Miss Me? - Some Very Pressing Questions

Episode Date: March 26, 2026

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens discuss the changing landscape of TV chat shows, British comedy and SNL UK This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits: Producer: Natalie Jamieson Technical Producer: Danny Pape Assistant Producer: Caillin McDaid Production Coordinator: Rose Wilcox Executive Producer: Dino Sofos Commissioning Producer for BBC: Jake Williams Commissioners: Dylan Haskins & Lorraine Okuefuna Miss Me? is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. You're not at the office. You're solving murders in the Scottish Highlands. You're not in your car. You're in a candlelit carriage on the way to the ball. This winter, see it differently when you stream the best of British TV with Britbox. Catch a new original series like Riot Women. New seasons of fan favourites like Shetland. The body's been found. And on parallel collections of Jane Austen, Agatha Christie and Moore. It's time to see it differently with Britbox. Watch with a free trial now at Britbox.com. Dive into the bonkers world of David Mitchell and Robert Webb

and listen to their BBC comedy show. From nonsensical maths quiz number wang to finding out what James Bond is really like as a party guest, there's something for everyone. Hello, MOTT AAT. Yes, that's right. This is the Ministry of Things that are apparently true. Yes, we do exist.

The rumours are true, ironically. Start listening to that Mitchell and Webb's. The Complete Series 1 to 5, wherever you get your audiobooks. This episode of Miss Me contains very strong language, adult themes, sexual content, and some very pressing questions. Want to be with you all of the time. Hello, darling. Hello, everybody. Welcome to Miss Me.

Why don't you ever say hi to me first? Because we don't live in that world anymore. Say hi to me. Hi, Mekita. Hi, J. How you doing? I'm actually having an amazing day because... I went earlier to get some rice because my dog's got a poorly stomach

and then when I was in Morrison they were playing Don't stop moving by Club 7 So the day Actually made my day The day started well Actually made my day What a banger

Oh Bradley from S Club 7 Yeah, a common Bradley's a G He knows he's a G I remember getting him on He did like a VT for Don't Hate the Players When I said it He's absolutely legend

Bradley from S Club 7 He was the Adlib guy bro, that was barefaced, that was from racism at its peak. That was like pure, that was like concentrated British racism. It was like, welcome to miss me.

How are you, well? Year. How's everyone? Yeah, come on. No, to be fair, a lot of people were guilty of that year, come on.

In the early Nazis. If you were in a group, you had to have someone of colour in some way, and if there was an opportunity, they would be rapping. Even if they didn't have that skill.

Even if they weren't interested in it. At the very least, you got to do summon black. Simon Webb, I'm looking at you. You know what? That's a good point. I don't know if he did. Simon did. He was the worst culprit of bar rapping.

No, he didn't do rapping. In pop songs, yes, he did. Oh, did he really? Throw your hands in the air with him. Oh, the adlibs. Oh, the adlibs at the very least. They're like, Simon, Simon, this song just needs something. Can you just, we need to appeal to that American.

Anyway, we missed those healthy in days. We missed us. Oh, no worries. Was a banger, though. Simon Webb is a G. No worries, no worry. I don't think we can say Simon Web is a G. We might be able to call the episode that.

I don't think we should just say. Why? Simon Webb's. I met him a lot of times. He's a nice man. I don't know about whether he's a gangster. I didn't say he was a gangster. No, G.

Come on, G colloquially. I'm not saying he's just certified. He was in blue. What are you talking about? He's a gangster, though? I have some pop trivia. It's folklore. MC Hammer

puts out the most like fun loving, funky, all-time infinite, can't touch this 80s hip-hop classic. Absolutely. And you literally can't touch him. Because he had the safety net. How the hell are we going to go from MC Hammer to S&L UK?

Has anyone sampled to MC Hammer in the UK? No, do, do, dum. What is that sample of? Oh my God, I'm going to sound like an idiot now. It's probably really obvious, isn't it? There was one year I was really heartbroken. I started listening to a lot of old soul. I could read the Franklin.

Sam Cook, Marvin Gay. I couldn't believe how many R&B hip-hop tunes that I loved that were just total samples of Old Soul songs. I couldn't believe it. Like every song was like, is this one? Super Freak. Oh, that's bad that I didn't remember that. It's super freak-e.

Down, down. Oh, is that what else? Is that what don't touch this is? Yes. Oh, can't touch me. super freak I mean like Sugar Hugue gang is

Queen no Wait hold on Rapper's Delight Yeah Is um wait I can't think of No way Wait me please let me just get this

Please let me just get this Because this is Hip Dumb Dumb Dumb Dum Dum Dum

Oh it's just gonna say Oh it's Um Dumb Dumb Dumb Oh that's gonna piss me off Don't tell us Don't tell us Although this game might be

It is Queen It is Queen Christmas and Crack Oh, oh, oh, wait, I got it. No, I've lost it. But I do have it. I'm sorry, I need to look this up.

I cannot believe, I can't remember this. Oh, sheik! Fuck, it's not even queen. Obviously it's chic. Fuck. Hang on, which sheik song? Hold on. Good times.

Oh, yeah, that's embarrassing. That's like in a pizza hut ever. We should know that. We're honestly, we're so embarrassing. That's embarrassing. It's a good game, though. We should play it in Christmas. Well, who's the sample?

Yes, the sample. But there are more like, there are less obvious ones that I think are like, whoa, do you know what? Yeah, maybe it's a listen bitch. So I was a big fat boy slim fan as a kid. Obviously end up working with him. Anyway, I was a big fat boy slim fan as a kid and that, da-da-da-da-nam bam-bam. What we do we do with it? Right.

I then, when I was a teenager, someone put me onto a rap crew called the Dust Junkies. And I heard that sample. It's so niche. It's like an alt-wrap click that never really blew up. I loved them. But that was Fat Boy Slim's gift, if you will. Because not just to think, a gift, because when I went to his house to interview him. Have you ever been to his house in Brighton?

Yeah. That's what we recorded, yeah. Oh, excuse me. Okay, so we both went to Five Boys Slims. Well, he's got this office with all his, you know, achievements, which I love when people do that with their offices. And he was taking me through his record collection, which is obviously a very, very exciting thing to be like with his record collection.

And he's showed me like the very rogue, random left field record that he sampled for, praise you. Oh, that, the woman who sang, oh my God, shivers thinking about that song. Do you know what she's singing about? Yeah, he told me. What is it again? She's singing about black men from the perspective of a black woman overcoming like the intense, like, racism, oppression, segregation in America. Wow. But she was trying to create a sense.

of like unity and unison and that gratitude that even though obviously everyone at odds of each other but she wanted to create like the momental. There's a video, I mean obviously I'm not doing her words justice here but there's a video of her talking about it. We were just talking about it. It's been a long, long way together through the hard times and the pain.

I want to celebrate. It's such a beautiful man. I feel like we need a couple of them now. Yeah, praise you like I should. We were just talking about it. Me and Natie and Beth talking about love in the face of fear. in the face of hate. Nelson Mandela could do it. It is the hardest thing to do for a reason.

Yes, absolutely. It's so easy to just join in. It's so easy to just get separated. Like, love is the hardest thing to do. But before we go into the recent activities around the world, let's talk about SNL UK. Let's talk about that. Because... You could have done a different segue there. Oh, did that not...

You could have done a different one. You could have done a different one. You could have gone, if you didn't choose to lead with love, So at school you might have been a mean girl. Yeah, I don't like segways like that. Oh, okay, very much. But yes, that would have taken us to Tina Faye, who I can't fucking believe S&LUK managed to get for the first one.

Now, let me be clear. Isn't it her thing? It's her thing. Of course. It's her thing. But that still didn't mean she had to come here and do our UK version. No, no, no. That was a very big coup for the SNLUK people.

And I think this is based on the fact that Lorne Michaels, who is the originate and literally OG person who created SNL because he's there, there seems to be this general energy of like, we are going to do things. Fifty years, God, he must be knackered. God, he's still so ambitious to do this in the UK now. There does seem to be a general energy of let's do this better. Let's do this better.

Let's spend some money on production. Let's do that. Let's spend some money on the set. But... Well, eBay did that, but yeah. Why would eBay do the set? I don't know. You tell me they're the one with the massive logo in the time.

Up left corner. Oh, really? Well, thank you or no thank you. I mean, I... And Sky. You know how I feel about comedy. So I really tried to open up my heart to watching a sketch show.

Oh, yeah, sorry, I love that. You know how I feel about comedy is. I hate comedy. Because I hate comedy. I don't like laughing at things. I love laughing, but I don't like... Laughing with people. I love laughing at.

I love laughing at. No, no, no. laughing with. No, I love laughing with people. Look, I am a general beam of joy. Exactly. But I just, it can't take the pressure. I can't take the fucking pressure. I've discussed it before. Dumb, dum, do, do, do, I was trying to remember what's made me laugh on Saturday Night Live from the past. I do like Dick in a Box. I do like, I'm on a... That wasn't Saturday Night Live. Yes, it was. Dicklebone. Justin Timberlake. Is that not...

Yeah, that's not the second of a Saturday Live. No, it's Lonely Island. They were just a parody group. Stop it. That's so funny though that you thought that was Saturday Night Live. I didn't even just think it was Saturday Night Live.

That's my favorite Saturday Night Live sketch and it's not even Saturday Night Live. It's a song that came out upon Lonely Island the parody group. Oh, it's so good. Start it again. I got it wrong. I was wrong.

I was wrong. But you were right. The Lonely Island were on Saturday Night Live. Fuck. But I didn't, it was not even a butt. That's just the truth. I saw jizz in my pants

was the first song I heard of theirs. It's a standalone video. so I actually never saw them on Saturday Night Live, weirdly. It's like early YouTube Saturday Night Live. I vividly remember hearing that song in my mate. I was like 14, well, it's 14. Peak jizzing my pants era.

Yeah, peakeds in my pants' time for you. You're like, yeah. And then they did a film called Hot Rod. Oh, my God, someone else has this story. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel like at that time, though, that's a really good time for SNL. Because of course, SNL was like that, you know, now we know it's 50 years old,

70s, 80s creating these, like, legendary comedians like from Richard Pryor to, was Richard Pryor S&L? John Belushi. In all seriousness, I've watched very little Saturday Night Live. I told you on the research call what my favourite sketch is

and it's very niche. Michael Shea. Yeah, that is niche. That's too niche for me. He's a black comedian, does a sketch with another guy. Colin Jost? No idea.

But their thing is, their news reporters and they write each other's auto cues. Okay. This is Phoebe that I work with favorite SNL sketch as well. A weekend update is called it's genuinely hilarious.

So that's my first. She said it was. Okay, okay. So I like the heyday of Dick in a Box. And I also like... Also, these have probably aged so badly, by the way. I know, I'm thinking the younger people probably like, Dick in a lot.

But also a great one is I'm on a boat bitch. And I suppose these were sort of parodies of very successful, young musician rock star life. I'm on a boat, bitch. It was good. Oh, God. It was good. shit. No, that wasn't. That was a...

No, the standalone video, I saw that one. They're all S&L. Basically, this is a generational thing. I would have associated them in the S&L. You would have associated them with them being online and then being huge things online. But their origins were in S&L. So 50 years of greatness. Thank you Saturday Night Live. Why come here? Why now? And I suppose that they did sort of try to answer that question. If they were trying to answer that question, what do you think the answer was? The internet.

The internet. There you go. Good answer. Yeah. It doesn't matter where you are. Also, Game of Thrones really normalised the UK. Oh. Like in America.

Oh, yeah, these lot were listening to Northerners for 10 years. They're listening to like Jordy's and Mancunians and people from Yorkshire. Really? You think that Game of Thrones has changed the way Americans and see British people? That's quite amazing. 100%. It might, well, I'm not saying 100%. But I would assume that the doors previously being closed.

But you remember when Cheryl Cole was a judge on X Factor USA? and people were like, what is she saying? Yes, yes, I remember that moment because Steve went with her. That was strange X-Factor USA. Yeah, Welsh, another language. You know what I mean? They were like, who are these people?

What are you saying? Why are you talking in tongues? Are you possessed? So now I feel like they've normalized that a bit. Well, then we do this. We come here, we start in England, but we start with an American. And I think that's to give it the kind of cement.

Oh, you're talking about a whole bit. I think starting with Tina Faye was to give. to cement the idea that this is part of the American one. But the Americans approve that the Americans are part of this to give us some of that gleam and glamour. Fine, I get it. But I didn't love what she, I didn't love her opening.

I like the end of it. With Graham Norton when he's come on and she's just rattled through British heritage, phenomenal scenes. Don't you think that is such a lazy type of humour? Like the American who doesn't really know about English humour, but it has to say it anyway. I don't feel like she did.

British deep cuts, you know. I just remember on a lot of TV shows in the past, it would always be like, let's get 50 cent to say something English that he doesn't understand. It's like, that's not funny. I know, but that was, I hear it if that was the joke. I think the idea, if the joke is that she does understand

and she delivers it, I mean, look, I was into it. I also, again, my expectations are so low. Those kind of shows, no, no, but those shows are like, you know, what I'm expecting from that show is happy, it's clappy, I was into it. Like, most monologues, it's quite rare for those monologues to be fun, and they're normally fun where the person,

and just rips the shit out of themselves. So it's like... I like Graham Norton's monologues. I always really laugh at those. What we need to do now for it to be fair is we need to take Saturday night takeaway to US. What with Adam? Yeah, and they have to do the original...

They have to do it, and then you've got to like get some pranks in or whatever they do on that show. It's funny though, isn't it? It's funny things that translate from us to America and America to us and they're things that just don't. And you never really know why some things do and some things don't.

Like, why Game of Thrones works so well, but X Factor, USA didn't. Like, I don't know, there's no rhyme or reason. But I don't know how successful SNLUK will be, but my God, they are, their energy is this has to work. There's like billboards everywhere. And they very much are basing this on the internet business model of let's put clips up and see if they fly. And I guess we'll see. I guess we'll see. I think that's the only way it could really saw. It's been up for a day and I think Donald Trump tweeted the one about Kirstama. I know. Oh my God. I know.

Fucking wild. He just has to get in on the party, doesn't he? It was funny, though, the sketch. It was very unfunny that it was tweeted by Trump. But like, the sketch was great. But, you know, just knowing that, like, Emma Ciddy, for example, was part of it, gave me confidence that it was going to be good because I've seen Emma with an improv troupe put together by Kyle,

who's been on Miss Me, it was a guest presenter. With Lil, yeah. And they are out of this world. It's called Cool Story, Bro, the show he puts on. And, like, I look at it, I would have to do practice to get into the speed of which these people can run off. Because an audience member would just tell a story, and then they just bang, like, bang, like this,

and they just improvise an entire... I can't... See, this is incredible. That kind of comedy, really. Improvisation, that is scary. It's so funny and so impressive. But you know, SNL could have done with a bit more improv. I mean, it is like.

That's not really what the model's based on. Oh, right, sorry. Nat's just, sorry, I'll produce to Nat. She just said that two million people have watched Tina Fey's monologue. So, you know, if the world is driven by numbers and popularity, I guess it's a roaring success. For the UK, yeah. No, I just hope it doesn't fall down the whole of something like Friday Night Project, because, like, it all starts very exciting.

Like, Mariah Carey's here. And then by episode six, it's like the guy from the in-betweeners or something. Savage. Savage, cool out there. but it's hard to keep up. I love all the actors really in between us. But Graham Norton's sofa has been keeping British television alive. That's guests.

Getting someone very famous to host this every week. I hope that they can do that. Are you talking about skill? Are you talking about, I'm confused, sorry. I'm talking about booking capabilities. But, okay, so for example, the next two UK hosts are Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed. Yeah, no, we're starting fucking beautifully.

I just, let's keep this up. But we've gone and done them. Harry Stiles did it So what we get one of theirs as well In like four weeks, whatever If we get some Americans from over there But I don't think they'll give us any American actors I don't see Tom Hanks coming to do SNL UK

I'm 100% think American actors will do Some of them live here Let's put a tenor on it And see what happens Who's the one who was on Winkleman show Rachel doing a Vita She'll do it, boom There's one

Rachel Weiss will not host Oh Rachel Zegler Also Rachel Weiss would What'd mean she wants She would not host to SNLUK. Why not? Let's see how it goes. I have interest.

Literally, why not? I don't want to be mean, but I see it as something that's really hard for us to keep a hold on in this country. When we start like, A-list celebs, it never lasts. Are you just basing this on Friday Night Project? I'm not even sure a Friday Night Project is. What are you basing this on? No, I'm actually interested. What are you basing this on?

No, I actually am basing this on Friday Night Project. Just because, from my perspective, from my perspective, from my perspective, like it's not that confusing in terms of Americans or stars come to the UK, they do promo runs and then the promo runs, I've seen people chatting to like, you know, I've seen like Michael B. Jordan on like Kiss, radio.

Like the people do promo runs in the UK it's not like mad and some clips go nuts. Grime Gran, Gran, was with Kim Kardashian the other day asking her if she likes a bacon sandwich or something. Grime Grand is an absolute institution by the way. Institution's quite a good word for it. Yes, we hope for the best. I think that's amazing that they've got Jamie Dornan

I think it's different nowadays because literally anything you do anywhere in the world can be a clip for you. So it doesn't. So people aren't as, they're not like, oh God, I've got to go and do this local radio promo. It's like if the cameras are good, the production is high quality. It's of benefit. It's for your brand. And people, when people try and sell films, you're competing with like everything in the world now. So people actually go that extra mile.

Bro, look how many actors have had to go on social media to promote films. I know. I find it upsetting. It is, but it is what it is. People got respect for the UK market, I think. UK brings out a lot of talent, man. And also, I want to shout out the UK comedians, man. We can, we're funny.

Oh, I wanted to say, I didn't recognise a fucking name. So they must all be brilliant because I don't know anything about the comedy world. So I was like, they must all be hot shit. I don't know anyone. Yeah, it's great. I mean, this isn't my world. No, but they were all been in writing rooms and doing like little parts. But like British comedy has been on it.

Poor, it's been struggling for a minute now, like in terms of, Has it? You know, we had the sitcoms and then we had like the sketch shows. And then we had now recently, for example, the best comedies are the comedy dramas. For example, obviously Jack Rook's Big Boys, Unbelievable show, which fell under comedy to get commissioned, I think, probably. Because it's, anyway, that's a whole other political thing. But obviously delivered as a drama, you know. So, but it was hilarious.

Genuinely laugh out loud, loud, funny. But it's hard to get things across. It's hard to get things bought because no one has the money to take risks anymore. And playing it safe in comedy is just not fun. It's not the one, is it? No. And sorry if there are some comedy shows I've messed out there at the moment. By the, I don't really watch TEDE at the moment,

but I don't want to be deep to someone who's on there now. There was an article in Variety magazine that said, when SNL was good is when it fell into being darker and more surreal. And I thought, well, actually, for me, darker and surreal comedy is like League of Gentlemen. Oh, don't. Honestly, nightmares. Did that not scare the shit out of you as a kid?

I could not, I didn't have any energy left to be, to laugh. I was just the terror. I'm so scared. It was just this underbelly of darkness and surrealism that we're very, very good at in this country. I have no memory, just fear. Just fear. Genuinely, the noses sent me. I was done.

But do you know what I mean, though, in terms of the comedy, though? I don't know. What's the equivalent nowadays of the In Betweeners? Or what's the equivalent of the far show? What's the equivalent of Smack the Pony or Green Wing? Teachers. Oh, teachers! Don't!

Actually, that takes me very nicely into current rehashing of this life. on BBC 4. Have you ever seen this life? Do my Andrew Lincoln again? Yes. Yeah. You best believe I am. Because it came on the other day and Jordan, I, when I stopped going to school, when I was, the second time I stopped going to school and I was like 13, my mom was like on GLR.

So she was, our house was full of books and DVDs of things she was talking about on the radio. And she had this whole box set of this show called This Life. And every day she was like, watch that show, you'll love it. And I was like, I don't have time. I don't care about these lawyers in Southern. Look, finally watched it. It is the best writing. It is one of the best series about young people and London

and what our city looked like and felt like. I'll be into it. I think I watched it when I was a kid. Watching it even back now. It's just, there's so much I didn't realize. It even preceded the Sopranos in that idea of like using therapy as a way to... It preceded the Sopranos. Was in the late 90s?

Yes. This life's more like 96. What? Oh, I did it. I definitely didn't. I mean, I was four. Yeah, yeah, it was time ago. Because this is its 30th year anniversary. Yeah, that's why it's on BBC 4.

Wow. It's on this thing, Jordan, it's on this thing called Eye Player. Do you know how to find that? Yeah, it's on I play. It's this thing called I player that I love. And it's, if someone is thinking, oh, this sounds interesting, I've never watched that. Get ready for your life to change because it's just brilliant.

And it was Amy Jenkins that wrote it. And she was really young female writer. And it's just the writing. She just knew how to write black men, gay men, queer life. divorce about football, the law, London, drugs, sex. It's fucking brilliant. It's great.

Should we have a little break? I want to go sit and think about the brilliant days when TV made things like this one. I'm really nervous that I've insulted like the last 10 years of British comedy. Well, why don't you do a bit of research in this break and just see how you can come back and... Yeah, okay, I will.

Dive into the bonkers world of David Mitchell and Robert Webb and listen to their BBC comedy show. From nonsensical maths quiz number wang to finding out what James Bond is really like as a party guest, there's something for everyone. Hello, MOTT, AAT. Yes, that's right.

This is the Ministry of Things that are apparently true. Yes, we do exist. The rumours are true, ironically. Start listening to that Mitchell and Webb sound, the complete series 1 to 5, wherever you get your audio books.

Welcome back to Miss Me, your trusted friends, here at Miss Me Towers. Oh, hello. Sorry, I was doing research game on British comedy in the last 10 years. Jordan's just going to do a bit of research in case he offended anyone that's made some bloody brilliant British comedy. Oh, shit. What about that guy who is a great comedian? Oh, this country was hilarious. Oh, my God. No, fuck it. Ghosts. No, I didn't like ghosts. But this country, I know Charlotte's in it and my mom loves it.

Ghost is brilliant. It's just not really for me. Wait, hold on. But this country is us out our best, right? Fleabags is heading a comedy. Sure. Of course, flea bags are comedy. Brassick, my friends say it's absolutely top tier. Joe Gilgan, what a legend. Yeah. Is he Woody in This Is England? Yes, in This Is England?

Yeah. And he's... I love that guy. Rudy and Misfits? Is he called Rudy? God, we're really nostalgic about TV today. You're right. We might have to retract that.

Motherland is fucking excellent. And so is Amanda Land. Feel good. I'm in Feel Good. You are in Feel Good. Sorry. I'm just wanted to reinstall the fact that I was... Do I mean?

Maybe I was over simple. The comedy landscape. People would hopefully agree with the idea that there has been amazing British comedies in the last decade. However, I don't think it's had the same, people haven't had the same freedoms maybe. I don't know, maybe there's had to be other inns.

Maybe how many people have been introduced in the last 10 years? I don't know. These are all pressing questions. I don't know. That's such a sweet sentence. Yes, it's the comedians I was a bit worried about because I do have this.

Maybe it's because I've worked in TV a long time when it's been hard, and I've worked on shows where we've had to book people every week and it's been really fucking hard. So I was very impressed by the Claudia Winkleman sofa. The sofa that actually Jordan wants to make love to

if you want to know more about his private feelings about Claudia Winkleman show. Because of the colour. You said you just want to bathe in it. I love that sofa, yeah. Just want to be adored by that sofa. Deep green. But actually, the bottoms that were upon it

were first show, okay, Jennifer Saunders, nice. She doesn't do chat shows that often. She does quite a lot of print interviews, but not really chat shows. And she can be quite serious. And she trusts Claudia. And you could feel that. She was great. Oh, yeah. And then it was Rachel Zegler, no? Was it Rachel Zegler? How many episodes have there been? I saw Rachel Zegler.

There's been two. And Mabin. Oh, my God. He was jokes. That was good. So it was Jeff Goldblum, Jennifer Saunders. What's going on with Black British comedy? I feel like that's been... I would not know. I feel like that's been neutered. Oh, and then my friend Nathan, he wrote. that funny hospital one, Bloods.

Oh, fuck, man, I fuck this big time. Bloods is really good audition for that. And there's plebs. Oh, my God. Oh, I like Clebs. There's some great Black British comedy. I will say, though, I do think Black British comedy has an especially difficult time.

Being allowed to comment on anything, other than being silly, you're not allowed to push outside of those boundaries. And also, London Hughes, she fucked off to America. Yeah, but why do you think I can't stand things like big nasty? It's like there's only way for one way. because it just feels like

it's nasty cockat rickshays No no no no I'm just saying it feels like There's only one way A black man is allowed to be represented On British television No definitely but women have different Sort of ridiculous monstrous guys Is that they have to inhabit

This sort of ediacy I know that man is not an idiot I'm talking about this fourth idiocy But yeah I know you're saying It's safe sometimes he's funny Yeah it's just yeah And condescending and patronising to every other black man in the world

who doesn't roll like that. But anyway, let's not go down that road. The tea is piping. Yes, great, great guest, moody's set. I feel like Claudia's a really smart woman, right? Her mom's Eve Pollard, for God's sake. Her mom's like a renowned journalist. And it feels like she comes from a house of intellects.

And she's always been very smart. But I can't imagine the pressure that's on her with the whole country watching her because, unbelievably, unbelievably, this is the first time. A woman has been given a late night chat show Or the second. Lily, no? Lily Allen and Friends.

If Lily Allen and Friends. It was big at the time, though. It's the only other example we have. I think it might be. Devena, but was that late night? No. Either way, it's slim pickings if you're looking for a pool of research to compare what Claudia is doing to.

There's no other, there's nothing to compare it to you because women have not been given this opportunity. I really didn't realize that. What we're given... That's actually really true. What we're given is daytime shows. But do we not feel that loose women could be on at 7pm? And if so, why not?

That's my question. So many pressing questions today, Jordan. Who's the British parkey? The female British parkey. This is what I'm saying, Jordan. This is exactly what I'm saying. You're trying to say to me, women can't ask investigative questions?

Emily Matilist. If it goes mateless for fuck sake, come on. No, see, that's an interesting angle. News night. No, that's an interesting angle. What we have done is give women the space, to be inquiring dangerous, I dare say, and smart and intellectual and powerful. We have given that to them in news in this country.

That's interesting. Still not on balance at all, I don't think. Not on balance, but these women are Victoria Derbyshire. Okay. Nagumichetti. I did a house of games of her. Okay, second. But she's not got her own show.

I'm not saying that this pool is overflowing. You're right. But we have, there are more, there are some more examples. I wonder what it is about the late night chat show set up that the world feels is a place for men because this also happens in America. Yeah, so same in America, they don't have them at night. So what is it about women at night time on the television?

Loose women is on at that time because women are at home at that time. In the patriarchal, in like the traditional capitalist patriarchal setup, the man's at work. So when the woman's at yard, the women are on telly, and then the man gets home late night. For his TV, these shows. And then the men are on tech, yes. And also that means the women watching loose women and even the women hosting it can all get back to make dinner.

Yes. Although Taylor Tomlinson has taken over as the late, late show host. So maybe we're seeing a shift. Maybe Claudia and Taylor are at the forefront of everything being about to change. Who knows? Stranger Things have happened. Apparently she only lasted two years. Oh, so it's not happening anymore. No, but it is a signification of there being a shift though regardless because certainly in the UK well in the West you know there are more opportunities for there to be well to be honest the same more opportunities a lot of people

have both people have to work now so you know there would be more scope for there being a late night woman yeah the economy is in crisis we all have to work more now I wonder how that will reflect who hosts our late night talk shows but that is mad though I didn't even I mean obviously it's obvious now I think about it but that is crazy

isn't it that park he's on because the man's got in from a late night and he wants to see him to chat into a boxer. You know what I mean? Having a whiskey and set. I was going to see if we could play a clip of this interview that Helen Mirren does in the 70s on, I think it's on Parky. And Parky's not sleazy.

He was never sleazy. But maybe it wasn't Parky. I don't want to put Parky through. I don't think it was, you know. I think I know the clip we're talking about. I don't think it was him. They talk about her tits. Wait.

Who insulted Helen Mirren? But let's be honest, in the, if we're talking about 70s. No, wasn't that dick guy? If we're talking about late night 70s TV. It was Michael Parkinson. It was Farki. There's no way of dealing with it. It was one-on-one.

She called him a sexist old fart. Oh my God. Oh my God. But you know what? I bet he never did it again. I bet because, you know, I've seen him into Bob Streisand, and bet Midler, and he's not a sleaze. I bet Helen Mirren showed him the way.

It was like, this isn't the one. By the way, Pachies. For balance, she also popped off at Alex Scott on one show for calling her feisty. Okay. So, Helen will never change, and we wouldn't want her to. Basically, do not fuck with Helen. She's out here. But in all seriousness, though, there was a real, obviously of the time.

But when you look back at it, it is really tough seeing the kind of nature in which a lot of women were interviewed. And also immediacy of the sexualisation of it. Yes, absolutely. I watched this interview with Diren von Furstenberg on David Letterman in the 70s. And she's just made the most, you know, she's like invented this thing called the rap dress, which does actually change the world. And he is so dismissive and condescending of her. the first 30 seconds.

And I realise it's probably because she's making far more money in him. Yeah, something like that, yeah. Something as simple as that. But the thing is he's not being rude. He's just being, being honest and he can be. Yeah, I mean, listen, I love, I also want to end this with, I love a great chat show. Bloody hell, I've loved them since I was very, very young.

And what do we want from our chat shows? We want intellect. We want informality. We want spontaneity, humor. And let's be fucking honest, we want some glamour. So if Claudia can like bring all those things with her at the helm, I think she'll do really well. Because I really trust, I trust in Claudia Winkleman.

I believe in her. And I think there's a lot of pressure on her. And I think she'll do it. I think she'll get better and better every week. Yeah. I don't know what I want from a chat show. What do you want from your church shows, babe? spontaneity, come on.

The thing I like, and the reason why I think Graham Norton has been so successful is because you have a cultural clashes, collisions. between stars and artists and sometimes they excite me. So you'll have somebody hearing the story of somebody else that otherwise never ever would have been in the same room.

That's what I like to know. Yeah, like Tom Cruise listening to Tom Allen. Yeah, stuff like that. That's what keeps me interested. But the other part is that somewhere like Parkinson would be interesting

because that's actually an inquisitive interview but you don't have them anymore because of podcasts. So I get that from podcasts. Yeah, I know, but I really hope the podcast hasn't killed the chat show. It has. No, no, it's killed like the one person chat show. Of course it has. Do you think that we need to start adding a guest?

No, no, no. I'm just saying, no. I'm saying that like if I was going to watch somebody spill their soul, they're probably going to do it on a podcast, is what I'm trying to say. They're not going to do it on. Shit, video killed the radio star. Because when people watch podcasts, more time, they feel at least there's less editing, etc. right. Yeah. So because I did think that. I thought, why is Claudia doing exactly the same thing that, the same kind of model as Graham of having three big guests at the same time? Because that's so Graham's thing. But you're so right, because without that, it's something you could find in a lot of places. Because when it's multiple people telling you can, because obviously they have to produce it, right? So they're like, oh, you tell that story, that person will find it funny. Oh, that person's saying that story and then they're tied together and then whatever. Whereas if you're interviewing someone one on one, I just feel like it's like because of the internet now, you're

you're so aware of time restraints and someone behind the camera doing a freaking wheel with their fingers. Like, no one's going to be like, we got, sorry guys, we've got to throw to the ads. Fuck off. No, no, no, no, like, no, no, like, no, like, no, no, like, no, no, but, okay, but as, as somebody, if I was being interviewed, I promise you, I'm not telling you anything of depth in those moments, because, because I would be constantly, not only aware of an

audience, aware of a time limit, aware of the fact that the editing isn't even necessarily within my control, within my approval, within my approval. Like all of these things would you restrict the truth Whereas if you're in a format where you're just sat there Face on calm Fewer people no one doing the finger motion You can be there free four hours if you want That's where you get truth I think

Yeah it's a different I suppose it's a different kind of outcome Because like Barbara strisand being interviewed by Barbara Walters In the old days just absolutely beautiful shit And I suppose if she was in front of an audience She wouldn't have given the same thing and that now has turned into sort of the intimate podcasting for you. You're right. We've really gone around the houses today.

You've been a bit right. I've been a bit wrong. You've been a bit wrong. I was so wrong earlier. I don't think you're wrong now. I think like, you know, what you want is the glamour. You're not going to get that of podcasts. Yeah, you're right.

I need the hair and makeup. I need the hair and makeup and I need the ad break. I just think people can, I think people can just feel it. That's me anyway. The telly nature of it. The doors opened. That's really quite scary, actually. Someone behind you.

Just stealing your dog. Oh my God. I don't say that. That was fucking scary. Thank you, Charlie. I know I've got headphones in. Jordan. See later.

Oh, my God. Bye. Mickey. That's my worst nightmare that I'm on a FaceTime to a friend and then they go, the door up just open behind you. Oh, there's a guy there. Fucking her. Oh, God, I just aged like 10 years.

It was true. It was true. I don't know what I was to say. Should I not say there's a man opening your door behind you? Always tell me. Always tell me you have a fucking strange fact. opens my door. Okay, I think that's a good time to finish.

No, but we can segue into the fact that the lesson bitch this week is actually doors. That's very good. Very good. That was not with your sister. Oh, well done that. That's very nice. I'll see you for doors.

I love doors. I know you do. The doors. Bye! Thanks for listening to Miss Me. This is a Perse of Fonica production for BBC Sounds. Hi, I'm Graham Norton. And I'm Maria McCirlane.

And we're back to dish out our average advice and so-so solutions to your everyday dilemmas in a brand-new podcast called Wanging On with Graham and Maria. Dear Graham and Maria, I've been happily married for 30 years, but my wife has just started to smell. You're should tell it? Who's going to tell him? We're still not experts.

On anything, really, but we are here to help. Oh, it's good to be back, isn't it? It is good to be back. And look out for wanging on with Graham and Maria. Maria, isn't it is, Maria? Yes, yes, with an A. It's in the title. It's in the title.

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