Off The Telly - Summer Special: TV Villains Part Two

Episode Date: August 27, 2024

In this Summer Special they get a chance to hear more voicenotes from listeners about their favourite TV villains. They hear about baddies from EastEnders, The Traitors, Big Brother and Doctor Who, plus a surprise voicenote for Joanna!In this Summer Special it's round 2 of voicenotes about listeners' favourite TV detectives. They chat about iconic characters like Sherlock, Jessica Fletcher, Poirot and Luther.In Off the Telly, Natalie and Joanna talk about what they can’t stop watching, what they definitely aren’t going to bother with, and what you’re all watching at home. From new shows to comfort telly to guilty pleasures, there’s no judgement here. What’s kept us all glued to our screens this week?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 your weekly viewing habits.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.

BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Hello and welcome to Off The Telly from BBC Sounds. I'm Natalie Cassidy. And I'm Joanna Page. And this is a podcast where we chat about all things telly. Now we get quite excited, so sometimes there'll be a bit of swearing and also we might reveal some spoilers shit the bed fucking hell now this is our third and final summer special where we're revisiting old themes

from what shall we watch while we're away for the summer our third and final theme we're revisiting is tv villains. Oh, yes, because I feel like we didn't do enough last time. No. It's just there's too many. You want to get into it. I mean, you can't beat a blinking TV villain. Phil Mitchell's still my favourite.

Oh, well, he's hard, isn't he? He's solid. Hard as nails. I was trying to think about, yes, some more TV villains. I was trying to think of another one that, like, because I've watched so many zombie things, and I was trying to think of another one that, like, because I've watched so many zombie things and I was trying to think, when I was obsessed with The Walking Dead,

I remember David Morrissey in The Walking Dead and he played this horrible man and he had an eye patch and he was frightening, he was scary. But, yeah, there's so many TV villains, we've got to get into it. I mean, you could go anywhere with it as well. Yes. Do you know what I mean? I mean, you could go anywhere with it as well. Yes. Do you know what I mean?

I mean, you could go to a children's show. Yeah. And you could do Fagin. You could, couldn't you? You know, Dodger I love. Yeah. I've still not seen that. You've still not watched that with the kids.

I can't believe it. You've got to watch it. But, you know, Fagin is a villain and, you know, that sort of. What about Bill Sykes as well? Oh, there you go. Well, I mean, there we are. Can go anywhere. TV villain, there's so many.

It covers all areas. Before we get to our voice notes, I would just like to say that I mentioned him briefly last time, but I would like to talk a bit more about Paul Gorton from The Traitors. My mate Paul. Your Paul. My mate. Oh, my God.

Is he your mate? I can't believe it. Have you actually spoken to him yeah i think well i met him just i asked for my photo i threw my photo at my phone on the floor i saw him at seven i think at this awards thing yeah and he's so tall and he's very charismatic and very sort of striking charismatic so i can see why they all loved him. Because when I was watching it right on the telly, I was like, blinking heck, he's got them running in rings around him. How is he doing it? Oh my God, he's so good.

And then when I met him, he's incredibly charismatic and really, he's lovely, really nice. I loved him. You never really see something where the second series is better than the first. And I was like, Jesus, this is brilliant. He really did. He was a staresus this is brilliant he he really did he was a star of the show he was the star of the show he was a star what about the bit where he had his head in his hands and then he picked his eye up i was like jesus christ this is amazing that was great television wasn't it oh my god he was just playing them all and he was so charismatic everybody loved him he'd do things and then

and then people wouldn't even suspect it was him no but then he did i think he spoilt himself towards the end yes he did he did he got too cocky and he messed it up it was as soon as he went down into that dungeon and he cocked it up he did yeah but he was a great villain wasn't he oh he was brilliant because with harry i never i always thought that paul would make it through to the end. And, you know, and then, because I always thought that Harry would be the one to go first. Because he was just very sweet and really lovely. But he wasn't though, was he? No, he wasn't. He was very, very clever.

Yeah. He was a fan. I think he, to me, is the best modern day villain I have ever seen. I thought he was cracking. Do you know who we haven't really spoken about? Who? We haven't mentioned simon cowell yet you know tv judges on things no we haven't and i think we've got to mention simon

oh god yeah he has softened he has softened in the latter years i won't say with age because i think he'd get very upset with me but he has softened has softened. He used to be brutal. Oh, wasn't he? Yeah. Everyone, I still think everybody is frightened of him. And out of all of the judges, throughout all of the years,

everybody has always wanted to have Simon's respect. Definitely. And Simon's, you know, yes and everything. Because he was so honest. Mm. If he said,

you were great, you know he means it. Yeah. But he's so iconic, the way that he looks. His clothing, his hair, his sunglasses, just his whole look. I mean, I think to be, you know, a TV villain, you've got to be, like, iconic with, you know, the way that you look or just, you know, the outline of you that you can just,

oh, my gosh, I know who that is, I know who that is. You say that, but he kind of just wears a black T-shirt, doesn't he? Yeah, but you know, but even if other people wear a black T-shirt and trousers and just a black pair of sunglasses and have like that hair and that haircut, it's like nobody else does. You just know that it's like, you know the T-shirt, you know the kind of trousers and shoes, you know the sunglasses, you know it's him.

You remember years ago. Yeah. Sorry, I'm not touching my breasts i thought you were doing the legs sorry then oh i'll say no i'm um the belt yeah it's very high up yeah he used to wear his trousers all the way up i mean that's iconic isn't it yes because if someone's got trousers high you go what are you doing simon cowell though i mean his his just the respect that people know, gave him and how damn terrifying he was must have been huge to be that scared of someone who wears their trousers so high. I know, but he also had, I mean, he's a powerful man.

Yeah. And he does make people into stars. Yeah. You know, and he's still got that ability now. He's doing a boy band show, isn't he, at the moment? Yeah, isn't he? That'd be fun. Can you imagine walking into a room and seeing him and then just, you know, starting to sing? No, thank you.

Oh, my God. But he used to be brutal. Really brutal. He was a real TV villain. Yeah. I used to love the early days of all of those shows. Yeah. Going back and seeing the early days of it all. Brilliant. I just love it when it's like that, when it's just much more simple. I used to love Big Brother when it was just more simple.

Everything was simpler back then. Yeah, and I think it worked better. We're getting old. Oh, my God. Do you think we are? Yeah. But it was just like, you know when it's simple and it's just human relationships?

I know, but everyone says this, Jo. Do they? Yeah, every 30 years, the same conversation is. It was much simpler back then. Oh, my God. Yeah, it is. It was, wasn back then. Oh, my God. Yeah, it is. It was, wasn't it? We're just getting old, really.

Middle-aged. Yeah. Right, shall we have some voice notes because I'm very excited? Yes, let's get into it. Hi, girls. Loving the pod. It's James here, Jo's husband. Just listening to your pod there, asking for your favourite villains, TV villains.

So as I'm running the dishwasher, I'm just thinking. Oh, my God. My favourite TV villain was Nasty Nick. Nasty Nick from the first ever episode, first ever series, sorry, of Big Brother. And I'll never forget the time when Craig confronted him and said, hey, Nick, have you been writing names on pieces of paper? It was absolutely brilliant. And when you think about it now, it was such a small thing that he did.

And he was labelled Nasty Nick and ended up on the front page of all the papers. And it was a big, massive fuss. But absolutely brilliant. Loved that series of Big Brother. It was just absolutely riveting. Anyway, thought I'd leave you that one. Loving the pod. Keep up the good work, girls.

Speak to you soon. Bye. Oh, my God, that's my husband. Oh, I love that. I'm quite pleased to hear that he's loading the dishwasher. That's lovely. I think he's definitely slipped that one in. He has.

He's done that on purpose, isn't he? He's done that. It's a bit of a brownie point. It is, isn't it? When you get home later, you're going to be very pleased with him. Yes, I am. Aren't you? I'm going to be over the moon. Yes, there were probably ulterior motives oh my god that's so

sweet and he was right yes he was do you remember how like i mean if you were looking like now these days what nasty neck did wasn't he just wrote something on a piece of paper i know but i think because big brother it was such a new thing and it took the country by storm and like he said it's ridiculous to think that a reality show someone we didn't even know was in front of

all the tabloids my god and he was hated by everybody and when Craig confronted him that is just when I started watching

Big Brother the first one because I'd not watched any of it and then I heard all of this going on and I was like oh my god

what is this started watching it and was like oh my god it just seemed like the worst thing that he'd ever done because it was so basic back in those days it was just like normal human interaction and he had broken you know he had betrayed them all yeah and i mean it was something like not that he'd done something huge or something whatever he just purely and simply

had betrayed a friend how How times have changed. How they've changed completely. That was a simple life, Jo, wasn't it? It was. That's how simple it was back then. Someone did that now, now on a bat and eyelid. Wouldn't care less. Wouldn't care less.

Because everybody would be doing it. Everybody would be going on that show and backstabbing and doing this and that. I mean, we basically have gone from nasty Nick writing on a piece of paper to traitors. Well, not traitors, but the traitors. I mean, that shows how far we've come. I can't even concentrate because that was my husband's voice.

He's got a lovely voice. Yeah, he's got a nice voice. Lovely. Oh, I love you, James. Oh, I love that. Can't wait to meet you, James. Oh, yes. It'll be lovely. Yes. When we get together. Right, let's have another one. to meet you, James. Oh, yes. It'll be lovely.

Yes. When we get together. Right, let's have another one. Okay. Hi, ladies. This is Emma. I've sent you loads of messages and I really love listening to your podcast. But the villains was really hard to think of and discussed it with the kids.

And we decided Missy from Doctor Who, fabulous, fabulous fabulous lady she's so gorgeously evil um and the gorgeous neil patrick harris harris who is just fabulous in everything he's in um as count olaf thank you for all you do oh actually my daughter also said the oldest one stacy is a bit of a villain why do you think that Stacey was a villain? Well, she didn't tell Gav that she was trying for a baby. Did she not? Because I'm now on

series three, episode three and Stacey, oh yeah, and they've just had the christening and Stacey is holding baby Neil, which I do have to say was a flipping good actor because it's when they're at the christening and stacy is holding baby neil which i do have to say was a flipping good actor because it's when they're at the christening and then they turn to the camera for a photo and have you seen little baby neil he turns around and he looks straight down the

camera lens it's amazing and then stacy says okay have shall we and he goes yes yes we will so and then the next episode she's woken up and she's gone oh my god where are you we should have been doing it this morning um when you get back we we're going to have to do it again. So he must know that they're trying for a baby. How does she, you know, fool him? I genuinely don't know. What in God's name was I doing during all of that time that I don't know? In series three, obviously they're chatting about having a baby

and Gavin says, well, don't worry, we haven't been trying for that long babe and Stacey says well actually we have because I've not used any protection I've not been on the pill for years oh my god really yeah flipping heck oh my god I had no idea I mean but you were, Jo. I don't know what I must have been doing during that time. But genuinely, I can't remember that. Oh, my God. So she came off the pill ages ago and they actually have been trying. And they...

Oh, my God. I haven't got to that bit yet. Oh, my God. Well, there you go. The bit that I've just got to, they've just started trying. Flipping it. Well, that's something to look forward to. Good God. Stacey, the old villain. Well, I'll agree I've just got to, they've just started trying. Flipping it. Well, that's something to look forward to. Good God.

Stacey, the old villain. Well, I'll agree with you then. She is a bit of a villain. She should have told him. Yeah. I mean, she should have. She should have. Why didn't she tell him?

I don't think it was calculated, though. It was just Stacey being Stacey. Well, I know, but I thought they've got a better relationship than that, that she could talk to him about it. Oh, I think she just thought, well, you know. You know how she can be quite nonchalant about things, can't she? Yes, yes. Bless her. God. Well, it looks like I'm

not that far away because I actually did all of that and acted it all out and I quite clearly can't remember any of it. Oh, that's alright. Now, Count Olaf. Oh. A series of unfortunate events is on in my house a lot.

Is it? Oh, the kids love it. Yeah, same in mine as well. I just think, I think it's because it's quite dark. Yeah. They just like that when they genuinely get a bit scared. And what's her name, the actress, you know, from... Oh, Lucy Punch.

Yeah. Yeah, she's brilliant in it. She's so good. I think it's the stylisation. It's all stylised, isn't it? Kind of the camera and what they're wearing. It's really quite eye-catching. She's so flipping good at it, isn't she?

And they can both really transform themselves. I think Neil Patrick Harris is bloody terrifying because I remember the episode of Doctor Who that I saw him in as well. And I don't know what the name of the character is, but he's like this, you know, magician, you know, type person. Oh, my God. And he's just, he's so sharp with his moves and everything he does.

I mean, he's just flipping brilliant and scary. Yeah, absolutely fantastic, actually. Yeah. And he's just, he's scary. Never watched an episode of Doctor Who in my life. How? How? How?

Not one. I don't believe it. Not one. Have you ever seen a Dalek? I've seen a Dalek and I've heard the music on a Saturday night come on. When you were small? Never was on my telly. Why?

Was it when there was the massive big gap where it wasn't ever on telly? Possibly. We did. I remember dinosaurs. What, just in general? Do I look old? No.

Do I need to get a bit of work done? No, not at all. Oh, my God. Dinosaurs, the programme. What was Dinosaurs, the programme? Oh, it was on ITV. You've never seen it? No. Yes, you have.

No, I haven't ever seen Dinosaurs. You haven't seen Dinosaurs? No. Right, you need to YouTube it. Right. Please, could you let me know? Text in, send me a voice note. ITV, it was about five o'clock in the evening on a Saturday night.

Dinosaurs. It was brilliant. All the characters. Oh, my God. Baby dinosaurs. Don't you remember? No, because I've never seen it. Oh, you've got to see it.

It was so good. So I would rather watch that side of the, you know, I'd be on ITV. Yeah. But I wouldn't watch Doctor Who. And I've just never got into it. Again, it's that sort of sci-fi stuff. Star Wars, Star Trek. Do you know, I like a Doctor Who on in the background.

And I like it when the kids put it on. And I just kind of, I just like it on in the background. Because it obviously, it just reminds me of being small again. No, I get it. I mean, I was traumatised by the Daleks. I would say my childhood, I was traumatised big time by the Daleks. Also by Jaws, the shark. Oh, yeah.

And then also by Jaws from James Bond with the big silver teeth. Oh, I know who you mean. Those three things I was traumatised by. I'll tell you what I was traumatised by. I know it's not telly, but it was one of the first things I went to the cinema to watch. It was a birthday party. Do you remember arachnophobia? Oh, God, yes. I remember sitting there watching that terrified horrible horrible I think it was a 12

but we were only 10 when we got in terrible really should we have another one yes hi ladies greetings here from Hemel Hempstead my name is Hannah I'm a regular listener and I love listening to your podcast and I actually work as a housekeeper, so I get to listen to your episodes whenever I want when I'm at work, which is a fantastic way to spend my day. I wanted to talk to you about TV villains. So I know your listeners are probably going to call in with modern suggestions like from Game of Thrones and from Breaking Bad. But I wanted to remind everybody of a very nasty piece of work. Someone from EastEnders, and that is Trevor Morgan. That storyline with Little Mo was, I think,

quite groundbreaking on domestic violence at the time. I want to hear your thoughts. Love you girls very much and keep up the good work. He was horrible. Alex. Yeah. much and keep up the good work. He was horrible. Alex. Yeah. What a lovely man, number one. And number two,

what a fantastic actor. He was frightening. A year later. More. You looked horrible there. Didn't you? Yes. Frightening.

Oh my God, he was scary. He was really scary and as she says, it was very early on and he stenders do do life issues very very well very well i think it was like one of the first times i'd ever actually watched something like that with domestic violence controlling what man it was you know they did they did it so incredibly well it was brilliant and when she hit him over the head with that iron god i can still see it now and the whole of the country were watching.

The whole of the country had followed their entire relationship, the whole thing. And when she did that, I can still see it now. He was a brilliant actor. He's done loads since. Yeah, he has. He's in loads of stuff. Yeah.

But you could always tell there was something very special about his acting. Brilliant. Yeah. My God. Those storylines from EastEnders that just really, my God, you just remember them, don't you? Yeah. It's big ones that just stick out.

It's those big social problems. You know what I mean? It's like when we did Mark Fowler's AIDS story. Yes. First people to cover that. You know, lots and lots of different stories which they play out so realistically and they don't rush them and it's just really good yeah even if i do say so myself it is it's really good he was horrible he was horrible should we have another one yes hello

joe and now my favorite tv villain is probably sonia from gavin and stacy because laura is of course an amazing actress and she makes sonia an amazing character oh laura aikman who played sonia yeah oh my gosh she's so lovely is she she's so lovely and so funny and so talented and so sweet and we'd sit there when we were filming we'd chat away we'd have a right laugh oh that's lovely to hear a gorgeous gorgeous girl and it's so funny because when the special came out i mean it was just really funny because she was just hated by everybody because it was just like oh my god she was so horrible to him. You know, just so mean. But also, it's like that League of Gentlemen, are you a local? Yes.

You just don't want people in it that you don't know. Yes. So she didn't even need to be mean. No. In my eyes, I was like, I don't want to see her. Yeah, because she's not part of the family. She's not part of the family and she's not a local. I've not watched you over the years.

Go away. Yes. And she just doesn't come in and be like anybody of the family. She's not a local. I've not watched you over the years. Go away. Yes. And she just doesn't come in and be like anybody in the family. So it was kind of like, oh, well, okay, you're not accepted. But yeah, she's, I mean, such a gorgeous, gorgeous girl. Oh, that's lovely. So, you know, yeah. I just always remember when she said she's enrolled them or something

in like a fat camp or something. That was it. And everybody's just like, oh, God. She was like, I just want to go home now. We're going to go and see my mum and dad. Yes. And he's like, oh,

okay. And the way Smithy acted differently around her and everyone was like, oh my God. Oh my God, I remember we were pissing ourselves. So,

you know when we filmed the bit, oh my God, where the doorbell goes and then he goes to get her and then she comes in and we're all like, oh my God, because it's the first time

we've all seen her and then she sits down and I mean, it just took so long filming that scene in a really small living room with all of us around the table. And then when he just starts talking and he's just like completely unnatural

and weird the way that he's speaking. And James would just do something every take. And if he knew that something had made you laugh, he'd sort of kind of do it even more. Oh my God. And he was pushing it. I don't think I've ever laughed so much in my life. It was flipping hilarious.

Brilliant. Oh, God. What I'd give to be around that table. Oh. But yes, very, very funny. Fantastic. Let's have another one. Hiya, Nat and Joe.

Neil from Durham here. Nish off of EastEnders. Like, with that smug look on his face when he thinks he's gotten away with something and when he's creeping around Priya is there any requirement for it? Because every time he comes on my screen I could launch the remote at the telly

every time I see the little twat. But I'm guessing that's because he's a good actor because they reckon in another programme like Teachers he was lovely. I cannot believe it. So after we watch that and I want to lose the plot he's a good actor because they reckon in another program like teachers he was get lovely i cannot believe it so after we watch that and i want to lose the plot i switch over to canal boat diaries with robbie cummins seeing them navigate through them slow waters just simmers me right down even

to the point where me and my wife have got overexcited going to Bingley Five Rise Locks. Anyway, girls, thanks for that. And if I don't see you at the car boot sale, I'll bump into you, Joe, at the Dolphin. Keep up the good work, girls. Thank you. Oh, my God. Well, he's not wrong. Well, he's not wrong.

Well, he's not, is he? He is a horrible piece of work. Nish, can I tell you one thing? Yes. Nav, who plays Nish, is the most laid back, gorgeous human being you've ever met. So you are right, he's a fantastic actor. But his character, the way he controlled Suki and the way that he's been lately with Priya, who's the young girl, and he said he's dying now.

I mean, I'm in the show and I don't know if I believe him. Oh, my God. Not sure what's going on. Oh, my God. But he really is a horrible piece of work. Oh, God. It must be good fun playing someone like that. Really getting your teeth into it.

Oh, my God, what a good job he's done. Really good. Because he couldn't stand him. He could not. Do you know who he reminds me of? Who? My dad. Because if my dad couldn't, I swear to you,

if he didn't like someone on the telly, you'd know about it. He'd go, get off the telly! Get off! I'll just smash your telly up. That was quite a lot, actually. He didn't like many people on the telly. Really? Who did he really hate off the telly? Quite a lot of people.

Go on, name one. Who did he hate? Or. Who did he hate? Or what shows did he hate? He didn't like Blind Date. Oh, didn't he? Why? He just didn't. Oh, you've put me on the spot.

Oh, he didn't like Touch of Frost. Did he not? Who does he think he's doing now, doing a detective when it's Delbury on the telly? He doesn't deserve another job. I'd say Dad, it's David Jason. He's amazing.

Talking about. Yeah, yeah. I can't watch that. I can't watch that. Oh, my God, that's hilarious. But there was many, many people. You've put me on the spot, but you'd go, all right, Dad, gosh. Oh, my God, that's hilarious.

I can't believe he's like, he doesn't deserve another job. Yeah. Hasn't he been on the telly for enough years? And he liked Tony Falls, don't get me wrong. Yeah. Oh, my God, that's hilarious. Sir David is allowed on the television whenever he wants to be because it's Sir David Jason.

Yeah. And I'll watch him in anything. Yeah. Oh, my God. Yeah. God. But that fella was just, wharf, didn't like him at all. I'll tell you what, watch out, Nev.

Yeah. Because I reckon if he saw him in the street, he might not be able to hold himself back from the realisation that he is an actor. What's he talking about me at a car boot sale for? I don't know. And where are you going? Well, the Dolphin was a pub that the Christening, I think,

is in in Gavin and Stacey. Sonia's not out of a car boot a car boot what she was having a car boot the other day on the telly well there we are very clever very very clever I liked him yeah he knows what he's talking about he certainly does with his telly

yeah no I like him yeah thank you okay well that's it for our third summer special. Aww. It's been lovely. It's been so much fun. So much fun. As ever, thanks so much to all you guys at home.

Can I just say, just honestly, how much we've enjoyed these last three episodes. Really good. Love doing these ones. We love hearing from you. And our community now is just flipping fab. But I am very excited that we're going to be back next week to our usual routine. It's been lovely having a little break, but it will be nice to get some telly down our necks.

Yes, it will. Yeah. Lovely. If you want to send us a voice note or message on WhatsApp about the telly, the number is 0-double-3-0-6-7-8-4-7-0-4 and we might play it in one of our episodes. Thank you again for listening and we'll be back next Wednesday with our normal weekly routine on Off the Telly. We'll chat about three shows we're watching in the week plus we'll hear from you guys at home and we'll see what you're recommending. See you then. Bye!

Off the Telly is hosted by Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page. The producer is Georgia Keating. The commissioning editor is Rhian Roberts and it's a BBC Studios audio production for BBC Sounds. Nature. Nature. Nature. Back. Right, back. Hello. Hello. Nature Bang. Hello. Hello.

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