Everybody becomes a dance expert
Chris regularly met people who wanted him to pass advice to Scott about Strictly Come Dancing. To remove himself as the middleman, he opened a telephone line and connected the volunteer pundits directly to the contestant.
The callers recommended more fake tan, a wig, pointed toes, smiling, counting each step, chest shimmies and extra practice. One wanted Scott to dance to the 24 Years at the Tap End theme. Others admitted they had no dance experience but still felt qualified to explain what would improve him.
A few offered genuine encouragement and argued that whatever Scott was doing had kept him in the competition. The range of answers demonstrated why Chris normally forgot to pass them on.
The Live Lounge booking becomes real
Fuse ODG’s public agreement had moved into the less exciting stage where managers and producers worked out what Scott and Chris were actually allowed to do. They learned that entering a Live Lounge required more than tweeting the artist, but the answer remained yes.
The pair prepared to contribute to the performance the following morning. Neither had a clear role beyond enthusiasm, and Scott had to fit it around training, but Fuse’s willingness meant Radio 1 could no longer quietly allow the idea to disappear.
Radio lifts and awkward conversation
Scott and Chris discussed the people who avoided conversation in BBC lifts by staring at their phones. Chris admitted he sometimes pretended to be on a call, even when nobody was speaking to him, and occasionally prepared a safe topic before entering.
Scott had recently been challenged by Alice Levine to use the phrase “popular with Bruce Forsyth back in the day” on Strictly. He successfully worked it into the programme, helped by a threat that Alice would transfer her support to Judy Murray if he failed.
Tim uses an old-fashioned attention system
Alice played Real or No Real. A claim said Tim Wonnacott had attracted a producer’s attention during his Radio 1 visit by hitting her with a rolled-up newspaper. Scott considered it plausible but too old-fashioned even for Tim.
The story was real. The game also prompted Scott to reveal the amount of changing that happened backstage at Strictly, the dedicated person who checked performers’ flies before they appeared and the shell from Joanne Clifton’s underwater costume that had fallen into his face during rehearsal.
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