Off The Telly - Steve McFadden deserves a BAFTA

Episode Date: February 19, 2025

Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page chat about all things on and off the telly. Nat and Jo give their verdict on Amandaland, the spinoff to one of their fave shows Motherland. They’ve also been watching Miss Austen which stars Keeley Hawes as Jane Austen’s sister Cassandra. Plus, Jo checks in on how Nat’s feeling about the upcoming EastEnders Live episode for the 40th anniversary - check it out on Thursday 20th Feb at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.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:13:34 - Miss Austen (BBC iPlayer) 15:40 - Celebrity Bear Hunt (Netflix) 24:00 - Amandaland (BBC iPlayer)Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to 03306 784704.Hosts: Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Richard Morris Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Production Co-ordinator: Becky Carewe-Jeffries Sounds Editor: Arlie Adlington Music by MCassoOff The Telly is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

I just want to remind all of our listeners please remember to subscribe to Off The Telly on BBC Sounds and make sure your push notifications are turned on on your phone settings so you're up to date with all of the episodes of the pod including this one now Enjoy it all of the episodes of the pod, including this one now. Oh, enjoy it. Hello and welcome to another episode of Off The Telly. Sorry that we're not together today, Jo, and we're virtual, but I've been really, really busy, so I needed to be at home today. How are you feeling, Nat?

I'm so tired. Oh my God, you look absolutely exhausted. I've not even started the week yet, the live week, you look absolutely exhausted. I've not even started the week yet, the live week, and I'm so, I'm ruined. What am I going to do? How are you feeling? I mean, you're right in the middle of the storm now, aren't you? How's it all going?

It's going. In fact, we're in really good shape. We are in good shape, considering yeah, so we finished a run through last night, and I think if it were to go on the telly, we could have got away with it. Oh my God. So I feel like we're in good shape. And we've now got, you know, three full days before Thursday, and we're going to be rehearsing every day. Yeah, it's going to be good. You'll get there. Well, I've got to say, I mean, the last week's been absolutely cracking.

Have you been watching? Oh, my God. Yes, Bianca, getting out. I mean, flipping heck, you were incredible. Oh, my God. When you were trying to get out of the front door and he's coming up behind you. And I was like, oh, my God. Oh, thank you.

It was awful, but fantastic. You were incredible. I mean, it's really moving. Did you see the flashback episode this week with Phil Mitchell? No, I haven't. The one when you're talking about Phil. No, I haven't. But I'm going to.

I'm going to. Yeah, can I urge anyone who doesn't watch EastEnders, because there's lots of people that don't watch it, that's fine, but I just want everybody to watch Thursday's, last Thursday's episode, and then watch this week's. Oh, my God.

I'm excited. The Thursday flashback, Steve McFadden deserves a BAFTA, which I did say on Insta. You did. I saw you. I've watched it three times. His performance is just spectacular. And the young guy who plays a young Phil is just fantastic,

as is the young Grant, actually. But it was a brilliant, brilliant sort of standalone episode, What Soap Does Best, just absolutely brilliant. And then this week, going into this week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, is the build-up, obviously, to the live, which we filmed before Christmas. But it is absolutely, honestly, it's brilliant. The work that's gone into it, it's really quite exciting. Very exciting. Well, I'm going to watch that episode

and I'm going to watch all of this weekend. I can't wait until the live. I'm so excited. What an annoying thing. I'll tell you what's really annoying. This week, they're not putting it out on iPlayer at 6am because usually they download the episode

early in the morning so you can watch it any time you want during the day. And what's really funny is we're all at work rehearsing and me and cast members are really annoyed because it's not being downloaded

so we can't watch it at lunchtime or anything. So we're saying, well, what are we going to do? We're going to have to finish at 10 o'clock at night and then watch it. Yes. So that is how good it is. Even the cast want to watch it.

You know, it's really good. Oh, well, I can't wait. I think everybody's really excited about it. I can't wait. How are you? How's your week been? Oh, God. Well, it's just been as...

Well, I didn't think having four children and being perimenopausal and having quite a hectic life anyway was busy enough. Oh, no. So I decided to go and get four guinea pigs. Jesus Christ, Jo. It was Eva's birthday yesterday. She was turning 12. Oh, happy birthday. And for years now, her and Noah have been saying that they want to have a guinea pig.

And they've done a whole, you know, like mood board thing. They've done loads of research. I mean, they are like fully, you know, fully into it, have fully been preparing everything. And so I've been thinking and thinking and thinking about it. And then it got to the middle of last week. And I thought, right, OK, I'm going to get the guinea pigs. I've been doing research. I've looked into it.

And I thought, right, OK, I'm going to get them.inea pigs. I've been doing research. I've looked into it and I thought, right, okay, I'm going to get them. So I came home and I had four guinea pigs. I've got their house. I've got absolutely everything for them. And we now have four. Well, because first of all, you can't keep them on their own. You've got to keep them in a pack together. And it's better to have even numbers.

So it was going to be two or four. Because originally I said three because I thought there's going to be fighting with each one of them has got to have their own one but then I thought Bo is so small she's not going to know the difference so it was going to be three but then I was advised to get an even number so well you've got four kids you might as well go all in I know but they've got one each now yes we've got avocado we have got scruffadante, we have got Charlotte, who's a boy, and we've then got Messi, as in the footballer. Right. May I ask where Avocado, what's behind Avocado, Eva? Avocado is because the shape of an avocado. Scruff-a-donte comes from,

Kit found out that the, I think it's the Latin term for domestic pig, is sauce scruffa domesticus. That became scruffa. And in French, it's something like, guinea pig in French is something don't. So that then merged into scruff-a-donte, but he also looks like Michael McIntyre

because he's all black with a bit of ginger on his bum. I don't know if Michael McIntyre has got a bit of ginger hair on his bum I was just about to say Jo how do you know this information and he's got hair

exactly the same and it's in the like a middle part and it's kind of sticking up but like flat I love that so he's Scruffadonte

slash Michael McIntyre and then Charlotte is just because Charlotte was Bo's imaginary person's name and then she named a little toy was Bo's imaginary person's name. And then she named a little toy horse Charlotte. And now she's got a guinea pig called Charlotte.

And she keeps holding the guinea pig. And she keeps saying, is this a real one? Or is this like Golden, who's her toy dog? And we're like, no, darling, it's real. It's actually real. And then messy is because Noah is obsessed with messy. Fine. So we've since then gone and got like an extendable huge big cage. So it's massive, right?

It's taken up. You'd absolutely love it. Yeah. It takes up the whole of the wall of the playroom, right? Because I said, right, we're going to go for it. Well, I was just about to ask you where this was going. So I'm interested. Going in the playroom.

Right. Yeah. It used to be the office. Then going in the playroom. Right. Yeah. It used to be the office. Then it became the playroom. It's also been a bedroom to my parents. Now it's the guinea pig's crib. That is brilliant. So I've had that going on, which has been like full on, but they are adorable.

And also, right, I woke up the other morning and I thought, I just can't wait to go down and see my babies. I'm speechless because I don't know how you do it. You really are Mother Therese. You're like Mother Earth, aren't you? You just want to mother stuff. We have got so many voice notes from you guys about Nat being revealed as Bush.

Let's listen to a couple. Oh, my God. I bloody knew it. Fantastic, Nat. You are bloody brilliant. Love the podcast so much. I feel like I'm in your living room. That's just how I like it. Congratulations again. Even Joe knew it from the very beginning hello ladies this is liz from harrogate i found your podcast just after christmas and listened to the governance daisy specials and then i've just been binge what binge watching binge listening i should say the whole lot and i've finally caught up and i'm bereft i don't know what i'm going to do now i have to wait but want to wink um but i just thought i should say i think um you should call your podcast secrets and lies Natalie the Bush Cassidy um because we had you going oh no

I'm not the Bush I'm not the Bush and then last year we had um Joanna talking about how much she loved Anna Maxwell Martin and the fact that she'd been recording for the Gavin and Stacey special like two weeks before she was saying that and she didn't let on. I just think it's brilliant. I love the podcast. I love all the chats, all the random stuff you come out with. It just makes me laugh so much. And just keep doing what you're doing, ladies. Bye.

Oh, that's so lovely. That's lovely. Thank you so much. We really appreciate the voice notes. It's so nice. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I had a message last night, Jo.

I had a message which I really liked because obviously it was the final of the Masked Singer last night. And I had a couple of messages on Instagram saying, you were the true winner because you were the last non-singer to go out. And I thought, oh, yeah. That's so true. That is so true. Because we had Samantha Barks, who won it. Amazing.

Marty Perlow. Oh, my gosh. Gregory Porter. Oh, my God. I mean, to actually think that on like a singing show and everything, that you were singing alongside them. I know, it's ridiculous. I mean, that is like, that is incredible.

Because you were. You were the last non-singer. Yeah. God. There you go. Oh, that was amazing, though. And I can't even take you seriously now, looking at you with your massive, big plant next to you.

I know. You are buff. I tell you what, right, before we talk about our next show, I know that you've been so busy, right, so you won't have been able to keep up with watching this, right? Go on. But I have done the whole of the first series of Severance. Oh, wow.

Oh, my God, right? Is it brilliant, Jo? It's just, it's now in my head. All I can think about is you as well when I'm watching it because I keep thinking you would love this. This is so up your street. It is so good. When you've got time, right?

I can't wait to watch it, really. Whenever you've got time, just sit down and start watching it. It is brilliant. We've had loads of messages saying how much everybody enjoyed the Patsy Palmer interview, which has been so lovely, hasn't it? Having a good old deep dig into history of EastEnders and everything. Have a listen. Hello, it's Jane from Ashford. I just wanted to say I've just listened to the pod. isn't it having a good old deep dig into history of EastEnders and everything have a listen hello

it's Jane from Ashford I just wanted to say I've just listened to the pod oh it's amazing Patsy Palmer is just what a beautiful human really loved it I loved what you said about EastEnders and how the producers that have done really well are the ones that really recognize the matriarch I tell the matriarchs like the strong women I mean that is what keeps the world going around really and I just I loved it and also I loved the most was when I was driving home with my daughter in the car listening to it my voice note came on I couldn't believe it thank you so much for playing it and and then my daughter she's 11 bless her she said

mum i didn't know you were friends with natalie cassidy and joe i said oh yeah yeah really good friend oh it's lovely thank you oh that's lovely yeah oh it's lovely getting our voice notes it's so nice that people will listen and that people do you know when i I don't know about you, but if I'm out in the street or whatever, they say, oh, I love you and Jo together. You feel like my mates. It's so nice that people listen and you know, they feel like they're listening to friends, Jo, which is lovely. I know it really

is, isn't it? I think we've got one more voice note to go into today's pod. Shall we hear it? Yeah. Hey girls, it's Vicky from Morden. I hope you can hear me well enough i am full of the lurgy i just wanted to do a voice note to say thank you because i've recently changed my job after 20 odd years of being a children's nurse i needed a change so as a household we're now fostering so completely different different. We have a

wonderful little lad with us. It's full on, but I wouldn't change it for the world. The reason I'm thanking you is because I no longer have the same contact with people. So listening to your podcast when he's at family time with his mum for an hour and a half completely fills that gap and makes me smile it's like catching up with friends a bit like a coach if I'm honest um no longer sitting in the staff room talking about tv shows so I can catch up with things through you instead so thank you very much oh that is so lovely what a wonderful lady a children's nurse for 20 years and now she's fostering. What a woman. Yeah, that is fantastic. That's amazing. And I'm really glad that you feel that, you know, we're just sort of still there in the, you know, staff room area with you having a chat about the telly.

Yeah, a bit of company. That's what we're here for. Yeah. What a week. I mean, I have to say that you've got to carry this one, Jo, because I'm not lying. I haven't watched a lot of telly this week. So the shows we've been watching this week are Amanda Land, which is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Miss Austin, which is also on BBC One and BBC iPlayer,

and I know that we weren't supposed to cover it, but I have been watching... 15 Hours of Celebrity Bear Hunt. An entire series of Celebrity Bear Hunt, which you can catch right now on Netflix. Should we talk about Miss Austin now? Let's talk about Miss Austin. I love Keely Hawes.

Yeah, I love her. You've got Rose Leslie. I mean, Kevin McNally. I mean, it's a cracking cast. It's had fantastic reviews. And I, first of all, when I put it on, thought, oh God, it's going to be a big one and it's going to be a heavy one.

And purely just from my English lit A level, I thought, oh God, I'm going to find this really hard to get through. But I put it on and I've only started at the beginning and straight away, it just seems, Keely Hawes is fab and I like it that it just seems very natural nobody's going around being all like I'm in a period drama I did the same I did the same I put it on last night when I got home and I thought let's have a little look at this because we're chatting today and I think it's definitely something I could get into but again

one of those like a Sunday five o'clock I'd like to put this on today at five o'clock yes but I don't think the kids are going to be interested unfortunately because as soon as they see anything that looks older

they just think it's boring which is such a shame but that's just the way they are at the moment that's the age they're at they're like oh mummy I don't want to watch this although I say that

and they love Call the Midwife and they also love you know Dodger that I was telling you about which is kind of you know obviously a period thing so I might try to put it on later with the kids and see if they'll watch it or even Joanie um but I love the hair and the costumes of course I think that the departments are so clever when you do a period drama and how brilliant it all looks um and I do love Keely Hawes so I'm looking forward to getting into it actually yeah and I thought so she's playing Cassandra Austin Cassandra Austin yeah because yeah because what is really the story about it she's Cassandra Austin and then so I think it's about Jane's letters and of you know all of her

yeah you know all of her writings um but I think it'll be good, Jo. I think it's going to be good. There was a lot of Austens, wasn't there? Yeah, there were. And so I'm kind of not up on my history with it, but I'm kind of enjoying going into it blind. So that is where I am at at the moment, because it's been a very full-on time with the kids, because it's been Eva's birthday and stuff.

And I do have to say, we did dedicate quite a lot of our time to Celebrity Bear Hunt on Netflix which I swear to God we have to. What's that like? Is it good? It's absolutely fab. So I've been reading about it in the press loads. Holly Willoughby is co-hosting with Bear Grylls but it's full-on. It's got a bit of reality TV in it because they drop a whole load of celebrities. They're on some island. They've got a gorgeous flipping beach hut. It looks like they're in the Ruddy Maldives or something. I'd quite like to go there for a retreat. And so they're in a big beach hut.

There's quite a few of them. And they have to do, you know, like tasks. So it's a bit like I'm a celeb, but they're all in the task together. Are we not? No. When I saw it, Jo, when I saw it, I thought, really? Yeah, but no. i saw it joe when i saw it i thought really yeah but no it was a joke at first i was like celebrity bear hunt is this a joke oh it's good the four people who were the worst in the task then get to go into the bear pit so there's these massive big wooden

doors which look a bit like jurassic park and then behind there it's just like all open jungle and sort of like the bear pit and there's, I think it's, yeah, it's three escape routes and so you've got to try an escape. You've got an hour.

You've got to try an escape or you have to just like hide and you've just got to hope bear doesn't catch you. He's got an hour to catch you and then he catches... But who is bear?

Bear Grylls. Bear Grylls? Yeah, not a real life bear but Bear Grylls. Oh my God. Honest to God, it's fab. He comes along in like a chopper and then he puts himself down like this and he lands on the ground.

And then he's got an hour and he honestly, well, last episode, he caught all four of them. And when he catches them, he just goes, boof, and he shoots a gun up into the air. And the people who were in the beach place go, oh my God, one's been caught. It's a bit kind of like the Hunger Games games but bear doesn't kill you in the end he just catches you and he ties you up right in um in handcuffs but a rope and then he puts you all in front and then he decides out of the ones he's caught which person you know is gonna be sent off the island i'm really disappointed it's bear grills and not three grizzly big bears. I'm so disappointed. I tell you what I would quite like if I was being chased.

Foxy from SAS. I wouldn't mind one of the SAS fellas chasing me. I'd be quite up for that. I'd still be running and trying to hide, but I wouldn't be so frightened because I'd be like, well, you know, if they catch me and they tie me up, that's kind of pretty good. But I would be shit scared with Bear Grylls chasing me. I'd go to ground and I'd hide, right? But what's good is that there's been no swearing because the kids love watching I'm a Celeb, but I don't like all of the bug eating and there's a bit of

swearing on it. Yeah, and they do speak of, they can speak about adult themes, I feel. I remember one year having it on and they were talking about Father Christmas. Oh, God. That's all I'm going to say. But, you know, they chat about things. Oh, I've got to turn it off. So it can be rude. It can be inappropriate.

I mean, some of the tasks are like... But the kids want to watch it because it seems like a really fun show. So this is like a version of that. but I think it's more gripping, it's more fun, and there's no swearing. You can watch it with the kids. Well, I'll tell you what, Jo, I don't think we need to do Celebrity Bear Hunt next week. I think we've done it already.

It wasn't a show we were going to do this week, but I think if anyone's got any voice notes or messages for us about Celebrity Bear Hunt, could you send them in for next week? Let us know if you're enjoying it with Jo. I'll tell you what we haven't done. We haven't played a voice note from one of our listeners about Miss Austin, which I think we should play.

So let's have a listen to what this listener thinks about Miss Austin. Afternoon ladies. You were wanting to know some more recommendations for television. first of all i think this feels like years ago now you mentioned a show called lupin or somebody wrote in and said something about lupin on netflix that's a french tv show well thank you very much for recommending

it i have finally got around to watching it it is brilliant The twists and turns, absolutely fantastic. So if there's anyone who's not watched Lupin, I highly recommend to do so. On BBC, I am really enjoying Miss Austin, which is really good. Brilliant people in it. And I'm quite intrigued after watching the first episode, what's going on and all the interest.

And I love how they can be so polite yet so incredibly rude to each other. Keely Hawes and Jessica Hine, brilliant actresses, love them and how do the BBC manage to find like a younger actress to be the younger version of the older actress so like keely hawes i can't remember the lass who's playing her younger self but how do they find them and they look so similar incredible i think that's amazing and it's happened on other like films and tv shows i always find that amazing that they managed to find someone who looks so like the same bit like the young lad playing alan carr how do they do it fantastic anyway thank you so like the same, bit like the young lad playing Alan Carr. How do they do it?

Fantastic. Anyway, thank you. Oh, and it's Emma, by the way. Bye. Oh, thank you, Emma. It's so true, isn't it? The casting directors, Emma. They're really good, aren't they? Brilliant.

It's like what I said about Phil. Phil Mitchell. The young one. Don't know where they found him from. He's absolutely brilliant. God, yeah. And I do love Alan Carr. I love the boy who plays the young Alan Carr. Changing ends. He's absolutely brilliant. God, yeah. And I do love Alan Carr. I love the boy who plays

the young Alan Carr. Changing ends. He's so good. Oh my God. It's so brilliant that. Let's go on to Amanda Land. Yeah, so all of the episodes for that now are on iPlayer,

BBC iPlayer. Yes. Which I love because it's annoying me at the moment because I'm still doing the Traitors American series and it's just one a week and I'm finding that hard. So I love because it's annoying me at the moment because I'm still doing the Traitors American series and it's just one a week and I'm finding that hard. So I love it that all of Amanda Land is

just like bummed there to watch straight away. Jo, I don't know how you get to watch so much telly. When do you watch the telly? Because you've got four children, you've got dogs, you've got gerbils, sorry guinea pigs. Because the only time I ever get to myself is clutching up in bed with Bo

and going off to sleep, well, letting her go off to sleep. And then I get a couple of hours then where I go, oh God, this is me time. And I don't want to talk to anybody. I don't want to do it. And I lie there and I get to watch stuff then. Poor James.

I mean, he's like, oh my God, can't we just like, can't you just come back and can't we just like, you know, have a glass of wine together? And I'm like, no, I've got to get through the next series of severance or James poor James seriously he puts up with a lot he's in there getting the guinea pigs out

now for the children to handle them love him and then Mark as well I got up so late today yeah I literally got up went ready to do this I made a tea. I got up at ten past eleven. I just feel really, really tired. I need to sleep. It's not even and I say that, but Mark is supervising the whole of the EastEnders live.

That's true. So Mark is at work. He's got however many cameras 400 cameras. It's not 400, it's 28 or whatever. I don't know how many. Don't want to get that wrong. It'll go to me, why are you saying how many cameras there are and it's wrong?

It'll never go at me. But he, you know, he's setting it all up, he's watching it all, he's there all day, he's there longer than, you know,

he's doing it all and I'm going, I'm just so exhausted. Aww. And he's like, it's alright, I'll go shopping, I'll get the stuff for the roast,

I'll do this, I'm just going to go and fix the fence, I'll do that. And I just sort of got out of bed and just sat here, covered and chatted go shopping. I'll get the stuff for the roast. I'll do this. I'm just going to go and fix the fence. I'll do that. And I just sort of got out of bed and just sat here and chatted to you. I know, but my gosh, the adrenaline and the fear. It is.

It's the nerves of it all. And it is the adrenaline. It just exhausts you. It is exhausting. And you know that you've got it like not hanging over you in an awful way, but it's there. It's waiting.

It's happening. And, you know, each day is ticking by. And just just that tension and those nerves it's a lot to carry yeah it is and also when you feel you know bad going oh god he's doing whatever I just always bring it back to did you carry grow and give birth to the children no matter what's happening we could be doing anything at all and I turn to and I go, you didn't grow a baby and give birth. So for the rest of our lives, I've always won. Brilliant. That's what I like about you, Jo. The equality in your relationship.

So what did you think of Amanda Land? I tell you what I thought of Amanda Land. I started it and i went oh no i miss everyone else yes so that's how i started i went oh no oh i'm not sure about this um i really miss anna maxwell martin i really miss diane morgan i really miss paul but actually once i started getting into it I could then see it I love the fact that they've moved it all She's moved to Sohar

Which is South Harlesden Which is hilarious And I love the fact that she's still got Anne around Who looks absolutely amazing by the way Lady playing Anne And I like the fact that She's in a different place and we've got new characters And they're at another school And I really love The that she's in a different place and we've got new characters and they're at another school

and I really love the gay couple, the wives with the kids. I think they're brilliant, very, very funny. The lady who's a chef, she is absolutely brilliant. I really like it. I've only watched the one. Eliza has watched all of them. She's binge-watched a lot and absolutely loves it. Loves it. She is 14. She's not the eight-year-old, by the one. Eliza has watched all of them. She's binge watched a lot and absolutely loves it. Loves it.

She is 14. She's not the eight year old by the way. Can I just say? Joni will not be allowed to watch it. But I'd say that I was exactly the same. It started and then you get the music and you love the music and then because the kids have grown older

so it's kind of not in my age range of you know when they're still like little and you're still going through that and it's like really stressful and I just thought oh my god I miss Hannah Maxwell Martin I miss that age range I miss the stuff at the school gates and all of that which is going on in my life now but then as soon as I sort of got over that and kind of just accepted well you know it's Lucy Punch you know so it's still Amanda but actually you've just got to accept this is like a brand new show I was like oh my god I really like it I love all of the new characters I love Lucy and Joanna Lumley cracking absolutely I mean she for me she makes makes it. I love her in it.

She's so good. Oh, my God. I just like this one line where she said something about the kids and they sort of went, oh, hello, like that to her. And they went to go out and she went, oh, I should have spent more time with them. Anyway, and then she just carries on. I just love the way that she is. She's fab. And I love bloody joy that she's got on her phone as bloody joy,

which is her carer. She says, she's my PA, darling. Yeah. She won't let me drink before five, was my favourite line. Yeah, I just think the writers of that show are so clever. And I'm looking forward to seeing what's to come. And like you say, for me, I suppose I am in that age range now. You know, Eliza's 14, Lily's 15.

So it's so funny seeing the kids going around and having a drink and the chilled out mums. I did think, is that going to be me? I know. What are you going to be like? Are you going to be like at 14 going, you know? I'd rather them be here and I'll give them a bottle of wine. Yeah, definitely.

Than be out in the park. Yeah, I agree with you. I'd rather go, right, okay, if you're going to try stuff, you're going to whatever, I'd rather you be safe and sort of do it here and yeah. But oh my God, that is the world that you are now,

well, kind of fully in. Yeah, she's a good girl, am I, Eliza? She's lovely, isn't she? So I think, yeah, who knows? Well, now that my Eva's turned 12, she's nearly the same size as me. I've only got about that much left. And then she's just going to be bigger than me.

Can't believe that. It's crazy, isn't it? Crazy stuff. Eliza's taller than me. Oh, my God. And Joanie's got really long legs. I think Joanie will be taller than me. Probably.

Nothing you can do about it. There isn't. There isn't. No. I'm quite looking forward to now I can borrow the trainers. So, you know, that's good. It's just like a whole other load of clothes because Eva's all into her sportswear.

She's like all quite like sporty and stuff. And so I'm just thinking, well, you know, we just can share clothes. I'll tell you one fact. She won't borrow your sandals, that's for sure. Can I just say, are you ready for this? Because it's starting to get slightly warmer, isn't it? Oh, shut up.

They're on. They're on. I'm trying to move my foot round it. Look, they're on. They're here. They're here. It's their first appearance of the year. I'm going to try and get my other leg up as well. They're there.

Do you know what? I can't believe, Jo, though. What, that I can get my legs up that high? That you're using, no, that you're using, you're in the home. You're in your home. You're in your house. And you're using those after you've been in a farmyard with them on. Oh, my God.

They are. I've seen them on the telly covered in shit. Yeah, they have, right. These. See that area there? Yeah. That has been in. Yeah.

Well, I think I have given it. They look quite clean. Well, they do look quite clean. There's a bit of straw or something. Yeah, they do look a bit clean. So I think they've somehow had a slight wash or they've been in some water somewhere since the foxes. But yeah, they've been full of foxes, badgers, a whole shebang.

That's what they've had. But there they go. Look. There they are. Ever so comfy. Really, really. They're molded to my feet now. It's unbelievable. It really is.

I've got nothing else to say. I've got nothing left as Ian Beale said. Right, Jo, before we go, we've got a listener recommendation. And I thank you so, so much for these because we need them. So let's have a listen to this. Have you seen Am I Being Unreasonable? It's Daisy May Cooper has has written it but it is so good it's brilliant do you know something got a real dark

little twist um but it's excellent it's so funny and lenny rush is in it and he's incredible but i would absolutely recommend watching it and if you can watch the first series before the second series i think you'd really love it. Anyway, keep doing what you're doing. Love the pod girls. Take care. Let's do it. Have you not ever seen any of them?

Never seen it. Have you seen it? I've seen a couple of the first series, but again, just where we do it, I never finish anything, do I? I've got a problem, Jane. Do you think we should do it? What do you think?

Yeah, it's really good. Have you seen the new adverts for this show called Uncanny, the TV show of it? It's on BBC iPlayer and it's all about like ghosts and ghost stories and things like that. It sounds like it's right up my street. Yeah, do you think we should do that? It might terrify you.

I don't mind doing it. I don't mind. You know what? I couldn't be more terrified anyway of anything this week, going live and all of that. So let's just get more scared and watch a few ghost stories. Sounds good to me. Please let us know what you think about the EastEnders 40th anniversary

live episode, and we'll have a debrief next week. Yeah, please could you keep them short and sweet, please? And if I make a mistake, if I I do something wrong can we just not talk about it please oh my god I'm so excited voice notice on whatsapp the number is 033 067 847 04

oh my god next time I speak to you you'll be on the other side of it I will be on the other side of it yeah oh my god good luck have the other side of it. I will be on the other side of it. Yeah. Oh my god. Good luck. Have the most amazing time. Thank you. I'm going to be there rooting for you, sitting there with my box of Maltesers.

Make sure you watch Thursday evening at 7.30 going live. Duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh. Joe, I hope you have a lovely week. I hope that the gerbils, you know, survive another week and get on with each other. They can't, they're not an animal that can eat each other, are they?

No, so they're guinea pigs and they won't eat each other. Why do I keep saying gerbil? But they could fight, but we've got such like a big space for them. They've each got their own bed, so they should be pretty cool. Fantastic. Brilliant. Well, thank you for listening, everybody. Thank you, guys.

And yeah, I can't wait myself for next week for the pod now, and I just want to chat to you, find out everything. I think we've got a special guest coming in as well. Have we really? I think we've got a little special guest coming in. I'm not sure yet I don't think we can confirm but it may be a friend of mine

so look out for that oh my god tune in next week guys to listen to us and good luck Nat really good luck go for it

thank you I will I'm gonna have to there's a lot going on yay bye bye I'm going to have to there's a lot going on yay bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye

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bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye audio production for BBC Sounds. Hey, I'm Laura Whitmore. And I'm Ian Sterling. Anyone who knows us knows we love talking all things true crime each week we revisit cases that you won't actually believe

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