Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball - 62: THAT Chappell Roan Dress, a Winter Olympics Whirlwind and Partying with Baz Luhrmann

Episode Date: February 4, 2026

Jo and Zoe discuss all the Grammys goss and consider whether to recreate Chappell Roan’s sensational look with a pair of dungarees… Plus, snowboarder extraordinaire Aimee Fuller gives us the lowdown on the Winter Olympics and there’s a surprising suggestion for Sow & Tell!SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTERStay up to date with Dig It — new updates every Friday straight to your inbox.👉 https://digitpod.substack.com/subscribeGET 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/447477038795SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORSThis episode is brought to you by Stripe & Stare & Ancient + Brave✨Stripe & Stare – Comfort really is everything. Stripe & Stare make unbelievably soft, breathable underwear that’s kind to your skin and designed for real life. Their knickers are made from natural fibres with no nasty chemicals, their bralettes are wire-free with no digging in, and their sleepwear is so comfy you’ll struggle to take it off in the morning. They’re a female-led, B Corp brand too – which we love. Use code DIGIT20 for 20% off at https://stripeandstare.com/✨Ancient + Brave – This January isn’t about being “good”, it’s about having energy that actually lasts. Ancient + Brave’s True Creatine+ supports strength, cognition and steady energy without the jitters or crash. It’s neutral tasting, dissolves easily and fits effortlessly into real life. They’re also a certified B Corp and members of 1% for the Planet, so it’s good for you and good for the planet too. Subscribe and save 20% on your monthly wellness rituals, plus get a free ritual scoop. Head to ancientandbrave.earth to get started.CREDITSExec Producer: Jonathan O’SullivanProducer: Samantha PsykAssistant Producer: Eve JonesTechnical Producer: Oliver GeraghtyVideo Editors: Danny Pape and Jack Whiteside

Coming up on Diggins. Oh my God, it was horrific and it was terrifying. Oh. I had to walk up the stairs sideways with his holding my son. Poor Nicole Kidman had just split with Tom Cruise. My heart went out to her because I thought, you are clearly struggling at the moment, and you have walked that carpet, you look phenomenal, and she was clearly going through hell. Chapel Rhone, Chapel Rhone.

We have to talk about Chapel Rhone. How have we not done this? Surely there were people all around there going to go, don't step on the dress, don't step on the dress. Ouch. I had the opportunity to try a skeleton. Did you do it? I looked like a baby seal, like... All of that, right after this. Hey, Ontario. Come on down to BedmGM casino and check out our newest exclusive.

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BenMGGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. Hello, Joe. Hi, how you doing? I'm doing all right. How was your gig in Brighton Town? Oh, it was good. It was good. I had a stage invasion from Scott Mills, which was hilarious. It's exactly what you expect. I know. It was really. fun. It was the first gig back. So it was a bit, God, I was really nervous

because I was a bit rusty and it wasn't the greatest entrance. You know, when, God, you walk out on stage and the one thing that you don't want to happen or if you're doing a presentation at work or something is to announce something or to press a button and then nothing happens. Oh, no. So that's exactly what happened. I walked out

on stage. Everyone goes, hi, hi Joe! And then I pressed the button for the music and then there was nothing. So I just went, I could sing, but I don't think we'd want that. And everyone laughed, thank God. And then eventually we got there in the end and it was a really great gig and the crowds in Brighton are always

off the scale. They're amazing. Oh, bless you. That awful moment when something like that happens though it's terrifying, isn't it? And you know, your tongue is stuck to the roof in the mouth anyway. But you just make a joke of it

and the next thing, off you go. Oh, I'm glad the crowd. I was so gutted. I was really looking forward to dancing with Disco Steve and the crowd in Brighton. But I couldn't come because I was judging on a show as a guest. Yes, go on tell us. Well, no, I can't tell you.

I'm not allowed to tell you what I was doing because it's a surprise. But can I just say I'm a hopeless judge? I am so bad at being a judge because I can't. It's like I always have to find something positive to say. I was judging alongside the hosts of the show who are brilliant. And they were sort of slightly taking the Mickey out of me. because they were like, there are standards. I was like, yes, all right.

But I like to see the good in everything and everyone. But I really enjoyed it. And it'll be out later in the year. And then I'll be able to tell you more about it. Oh, I'm so intrigued what it is. The thing about being a judge, I was a judge on a show years and years ago now. It was called, oh God, mobile act, orange unsigned, something like that, some of those words in whichever order. And it was about, it was literally like an alternative X factor.

And initially I thought it's going to be a really great way to discover new acts, promote you artists. And you quickly realise that all they want you to do is to be critical. And I just can't do that. No. And I said things that I didn't want to say. And I hated every second of being critical. So I know what you mean. It was a period of time when people were quite harsh.

Simon Cowell was probably at his best. I think Craig Revell Horwood, when he started doing strictly, was always very acerbic and very nasty. And I think he's softened a lot, hasn't he, over the years? He really has. Because times have changed. You know, we're much more understanding and not wanting to destroy people and their mental health and their performances.

So I know exactly what you mean. It was just always trying to find something positive to say to people. And I also thought on this show I was doing, I was thinking, I'm not here to be nasty. I'm here to encourage. If you're loving Digit, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you watch or listen. That way you get new episodes as soon as they're out.

On the theme of being nasty about people, I watched it with Katz and Coco and Steve, and we watched the take that documentary. I know we've touched on it briefly before, but I was humming an a r and I wasn't sure whether I was excited about watching it. But can I just say to anybody if you haven't watched it, it's really good. Yeah. It's so good. It's really interesting. There's lots of old footage. And then there were recent interviews from Gary and Howard and Mark, I think.

But then lots of old archive stuff from Robbie and Jason as well. And it's just very insightful. But there are so many clips of people being quite mean to the band when they're being interviewed and just being bitchy. I was like, God, the times that they grew up in, it must have been so freaking hard for them, like so awful. But then it's really moving. So, yeah, I just want to do a shout-out

for the take that documentary, which I've now caught up on. It's great. It's so good. And it's a bit like when they did the boy band and the girl band documentaries when you realize what, you know, some people go through in the public eye, and that it's fair game to give people such a hard time. And, you know, we've sort of seen a bit of what happened for Robbie

and how much that affected him, you know, and then to see from the other boys as well. And Gary talks really openly about how tough it was for him afterwards. There's also some amazing nostalgia. It was actually one of our diggers said to me, oh, you're in the take that video. And I was like, am I? And sometimes it's great when people send you things like that

because it's like, yeah, yeah, you're interviewing Robbie. I'm like, oh, I remember him coming on live and kicking. And I said, I was like, oh, no, I'm not flirting with him, am I? I'm not, was it in my being in love with Robbie Williams era? And that's a really moving moment because one of the kids in the hot seat, they asked the questions and they wanted to know what he wanted most in the world. And he said, number one. And then he got that.

And that's another incredible thing to see is Robbie left. He had a really hard time. And then he came back and he was such a huge star. and he kind of showed them all and then the band go through a difficult time and that whole sort of arc is so moving it is a really good documentary also can I say this week is the second year

anniversary of losing our mate, Wrighty, Steve Wright's and I'm really thinking about him a lot at the moment. In fact I was walking through a part of London where I always used to go and have lunch or breakfast with him sometimes and I was thinking about him as I passed a restaurant we used to sit

in a lot. And as I was thinking about him, a car drove past playing Christopher Cross sailing. And he loved Christopher Cross. And I was like, you know, we're just sometimes those moments. I was like, yay, you know, that was such a lovely moment of, I'm thinking about you. And then one of his favourite songs came on. It was lovely. But anyway, in the Take That Documentary, there is an amazing moment where the band, without Robbie, go on Ritey's television show. And there he is, just being brilliant and young and fabulous and gosh I miss him. So I'll be thinking of him a lot this week. Last night, we have just finished series one of Mr. Mercedes, which is an old series with Brendan Gleason and the fantastic Harry Treadaway. And it's so good. It's about a killer and

a cop who's left the force trying to get to the bottom of an unsolved case. And I had, I was so terrified by the last two episodes. In fact, we'd watched two on Saturday, and then I had horrendous dreams that I couldn't get out of. So last time I was thinking, it was nine o'clock, I was thinking, hang on, if we watched the last two episodes now, I'm then going to be in the house on my own and I'm going to be really freaked out. But I was like, no, it'll be fine.

It'll be fine. It'll be fine. Oh, my God. It was horrific and it was terrifying to the point where I had to get my lovely house. mate to come to the toilet with me because I was too scared to go to the toilet in the dark. I had to walk up the stairs sideways with his holding my head. And I had to sleep with a light on in the hallway. I have not been that scared by something since watching seven many, many years ago and sleeping in a hotel room.

And I remember there was a ticking clock that was like the metronome. And then we started talking about seven. So then I got that in my head. And there's all these images, you know when there's horrific images that flashed, up. Every time I closed my eyes, it's all I could see. So we watched the news to make me less scared. Oh, and that made you feel better and more than less scared. I was like, great. How did that work? But you know, when you are scared, senseless, I cannot watch scary things. It's so ridiculous. I remember my brother Nick used to do this really evil but very funny thing.

Well, we had a staircase where he could somehow stand outside one of the bedrooms. And I wouldn't initially see him until I'd turn the corner of the staircase and then he would jump out. And it was brilliant because he would get me every time like proper jump, shock jump. And I was thinking of him last night and I was saying to my mate, I was like, don't do anything where I open a door and you're pulling a face. Don't do anything where you stand up. Please don't because I'm too jumpy. Some people seem able to watch scary things and are completely unaffected. I just absorb everything like you.

I absorb it and then I dream about it. I watched Pluribus. I know I'm very late to the party. But I, God, I binged it. I binged it every single day. I was watching a couple of episodes. And then I was having terrible, terrible dreams at night. I was being savage by wolves.

Aliens were coming in. They were taken over my world. And you know, you have to wake yourself up because you are so terrified. And you're like clawing your way out of the dream just to get to the surface and just go, okay, it's only a nightmare. It's only a dream. It's fine. And I was doing that.

But that's what I've always done that. I've always, as soon as I start reading a really scary book or I watch a scary film, I'm in it every night. I just enter that world and I cannot get out of it. So that's why I don't watch scary films. I'm not going to watch Mr. Mercedes after that. I haven't been that scared for ages. I took my nieces to see Moulin Rouge at the weekend and, oh, God, I haven't seen a show for ages.

And it was fabulous. Really bizarrely, I watched the film on Friday night with Coco. We haven't discussed this at all. But I was like, I've always wanted her to see it. It's one of my favorite films and the music that. Elephant Love Medley. I just kept going all the time. I was like, put your phone down.

This bit's really good. This bit's really good. Listen to this song. And at the end of it, she was like, oh, that was really good. Like, Ewan McGregor's singing. Nicole Kidman. And also Baz Luhrmann, just his direction, the way it looks. It's such a, you know, treat on the eye.

It's amazing. But 20 years, she didn't think it looked that spectacular. And I was going, oh, my God, isn't it amazing the way it looks? And she went, yeah, it's okay. I thought, wow, when Baz Luhrman first came along with Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge, she just blew our mind. didn't he, but now people have got used to it. We just didn't see stuff like that.

No. Do you know what? We were really lucky. When he was doing the... He was working at the soundtrack for Moulin Rouge. I've totally forgotten about this. He came to stay because Norm was doing... Because you can, can, can, this track with him.

So Baz came to stay at our house with some of his team. And then we ended up staying with them in L.A. Or going to visit them in L.A. And having a party with their team. and he'd come on the breakfast show recently and reminded everybody of how wild that night when he first came to Brighton had been and how we all ended up in a hot tub.

And he was so gracious. He would not slag anyone off. And then we managed to force him to say something slightly negative about a particular actress. And we were like, whee! And I'll never share that because he's, You said that in good faith. But what fun.

And we got to go to the premiere of Moulin Rouge at Cannes, which I'll never forget actually because we got on the red carpet and Norm wasn't allowed to walk the red carpet because he didn't have a tie. And I had to run around and buy him a tie to get him down the red carpet. And we sat next to Sophia and Roman Coppola. Again, I was just sat there thinking, I should not be here. I am not, you know, with that kind of imposter thing, I know, what the hell am I doing at Cannes? And then afterwards, it was where, I mean, God, it was an amazing night.

It was when poor Nicole Kidman had just split with Tom Cruise. So the world's press, you know, I mean, there's always so much press at Cannes, but they were particularly, you know, after. And I watched her walk that red carpet and she was so gracious. And then she'd come to the party and norm was DJing. and she'd gone out and Norm had put his sweaty headphones on her head and she'd sort of done the whole thing as she was brilliant and then she'd come back stage and some friends of mine and ours were sat backstage and you saw her come back stage and her sister was waiting for her

and you just saw how fragile she was and everything she was going through and I just remember seeing what I just thought wow you I mean not only is she a phenomenal actress, my heart went out to her because I thought you are clearly struggling at the moment and you have walked that carpet, you look phenomenal, you've played the game, you've raved, you know, she's done the whole thing and she was clearly going through hell. And I just thought, what a woman. And I've interviewed her a couple of times over the years and I absolutely love her. But yeah, Baz Luhrman, when Baz Luhrman came to tea. Do you know what that is, that is putting on your

big steel pants? It really is, isn't it? Nicol Kiddman. That's what she did that day. It's that thing of like, my God, I can't believe what I've got to do now considering how I am feeling. What a woman. Talking of wonderful women, should we just talk about Catherine O'Hara at this point? Because I was driving to my gig when the news broke. And it's to see the effect, the ripple effect of how loved she was by lots of people she'd acted with people who they considered her to be their family. And then everybody, everyone who's enjoyed all her shows that she's done, whether it's, you know, best in show. Or whether it was Schitts Creek, which I was so obsessed with.

And I know you absolutely loved it as well. The whole Levy family who were destroyed by losing her. And Home Alone, you know, and Beetlejuice. Yeah. Yeah. All these incredible performances she'd given. I was reading about her husband. I was thinking about her husband and her kids. And she met her husband, Bo Welsh.

He was the production designer on Beetlejuice. And they'd been married for 30 years. And you just, when this happens, you think of how we all feel at losing someone we completely adored. And she, you know, every performance she ever gave in anything was so on point. She was such a funny lady. What a talent to have. Yeah. And so loved.

And I think as a mum, you know, as Kevin's mom in Home Alone, you're just like, oh, God, she's just so great. but I saw her there was an amazing clip I think this is one that broke my heart she's walking down a red carpet or she's in an airport and someone just asked her of all the roles you've ever done how would you like to be remembered and she said as mother to my kids

and that just oh yeah that just got me there you know because that's the most important thing she had her job and she loved what she did but the most important thing to her was being a mum to her kids and her grown-up boys and you just feel for her family.

Yeah, she was only 71 as well. She was no age at all. Well, this is the thing. It feels, it felt really sudden, didn't it? And it felt really, you know, it was a real shocker. The clips that have come out of her as Moira Rose in, from Schitts Creek. Oh, my God. Fold the cheese.

We are all folding cheese now. She gave us so much, so much gold, comedy gold, genius before me. And McCauley Culkin's, oh, my God, tribute. You know, mum. This mum, it wasn't ready to say goodbye. I think it's that thing sometimes, isn't it, that you think you're going to see someone again

and then you don't. It's like, you've got to live every moment, guys. You've got to live. And what an amazing lady. Can I just say, I got Harry Stiles tickets. And I must thank, we were recording the podcast last week when the tickets went on sale.

And my friend Adele stayed on the goddamn line for three hours for me only to not get to. tickets and I would like to thank her for trying. The next day, I went on a ticket website and managed to get them in three minutes and she was like, you bastard, but Nell and I are going to Harry Stiles and I am so thrilled to have got the tickets and he was at the Grammys this week, wasn't he? In his fabulous jacket, he made a surprise appearance to give out the album of the year which went to Bad Bunny.

But the Grammys, oh my gosh. I mean, there were so many things to applaud the Grammys for this year because I think it's always felt like quite an old-fashioned ceremony. And this feels like this has bought it right up to date with a bang. Like the spirit of punk rock was live and kicking in the Grammys. All those speeches, Bad Bunny, who did an incredible speech about the State of America and his unhappiness at the State of America, as did many artists.

I love the fact that he said at the moment, You may be filled with hate for some of the stuff that's going on. But we must, you know, it's like remember love because love is stronger than hate. And I thought that's so, such a strong line. There was some amazing speeches. Cisa was saying, you know, we're being fed that algorithm that everything is terrible. But remember, we have to have hope because there is good. And that is, you know, there were so many moments like that.

Or I thought everyone was so eloquent and people. said some beautiful things and really poignant words. Yeah, absolutely. And that alone gives you hope because you're like these fantastic musicians who entertain us and, you know, music is such great therapy for all of us and, you know, makes us dance, makes us happy, can comfort us when we're sad. You know, they, if these artists are, you know, impassioned and spreading the world, you're like, it's like, yeah, good. the music scene is really healthy and we have some wonderful artists

to inspire all of us and our young people and people coming up through the ranks. It was, yeah, it was really positive, wasn't it? It was a very, very impressive ceremony, yeah. I hope the Brits follow suit and I hope the Brits leave that impression as well. Obviously we're not in America and they're all talking about the state

of where they live. But the Brits did really well at the Grammys this year. So Lonely Young did a great great... I mean, she was amazing. And then Olivia Dean, one of our favourites who did a wonderful speech which we can see just here. Thank you. Jesus Christ, I never really imagined that I would be up here, let alone nominated. So thank you so much. I just want to say that an artist is really nothing without their team, Emily, my best friend, my manager, we've been doing this for 10 years. So this is for

you too and my family. And I guess I want to say I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn't be here. Yeah, I'm a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. So yeah, we're nothing without each other. Thank you so much. I love you. Thank you so much. Bye. We're nothing without each other. Everything she said there was just so on point and she looked absolutely stunning. I like she deserved her place there. She's such a talent for the future. I mean, amazing, amazing woman. Yeah, I remember you first playing Olivia Dean and I I remember her singing for us down. We did a show down in Glastonbury.

And, you know, she's saying there's 10 years of real hard work. And it's so wonderful to see someone who's so hard, but is so naturally gifted and has brought us such fabulous music. Do so well. So you're so proud of her. I can't remember whether I've talked about this on the podcast before. So if I have, please forgive me. But I saw her when she was supporting the fisherman's friends. I think I probably have.

But she just so that people are aware. where when COVID was happening, she was so frustrated as an artist, she so wanted to be performing and have an audience that she got a van and she did it up with her friends. And she drove around the country and she played wherever there was an opportunity. And she set up her van outside in Cornwall,

overlooking Watergate Bay, a stage. And she performed before Fisherman's Friends did a gig. It was one of the first gigs I went to after COVID. It was the first gig I went to after COVID. And Olivia Dean was there. And the van was like really vivid, lurid colours. I think it was pink and green. and it was just completely compelling to watch her.

And she performed. No one knew who she was. Nobody knew who she was. But that's the tenacity. That is why she is where she is now. That's why she's just won a Grammy. She just wants it. She's got the talent and she's put in the hard work.

They're amazing. So, so proud of her. And also, I just must shout out to Youngblood and the Osborne family because they went on and paid tribute to Ozzy. And I think it was best live performance. When he sang Change, at the incredible celebration of Ozzy Osbourne when Ozzy was still with us

and to see Sharon up on the stage and Youngblood said, you know, Ozzy meant so much to him and that was a really lovely moment as well especially for Ozzy's family. You could see the relationship between Youngblood and Ozzy on stage when that gig happened.

And it's almost like he's become part of the family because you see the photographs on the red carpet and you can see the pain in all of their faces. Jack is being stoic. There is Sharon and Kelly and they are just in such anguish all the time. time and Youngblood is there. It's like he's just holding them all together. He's this pillar and he's being silly and he's being funny and he's being strong and it's such so impressive

from, you know, to watch I think to witness and all the, I've never met him. My son has worked with him, Casas and I know a few people who've worked with him and they just say what an exceptionally lovely, lovely human being he is that he's kind and he's polite and he really cares about his fans. And do you know what? It's so great to see some proper rock and roll stars. He is a proper Rock and Rolls Star. Chapel Roan. Chapel Roan. We have to talk about Chaparone. How have we not done this? I know it was a few days ago now, but oh my God. Wow. I mean, she always wears incredible costumes on stage. Watched, you know, her at Reading Festival. I just watched it on the telly and oh my God. She's such an incredible performer, singer and songwriter, but her costumes are phenomenal. And what does she wear on the

red carpet, Joe? Describe it for us. Well, she's wearing some. something, it's kind of an organ piece of material like gauze and it's attached to her body not with straps going over the shoulder or anything but with hooks that go around her nipples. I mean, A, to have nipples that can actually hold a bit of gauze, I would give anything

for that. But I think it was Dina who works on her show said, surely there were people all around her going, don't step on the dress, don't step on the dress. Because, I mean, I presume they're pierced, yes. And so yeah, Dina's absolutely right. If someone stepped on the train of that, oh, that's going to be smart. but she looks incredible. And it's completely see-through and she's got some pants on that you can see through.

My oh my, she looks fabulous. Yeah, sensation. She really, really does. We've been trying to convince Jo to take a T-shirt off and use her dungaree hooks. Yeah. In a similar fashion this morning, but she doesn't seem to be up for it. No, they'd be hanging quite a lot lower if I tried to attach them to my nipples. They'd be kind of like around the waist.

So that's not a good look and nobody needs to see that. Gosh. I do not have the body of Chaparone. But yeah, the fashion was amazing. The Grammys. I know, you know, it's been, it was a lovely thing to start the week off with looking at all those amazing looks that everybody had. Lady Gaga. Very Gothic in black.

Yeah, she had all feathers. And that was on the red carpet. And then when she performed, she had this amazing, like, umbrella hat over her head, which was great. And Justin was back. Justin Bieber. We should talk about Justin Bieber, yeah. So good to see Justin on the red carpet with his wife, Haley. It's the first public appearance they've made together in four years.

Everyone's been very worried about him. They look fabulous. And then him performing, again, in quite a brilliantly bonkers outfit. I mean, the kind of outfit when you, if you're a boy or a man, you're in bed, you're in your boxes, you got your socks on, and then you stumble out onto the stage. And there you are, performing at the Grammys in front of thousands and thousands of people and millions around the world. And that was his look. I mean, they were very nice boxers. He looked great.

Satiny, silky, and he's, yeah, he looked fantastic. When he was on the red carpet and the photographers were all shouting his name and shouting, Haley's name as well. And he just, oh God, he looks such a damaged soul. Like this baleful stare. Like he hates the pressure. He hates the intrusion. He hates everything that's been done to him. And he obviously hates the position. He loves performing. He's an artist. But just, oh my God, when they're shouting his name, you can just see him loathing every single photographer there. That's the downside of fame, isn't it? It's awful when you see people really struggle so publicly and you're like back off. So really brave with him to come back out and get the chance to do what he loves doing,

perform. Yeah. So all in all, an excellent Grammy's quite a lot for the Brits to live up to. But we know Harry Stiles is performing. Anyone else, Joe? Yeah, Harry Stiles so far, we also know that Woolfallis are going to be there. And Olivia Dean. Great. Amazing.

Can't wait see what she's performing, what her speech is like and also what she's wearing. Yeah, it's good. It's going to be great. We're going to take a quick break. If you'd like these episodes, add free, become a subscriber to the Potting Shed. You'll get ad free and early episodes. But most importantly, you'll be supporting this show. To subscribe, head to digitpod.co.com.

UK or tap the link in the show notes. So the Winter Olympics kick off this Friday. And here to tell us who to watch out for. What to watch out for is Amy Fuller, former Team GB two-time Olympian and fresh from presenting at the X Games. Amy, welcome to the show. How are you doing? I am doing so well.

I'm, yeah, chaff to be joining you, girls. We're so happy you're here. Are you as excited as the pay? of us about the Winter Olympics because we've had the Australian Open, which was incredibly gripping. And then I was like, oh my God, what's my next fix of sport? And then, of course, Milana Cordina, is that what it's called? Is that how you say it? It's coming our way. Milan Cortina! It's going to be epic. And I think going into this Olympic Games, it feels a little bit different to any of the other buildups because we have had so much success. My fingers are just

crossed that it continues. I'm literally just fresh back from Aspen, Colorado, and it was the Winter X Games. And that for us in free sports is the ultimate. It's the biggest event globally, and especially two weeks before the Olympic Games. And going into X Games, we knew we had very high prospects, but it was a total clean sweep across the board. So we saw Kersi Muir in ski slope style, clinch gold. Zoe Atkin in ski half pipe, clinch gold. Mia Brooks in the snowboard slope style, clinch gold. So it's like, wow, this momentum going into the games is huge.

It is huge. Even as you say that, those moments of those girls are clinching gold. My arms are like just tingling. Because there's always that fear when you watch, I mean, I watch quite a lot of ski Sunday, so you get to sort of catch up on what's been going on. And when I'm watching, I was thinking it's so close. It's so close to the Olympics.

You know, you're talking about X there, brilliant and amazing. What's the difference with the Winter Olympics? I mean, what do the Winter Olympics mean to the athletes? It's just a different scale. So as an athlete, we have the opportunity to compete in world championships. If you're one of the lucky chosen ones, you will compete at the end. X games and they are the pinnacle of our sport. But then you have the Olympic games and the Olympics

really is just the most incredible showcase of our sports. So it's the chance that we have as athletes to show the world what we do. And I think especially with the free sports, you know, we've seen in the Summer Olympics the introduction of surfing, skateboarding, BMX and then on the winter side, we've got the snowboarding, the free skiing. And these. These are sports that are slightly different that people start purely because they love it. It's not like you go through a talent identification process. They are cultural sports that have now become Olympic sports. So the opportunity as an athlete to first and foremost represent your country on a global

stage, wear that kit and showcase your sport, it's just huge. You go from no one caring about your sport for four years to suddenly everybody knowing and being an expert in every single thing you do. So it's game changing. It's an amazing platform, isn't it, to showcase. And it's just they're very, very, like you say, the freestyle stuff is so exciting to watch. Amazing artistry as well. Let's kick off what the conditions like there. So as the athletes are heading there, what can we expect?

Yeah, so I actually headed out to Lavinio just before Christmas. It was really cool to see how they've essentially expanded this tiny little mountain town. So in the freestyle disciplines in Livigno, you have essentially four giant segments of pieced, which all come down into this mega corral area. So as a spectator, you're going to have border cross, half pipe, slope style and the big air all in one venue. So it's going to have this mega magnitude of. of energy because they all feed into one. So say you've bought tickets to go and watch the big air,

you then could see the slope style an hour later. So it really is going to build a very strong base for spectators. Conditions-wise, I think they've had to blow a lot of snow. This year in Europe, we had early heavy dumps in terms of snowfall. And then I'd say it's been a little bit on the dry side. But I think the temperatures have been cold, which has allowed them to blow mass amounts. of snow. I was skiing in Austria at Christmas and I watched the amazing way that you can blow snow and create really great slopes for people in. But I was watching quite a lot of on ski Sunday last

night. To be honest, you don't even know what I was watching. I just love it all of it. I never know the names of all the different sports. I love that you guys love it so much. Oh my God. Yeah. And it was quite icy conditions. It's so fun for us to get behind the Brits during the Olympics. Who should we be looking out for in some of the events that you're going to be broadcasting from, Amy? Yeah, I mean, there is so much strength and depth within Team GB. We are going into the games, you know, with the hottest prospects, which of course adds pressure. But I think looking back to the last Olympics in 2022, we didn't have the success that was

maybe predicted. So going into this, I think they're maybe like setting the bar slightly lower, which could mean we hopefully will finish on a high. So definitely the curling. Bruce Maurer, of course, got silver last time. So I think he has his eyes on gold. And it seems as though everybody in the UK just goes curling mad. Of course the skeleton, Matt Weston, is a huge prospect. I actually linked up with him in Bath a couple of weeks ago and had the opportunity to try skeleton. Did you do it? I did it.

Oh, please tell how is it? Is it terrifying? It was terrifying. Literally, imagine going down an ice shoot and your face is, you know, an inch and a half off the ground. And they said to me just before I took off, they were like, yeah, just make sure you don't hit your chin on the flat. So no joke, I was going down like on my stomach. And it's crazy. It takes a huge amount of physicality.

You know, like in yoga, when you're lying on your stomach and you have to bring your shoulder blades back and down? Yeah. So you're in that position for the full run. I have to say, I looked like a baby seal. Like, so that's given me a whole new respect for that. And just seeing Matt's continued dominance. He is on a mission. And I don't think silver or bronze is even an option.

Oh, really? Definitely one to watch. And then on the free sport side of things, you've got Charlotte Banks in Bordercross. She's a world champion. She has multiple World Cup wins under her belt. And then for me, it's the golden trio. So we have Mia Brooks in the snowboarding slope style, which is what I used to compete in.

as well as the big air. She's a world champion in her own right. She has multiple X-Games gold medals. And she is just on a mission. And then Kirstie Muir also, she's just on an absolute tear. These women that we've produced are so strong, both mentally and physically. They really do have the world in the palm of their hands. And then Zoe Atkin in the half pipe, just so much consistent.

across the board. And she's actually studying at Stanford. So she's got the whole educational side going on. And she's taking and implementing what she's learning there from the physics side of things into her skiing. Just on that subject to physics, Ilya, I'm saying his name right, the incredible figure skater who I think is one of the best in the world. He was saying, you know, they were saying he's broken physics. Because by understanding, physics, you understand what you can be capable of whilst putting your body through great forces and twisting it and turning it. It's amazing. This should encourage all kids who are studying physics. You could also be a world champion, skier, snowboarder or ice skater as well. So

yet physics is suddenly sexy. I like that. Yeah, anything to redefine air awareness. I remember when I was 14, 15 years old doing my GCSEs. And I remember statistics actually, specifically for me, learning about spatial awareness. And it was suddenly, I'd gone from staring out the window, past the teacher, dreaming and visualising snowboarding tricks, to suddenly being like, actually, I could be really good at this part of class

because I can implement what I want to do on my snowboard. with this educational space awareness. So, yeah, they definitely do feed into each other. And I actually chatted with Oscar Piastri, a Formula One driver for McLaren. And I remember somebody telling me he was highly intelligent. And it's so interesting, actually, how you can take education and implement it into sports

to be a better, more well-rounded and grounded athlete. So I think that's actually something that isn't, spoken about too much, but it really, really can enhance your performance. I think so much has changed. We were talking, watching the tennis and saying how players are playing for longer in their career, whereas people like Bjornborg retired when he was 26 years old, and now you've got Jokovic still performing at his age. And I think it's all to do with education, learning about the physics and the physicality of bodies and the training or different things you can do to support the body to keep it going for longer and longer.

When it comes to ice skating then and also the skiers, who do we look out for? What have got to get excited about? Definitely, in terms of the skiing and the alpine, it has to be Dave riding. You know, the ski Sunday regular. He is an absolute legend within the sport. Dave riding is one to watch. It used to be back in the day, right? Eddie the Eagle days. Ha ha ha ha. The Brits have arrived. Whereas now that narrative has changed. It's, oh, the Brits have arrived. And we're serious contenders. And Dave is definitely within the mix. He's definitely on the older side. He wouldn't mind me saying that. I call him like the granddad of skiing. Which you'll love. And then in terms of the ice skating, obviously we have speed skating. So Nile Tracy,

I think he's just come off a pretty good season and going in strong. And then as you mentioned, the figure skaters. Do we have a new tour ball and Dean? I don't think we can ever replace them, but they can certainly, Lila and Gibson, create their own name, you know, within this space. Brilliant.

Can I also say, Amy, to all of you fantastic guys on the slopes, on boards and skis, thank you for inspiring everybody because my lovely nephew, Louis, he loves skiing so much so that that's where he wants to go,

that's what he wants to do, and I know he will be glued to watching you guys. and enjoy it. Amy, you're going to have so much fun and we can't wait to watch your broadcasting, bringing us all the highlights. It's going to be unreal. Bring on the opening ceremony. I can just imagine inserting myself into the athlete's shoes. That is such a special moment, getting to wear that kit with pride and walking out under the flag.

It's a moment in every athlete's career that you will never, never forget. Aren't the guys from heated rivalry walking out and carrying someone's flag, I think? They aren't they carrying a torch or something, aren't they? A torch. I don't know. They're representing. It's incredible, actually. I think we're going to see a lot of that moving forward in the Olympics is like where we're seeing music and big role models come together to enhance the games and also get more eyeballs on it. Because it's so cool and you're cool. Thank you, Amy, for talking to us.

Thank you so much for having me. And come on Team G. We can all the way. So, changing, me. Come on. There is so much to look forward to. Amy, thank you so much. And you can catch every moment of the Winter Olympics, 2026, live on TNT Sports and Discovery Plus from Friday.

Hey, how about there's so until now? So this is where we take photographs of our gardens, all of us collectively, all our diggers, and show each other of what's going on. And it's going to get more and more and more exciting. It's going to get more vibrant. We can have lots of flowers. So I'll go first. And my offering is my six. which I tried to take a photograph of.

Photographs will never do them justice because they're so beautiful. The pink is the most gorgeous pink. It's a little bit like an ice gem. It's a really intense dusky pink. So they're all coming up around my trees in the orchard that we've got. They look lovely. Snowdrops are appearing all over the place because I've had the mulch put it down. So the soil is really dark.

So everything is just popping and looking really beautiful. The Daphne, I took a photograph of my Daphne just again. It doesn't do it justice, but you can see the pink. And I recommend that to anybody. who wants early colour in the garden and a beautiful scent as well. And I also took a photograph which I wanted to show people

and this is of all my plant supports. It's ridiculous. They're about a thousand, million thousand plant supports but they weren't enough. At the end of last summer I was desperate for more plant supports and I just couldn't buy any more.

So I'm going to have to buy some more but there's a photograph of just how many it takes to prop up our plants, stop them from falling over, put them in the right position. So yeah, it just looks like a tangle of, hundreds of bits of wires and that's exactly what it is. But they're so vital. Staking your plants and supporting them is absolutely vital. They're so vital and I've learnt now when to put them in place,

not when the wind is blown everything over. Get them in place early so the plants can grow around them and they're supported rather than trying to ram them over a fully grown plant to keep them supported when there's some freak wind that's coming that's just mowing everything down. That's so important. Yeah, just people We'll take that away from this episode that you have to put them in really early. As soon as everything's just coming up, get them in place and it will just make everything look so much better. I get mine from Agri Frames, by the way, all those ones that I've got there. It's an investment, but it will absolutely pay off. So our first sow and tell this week from a digger is from Jenny.

She says, this is our pond that my husband and I built last year to entertain us in our early retirement. We've retired together at 55 after 31 years as teachers and head teachers, well deserved. of early retirement, I'll say after that long teaching, it's the most relaxing space and I'd encourage everyone to make a pond. Let's have a look. Oh, Jenny. See, now if you're listening to this, you'll be able to hear the water there. But look at that, Joe. It's a huge space. Oh, there's a huge space. Most pergola going over the top too. You've got the reflection of the light. Hergola, you've got stones around the edge, so obviously all the wildlife can perch and have a little drink. Just that sound, it is so true, isn't it, if you do manage to have a water feature, even if it's really small, that there's something about the sound of music. The hills and alive. The burbling away. But the sound of music, yeah, is so comforting. Absolutely. Jenny, bravo to you. And retiring at 55, how fabulous.

Do you think you'll retire, Joe? I don't think I will. I can't. No, I've got more and more people keep saying to me that they're thinking of retiring and I'm like. The opposite. It's just, yeah, the opposite. I mean, while there's fun stuff to do, I will keep on doing fun stuff. What about you?

Yeah, well, I've just had a bit of time out and I have to say that I will be working for a lot longer because I think I run a bit mad. And now, having thought I was going to have a really quiet time, I've suddenly getting loads of lovely jobs come along that are really. quite unexpected and really fun. So yeah, I keep looking at my god and thinking, oh, there are these things I was going to do. And I've only done like a couple of lessons of my course that I was doing because suddenly loads of works come along. But I had a bit of time out, which was really lovely. It's almost like having a sabbatical, had a little break and now I'm getting back to it. So, yeah, not retiring anytime soon. But when I do, I will be taking on projects like doing a lovely pond, just like Jenny. And you enjoy your retirement, Jenny. You deserve it. Okay, we've heard also

from Jules who sent us this video and she says, after you'll mention of the Digit Dibber, I had to send you this. Oh my God! What is this? Oh my God, it's a speculum, is it? It's a speckylam. It's what you do, a smear.

No. Is that a speculum that you used to give a woman a smear? I think it is. And it works perfectly as a seed planter. So instead of going inside someone's vagina, it's going into the ground and you're putting some bulbs in there. They are flourishing. It's an alternative.

for a speculum. What the hell? Watching that video, as she opens the speculum and screws it open, I want to cross my legs. Thank you very much. Because it reminds me of that moment where the doctor says to you, just relax. It's going to be a little bit uncomfortable, at which point you can never relax. And then as they turn the screw thing and then they do the scrappy thing in the middle of your insides. But, I mean, apart from the fact that I'm wincing and anyone listening to this or watching it, will also be wincing if you're a woman. What a genius idea.

When you go for your smear, do you say, do you have any use for that afterwards? Can I take it away with me? Maybe that's what should happen. God. Okay. Crate digging. Have you been digging in your crate? What have you been digging in your crate?

Oh, I have. By the way, loved Tyler Ballgame on your show the other day, obsessed with him. Amazing. Oh, God, he's incredible, isn't he? Fascinating guy as well, really. And on stage, Tyler Ballgame, this is who we're talking about, is just like this ball of energy, he's a big guy, and he just moves around the space. And he's really, really powerful, powerful performer.

So I'm glad you liked it. How'd you in session? Yes, fantastic. Who have you got? That would be great. We love Richard Hawley. I adore him. Oh, yes, we do.

This is wonderful. These are little bangers from Richard Hawley's Duke Box. It's Volume 2. He's done another of these albums. It's a double album. And he's just found some amazing jukebox gems. And inside tells you all about each track. some amazing rock and roll and rhythm and blues tracks there.

So Richard, thank you for another absolute gem. And sort of another beaut that I'm loving is Highways of Diamonds found this. It's just come out. Black America sings Bob Dylan. Some amazing Bob Dylan songs sung by Nina Simone, Solomon Burke, Cassandra Wilson, Mary Clayton. If you love you, Bob Dylan, you will love this. A couple of real gems to get on your record player this week. And I'd really love to say thank you to.

the today program's Emma Barnett. Fantastic journalist. I love Emma. She is a wonderful last, I've loved her since first started listening to her on Women's Hour. And she's got this wonderful project of colouring books from different cities that she's done with a friend of hers. And just pop my glasses on. They've got colour. It's colouring books for a little bit of mindfulness, you know, when you just need a little moment of calm and,

Yeah, and quiet. And they've got them from Tumberidge Wells, Oxford City of London, Norwich, Liverpool. And she has sent me colouring Brighton. Oh. And you get some fabulous pencils. They've got the town hall. As you can see, it's only just arrived in the post. So I haven't started colouring it yet, but it came with fabulous pencils.

So Emma, thank you very much because some of the most beautiful sites are Brighton, including the lanes, including the clock tower, where I always meet my daughter when we go shopping, including the pier and the bandstand and of course the Royal Pavilion. So I will be colouring that in. Emma, thank you very, very much. I love colouring in.

I find it so peaceful and, like you say, mindful. Because I can't draw. Coco's doing an A-level at the moment said the table is just art. And I just watch her like, just drawing free hand, colouring in, doing oils.

I'm like, I can't understand how you can possibly do that just from your eye and your hand. Colouring in, love it. If it's got a number, you know, colour by numbers, even better. Just so I don't have to think. Do you keep it within the edges? Because I know, I start well, but then because I am a little bit haphazard and frantic in my way,

sometimes I do it a little bit rough and go over the edges. No, I wouldn't like that. You wouldn't like that, would you? No. No, I'd tear that page out. I knew that. I love you, Wiley. I'm just going to shout about the Olivia Dean album because people are going to be aware of it from the Grammys.

You're going to see her at the Brits. and she's having one hell of a year. So this album is called The Art of Loving. If you haven't yet, listen to it, do it, because it's really, really great. And then you'll know what all the fuss is about when it comes to seeing her at the Brits when she cleans up. And then new artists, so I don't have the physical copies to hold in my hand.

But there's a band called Big Special, who I really like. There's a song called Slug Life that I've been playing on my show, which is great. And they're tremendous live. There's an artist called Dove Ellis, who I've mentioned before, has been supporting geese. and he's got new material coming out. So Dove Ellis, remember that for the next six months or so. And then, like, the most gorgeous name and the most beautiful voice, Blossom Calderoni.

Wow. She's a singer-songwriter, Dead Young, just exquisite. She's a name that I want you to look out for for the next year or so. So Blossom Calderoni. And that's my offering for the crate. Thank you, Joe. And that's it for this week. Yes, enjoy the rest of your week.

I am actually going to start right now with my colour in Brighton. by colouring in the beach. But don't look too closely, Joe, because I may go over the edges. No. I'm a good week, gorgeous. And you too. I'm off to try and find a puppy,

but more about that next week. What? On that bombshell? Clifhanger. You little teeth. Digit is a Persefonica production.