Radio 1’s Academy takes over the show
Scott and Chris broadcast from the Queen Margaret Union in Glasgow during Radio 1’s Academy. The building was hosting career sessions, performances and practical workshops ahead of Radio 1’s Big Weekend, but the show’s temporary base was the more relaxed Hangout. Visitors could watch the broadcast, try DJ decks, charge their phones or simply escape revision in the neighbouring library.
The show opened with the largest live Bamboleo Wednesday Scott had attempted. He coached the assembled crowd to hold back until the musical drop, then watched the room erupt. The heat and the dancing left him exhausted within minutes, but established the celebratory tone for the afternoon.
Students described journalism sessions that involved real interviews rather than PowerPoint presentations, and praised workshops with Edith Bowman and Sanjeev Kohli. A fashion-technology demonstration introduced a Bluetooth mini-skirt and T-shirt capable of displaying tweets. Chris modelled the T-shirt while listeners sent messages including “I’m with Moonface” and “Does my bum look big in this?”, although plenty of the incoming contributions could not be read aloud.
Sam Faiers dresses for the airport
Sam Faiers had spent two days at the Academy discussing the fashion business she ran with her family. Her talk covered how they started and offered practical encouragement to students. Before arriving, she had researched American celebrities’ airport outfits because she expected photographers in Glasgow, changing out of comfortable clothes and into heels before landing. Scott admired the preparation behind reports that she had “nailed airport chic”.
Sam dismissed stories that she and Joey Essex were buying a castle. They had looked at properties for a possible future together and Joey had become excited by one castle, but it was beyond their budget. Scott could nevertheless imagine the pair rattling around inside wearing crowns.
The Hangout becomes a splash zone
For a special mass Innuendo Bingo, pairs of Academy visitors sat opposite one another with water and orange buckets. Most wore protective coverings, while Sam and Chris were left exposed at the head of the table. Several participants had already recreated the game at college and required little instruction.
Sara Cox heard a blue tit in her garden, swimming coverage celebrated a talented breaststroker and Pete Tong introduced “My Balls” and “Sticky Fingers”. Coronation Street supplied a bigger pot and Tom Daley Goes Global preferred something too tight rather than too loose. Every clip sent water flying across multiple rows, while Sam’s false eyelash began to detach and her wipe-clean trousers proved a wise choice.
Joan Collins ended the game by offering to pour champagne over her comforts. By then the players were freestyling and Scott had lost control of the room. Sam faced her flight home soaked but had thrown herself into the game, and Scott immediately began imagining whether a mass version could fill an arena.
Katy B performs live
Katy B joined the Academy after a question-and-answer session about her career. Her main advice was to believe in the work and keep going even after a bad gig. She then performed “Still” with a pianist, backing singers and percussionist Junior as a warm-up for her Big Weekend appearance.
Scott used the performance and the student workshops to stress that the Academy’s material was available online to people outside Glasgow. The day was designed to make creative careers feel achievable, something he wished had existed when adults responded to his ambition to work in radio by telling him to think of a proper job.
Chris learns the difference between acting and reality
Chris joined a Waterloo Road acting workshop and was given the role of Darren in a scene with cast members Caitlin Gillespie and Joe Slater. The dialogue ended with a slap, which should have been created by timing the movement and reaction without genuine contact. Chris had already mistimed the rehearsal but remained confident.
During the live performance he paused to turn a script page, delivered his lines, then failed to move when the slap arrived. Caitlin’s hand connected hard enough to leave him red-faced and shaking. She explained that sometimes performers did make contact to improve realism, while Scott suggested the result might also have reflected the quality of Chris’s acting. The Academy had given him the authentic experience he requested, just rather more literally than expected.
COMMENTS