Back in 2005, Unofficial Mills launched an Ask the Experts feature, giving listeners the chance to put their questions directly to Scott Mills and members of his Radio 1 team.
For this September 2005 edition, Scott Mills, Laura Sayers, Mark ‘Chappers’ Chapman, Neil and Emlyn answered questions about life behind the scenes, old show features, music tastes, Scott and Laura’s trip to Thailand and what Chappers would do if he became invisible.
There was even a reminder of Scott’s early breakfast days and his infamous university “sex tour”.
Laura, what’s it like being the only girl in the team?
Laura: No, it’s fine! I like the set-up.
I do try and understand the LBW rule in cricket when Chappers tries to explain, but it makes my brain fizz, so don’t ask me.
Scott generally doesn’t get it either, so I’m not alone!
The off-air banter is certainly much more than tits and sport, I can assure you!
Chappers, why do you support Manchester United?
Chappers: ‘Cos I am from Manchester…
Do you ever consider bringing back old features like The Big Fact Hunt?
Laura: Sometimes things just run their course.
Sometimes we put things to rest and sometimes we put them to sleep. It’s hard, but sometimes you just gotta do it.
The joke was wearing a bit thin.
Laura, did you enjoy going on holiday with Scott to Thailand for two weeks?
Laura: I absolutely LOVED it. Had an amazing time.
Apart from my face being so burnt I had to wear plasters over the bad bits and everyone thought I had partaken in a bit of holiday surgery!
And being gassed to death by Scott being a bit too over-zealous with the mosquito spray at the place we stayed.
Oooh, there’s so much I could tell you, but I won’t bore you. Guess you had to be there!
What do you think of Chappers’ recent outburst about Scott Mills fans?
The Scott Mills team: The Scott Mills team would like to apologise for Mark Chapman’s behaviour.
We’re sure that you don’t just sit around and talk about Zippy calls. There’s so much more to talk about!
We know what Chappers and Scott listen to, but what about the rest of the team?
Emlyn: Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Suzanne Vega, Colonel Abrams and early Joan Armatrading.
Neil: My favourite artist of all time is Prince. The man is a musical genius. Bit weird, though.
It’s hard to say about current artists, as we have Radio 1 on in the office all day long, so new music is constantly going through our heads.
Laura: I hate answering this question. It’s like someone asking what types of wine I like!
Depends what mood I’m in.
I like Mylo a lot and Basement Jaxx a lot, and the songs I like on the playlist at the moment are Hard-Fi’s Living for the Weekend, Kanye West’s Gold Digger, X-Press 2’s Give It and Liberty X.
Can’t beat a bit of pop!
Chappers, do you hate us? And every time you visit, are you freaked out?
Chappers: No and no…
Are you all proud of Chappers’ efforts at the Great North Run?
Laura: Very proud indeed. Yes…
Have you ever considered giving away Mills Show T-shirts?
Laura: Back in the days of early breakfast, Scott used to give away T-shirts on his sex tour… or rather at his university gigs.
We haven’t really got a good reason to have any at the moment.
It’s always a possibility though!
Scott, what were you like at school?
Scott: Last to be picked in games…
Thanks for bringing back the memories!
Chappers, what would you do if you were invisible for the day?
Chappers: I wouldn’t like to be invisible. I’m paranoid enough.
Laura, what would you do if Chappers was invisible for the day?
Laura: I would be very worried about where he was and what he was up to!
Nuff said!
A snapshot of the Scott Mills Show in 2005
This first surviving Ask the Experts Q&A captures the Scott Mills Show during its early afternoon era.
Some of the references are firmly rooted in the programme of the time. The Big Fact Hunt had already been retired, listeners were still talking about the show’s Zippy calls, and Laura and Scott had recently returned from a holiday together in Thailand.
The answers also show just how much of the show’s personality came from the wider production team. Chappers, Laura, Neil and Emlyn were already familiar enough to listeners that people wanted to know about everything from their music tastes to which football teams they supported.
There is also a small reminder of Scott’s earlier Radio 1 career, with Laura recalling the T-shirts he used to hand out during his university gigs while presenting early breakfast.