Off The Telly - "I’ve never seen balls so big on a guinea pig!"

Episode Date: May 7, 2025

Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page chat about all things on and off the telly.Nat and Jo have absolutely loved watching Love On The Spectrum and Race Across The World this week. The jury's still out on whether You is Nat's cup of tea but Jo is excited to see how Joe's journey ends.What they can’t stop watching, what they definitely aren’t going to bother with, new releases and comforting classics – TV is timeless and no telly is out of bounds.As well as having a natter about what’s on TV, they share backstage goss from the world of telly, whilst also cracking up about the more humbling moments in their lives.Self-confessed TV addicts and stars of two of the biggest shows on our screens, EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey, Natalie and Joanna are the perfect companions to see what’s occurring on and off the telly.Timecodes for shows discussed today are:Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to 03306 784704.Hosts: Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page Producer: Becky Carewe-Jeffries Executive Producer: Richard Morris Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Sounds Editor: Arlie Adlington Music by MCassoOff The Telly is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

BBC Sounds music radio podcasts You can subscribe to our pod on BBC Sounds and make sure push notifications are turned on in your phone settings so you can listen to every episode of Off the Telly. Oh, how are you darling? I'm alright. Welcome to Off the Telly everybody. Welcome to Off the Telly. Here we are again. Here we are again. It's been a flipping busy morning.

I feel like I've done a full day's work and I got in the car to come here and I thought I've been, I haven't stopped. With the school runs, with the rushing around. I mean, Joni was very busy. She's got double music, triple French. Oh my god. Which only means 10 minutes of ukulele, half an hour of piano and a couple of mercies and wheeze. But she was full of the joys of spring this morning. Very, very busy. Oh, well that's nice. There's nothing better when you send them off to school and they're

happy and they're all smiling. Then I had a little bit of a, am I too old to wear these trousers? Are you serious? They're lovely! I know, but Eliza has the same sort of trouser. Yeah. And I did think... Mmm... No, I know, I think they suit you. And there's a tendency, like, I was rushing today,

so I literally have just shoved on black dress, Navy jumper, even though it's really sunny outside. Where are your sandals? Because it's 26 degrees today. Well, today I went to put on the trusty sandals. I don't know where they are. They've gone. They are lost.

I have no idea where they are. So I rushed and put on a different pair of sandals. I know. I feel thrown. I don't feel like I'm myself today. I put on a different pair of sandals. And then I went out, because it's been really hectic this morning, came back in and my feet were freezing.

And then I thought, well, I can't cope with this, I'm not comfortable in any other sandal, I'm just going to put some trainers on. So I've got those on which I'm hot with. They do look nice though with the outfit I have to say. Yeah they do look alright and they are comfortable but I don't know where the sandals are. Maybe the dog has got one of them and has taken it out into the garden or something, I don't know where they are. I've got to be honest, I'm not sure if he'd put that in his mouth. It's been so hectic this morning though. Noah's off on a school trip.

Yeah. I've had to get the other two sorted and amongst all of this, I've had to drop two of the guinea pigs off to be castrated this morning. Oh my, I was just about to say, how are the pigs? Well, they obviously they've taken over the whole of our playroom, but we've now got a big pen for them outside with hatchets. So that's outside and that's brilliant. But there are two of them being castrated this morning. So it's really quite stressful because it's like my children and they're big boys they are, right? In both senses of the word. They're all big and chunky and really putting on weight, which I'm loving. They were weighed in the vets this morning. They've put loads on since the last couple of days when they first went of the word they're all big and chunky and really putting on weight which I'm loving they were weighed in the vex this morning they put loads on since the last couple

of days when they first went in and and they're doing really well but I mean I've never seen big boys are we talking big balls? Never seen balls so big on a guinea pig, never seen balls so big on a guinea pig. What sort of size? Maltesers? Maltesers is perfect! Maltesers yes! We haven't got any skittles going here is double Maltesers. That's what's going on. So they've gone in this morning. I'd be worried in your house. You might try and pick them off. Love a Malteser in your house. No. I hope. And so those two of them have gone in and then we've got another two going

in then in a couple of days time and then everybody is going to be done. And I've not told James, but I am contemplating getting a few females to put in as well. A few more? Yes. I haven't told him, but I was talking to the vet this morning. She said they normally live in packs of 20 and somebody she knows in her village

just has them walking around her back garden and stuff. And I was saying, well, what do you do about the kites flying down the bird? And she said, well, their birds are animals of prey anyway. So they kind of sort of scuttle into the, but I thought, I'm not going to be doing that, I'm not going to be doing that because I've got two dogs. So the, and Bess loves moles. So the last thing we want is for a flipping guinea pig to be brought into the kitchen and Bess's mouth. Although she is

a Spaniard, so she has got like a soft bite. It does sound quite chaotic, Jo, I'm not going to lie to you. Honest to God, I feel like I've done a hold up and last night I didn't go to bed until late, which has thrown me off routine, right, because I'm not someone for routine. I go with the flow. No, I know. I know you, Jo goes with the flow. We know. We all know. I feel everything right and normally with the kids, by the time they've come in from school, they've had some food, they've relaxed, they've done maybe a bit of homework or they've

done some spelling or they've done whatever. They've chilled out. Sometimes it can be going on half past 10 and everybody is still milling around. No, it's insane. It's insane. Then they decide they want a bath. Then they want to come down for supper. Then the last couple of days, I thought I'm having a nervous breakdown here. OK, after 10 years, I'm going to instill some order. Well, flippin' heck, it works, doesn't it? My new thing now is 8.30, right, so half

past seven, start heading upstairs. Before you head upstairs though, everybody gets supper downstairs because Bo goes upstairs, she has a bath, she has milk and then she has some water then we read about five books, then she decides that she wants to go back downstairs because she wants supper, even though she's been offered it before. Then she has supper, then she goes back upstairs. Sorry, when you say supper for different people up and down the stairs, can I just understand that? Have you got like a pot of something? No. What is the supper?

Some cereal or it could be like some milk and cookies or it could be a bit of porridge before bed, it could be a little bit of a bit of wheat-a-bix or a bit of cereal before bed, a little bit of toast before bed. Yeah. Is that called supper? Yeah, well it is always in my place. Yeah. Well in Wales you've got breakfast, dinner, not lunch. No dinner is lunch. You've got breakfast, dinner, tea and then before you go up to bed some supper. Okay fine. Yeah. I think that is quite a posh thing. Yeah it is. Quite posh. What the supper? No, all of it. The way you do it. Yeah, but no, the posh version is breakfast, lunch, dinner. And then I... No. It is. Is it? Yes, lunch. So I'm posh. Yeah. You're posher than me because you say lunch and I say dinner for around about 12 o'clock-ish. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. And I would say... Tea then actually sometimes. Tea to me is an afternoon tea. Anyway... Well that's posh as well, because apparently when I first moved into, well not when I went

to drama school, but when I moved like out into the countryside, I was invited round for afternoon tea and I had to ask what time do you want me round and apparently it's known that it's at four o'clock. Three, three-ish. Is it three-ish? Well see look, I still don't know. Four is too close to dinner you see. Yes, that's true. I would say three o'clock? Three, three-ish. Is it three-ish? Well, I thought so. Well, see, look, I still don't know. Four is too close to dinner, you see. Yes, that's true. I would say three o'clock, just for the stomach area. But all of my lot, right, I'll have it in supper still, half past ten at night. I'm up and down those ruddy stairs and I thought I can't do it anymore. So I was like,

right, everybody has supper, then upstairs, if you want a bath, you have it now. If you don't want one, if you don't want a shower, that's it, you're not having one. And then I want everybody in bed for eight o'clock and then settled by half eight. The bigger ones can read for a bit, the smaller two, lights off, you do not leave that room. Well, good God, the first time I did it, me and James went downstairs, both fell asleep straight away. We sat in the living room, we had a conversation. We actually talked. That's amazing. I mean, we can actually sit now and like talk, watch telly, actually, you know, speak to each other. But the past two days we've had that really good. But then last night we didn't

go to bed until really late. Then it was up this morning with the guinea pigs. And so yeah, I feel like I've done a lot this morning. Well, we've got a bit more to get through. Yes. So we better crack on. Come on, let's do it. Now, before we get into the shows, we've had so many voice notes from you all about hilarious bloopers, silly TV moments and shows that will make you laugh out loud. So I feel like we need to enjoy

a few more together. Yes. Okay. Hi girls. It taught me ages to think of a TV mishap that wasn't people falling over on this morning or saying naughty words and things like that. And then I remembered on The Chase when Bradley Walsh got the giggles at the name of Fanny Schmeller. And then that seemed to haunt him for ages because it was just so funny like he couldn't get it together. And then this year he was on Michael McIntyre's big show on the Midnight Game show, which is just the best idea ever. And she turned up and he was there, like in his pants, like wrapped up in his bedclothes, facing this woman whose name he'd found hilarious. And she had to correct him and say it's actually pronounced Fanny Shmila. And it was just the most ridiculously

humbling moment. It was brilliant. The other thing I want to say for a go, I've got a bit of a catchphrase from your show. Let's have another one. I love it. I say that all the time now, mainly about biscuits and Easter eggs at the moment. But yeah, let's have another one. I love it. I love that voice note because I love both of those clips. I remember Fanny Schmiller going into Bradley's bedroom and it being really funny. I mean, it is a brilliant name, but you couldn't keep it together on the trains. But he's always laughing about stuff, isn't he?

He does laugh. Do you think Fanny's mum and dad thought, let's have a laugh? No. Or do you think they didn't know? No. No. I bet they didn't because she must, she's German or something. Yeah. I remember her in a skiing outfit.

Yeah, me too. And she was so sweet, wasn't she? Really sweet. But I mean, oh my God. Very good. I love it. I love it when he's in fits of giggles on stuff. And as for your other comment, let's have another one.

Hi guys, it's Sarah from Bromley here, just catching up on your bonus tip and you're discussing things that go wrong on TV. And one of my favourites that I was actually YouTubeing not so long ago to show somebody, and it still has me in tears of laughter, is when Todd Carty took part in Dancing on Ice and on one of his skates he was doing, he could not stop himself I don't think and he ended up going back through the entrance of where he'd come out of originally the skate and it just cracks me up. Oh my god he just keeps going. He just keeps going. He keeps going, he keeps

going. I love Todd, he was so lovely. Is he nice? He was such a lovely person to work with, so kind and so very funny. But I think that clip, that mishap that happened, earned him a fortune. He'd just turn up at things and just go across the stage. Absolutely brilliant. Oh God, it was so good. Why not make something out of a mishap? Yes, why not? I thought he was brilliant. Yeah.

Oh God, it was so funny. So funny. Really funny. Really good. Oh, lovely Todd. Todders. Toddney. Toddney, but you used to call him.

Did you? Yeah. Toddney. Toddney. Oh. I was only small. Yeah, How old were you? I don't know when he left. Maybe 14, 15. God. Something like that. Oh, the good old days. Yeah. We've got one more. Oh, let's have it. Hiya girls. Nat, you said about you haven't laughed so loud in such a long time. I just want to say same feeling but I did watch Jo doing her tour

around Wales on the boat ask her about the wet suit that she put on. Oh my god it was so funny. It made me cry and I want to say because I've not cried laughing at a long time and yes she wore them sandals as well. Loving your podcast. Bye girls. What was the wetsuit story? The wetsuit is when we went swimming with puffins and we had to wear an all-in-one thing right. I remember the hat. Yeah so you put the wetsuit on, well there's a bottom so that goes on so you're completely covered there and it was hard enough to get that on and then there's a thing which completely covers all of your body and then it goes up so it's like all around so I look like a marine or something, a seal, like the fighting

seal and then also the swimming animal seal, right. But to get the whole thing on, they had to get this white liquid, like well basically this lube thing, squirt it all in there, right, which was absolutely flipping freezing when you got it on. But it was just like you were just lathered in it, lathered in it like lard and then to put it on right I just remember I had to go in so I was wearing like a my bathing costume top and I had to go in and I gotta be honest I was quite frightened about going in because I thought I don't know if I'm gonna come out the other end and the woman put it on me right and then I went in it was like going into a really tight black hole right and I went in and I couldn't get out

the other end and it was so skin tight that it was wrapped around me here right so all of this was all in something and my boobs were just hanging out the other end and I didn't know if they were still in my bathing costume or not I was just very aware that my boobs were just out and being squashed out and I had no control I couldn't get to them and I was like I have no idea I have no idea what anyone's seeing and then she tried to pull the thing on and from inside and you know right that I've got quite fine hair and yeah when she put the thing on did it pull it it pulled it and I heard it rip I heard the thing go and I thought oh my god just this front patch I'm gonna look like Queen Elizabeth you know

it's like that's coming off and so then we eventually got it all on and then they put puffins on our heads, which had the microme packing. I did see the puffin on the head. You're lucky you didn't drown. Well I know but and wow, we had so much like rubber on us that they had to put weights around our bellies to weigh us down because otherwise we'd have just been floating up everywhere. That's hilarious. Brilliant.

Yeah. Absolutely brilliant. Well she loved it so. So thank you for your voice note. We have watched a lot of top tier telly this week. We have. Well, a third, I'd say. You Is Back, creepier than ever. We'd expect nothing less because it's the last ever series. They always like to go over the top, don't they? We've watched the heartwarming Love on the Spectrum. I've got quite a lot to say about that. Yes.

Yeah. And the epic Race Across the World. Yes. Which I am absolutely loving. Yes. Shall we start with that one? Yes, let's start with that one. I'm quite excited about the new series of Race Across the World.

Yes. It's in Asia. Yeah. We absolutely loved the series last year. Obviously, we spoke of Race Across the World. Yes. It's in Asia. Yeah. We absolutely loved the series last year. Obviously, we spoke about it on the show. We did. But I do think that they've really, like, pulled it out of the bag this time around.

They're starting their adventure at the Great Wall of China. It's incredible to watch, isn't it? Oh my God, it's amazing. Amazing. So they're in Asia. They're, like, by Beijing. And they're going to finish all the way down at the bottom of India. And already on episode one, just sort of seeing all of the landscape

and the countryside and the people. I think what I love about Race Across the World, and I thought about it again, obviously watching it, I like the fact that the episode gets released each week and you've got to wait for it. I love the fact that it's family friendly. I really enjoy that you're getting to see parts of the world which are so spectacular that I'm not a well-travelled person so it's just really lovely, candy for the eyes. But I think they've done really, really well with the contestants. Oh my God, I was going to say the same thing. I think they've cast it really well.

Let's get stuck in. You know when it first started and you've got the really lovely young Welsh couple, they're obviously from South Wales, they're like 18 and 19. 18? Yeah. Been together four and a half years if you don't mind, since they were 13 and a half, 14. And they're talking about actually arranging the wedding and getting married, isn't that

so sweet? They're really, really sweet. I'm loving them. I'm loving them. Although they did have a little ding dong, spoiler alert. The other thing I love about it, again, it is kind of that big brother, it's an experiment of people. And I just love how people, you're watching different people from different places, different ages, whatever, and how people's brains do different things. You know, they could all take the same route, couldn't they? And I just keep thinking, what would I do in that situation if I was with

Mark? Mark's really good at all that stuff. Yeah. Would you go and go, right, okay, this is the first bit that we're doing. So let's splurge a bit. Let's go straight to the train station or the bus station. Let's get ourselves down there, going all along the coastline or something, the easy route because we just need to get going. Or would you? Like, you know, the two brothers together, the older men, I really like them. And one of them is used to traveling like business class. Brian and Melvin. They're so lovely. Do you know what made me a bit emotional?

Yeah. Because I've got two older brothers. Yeah. I've got Tony and David, one's 60 this year, the other one's 57 in a week or two. But I'd love to see them do that. Oh yes. And I think the reason Melvin and Brian have done it is to kind of, they said that the last time they spent any time together, sort of the maximum in the last 30, 40 years was

three days. And I thought how lovely that they've decided to do it and create this bond. And there's this beautiful moment in the first episode where they get to where they're staying and it is absolutely disgusting. And there's a key in the door and he's like, there's a key in the door. And they've obviously got the same humor because they're from the same family, they've got the same blood and they're just crying with laughter. And Melvin said that they hadn't laughed like that for over 30 years. And he said, that's why we've done this experience together. And it just made my heart melt. I've got a question for you though. What did you think to the sister, Letitia, being able to speak Chinese? I know.

What did you think about that? Cause I had a discussion with Eliza about it. Well, I thought... What did you think? Well, I thought good on her. And after listening, she got on the bus and I thought, oh my gosh, she said she'd been living there for six months. So she had to start learning Mandarin. Yeah. And I thought, oh God, good on her. And then it made me go, Jesus, Jo, you're like mid forties and you can't speak a language. And I thought, why haven't I ever learned to flip in language? I tell you what, instead of like scrolling on my phone,

I'm going to learn how to speak French or something. I'm going to actually learn how to speak a language. And I thought, my God, good on you. That is amazing. Fantastic. You're going to be able to use that, you know, going to be able to find different places. That's really brilliant. But is it fair? Yeah, it is fair. They obviously know where they're going. And I thought to them myself, I thought, God, well, they must know where they're going. I don't think that they're going to have gone out there and then just been dumped and gone, oh my God, we didn't know we were going to the Great Wall of China. They're going to know that they are going

to be... Do you think so? Yeah, I don't think they're going to be blindfolded. There's going to be a point. Oh no, but do you think once they say yes to the show, I don't think they would... But there's going to be a point before they get to the Great Wall of China, right? They're going to go, oh right, oh my God, we're flying to China. Yes, of course. So when they get there, right, with the crew and starting filming and whatever, they are going to get to China. So if that was me, right, and I got to the airport and I was still like, oh my God, James, I don't know where we're going. And then they hand you your tickets, you open them up and you're like, Oh my god, it's China. First thing I would do is I would

go to the newspaper shop in the airport and I would get a learn Mandarin. I want to get just get a quick teach yourself some Mandarin, whatever. I would sit on that plane and I go, right, okay, let's get a bit of homework in. How do I stay? And I was thinking to myself, I want to know how to say bus, coach, station, train, route, car, thank you, please, help, whatever, you know. That's the first thing I would do because there are going to be people have got so many different life experiences. It's true. Well, I said that's what I said to Eliza. Yeah, what did you say? Firstly, I went, oh, that's a bit, is that fair for everybody?

All the other couples that she and I just thought oh maybe that isn't fair because they must know as you apply for a show they've written down all of their skills or where they've lived and whatever and I thought oh have the producers sort of put her in sort of ruffles and feathers because she can communicate and others can't but as Eliza said said, she was like, no, that's not her problem. She's well traveled. She's learned Mandarin, you know, she's doing really well. And I thought, no, you're right. Good honour. Good honour. Yeah. So what do you think about Caroline and Tom? Tom's having a breakdown at the moment because he thinks obviously that he's going to be protected around his mother and he's not at the moment and she's having to take charge. I think they're really, really sweet. Just, do you know what? There is nothing wrong with

them. But for me, there are so many good couples that they're sort of down the list for me. Because I'm really, really into Brian and Melvin and I'm really like Elizabeth and Letitia. And I really like all of them. But for me, I'm really enjoying those two. And I just like the I'm not a competitive person, but I love watching them up, seeing where they are. And I can't wait for it to be on again. Well, there you go. It's brilliant. Catch it on BBC. I play and now at ones out.

Up to will be out by the time this goes out as well. So, yeah, one and two are out. It's brilliant. Think it's going to be a good one. It's going to be a good series. Really good. I'm going Brian and Melvin to him, but they two are out. It's brilliant. I think it's going to be a good one. Really good one. I think it's going to be a good series. Really good. I'm going Brian and Melvin to him, but they're absolutely right. Letitia and Elizabeth will. So, series five of You is here. I've been waiting for it for ages.

Yeah. Joe Goldberg is back. I mean, he's still getting away with murder. I don't know how he's managed to like travel to all sorts of different places. he's still getting away with murder. I don't know how he's managed to like travel to all sorts of different places. He's still getting away with the murder. But I started watching this now, right? Years and years and years ago. Yes. It's based on the novels of the same name written by the author Caroline Kepnes. And I absolutely loved series one, loved it. Yeah. I quite enjoyed series two, and I think three, but then it was like, it was the last series that just went,

but I didn't finish that series, I did the first two episodes, because it's the same story. He meets a girl, he becomes fixated on them, he manipulates things, he works out how he can get into their life, normally he becomes their boyfriend, and then it all goes wrong, and then he ends up, you know, like, well,

keeping them and capturing them and then he ends up murdering them. And then the last- Lovely bloke. Yeah, not the last one, but the last, he was before that. I really enjoyed that one. I absolutely loved Victoria Padretti who plays Love Quinn in it, but she ended up being like his wife and they had a child together and I thought she was brilliant. I loved that series. Victoria Padretti who plays Love Quinn in it but she ended up being like his wife and they had a child together and I thought she was brilliant. I loved that

series but the series just gone, it just ended up losing me. I thought this is getting a bit stupid now. They're just, it's the same story, they're trying to come up with something again and I started on the new series and I haven't been able to get through the first episode. Well I'm sorry Jo, I'm really sorry. I know this is a huge franchise, people love it. Good luck to you. Amazing. It isn't for me.

How much of it have you seen? I watched a bit of series one which I couldn't get into and then when it's so popular and it's coming out and everyone loves it, we decided didn't we to have a little go to talk about it. And I watched halfway through episode one, I feel too old to be watching it, which is probably quite ridiculous. And do you know, I've got two friends in it. So I'm not being rude to them.

Who have you got? Tilly Keeper, who plays Lady Phoebe. Yes, is she still in it? Used to be in EastEnders. Yeah. And she's amazing. I'm not sure, but it says, you know, it says that she's still around. I've seen her on Instagram at the premieres and screenings and she's unbelievable and I love her to bits. And Amy Lee Hickman also, Dear Friends with Tilly, but they're both in it. So amazing to be a part of something so popular, so big on Netflix. It's so good

to see people do really well after being in a soap. I've said it before, but I always say it. I just love seeing people succeed because they can be snobbery around soap and soap actors and all of that. So I think it's amazing. And if you love that genre and you like that sort of thing, absolutely watch it. But it's just not for me. Well, I think it's all kind of like trying to tie up the loose ends and everything now. But do you feel like the women in it, they're just, there's no strong sort of savvy women are there? No, I do think that the woman, because I've not done the whole of this later season. No, but tell me about the others because you're more experienced than me because I've watched

it all. I'd say all of the women that he has got together have been really strong. Like the woman who played his wife and the mother of his child. Oh my god, she was brilliant because she ended up being a murderer as well. I mean, she was, she was strong and she gave him a run for his money. She was really good. The woman that he is with now, we got together on the last series, she is very strong. She's a business woman. She's strong. She knows her own mind. And in the first series, the woman that he was with in that, I mean, the first series I really enjoyed and she was like really strong, she was really good. But

I want to know what's going to happen and how it's going to end. Well because you've been invested. Yeah, all the way through. So I think I started fast forwarding through it and I'm just stopping at bits where I want to just try and, you know, I just want to find out what's happened. So I might just skip all the way to the end episode and get bombed. There we are. I'm just going to watch the end episode. Well I think it There we are. I'm just gonna watch the end episode. Well I think it's good that we're honest. We can't love everything. No, we can't love everything.

And you have enjoyed you. Yes, I've enjoyed it. Some people, you know, it's huge. People love it. Yeah. And it's amazing. And I've been waiting a long time for this series to come back on so I'm going to continue with it because I need to know what the hell is going to happen to Joe. Is he going to get away with everything Scott free?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or is he going to get a comeuppance? Surely Is he going to get away with everything Scott Free? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or is he going to get his comeuppance? Surely he's going to get his comeuppance, surely. I'm thinking he's got to, he's got to. Well the full series of You is on Netflix now. Love on the Spectrum Joe. I've never ever seen it before. Oh neither have I.

It started and I was like oh my my God, it's so charming. It's so warm. It's so soft. It's so, it's just like this beautiful, I felt like everything was all yellow and lovely floaty clouds. There's just such a lovely charm about everybody. It's just so beautiful and so innocent. And I love Connor.

I love Connor. He's so lovely. He's lovely. You know what, I just, for me, what jumped out is all of the families. All of the families who have relatives and they live with people on the spectrum. The love, the love and the support that these guys have, it just makes you feel so warm inside. I really loved it all. I loved it. I thought Danny

was charming, really a lovely, lovely girl. There's a naivety, isn't there? Yeah. And that's quite joyous. And I think watching it, we could all learn a lesson really from these people because they're very open, honest, very, very, you know, there's a kindness, a joy. A completeness and honesty. And an openness that I found really refreshing to watch, you know. I thought Conor's mum was so lovely when she was INA and then she said, do you want to come and learn, you know, how to do this? And she said, do you want to come and learn how to do this?

And she said, oh, you're doing so well and everything. And he did it and there's the smile on his face afterwards. But the way that his mum was talking to him and saying, I think that you're in such a good place. I think you've come along so far. I think this is really good for you. I think you're dealing with everything so well. I thought Connor's mum was just amazing. She was great. and his siblings too. Yes. And his brother when his brother was going, I can give you some tips. And they were like, Oh my God, no. And they were, I just thought, I thought his family was so

lovely. So I did cry at one point, I was watching it in bed and I shed a little tear because James, his mum and dad are quite elderly. And obviously he lives with his mom and dad still and he went speed dating and it didn't go too well, you know, but he was so upbeat and he came home and said, you know, I really enjoyed it. And then he had the phone call from the speed dating agency to say, really sorry, James, there have been no matches this time. And his elderly mother got really upset and was really crying and you could see the emotion in her and it made me really go, she knows she's getting older. She wants to leave this world knowing

that he's going to be looked after. And I think as a mother, that's what you want to achieve knowing that the people that you have made are safe in the world and you could really feel that pain, which I found quite emotional. It's a really emotional show, but it's also brilliantly funny, really light. I can't recommend it enough. I really, really, really enjoyed it. And I think also it just opens up a world for us to learn what people on the spectrum are like, what they learn, you know, what people on the spectrum are like, what they should be treated like and how we should be because we're all equal as we know. And I just thought it was really eye opening. I learned a lot from it and I just think it's really great. I wasn't expecting it to be like that. No.

Because it is, because it is. It's hugely emotional and it's so warm, but yet it is. It's really, really funny and it's just so honest. And I really so warm, but yet it is, it's really, really funny. And it's just so honest. And I really, really enjoyed it because all of the dating shows that I've watched up until now have always been kind of a bit full on. So you've got, you know, Married at First Sight or Love Island or whatever. Or First Dates. Yeah. And it's always quite full on and it's kind of, I don't know, most of the time the same type. You know, if you're watching Love Island, it's always the full on and it's kind of, I don't know, most of the time the same type.

You know, if you're watching Love Island, it's always the same type. Yes. And everything's quite full on and, you know, everybody's always just so, so, you know, not preened but like perfect and whatever. And it was nice just to see just some normal people just go on dates and just talk and be honest and try and find, you know, the other person that they want to fall in love with. Absolutely. I am rooting for, I want James to find someone just because of his mum. I just want him to find someone for his mum's peace is what I would say. But I'm definitely

going to keep on watching. I'm rooting for Connor just because he wants to meet someone and he's open, he's honest, he's ready to meet someone as well. And he's just so beautifully gentle. And he really keeps making me laugh about wanting a brunette and he can't bear blondes. It really, really made me laugh because again, it's just brilliant. It's just like, no, I do not want a blonde person. He's got a real sort of you know and why not you know if you like brown hair you like brown hair that's fine but his mum's like you know be a bit open you know to the hair colour

and yeah really great. You can watch the whole series of Love on the Spectrum on Netflix now. Well before we go we have got a lovely text which was sent in from a listener all the way from New Jersey and I am now going to read it to Nat. Sounds ominous, go on then. Right this is the text. You both have a huge fan based out of New Jersey USA. My partner and I have been going to London for about five years now every spring.

While getting ready or relaxing in the hotel, I stumbled upon EastEnders. Soaps in the States are absolute shite. EastEnders is literally superior to any of ours and I've watched almost every episode of EastEnders since 2007. While sometimes the character Sonia annoys the absolute feck out of me, the exemplary actor Nat Cassidy is bloody iconic, legendary. Truth be told, I love Eastenders so much I have a Phil Mitchell t-shirt and a Peggy t-shirt and two Eastenders pillows on my couch. Love your work Nat. Moving on to Joanna, forgive me as I'd never heard of Gavin and Stacey before listening

to this podcast. I was out of work for a few days a couple of weeks ago and decided to finally dive in. That show is so good. I benched the whole bloody series and the bonus episodes in like three days. It is one of the most heartwarming, hysterical and brilliant series ever. My best friend Stepfather is having a rough battle with cancer and I just recommended it to him tonight to help cheer him up a bit. You're both legends in your craft and if you're ever in the garden state, no clue why but that's what New Jersey is referred to here, I'd love to smoke a lovely spliff and take you for the best Italian meal you've ever had outside of Italy. Oh my God.

That is so lovely. What a lovely message. That is really nice. Oh. I feel like going to New Jersey now. Quite frankly. Let's go to eat New Jersey or let's just give her a ring when she comes over and go, come on, take us out. Take us out. Oh, that's really lovely. Oh my God, that's so lovely. I don't know if I'd want pillows. Eastenders pillows on my sofa. Oh god, well if you did, well if you did have Eastenders ones, what would you want pillows

of? Well I've got pillows. I've got Pteran's and Pards. But if it wasn't an animal, if it had to be, like if it had to be a human and if it had to be an actor, who would you have? Who would you have? I'm saying I'd have Pedro Pascal. Oh my god I'd have Pedro Pascal all over my sofa and can I just say right, you say who and then I'm gonna have to just say something about The Last of Us. Oh no please do, I can't really think of anybody. Oh my god right well you know after we reviewed the new series of The Last of Us I managed

to stay away from all spoilers and I'm not going to reveal a spoiler now on here for the second series, but I've watched the episode and if you listeners, right, if you've been watching The Last of Us and you are a fan of it, well, I think you'll just be in agreement. I'm devastated. I'm devastated. I'm devastated. Are you devastated? I am devastated. Right.

I don't think I can watch it now. I nearly started crying. I just thought, no, no. Well, it's quite cryptic for me because I haven't seen the can watch it now. I need to start to cry in. I just thought, no, no. Well, it's quite cryptic for me because I haven't seen the rest of it. But I am going to keep going with it because it's great. But I want to go back to the beginning and I want to watch it with Mark. Yeah, watch all of series one. Don't just go into series two and watch all of series one. No, no, no. I'll watch it fully. Absolutely fully. Right then, shall we get a recommendation

from a listener? Because we love a recommendation, don't we? Hi ladies. My recommendation is the assembly, which I've just watched two episodes of. The first one was with Danny Dyer, which was amazing, and the second one was with David Tennant. And there's an assembly of people who are neurodiverse with also with learning difficulties and they interview and no question is off limits and they are just brilliant and there's some great music as well. Please watch it, the assembly on ITV and I'm Claire from West Norfolk. I was going to watch on Saturday night because it was after the 1% club, but we were just

knackered and I said, I'm going to save it. So I do think we should do that. 100%. Let's review that because I think it sounds brilliant. Because normally when you've got something like this, it's either one person interviewing the actor, celebrity, whatever. Of course. And it's not for long. So it's sort of a full on. And you never get a group, and you certainly don't get a group of neurodivergent people. No. You know, just getting to ask any question that you want. Yeah. It's never been done before. And on his dances and I know Danny will be absolutely brilliant and I think David Tennant's this week, isn't he? Yes and I think he'll be brilliant as well. Really good. So no, absolutely up for that. 100%. Well thank you so much for all of your

messages and voice notes again. Keep sending the voice notes in, we love them. Keep sending your recommendations in. Thoughts on the telly, anything else we've discussed on the pod? The number is 033 06 784 704. Oh that was really great. That was! Please don't buy any more pigs this week. Well I'm going home now to look after my two little invalids. Make sure they've had a little bit of food. Bless their hearts.

I've got to put them on some soft little bedding because they're so low to the ground that they're going to be dragging that area and we don't want to have any drags or balls area. So that's what I'm going to be doing this afternoon. Well enjoy yourself and I shall see you next week Jo. See you next week. Bye love. Bye everyone. Bye.

Off the telly is hosted by Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page. The producer is Becky Carugna Bye! Off the Telly is hosted by Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page. The producer is Becky Caroo-Jeffreys, the commissioning editor is Rhian Roberts and it's a BBC Studios audio production for BBC Sounds. Right, Ryland, we're listing the top ten reasons to listen to Pop Top Ten. Let's go. Well, one, it's got Ryland. Two, it's got Scott Mills. And we've got some brilliant guests lined up for the new series. It's a goldmine for glorious nostalgia and unforgettable pop culture moments. There's passionate debate, and we're not afraid to tackle the big topics. Like, who's the best soap star to have a singer? And of course there's absolutely iconic music. There's ten.

Alright, nine. Reasons to listen. Oh, who said being able to count was a required skill for presenting these days? Pop Top 10. Listen only on BBC Sounds.