Back in 2005, Unofficial Mills regularly gave listeners the chance to put their questions directly to members of the Scott Mills Show team.
For the December edition of Ask the Experts, producer Laura Sayers answered questions about what happened behind the scenes at Radio 1, her worst moment of the year, Harry Potter, Christmas plans and what the team had lined up for 2006.
There was also a tantalising preview of a feature that would become a major part of the show the following year: One Night With Laura.
What do all those monitors in the studio do?
Laura: There are two on the opposite side of the desk to Scott. The team log onto them for email, text etc, and one of them is also multifunction so we can edit on it too.
On Scott’s side, he has a VCS screen, where he plays the hits from, a normal computer for email, text etc, and a cart wall screen. This is a bank of audio Scott plays jingles from. It’s dead cool and touch screen and stuff.
Who controls the emails, phones and text messages?
Laura: We all monitor messages etc and all check our own emails. I usually get the phone, although Dan has been helping me do that too.
Does Scott read all the emails he gets?
Laura: Yes, Scott checks his emails and tries to read as many as possible.
What’s been your worst moment of 2005?
Laura: When I accidentally let a swear word go out on air. That was the worst feeling in the world. I papped myself. Knew I’d let everyone down.
What would you like for Christmas?
Laura: World peace and a Sony Award next year… or maybe four. That’d be nice!
What do you all think about the latest Harry Potter movie?
Laura: No-one else on the team gives a badger’s arse about it, but I went with Joce off of the Chris Moyles Show and laughed so loud I got funny looks, and also cried at the end.
I have also completed the PS2 game now too!
Were you jealous of Chris Moyles getting to go to New York for a week?
Laura: It’s always exciting and a challenge doing OBs, especially abroad. I think you need a good reason to justify being somewhere. I’m sure we’ll get a chance to do something cool soon!
Has the back-up generator kicked in yet this year?
Laura: No, not yet… touch wood!
What’s your hangover cure?
Laura: Wotsits, fruit juice, paracetamol and wearing one of my many hats.
What do you have planned for the show for 2006?
Laura: We’ve got some great ideas… I wish I could tell you, I really do.
What I can say is that One Night With Laura will launch. Watch this actual space!
That became considerably more than a throwaway tease. During 2006, One Night With Laura turned into a nationwide search for a date for Laura, with auditions around the country and Radio 1 listeners ultimately choosing who she would take away to Disneyland Paris.
What’s everyone doing for Christmas?
Laura: Everyone is going home to see their families apart from me, sob. I’m working Christmas Day and so cannot get back to York, so I’ll be going to Uncle Ferg’s house. He’s taking in all the waifs and strays, bless him!
How do you feel about Laura’s Diary making number two in Radio 1’s Top 20 Moments of 2005?
Laura: I think it’s slightly mental but we’re all really chuffed! Hurrah!
By this point, Laura’s Diary had become one of the Scott Mills Show’s best-known features. Laura’s younger sister Mary had begun reading extracts from Laura’s teenage diaries on air, and the feature proved popular enough to make Radio 1’s end-of-year countdown.
It would become even bigger during 2006, eventually leading to the publication of Laura’s Diary as a book.