Seven hours with One Direction
Scott was preparing for an unusually short trip to Los Angeles. He was flying out to co-host 1D Day, One Direction’s seven-hour online event on Saturday, then coming back almost immediately. The plan involved the band in the studio for hours, fans around the world and a succession of challenges and guests.
There was another large television appearance much closer to home. Scott had recorded Celebrity Family Fortunes with his family, including his dad Pete, and was now worrying about what everybody had said and worn. A vintage clip in which a contestant repeatedly answered “Turkey” to unrelated questions gave Scott an idea of how badly a family quiz could go under pressure.
Greg James gets soaked
Greg James was delighted to be doing Innuendo Bingo. Chris even wore an old Greg T-shirt for the occasion, while Greg arrived in a jacket that reminded the show of Smithy from Gavin & Stacey.
The clips included Phil Spencer deciding that what he had to offer was “too small”, Sara Cox’s heavy plug hole, a line about a “big job”, Greg’s own instruction to “unload in my direction” and Monty Don discussing something “perfect for tits”. Downton Abbey, Fearne Cotton and several sports and television clips kept the water coming.
Greg ended “absolutely soaking”, which was precisely the result he appeared to have been hoping for when he walked in.
Susanna Reid calls in
Scott’s support for Susanna Reid had become unexpectedly delicate. Fearne Cotton had joked about Susanna being “Susanna Rude” after a message went unanswered, and Scott had allowed the idea that Susanna was ignoring them to grow. Then Susanna got in touch to make it clear she was not pleased.
Scott rang her on air to smooth things over, initially trying to place some responsibility on Fearne. Susanna explained that she had been busy rather than deliberately dismissive and said she was embracing Scott’s support. The curse had already been broken, so there was no reason not to.
Scott praised her Strictly performances but managed to make the compliment more awkward by saying he had not realised that side of her existed. Chris listened to the effort and concluded that Scott was simply not very good with ladies. By the end, though, Susanna was laughing, suggesting tea and cake with Fearne and confirming that she remained happy to have the show behind her.
One last job before Los Angeles
Scott still had not bought Ron Stark’s birthday present. Chris’s instruction remained unchanged: Scott had to choose something for a man he barely knew, wrap it and hand it over in time for Wednesday. The looming flight to Los Angeles did not make the deadline any easier.
The show was also following Zane Lowe’s Eminem interview, including the deliberately tense moments in which Eminem joked about how he could top the attention Zane’s earlier interviews had received. Even Zane’s footwear came under scrutiny when Scott noticed a half-price sticker still attached to his lucky shoes.
Charlie Sloth on Real or No Real
Charlie Sloth’s Real or No Real appearance included a more personal moment as he told the story behind his daughter Ruby’s name. He recalled the frightening circumstances around her birth and the Kaiser Chiefs’ “Ruby” playing at a crucial moment.
The game then returned to its usual territory, with claims including a ban on lip-syncing in Turkmenistan. By the end of Tuesday, Scott had peace with Susanna, an intercontinental One Direction job ahead and only hours left to solve Chris’s dad’s birthday.
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