Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball - 40: Winter Wobbles Club and ‘The Sexiest Man Alive’?

Episode Date: November 26, 2025

It’s a lively one this week: Zoe’s just emerged from her birthday-weekend marathon of mates, kids and three birthday cakes, while Jo’s been off making memories and soaking up some much-needed girl time with her daughters. Meanwhile, Nemo continues his silent campaign of destruction. And if you’re already teetering on the edge of the Winter Wobbles, fear not — the Beardy Gardener brings us his top tips for staying sane and grounded, using nature as your antidote.  SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with Dig It — new updates every Friday straight to your inbox. 👉 https://digitpod.substack.com/subscribe GET IN TOUCH 📧 Email us: [e-mail] 📱 Text or Voice Note: 07477 038795 💬 Or tap here to send a voice note or message on WhatsApp:⁠ ⁠https://wa.me/447477038795⁠⁠ SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS This episode is brought to you by QVC & Visit Scotland  ✨QVC - Click below to discover QVC’s range of menopause products and support. And don’t forget to use the code QDIG10 for £10 off your first purchase (minimum spends apply, see QVC website for full terms and conditions) -   https://www.qvcuk.com/content/menopause-your-way.html?cid=PR-PR-Digit&e22=Digit ✨Visit Scotland – Ready for your next great escape? Discover breathtaking beaches, ancient castles, whisky trails, and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Start planning your adventure with TripAdvisor’s travel guides, hidden gems and must-see spots across Scotland’s stunning landscapes – https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Scotland CREDITS Exec Producer: Jonathan O’Sullivan Assistant Producer: Eve Jones Technical Producer: Will Gibson Smith Video Editors: Danny Pape and Jack Whiteside Dig It is a Persephonica production 

Coming up on Diggett, Woody got to DJ at Billy Piper's birthday party. Could it be any cooler? Did you clamp his car? Basically, yes. You got someone else to clamp the car. We have these gorgeous dolls that were made for us by Jennifer Jackson. Jennifer Jackson dolls. He's now removed me and this is how I am looking now.

I look like something from Mad Max. All of that right after this. Hi, Zoe. Happy Wednesday. How are you? Oh, I'm great. Thank you. It's hard to concentrate, though, because I'm just busy watching The Ginger Assassin, Nemo. Let's watch him in action, shall we? I'll explain what he's doing right now. So we have these gorgeous dolls that are made for us by Jennifer Jackson. Jennifer Jackson dolls. He's now removed me from the table just to my side. I found me on the floor the other day, and my hair is completely up, like, standing on end. And he's just run away with it right now. And he was going for you earlier on. But the way I look right now, so my hair is just literally standing at all different angles in the air, that's exactly how I feel in the build-up to Christmas right now, just utterly frazzled and losing control. And he just seems to, I mean, he's coming for you. He's got me and he's coming for you, I reckon. I'm really concerned that he's going to find you later with an arm missing or something rather, and that

it'll turn this is some kind of voodoo doll situation where we'll both find, we've got more ailments that the more were attacked by Nemo. But I know what you mean. It's that sort of slight kind of frazzled electric kind of my hair. I've got to keep going. We've got four more weeks till Christmas. Is it four weeks till Christmas? Yes. Talking of frazzled, you must be feeling have you recovered from the weekend? Because you, happy birthday belatedly, by the way. It looked like you had the most beautiful, wonderful, wonderful, gorgeous birthday weekend. Tell me about it. I loved it. Thank you for my beautiful candle and thank you, Diggett, gang, for my beautiful red rose. I love them.

Yeah, Joe, you know me so well. A big candle turned up and everyone's like, who's that from? I'm like, it's from Joe. She knows me well. It'll last you a while. Oh, I know. It's one of my favourite smells as well. Third of while is the smell of Christmas and winter, I think.

So that's why I chose it for you. It really is, isn't it? It's that lovely smoky smell. I love my birthday weekend. Not necessarily because I'm getting older, but you know what? It's just a number now and I don't seem to mind as much. But I share my birthday weekend with lots of my favourite people. Paul. It's Heather, who does my makeup, who I love, Heather B. Oh, she's great. So she's this weekend.

My nephew Stan, it's his birthday this weekend. And then my, one of my best buddy, Snowy, she's quite a few years younger than me. But she's the day after. So what we do, Snow and I get together and we get all our girlfriends together and we and all our kids. And we make a weekend of it. So every year we look forward to it. And quite a few of my friends have a really tough time of it recently for various different reasons with it with families and with loss and all sorts and we really haven't seen a lot of each other so it was fantastic to get together with all our kids and it was just a weekend of feasts I made what did you do tell us what you did here so you know how like I've been talking about the fact that I don't cook very much

and I've suddenly got into cooking and I made these Emily English pies one with chili one without chili for the kids and my mates it was so great to see them all being like oh my god this is really good this is really edible they came back for seconds and we're like who are you i'm like i know look at me oh wow pastry and everything yeah can i just say it's the puff it's it's the ready rolled i just threw it over the top um but you should have seen me it was like domestic goddess so um so we had those feasts and then we did bowling people went swimming people kind of went shopping, and then we went out for a big meal on Saturday night, really lovely pub called the ginger, the ginger pig around the corner. And we took the kids as well, because our

kids are all growing up. And I wasn't sure if it was going to work. It's like the kid, because some of the kids are a bit younger. I was like, they're going to be really bored. And hilariously, there were three adults on the kids table. Me and my mate Ian Dino and Nikki were like, oh, there's no room on the adults table. We'll go on the kids table. But it was so fun and we loved a lot. And then we all head back to mine and the next gen DJed. So basically my nephew Ronnie is an amazing garage DJ. How old is he? He's just, he's 16. He's going to be 17 soon. He is so good. We absolutely mind blown how amazing is. He opened up with a remix of radio heads, everything in its right place, which obviously went down a storm because we're all

missing radio head gigs this weekend. He's so cool. And then Nellie's boyfriend, Jacoby, is a DJ as well. So they did sort of back to back. And we had all the adults, because the thing is, it's often quite tricky when you've got like a house party of what to play. Because I always think, I'm going to make a playlist. But I never get around to it. So the kids set up in the kitchen and all the adults danced around. They were fantastic. So really proud of them. Yeah. And we were laughing because we were all crazy ravers back in the day, us lot, and half of my friends are DJs. And we were all like the baton. The baton is most definitely passed. On they go. What time did it end? When did you get

to bed? Well, I think the adults, we lasted till one. I've not as hardcore as you lot in the miniscule of sound. Honestly, I was just so shattered. But Woody, okay, so Joe, you're a Hoovian family. You guys love Doctor Who. We've loved Doctor Who forever. And Woody's sort of The first Doctor Who was, of course, Christopher Eccleston. And his favourite Doctor Who assistant was Rose, Billy Piper. At the weekend, Woody got to DJ at Billy Piper's birthday party. Could it be any cooler? He absolutely adores her.

And he couldn't believe it. It was that. We're all like, what? How can we get to come? And he got back and he was just buzzing. And he was saying how she'd been, he said at one point she was just dancing on her own. And he was like, oh my God, it's just like a private, you know, DJ just for Billy Pike. Just him and Rose.

I know. And he said she was gorgeous. She was so lovely to him. And Graham Norton was really lovely Tim. And the only thing that had slightly upset him was one of his favorite doctor whose, David Tennant, was also there. And he was like, Mom, I don't think David Tennant liked my music because I think he left early. But then I got a message from Fern, Cotton. And she was there.

And she was like, oh, don't worry. David and Georgia always leave parties early because Woody was like oh God, David Tennant hated my music because of course he loves David Tenet as well but I mean kudos to Woo that is like amazing amazing what a gig to get

yeah literally doesn't get any better than that doesn't it? I know and he was telling me about some of the people there he was just like what this is my life so thank you so much to Billy you made my boy's life he's so chuffed and we're all really really proud of him I'm surprised. He wore this new jacket that I'd bought him as a belated birthday present, early Christmas present. He looks cool. What a great photograph. And his crazy mullet, because he went to this cowboy party and someone shaved his head and then he shaved someone else's his head. But it's growing back and he's really growing into the mullet. And we're all like, this mullet is actually quite cool. Not that I'm tempted to try it myself. But then bless him, his car got clamped outside the house. So he couldn't drive Brat to Bristol. night so he's had to stay to have both my kids did you clamp his car basically yes you've got

someone else to clamp the car I've got a big sticker well I've realized that this is actually an excellent thing because often he has to drive home a hill of DJ then he comes and stays and then he has to get back all the way to Bristol it's a long journey and I always worry about him on rainy horrible nights driving as you do worry about your kids so maybe this is the idea just get a fake clamp clamp your kids your kids and then they can never leave home. Because, of course, they wouldn't come and unclamp it on a Sunday. So you had to wait till today.

So last night, I finished my amazing birthday weekend with all my kids home and we made a roast. I was the domestic goddess this weekend. I'm quite proud of myself, actually. You did the roast as well. But I've had so many fantastic presents. My friends all know me so well now. And lots of things for the garden, lots of plants. Woody made me a playlist.

Such a great present. If you're broke, right, and you don't know what to get someone this Christmas because Christmas is going to be so expensive, making people playlists. It's one of our favourite things in the family because it takes a little bit care and love and everybody likes different music and it's a great way to find new music. So Nelly bought me, she bought me a basket of goodies, which included she knows me so well, cans of cocktails, chocolates, chocolates and fluffy bed, slipper socks. Oh, cool. So I have been spoilt rotten. And another one of my favourite things as a gift was, was, was. this. I mean, at which point I should say like a comedy line. Yes, I clamped Woody's car.

Isn't that amazing? Oh, that might have to be for my sister. She would love sound effects. Yes, sound effects. You know, end of a gag around the Christmas table. I mean, it's absolutely genius. So, yeah, I have been spoiled rotten and it was so lovely to see all my friends and dance and laugh and just. My friend Snow made a little speech, which made us all quite emotional, because we've had a lot of loss amongst our friends. And she just said, look, we are so lucky to all be together. And, you know, some of us have known each other for about 30 years, 25 years. And, you know, our kids are all growing up and they're doing great. And we're like, we are so blessed.

We are so lucky. So we really should take this moment and celebrate it. And we were all like, and then everyone had loads of cocktails and felt great. But I tell you what, though, the recovery. Sorry, Zoe, can I just say Nemo's taken you now? Have I gone? Have I gone down? Your dollar's gone. You're going to look a hell of a lot more dishevelled and you are might fall off during the recording of this podcast.

By the way, if you do enjoy hanging out with us every week, then make sure you're subscribed on YouTube or hit follow on Apple or Spotify. And then the latest episode will just pop up as soon as they're out. So it's really easy. If you want to be part of this crazy gang that we're creating right now, then yeah, subscribe on YouTube and hit the follow on Apple or Spotify. We went away for the weekend and it was me and India and Coco. Oh, girls' trip. That's lovely.

Yeah, it was really, really lovely. Yeah, because there's loads of stuff going on at the moment. And we had planned as a family to go away for the weekend. But we were just knackered. We're just so unbelievably tired and everyone's working so hard and everyone's a little bit well bit done in. And so we just decided the three of us just to go away and stay overnight. on the Friday night in a like have a spa day that's what we did

we went and then Saturday we came back and we watched War of the Roses actually the Roses film with Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman and it was just so nice

to be in the house on the sofa together and then yesterday we went and saw Wicked I loved Wicked I could not have loved it more it felt so much about female friendship

and the link and sisterly friendship and just that bond between two women who know each other so deeply and yeah it just reduced me to tears and Coco was the same sitting by my side

and then India was next to her and we were just in pieces and I loved it I really really enjoyed every single second I went with Stephen Cass Cass loves science fiction Steve loves pulp fiction

and they were both sitting there just going what the is going on this film it also stars the sexiest man alive who might happen to live quite near various members of my

family and has become like a Brighton favourite. I sometimes see him running. Jonathan Bailey, he is such a gorgeous man and he's just been voted the sexiest man alive. And he was the topic of conversation at the dinner on Saturday night because one of my mates, two of my mates, Nick and Dino, they live quite near him. And they'd had this whole conversation because there's been sort of money put on whether he will become the new James Bond. So there was this huge conversation about, well, I think our bet might be a total. failure now because we're not sure and I'm like hey you never know because he's and there was this whole conversation about is he the sexiest man alive and it's like well actually he is so charming

so sexy so talented um and really adorable he's a really great chap um and then suddenly everyone was like this huge big like 30 people discussing jonathan bailey the sexiest man alive and everybody decided that they would quite like him to be the new james bond um and also everyone was discussing sort of Christmas and New Year's Eve and, you know, parties and everyone's like, can we invite the sexist man alive to the New Year's Eve party?

If he's your neighbour, amazing. Do you think he would come? He is charming. He's got the twinkle in the eye. He's not kind of dirty, rugged, sexy. He's just really charming and handsome and gorgeous. And I heard him on Scott Mills being interviewed and they were so flirty.

And I'm guessing, if he's going to go anywhere for New Year's Eve, I reckon he'll be around at Scott Mills. He'll be around at Scott and Sam's house. I think so. I think, yeah, there was definitely a good friendship going on there. They were laughing so much. It was really funny. That could be a good New Year's Eve party because Scott is in Panto with Levoire.

Oh, my God. So, I mean, you couldn't get a better party. And also, just quickly, while we mentioned LeVois, can I just say, I'm so devastated for LeVois to go out of Strictly because she's had an injury to her foot. So she couldn't perform at Blackpool. And then they were hoping that she, she could come back the week after with her partner, Aliash, and sadly isn't able to come back. So Levoire had to bow out.

I know, and Ali Ash gave this most beautiful speech. And Levoire is amazing. And he was saying how, you know, sort of five days a week, he would dance with Chris. And then at the weekend, he would dance with Levoire and how, you know, how they both had become so special in his life. And Chris used to do my makeup on the makeup counter in a popular. department store. And I'm so proud of Chris and everything that he's done. Yeah. So yeah, go see Levoir in Panto with our Scott Mills. I think in High Wyckham they're doing it. Yeah, it is High Wickham? Yeah. Just quickly, can I just say Blackpool? Strictly was I had to watch it

late yesterday. And I was getting messages like, don't tell me, don't tell me. Some of the greatest performances I have seen on Strictly. Oh, they're lovely. They were incredible. Louis Cope was phenomenal with Katia. I was thinking it can't get any better than that. Full 40. Karen Carney and Carlos doing this Pasadobale that was so, I mean, it was sort of, it was like art, the staging of it. She was phenomenal. And George Clark, I was really tough that George got really great marks because I think he's been quite, I think he's worked really hard and I think he's had quite a tough time. And Nell was like, yes, because she absolutely adores him. And Alex, you know, talking about her story. and oh they were all so so good

I've already forgotten someone and I feel really bad because I hate missing people out and then they had some of the legends come back Ashley Leighton Danny Mack and Jay all came back

and did a routine together like they do need to do an All-Star series they really should they were so good they should they were great yeah I love to that Jay's dance it was a Pulp Fiction dance

was so amazing and Danny Mac who looks better than I think he's ever looked One of the best gigs I've ever seen was The Killers at Blackpool Oh, you're joking. It was amazing. No, so good. Oh, my God.

He did a radio show, and it was taking the killers to Blackpool, just because they obviously come from Vegas, and we were taking them to the Vegas of the UK. So we took them there, and we took them to the fair. We took them on a carriage. We went all the way down the sea front with Brandon and Ronnie in a carriage, and the pair of them looked so utterly bewildered. They were looking around like, what the f this is not Vegas at all.

This is not Vegas. No. And then we got on this fairground ride. I've told this story before, but we got on a fairground ride. And it was one of those scream if you want to go faster things. So Ronnie and Brandon and me on this ride and it starts to go around. And you could suddenly see Brandon and Ronnie's people are just going, no, get them off, get them off. Okay, no, slow me down.

Stop the machine. Stop the machine. So it kind of grew round to a hole. You're going to kill the killers. I have got photos somewhere. I'll dig them out. I'll see if I can stick them on our substack. You should.

One other thing I just wanted to say, when we went away, I went away with India and Coco. And it was really beautiful. and we needed this kind of special time together and we were all in this bed together and we were all just drifting off to sleep and I was in the middle of course with both my girls either side and India just went

this has been such a special time this female energy it's just what I needed and I thought never going to forget that line because it was exactly what we needed but we also got to see Lady Gagot

which is I don't know whether you saw the photographs of Lady Gaga stayed at this really lovely place in the UK which is Soho Farmhouse that's where we went to, Soho Farmhouse and there were these goats there and there were photographs of Lady Garga with a goat and now this goat's become like a celebrity

so I took a photograph of Lady Gargoat and she was looking very regal and enjoying her fame, enjoying her celebrity. Fantastic. Does she come over and bleat out telephone for you at some point? I feel like they should dress her up. Sorry, I had to just stop and try and locate us because our little dolls that are made in the image of us

And this is from the photo that we did, the very first photo shoot that we did together. So you're in the lovely kind of coral top. It's a shirt. And then I've got a blue shirt on. So it's kind of, that's our image. The dolls are made like that. They stand by my side to the right when we're doing the podcast if people watch it. And Nemo has stolen them and has just destroyed me in particular.

So this is how I am looking now. I look like something from Mad Max. You are looking positively wanton, I would say. I've kind of got a mohawk. There you go, Mohican. I think it's not a bad look. He's re-styling you. That's all it is.

You're okay. He hasn't destroyed you yet, but I'm going to put you back in place, and I guarantee by the end of the podcast, you will also have a mohican. Right, we're going to take a quick break for some ads. Oh, genuinely. At the moment, if you're listening to this,

I am watching a very small, delightful red kitten, completely destroyed Joe Wiley. I'm so sorry. He's probably going to be shut out of the room any minute now. Yeah, he definitely won't be taking part in next week's podcast. He's such a handful. As I was saying, we're going to take a quick break for some ads. If you'd like these episodes, ad free, why not become a subscriber to the potting shed?

You will get longer episodes, bonus content, and also early access to our live shows, which should be happening next year. But most importantly, you'll be supporting the show. To subscribe, head to digipod.com.com. Or tap the link in the show notes. Now, so I don't know about you, but this time of year always feels a bit slash a lot frantic. Completely. There's this expectation to be everywhere for everyone, kids, friends, work. I know Christmas is all about giving, but I think we've earned a bit of receiving, don't you?

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Obviously, the gardens have taken a bit of a battering with the crazy weather of late. And I got my tulips in luckily just before the frost came. But Lee Johnston, aka the Beardy Gardner, who's wonderful, is here to show us things we can do to stay sane in the garden during the darker winter months. Hi, Joe and Zoe, Lee here, otherwise known as the Beardy Gardner. Now, I'm a fully paid up member of what I call the Winter Wobbles Club. My mood does dip around this time of year, but I've got some top tips to help you use the garden to stay sane this winter. So the first tip is stop and notice. Winter seems quiet, but actually

there's still life all around us. So on your next outdoor walk around your garden or on the way to work, just pick something, a leaf, piece of grass, a seed head, and just stop and look at it for a minute. feel it notice the texture look at the patterns and the shapes it is surprisingly calming next up is feel the birds now nothing gives me more joy at this time of year than a robin swooping down and giving me a bit of side eye as i turn over the compost heat high energy foods like sunflower hearts fat balls vital for birds at this time of year and i think feeding birds is like free therapy Next tip is mindful mulching. So gather all of the leaves that are around this time of year and scatter them around your borders.

It's a quick task that doesn't take too much time but helps you feel productive. Plus, it'll make a really nice cozy duvet for all of that wildlife over the winter. Bring the outside in. Having greenery in your house at this time of year really lifts your mood. Cut some stems from some evergreens, grab some seed heads, ivy. and create a wild flower arrangement for your kitchen table. It doesn't have to be anything fancy because nature does all the hard work for you. And finally, have a cup of tea outside, or better still, make it outside on something like a camping stove.

Take a slow wander and let the warmth of the cup between your hands connect you to the season. Let it calm you, take a breath, and let it reset you. Hope that helps. See ya. Oh, Lee, that was great. Winter wobbles. Winter wobbles. That resonates so much. We always call it like wonky when I'm feeling a bit wonky. When you're a bit off-kilter, you're feeling a bit low. And he's so right. It can really take its toll winter when it gets darker and colder and you haven't got that excuse to get outside so much. What great tips, great ways to enjoy nature. The birds I particularly really, really enjoy. We've got two herons who I think probably in the process of mating. We looked it up the other day because we've always had one. the heron here and all of a sudden this other heron has appeared and one is on the tree to my right as I drive out the other one is in the field and they I feel like I'm part of their soap opera

the whole family does we're just like oh my god the herons are out and and they're such magnificent birds they're like teradactals when I drive home at night after doing the show and they'll suddenly sometimes swoop in front of me in the car and it's just amazing birds amazing creatures that's one of the reasons I've really loved growing sunflowers because you you grow your sunflowers and then you, you know, keep the heads and you just lay them out and the birds take all the seeds out of them. And I had some pumpkins left over and little pumpkins cut them in half and then the birds eat all the seeds out of those. And you see, and as they say, Robin appears a loved one is near, which I really love. Every time I see the Robin, I'm always, oh, it's Mom.

It's my granddad. Yeah, it's always my granddad. Yeah. Yeah, it's funny, isn't it? It's such a lovely thing. And another thing I've really, I've really done for the first time this year is actually collecting the leaves and instead of just putting them in some ways like right these leaves are going to mulch these leaves I'm going to keep and then these leaves I'm just brushing onto the beds and I was having a little look the other day and

I've grown some sedems for the first time and at the base of the sedans the heads of obviously drying now and have died off but at the base of the sedems you can see the new plants you know the new little heads growing and you're like all that life underneath. So there's so much going on in the ground still across the winter months. And it's so

true, Lee, you're absolutely right. Just having that moment to get outside and enjoy a cup of coffee. You know, when the wind isn't, you know, blowing the rain sideways. Blowing you over, frankly. When you get those blue skies, there's little moments of a frosty morning, just sitting out in nature and enjoying your garden in a very different way. It really does lift the soul or just get. getting out for a walk and, you know, even if it's cold, wrapping up warm, just getting out in nature, being under the trees, watching the birds, like you say, watching the sea, wherever it is you really can lift your mood because I think if you're feeling a bit low and struggling a little bit, you know, the tendency is to just stay inside and you don't really

want to see anyone. Sometimes you really have to make yourself get out there into nature and it can just even 20 minutes outside just really just makes you see the bigger picture and you don't feel so insular like this. And, yeah, it can lift your mood. So some great tips from Lee there. Craig Diggin, what have you got behind you? I think you mentioned this album before, and I'm often late to the party.

But I am now completely obsessed with geese. As are everybody, Geese ran from Brooklyn. They've been around for a few. few years. I think they've had a couple of records out before their LP this year. But the last couple of weeks, they've done a couple of gigs. You know, when they do those gigs online and they did one where they just did covers, oh my God, they're just extraordinary. They cover new radicals recently. You get what you give. And it's, it was astonishing. Really, really great. And I definitely

think this is going to be in my albums of the year. So Geese getting killed. Is it Cameron? Is his name Cameron? Yeah, Cameron. He is so, well, he's a superstar in a very alternative deep kind of way. Nick Cave is a really big fan. He's come out talking about how important the band are and what special person Cameron is. Yeah, he's like some kind of sayer.

He's amazing. And he's so unusual and the sound they make because the sort of, you know, the music they make it sort of like, no, no. I mean, I know they've been compared to television and sort of other bands like that. But they are so great. And sometimes I remember the first time I heard them, I thought, oh this is quite unusual because the sort of notes the way they use music is is sort of quite I don't know I'd say angular but it's probably not I'm not very good at describing music

but I it took me a while to sort of get into them and now I am completely obsessed they're brilliant they've just done a load of gigs in Brooklyn I think I think they've done a big American tour and I was thinking Joe you've got to have them on your show and you've got to have them do a sofa session at some point believe me I've been trying for quite a long time to make that happen so fingers crossed that will happen and I think the gigs all next year have sold out. Maybe they'll do festivals, which is like a really good way for people to get to see bands like that. But I think next year, they're going to be the hottest ticket. I mean, they are now. They really are. I know. So, and the whole family love them as well.

They are one of those, the whole family. And I know you recommended this before, but that is my crate digging this week because I've been particularly obsessing about them this week. So there you go. There've been some great albums this autumn, like with the Rosalia album, which everyone is still really enjoying. And Andrew Lloyd-Weather did a whole piece on his Instagram, a film of him saying that it was the album of the year, if not the decade. And it's a masterpiece. He was just talking about how it was an utter masterpiece, a classical piece of music. So it's got the endorsement of Andrew Lloyd-Weber if people haven't listened to that yet. But it is an extraordinary record. We talked about this before. It's not a bunch of pop hits. Like Geese, it's not a bunch of pop hits. But if you put it on

and you invest and you just let the music wash over you, they're really enriching. They really are culturally important records, I think, this year. But my crate digging, again, I haven't been able to get hold of a copy because vinyl is really hard to get hold of these days. And especially being super busy and not always being able to get to every different record store to try and find stuff. But James have got a best-off coming out. I think it's called the definitive best-of, because I think they've had best-offs before,

but it's the definitive best of James. And this is a band who I think are so loved by so many people. I know you love them as much as I do so. And, you know, it's been so great to have them coming back and being together, being a happy band, playing tons of festivals, making new music, which is great as well. And A Best of James is going to be a great Christmas present for anybody. I remember going to see them at, they were supporting David Bowie. And we, in Manchester, and I guess it would have been, it was properly when the Daisy T-shirts were out, the Daisy Age. And I think they played and we were going to leave.

And then someone went, he's going to be David Bowie. We're right. We came to see James. But we did stay and watch David Bowie, and he was amazing. But also, you know, and I've heard you interview them over the years. It's so lovely when you get to see Saul and Jim and Tim. And they are, you know, there is so many of them. And they've been through a hell of a lot as a band.

And they are electric. And the songs are amazing. Born of frustration, sound. The list could just go on and on and on. Do you, you know. Oh, and we didn't get to talk about. Manny. That broke my heart last week, losing Manny. I met him a couple of times, probably with Pribble Scream. And, you know, for me, you know, the Stone Roses is my favourite band of all time, really. And, you know, up there were talking heads, I think, and Led Zeppelin. And in fact, the list could go on. They're one of your favourite bands. But they're one of my favourite bands. And they changed my life, the Stone Roses. And their music was, we are of that age at that generation where they came from nowhere. And suddenly it was like,

This music speaks to me. So he was such a hero of mine anyway. And I remember he was always so adorable. All right. So the fact that he knew my name, he was so easy to talk to. He was such a gorgeous man. And I know lots of people we know knew him really, really well and are devastated. And he'd, you know, such a gorgeous man and had been through such a tough time and had lost his beautiful Imelda. And they leave behind. their young boys and it's absolutely devastating for them as a family I imagine and for all his loved ones so I send love to manny's special people and you know all the the roses fans and the primal screen fans and the you know the roses family and the and the primal screen family it's that's a real huge loss and he was such a magnificent man on on every front I really And I got to see them.

I finally got to see them. I saw them twice, and I will never, ever forget seeing the Stone Roses live. They're just the best night. Yeah. So that one really hurt. Bless him. I'm interviewing Phil Collins tomorrow. Oh, that'll be interesting.

I'm off to interview Phil Collins, who I was obsessed with her when I was young. I know you might find it quite random, but I was a really big Genesis fan. when I was 1340. Follow you. I just love that song so much. And in the air tonight, I God, I'll be that. I can't wait to get a debrief. When I was really young, they made me interview him.

And I think the director of the film for the Ozone was inspired by the fabulous baker boys when, of course, the gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer laid across a piano and sang. And that was her character. And so they made me, huge, tall, 5'10 me, lie across. a very small, upright piano in front of Phil Collins, who is not the tallest of pop stars. And he was so gracious. I was so humiliated and embarrassed because it was like not remotely sexy and not remotely cool. And it was almost as bad as the oasis interview where I had the hat on.

But he was very gracious about it. Obviously, we're going to dig this out now and show everybody. I am not sure whether anyone will find it, fingers crossed, but it was so humiliating. And he was very gracious about it. And then I interviewed them when they announced that they were doing, the Genesis were going back out on the road again. And I think it was quite awkward, the interview, so I'm really hoping that the interview with Phil goes really well. Oh, I hope so. Your fingers crossed.

But you know what it's like, Joe, when you interview your heroes, it's always a bit terrifying, isn't it? And you're like, please be cool. So just be cool. We were discussing the other day about who are our musical heroes. And I was saying about Billy Joel and the family were going, oh yeah, have you ever interviewed him? And I genuinely, here's the one person I would not want to interview because I just want him to be Billy Joel, the person I adore and from afar.

And I saw last year and it was one of the best gigs I've ever enjoyed in my life with my family. He's so good. I don't want to meet him. Yeah. And I'm sure he's really, really lovely. But I just want to have him in a box on the shelf and just kind of worship at his altar every so often. I had that conversation with a couple of people this weekend. They were like, oh, have you ever interviewed him?

Madonna and I was like yeah and it didn't go well and I knew it wouldn't and I'd said to them don't make me do Madonna to take someone else and it didn't go that well but I remember that you did interview Madonna and it was really good I mean I wouldn't want to say something stupid in front of her because she would definitely let you know but she's yeah she's been okay you know who knows we never know when we interview people we never know what has happened to them in their day what stuff they've got going on in their lives in their heads how you know we talk a lot about social anxiety and mental health. We don't know whether that person is having a really, really tough time and then they have to go out and talk to idiots like us for a whole day.

That's what I've now come to realize. So I don't take offence if anybody is mean to me or difficult because I'm like, God, you've got stuff going on. That's absolutely fine. That's your thing and I really don't mind. It's an interesting thing, isn't it? But it is that thing now where I'm like, I'm quite happy not to meet my heroes now. Enjoy the rest of your week. Can I see you on the other side? Wish me luck with Phil. Help. Yeah, good luck. Love you. Bye. Digit is a Persephonica production.