Do you know the second verse?
Scott asked whether people genuinely knew the words to traditional Christmas carols beyond their opening lines.
He remembered miming during school assemblies and suspected most people filled the gaps with improvised words.
Experts had suggested that only a fraction of carols were performed accurately, with singers often following the melody confidently while inventing lyrics.
Jack attempts Away in a Manger
Jack began Away in a Manger strongly before reaching the later verses.
He replaced the missing words with a line about shepherds eating steaks.
Scott congratulated him for continuing rather than stopping.
Other listeners admitted believing that “good tidings we bring to you and your kin” referred to a king.
Emily’s improvised carols
Emily, who had previously demonstrated a remarkable memory during the Birthday Game, admitted that the skill did not extend to songs.
She performed Silent Night reasonably accurately but struggled with We Three Kings.
Her improvised version involved the kings going out to drink wine and a star that was “something so bright”.
Emily said she would have printed lyrics during her real carol service and therefore planned to sing with much greater confidence.
The Birthday Game: Laura
Laura from Bognor Regis turned 50.
She had recently experienced a chaotic arrival in Marrakech after an airport transfer repeatedly passed her hotel and left her as the last passenger on the bus.
Her birthday celebrations included Birmingham’s Christmas market and Cadbury World.
Laura shared her birthday with Michael Owen, Miranda Hart, Tori Kelly, AC/DC’s Cliff Williams and Vanessa Hudgens.
Her first spin was the Housemartins’ Caravan of Love, number one in 1986.
Laura said she loved it but chose to continue.
The second was Leona Lewis’s cover of Run, number one in 2008.
Laura stopped there because she feared the compulsory third song might be Mr Blobby.
She accepted Run and avoided discovering whether the final spin would have justified the risk.
The Music Police cold case
Scott gave another update on Matt’s unresolved coffee-shop mystery.
The force still had no definitive answer and time was running out before the Christmas break.
The case remained open for any listener able to provide a convincing identification.
Handover
This was Scott’s final Radio 2 programme before Christmas, with Gabby Roslin and Rylan covering the following broadcasts.
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