In October 2005, Scott Mills Show producer Laura Sayers answered questions from Unofficial Mills visitors as part of our old Ask the Experts feature.
It came at an interesting point in the show’s history. Laura’s Diary was already attracting attention, Scott and the team had recently covered Radio 1’s Breakfast Show, and Laura was even encouraging listeners to apply for a date with her.
She also revealed what happened to Scott’s School Dinners, where Scott kept one of his awards and which celebrities had made the biggest impression on her.
What was your first job?
Laura: My first job I got when I was 13, and I worked in a hotel doing chambermaiding and waitressing.
Are you annoyed with your sister reading out your diary on the air?
Laura: No, I love her very much and trust that she wouldn’t read anything too bad…
I have stuff on her that I’m sure she’d hate me to tell my mum and dad, so I think I’m safe! Ha ha!
What happened to Scott’s School Dinners? Did it not work out?
Laura: Sometimes things just don’t work out…
It was a bit too close to the bone, so we thought it best to remove the feature!
Where does Scott keep his Loaded award?
Laura: It’s actually on my desk above my CDs, next to my hat stand.
Who’s the real legend, Roy Walker or Brucie?
Laura: I think they’re both legends.
Think of them as mature wines… one a strong red and one a lovely white.
Mmmm, wine!
What was the bit about ‘getting chewing gum on you’ in Laura’s Diary about?
Laura: I can’t possibly reveal that now. You’ll have to buy the book… in all good stores in time for Christmas! Ho ho ho!
How do you feel the Breakfast Show went? Do you enjoy looking after it while Chris is on holiday?
Laura: We were all very pleased with how it went, I think.
It’s a great way to showcase what we do in the afternoons and it’s lovely to be asked.
We love the afternoons though, as you don’t have to get up so early!
Do you own any pets?
Laura: None of us do… unless you count Scott’s flatmate, the comedian?
And I want a kitten that can keep me company when I’m watching Bridget Jones.
Oh no, I’m turning into one of those sad ladies with loads of cats! Noooooooooooo!
Why not save me by applying for a date with me?
That last line was more significant than it might have appeared at the time. Laura’s search for a date would go on to become One Night With Laura, one of the Scott Mills Show’s major features during 2006.
What is your biggest pet hate?
Laura: I’ve got a bit of a cleaning obsession going on.
It’s a bit weird, but I have to have things tidy and organised or I can’t relax. Even on holiday I’d just silently start cleaning up the places we were staying.
Get me round your house, it’s like a free cleaning service!
Who’s the most impressive celebrity you have ever met?
Laura: Impressive? Errr… Brucie? Beyoncé? Mariah Carey?
Maybe Pat Sharp… he’s a very nice man!
Who is the nicest celebrity you have ever met?
Laura: Probably Mark Owen.
I think I was a bit scary as I used to obsess about him in Take That, but he dealt with it really well.
I made him give me a hug. Cringe!
Orlando Bloom was a sweetheart too.
Who would you most like to meet?
Laura: I never got to meet Charlotte Church when she was in and I think she’s great.
I’d love to go for a few drinks with her. She’d be hilarious!
Laura’s Diary takes off
The October 2005 Q&A captures Laura’s Diary at an early point in its life on Radio 1.
Laura’s younger sister Mary had begun reading extracts from Laura’s teenage diaries on Scott’s show, exposing stories about school, relationships and teenage life to Radio 1 listeners.
Here, Laura was still joking about what Mary might reveal and teasing the possibility of a book.
The feature would become increasingly prominent over the following months and ultimately develop into one of the best-remembered features from this period of the Scott Mills Show.
The page also contains an early sign of what was coming next. Laura was already inviting people to apply for a date with her, an idea that would develop into the much bigger One Night With Laura search during 2006.