An announcement so unlikely it sounded invented
Scott returned with an announcement he had spent the morning deliberately overhyping. Listeners guessed everything from a UK X Factor role to Naked and Afraid. The actual answer sounded less plausible than most of the jokes: he was flying to Belgrade to appear at judges’ houses on the first Serbian series of The X Factor.
Scott described himself variously as the “Sinitta of Serbia”, the local Nicole Appleton and, after speaking to Olly Murs, the equivalent of Olly helping Gary Barlow. His real job was to assist judge Kiki Lesendrić with the girls category.
It all started in Zante
The booking had an appropriately Scott Mills origin story. During a season of club gigs in Zante the previous year, Scott had been invited to see Serbian rock star Kiki Lesendrić perform. Kiki had been famous across Serbia and the Balkans since the 1980s, and the pair stayed in touch after meeting backstage and later at Scott’s club night.
Kiki had now become a judge on the region’s first X Factor series and asked Scott to join him for the judges’ houses stage. Scott knew little Serbian pop music and did not yet know exactly how the filming would work, but flights and accommodation were booked and a translator had been promised.
Kiki called the show to confirm the invitation was genuine. Contestants would sing in both Serbian and English, while Scott’s comments could be translated for the programme.
That confirmation was necessary because listeners, Chris and even Scott himself could see the possibility that the whole thing was an elaborate prank.
Olly Murs offers reassurance
Olly Murs, who had previously helped Gary Barlow at judges’ houses, was conveniently available to offer advice. He thought Scott would be good at the job because years of radio had given him a clear opinion about music.
Scott was more concerned about the practicalities: unfamiliar songs, translation and what exactly Serbian television expected from the British radio presenter who had suddenly arrived in its biggest talent show.
The Strictly problem survives the holiday
Even after a week away, the show’s Strictly loyalties were unresolved. Vanessa Feltz had now left, removing one complication, but Rachel Riley, Deborah Meaden and Susanna Reid remained, while Scott had unexpectedly developed an affection for Dave Myers of the Hairy Bikers.
That problem would continue. For the moment, though, it was overwhelmed by a much bigger question: what exactly was going to happen when Scott Mills landed in Serbia and tried to become an X Factor mentor for a weekend?
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