8am, Ellie disappeared from the studio on a mysterious personal “Christmas mission.” Moments later, she announced:

“I am at the London Eye!”

Her plan: ascend above London to witness the city lighting up as Scott flicked the Christmas switch. She proudly described the atmosphere:
“A jogger just clapped me… we’re spreading the Christmas cheer!”

Ellie delivered multiple travel bulletins live from the pod, prompting Scott to dub her “the London Eye in the sky.”

She confirmed she could see Christmas spreading across the capital as Scott switched the nation onto festive mode.

🎅 The Switch-On: Christmas Goes Live Across the UK

At 8am sharp, Scott took a deep breath: “I feel like the Doc in Back to the Future… Bear with me, there’s a lot of switches.”

Then the moment arrived: “It’s Christmas!”

The studio exploded into Elton John’s “Step Into Christmas” as Scott added places to the festive map: Belfast, Glasgow, Channel Islands, Devon, Rugby, Newport, and dozens more.

Peter Levy from Look North even called in, announcing proudly: “You are on the top of my tree. You are laminated.”

Scott was delighted: “Please mention this on the news in the North later.”

Then came Jo in Devon—who attached 500 twinkly lights to her tree—and Victoria in Northumberland, whose children excitedly reported that their Elf on the Shelf had arrived, bringing their Christmas tree out of the garage.

🗺️ Festive Map Mayhem with Tina & Ellie

All morning, Tina and Ellie helped Scott “laminate the nation,” placing Scott-head stickers onto their tinsel-covered map.

Ellie: “Should I put yours on the map now?”
Scott: “Not yet, I don’t think.”

Tina revealed rehearsals were underway for her daughter Athena’s nativity, explaining, “She’s the snowflake – not me!”

Listeners loved hearing Tina fully immersed in festive mum-mode, while Ellie’s Blue Peter energy kept the map project alive:
“We’ve gone full Blue Peter here… sticky-back plastic, tinsel… all brand names cut off.”

📻 Nationwide Cheer

The phones kept ringing, producing standout moments:

Heidi in St Austell (Cornwall)

Her beach café looked “like a real-life gingerbread house.”
She resisted turning on her lights early, promising, “I’m waiting for you to do it.”

Lucy & David in Newport

Wearing a Welsh-flag Christmas jumper, pregnant with their first child — and boasting three trees.
“Three trees… there’s always someone,” Scott laughed.

Bonnie in Rugby

She and her husband have two matching advent calendars, prompting Scott to dub her:
“Bonnie Two Trees.”

Pam in Brighton

Bringing Christmas to care homes with “festive rugby” and indoor snowball fights:
“We end with a fantastic snowball fight… fluffy cotton balls everywhere.”

Sarah in Warrington

An emotional Christmas lover who “cries at Christmas,” visiting the garden centre three times a week.

Scott loved every chaotic bit of it.

🙏 Pause for Thought with Trey Hall

Trey Hall arrived glowing with festive spirit, praising the decorations:
“Everybody’s got Christmas jumpers on… I love this season.”

He told a story of a serene Christmas organ concert disrupted by a blaring car alarm:
“It wasn’t stopping until it drained the car battery.”

He reflected on holding joy and pain together at Christmas, quoting:
“Try to hold the joy and the pain together… so we can really hear that miracle song.”

Scott warmly ended the segment with:
“Merry Christmas.”

🎁 The Surprise: “You get a smart speaker!”

In classic Oprah fashion, Scott revealed near the end:
“Everyone who was on the phone this morning… smart speaker!”

Heidi in Cornwall, Lucy & David in Newport, Bonnie Two Trees, Pam in Brighton, Sarah in Warrington – all gifted.
“Smart speaker!” he shouted repeatedly, whipping the studio into festive hysteria.