Off The Telly - The Finale

Episode Date: May 21, 2025

Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page chat about all things on and off the telly. It’s time for Off The Telly: The Finale, we're not crying you are! Nat and Jo reminisce about some of their favourite memories from the pod, including their top shows of the year, favourite guests and some classic Off The Telly moments - like the time Jo got Thomas Cromwell and Oliver Cromwell mixed up (two very different people), or when Nat pretended she wasn't on The Masked Singer.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.Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to 03306 784704.Hosts: Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page Producers: Georgia Keating and Becky Carewe-Jeffries 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 our last ever Off the Telly. The finale. Oh, I wonder if people will be as excited about this finale as the Govan and Stacey finale. I hope they will be. I doubt it. I doubt it. No I think some of our trusted fans and listeners would definitely be as excited about it. So

what are we going to be doing today then for our last one? This is a celebration of Off the Telly and we're looking back on some of our favourite moments over the past 18 months. Our favourite shows, our funniest moments on the pod, our favourite guests and what we'll miss most about doing this fabulous show. Oh this is going to be such a fun episode. It's quite strange, I feel like, you know because we haven't watched any telly that we told each other to watch this week, it feels quite weird doesn't it? Weird coming in.

Yeah I feel quite wild, we can talk about whatever we want to talk about. We can. The first thing I want to talk about is you looked absolutely beautiful at the BAFTAs. Thank you. You looked gorgeous and did you have a nice evening? Oh my God, I had a really good time because I wasn't nervous. No. You know, unlike other ones and other awards things, and you always feel scared and there's

always like the red carpet and it's scary and I just thought oh stuff it I just want to wear something that I feel feminine and relaxed and comfy and and I felt like I just felt really comfy and I liked it that my hair was up because I didn't have to worry about it and I felt like a princess and then I wasn't going to wear a bra because I thought you know what fuck it I'm not wearing a bra and I'm not wearing control pants I just want to just feel free. Yeah. Well, I put the dress on and then everyone said, I think you should wear a bit of a control pant. So I was hoisted into those. And then I said, well, I'm still not wearing the bra.

And then everyone looked at me. I do think, you know, it looks fine, but I do think you need to wear a bra. So I had to get one of those stick on bras without, you know, a back and without straps. But do they work? Well, they did. Have you seen my tits? They're gigantic. I sat down and I felt after the three and a half hours worth of the award show, I felt like I'd been sitting in a stress position for three hours. And even though I did feel I felt comfortable, but I was sitting there and every now and then I did have to check to see if my nipple was hanging out because I was like, Jesus Christ, these are huge.

They did look like a cracking pair on the night. And you did look like a lovely big breasted princess. Thank you. But yeah, I felt really relaxed and happy and we were over the moon that Ruth won Best Comedy Actress. Absolutely brilliant. And I was very excited though because I got to see Claudia and Harry from The Traitors. Yes. Oh my god, I think I was the most excited about that when I was like, oh my god, it's

Harry from The Traitors and I saw Ross from The Traitors. I was like, oh my god. Brilliant. I'm so excited that I've seen them. That is so, so good. And also the celebrity traitors, all of the people are confirmed. I can't believe it. I don't think I've ever been this excited about a show before.

Jo, one of my dearest friends is going in. Who is it? Tamika. Oh my god. She plays Kim Foxx in EastEnders. Yeah. She is a ray of sunshine. Yeah. A real performer from, she can't help it. She's hilarious. I can't wait to see her in there. Oh my god, is she quite straight talking? What do you think she'll be like? She is straight talking. She's very honest. I think she'll really struggle if she gets a traitor. Serious? I think she'll struggle, but then she'll probably just take it on as a character and a persona. But I sent her a voice note saying, if this is true, what I'm reading, I cannot wait to

speak to you about it. I know you won't be able to for ages, but I didn't hear back, so maybe she was in there when I sent the message. Oh my God, because they've only just come out or something, haven't they? Yeah, Stephen Fry, Tom Daley, lovely Joe Wilkinson. Oh my god, I can't wait to see what he's going to be like. He's going to be lovely. If he were to be a traitor. I think he'd be good. Because he's kind of unreadable, Joe.

Yeah, he is, isn't he? Yeah. Yeah, he is. And I feel like it would be quite laid back, quite quiet and people won't know what to do with it. Yes. It's going to be brilliant. Claire Balding. Oh my gosh. I feel like she'll be really good. Nick Mohamed. Oh my gosh. Yes. He'll be good. He'll be really good. Paloma Faith's in there. I wonder what she'll be like. Well. Oh my god. I'm so excited about it. Alan Carr. Oh my god, he's going to be fun to watch. What's going to be amazing though, right, is that there are all these fantastic celebrities

and actors and performers and, you know, interviewers and everything. But like, so many of them, I've no idea what they're like in real life, like Paloma Faith. I mean, what is she going to be like? And Alan Carr, I mean, I know that he's absolutely fab and all of the stuff that we see and he seems like such a lovely person. But when he is there and he's like, I just want to put my tracksuit on and that kid, you know, we've been sitting around this round table for about three hours, what's going on? What's he going to be like then?

Stephen Fry though, he's going to be amazing. But we've got this image of Stephen Fry as like this really intelligent professor, like superhuman type. Well I think he's really fun and quite laid back. I've seen him on a few interviews, you know, being interviewed. And yes, he's got the most amazing brain, but he's been such an advocate for mental health and he talks about things so openly that again I wonder about him lying if you'll be comfortable with that. I think it's amazing and I cannot wait to see who's traitor, who's faithful. I mean I am not going to leave

the setting. Oh my god me neither. I mean can you imagine Claire Balding getting murdered? Yeah it's amazing. Or Tom Daley? I feel like that's just like so wrong because Claire Balding, she's just so you know. I feel like Tom's going to be in there isn't he doing his knitting. He's going to have his knitting. I feel like he's going to have his knitting. I feel like he's going to have his knitting.

I feel like he's going to have his knitting. I feel like he's going to have his knitting. I feel like he's going to have his knitting. I feel like he's going to have his knitting. I feel like he's going to have his knitting. I feel like he's going to have his knitting. I feel like he's going to have his knitting. I feel like he's going to have his knitted. I feel like I've knitted like a Traitor Jumper by the end of it. Yeah, maybe. Oh my god, you know when you're really excited about a show coming on? I've guessed, I'm guessing, so this is not correct everybody, but I'm guessing Autumn because the BBC, you know, they like, channels like to do an Autumn launch into the Dark Nights. They might roll it into the next series as well, because yeah, we always have that roundabout

New Year, don't we? Yeah, it's like EastEnders, they always do kind of a big story for September because it sort of gets people back on it after summer holidays and all your routine goes out, the kids are at home, you're not doing the things you usually do. So summer, the storylines were really kind of quiet and a bit pants and then bang September you'd be like, oh it's the Lodge, we're back into, you know, it would always be good but you could tell you could tell the scripts for the summer that way. Oh my god who do you think is going to be a traitor? I think Celia Rimry is in there I bet she'd be a good traitor. It's going to be brilliant. Imagine Tom Daley as a traitor.

He's too nice isn't he? He is too nice or maybe there's this side of him that you know. And also I think because they're all well-known people, it's different going in. Yeah. You know, as what we've been watching, the traitors, it's a bunch of people. Everyone's going to second guess because they know them. So they'll be like, oh, you know, Stephen Fry, I bet he could be a good traitor. You know, they'll be second guessing everybody. I bet Charlotte Church will be good.

She'll be good. Because she's, you know, confident, straight talking, like, oh my god. Oh, it's going to be brilliant. You've had your birthday as well, haven't you? I did! How was it? What did you do? It was lovely. I was working on the day, but doing something fun, so that was really good. But yeah, 42. Oh, it's funny, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. I did think I'm sort of halfway through now. Yeah, if I'm lucky. If you're lucky, yeah, because that would be like 84. Yeah. But now they say that, yeah, that, yeah, because I mean, are you because yeah, because that's 84. What do most people live till? Is it 90s, 80s or 70s? My dad was 84 when he passed away. So in my head, it's a bit of a number. Yeah. And if I can be as lucky as that happy days, you, you know. But yeah, it's a privilege, isn't it? Having a birthday.

I came downstairs, James was in the kitchen and he went, I've just wished Nat a happy birthday. It did! It did! And we were talking, weren't we? The four of us need to go for dinner. Yes, we do! We do. We'll sort it out and we'll get it in. Yes, definitely. Oh, that'll be fun, won't it? I've had many, many messages about the last ever one. Oh my God.

So many on Instagram. Yeah. So many people, absolutely. Well, we've got loads of messages to get through later. Oh my God, we've got so many messages. But we wanted to talk for a bit about our favourite moments and our favourite shows. Just favourite shows, telly and the thing. I mean, your sandals have been my highlight, Jo.

Do you know, right? Look, I have got a brand new pair of orange trainers on because I wore my sandals in today. They're in my bag. Yeah. I was flipping, freezing. It's sunny, but it was really, really cold. It is chilly.

So my sandals are here physically and also in the heart as well. They've been my favorite. Yeah. And I do think you should start an Instagram page for them. I'm being quite serious. Well, I could start an Instagram page for them. I'm being quite serious. Well, I could start an Instagram page, oh my god, and then I could merge that into an OnlyFans page, which would be a really nice turnaround because that's kind of how we started

about talking about OnlyFans pages when we first started this. And who knew that I could have come out and my sandals can have their own OnlyFans page. I think it's a great idea. I saw Lily Allen the other day putting a piece of cheese over her toes. Oh, why was she putting cheese over them? For OnlyFans. But what, was it just like sprinkling it or wafting it? No, it was a large plastic, you know the plastic cheese that you get for burgers? It was one of those that she was sort of parading over the toes.

So yeah, go for it. Do the Sandals, do the OnlyFans. See how that goes. Yeah. So yeah, go for it. Do the Sandals, do the OnlyFans. See how that goes. Yeah. So what would you say, right, have been your top three shows that you've loved? That's really hard. It is flipping hard, isn't it?

But I have to say, very early days, and I know you agree with me. Yeah. Alice in Jack, very early on. I loved that show. We absolutely loved it. And it's something that really has stuck with me. Yeah. Alice and Jack. Oh, very early on. I love that show. We absolutely loved it and it's something that really has stuck with me. I loved it. I tell you what, I haven't cried watching a show. No, never have I. As much as I've cried since then at all. Completely. Oh my God. And I think that was one of our first like bonding moments as well. Yes. Because I don't think I've ever been as hysterical as when I said that I would go in with a scissors if I was going in to see James after he's died. Sorry to bring

the pod down. But yeah. And then you said, have you ever lost a pet? Yeah. And I know. No. Yeah. I said, have you ever lost a parent? And I thought you said, have you ever lost a pet? And I said, yes. And I cut her fur off with the scissors as well. And then when I found out that you'd said bear, I was half mortified, but half completely and utterly hysterical. There have been some real clangers, Jo, and you've made my days filled with laughter. Oh my God. Another favourite moment, I'm really sorry, is when we did Wolf Hall.

So we watched a bit of Wolf Hall, which again, I'd probably put in my top three. Oh, would you really? I just loved it. I just think it's a great show. I know it's a slow one, but I really liked it. I liked the lighting. It all looks like a Caravaggio art painting. I may be working class, but I'm a bit of a snob to heart. But when you kept talking about Thomas Cromwell and you kept saying, no, you kept saying Oliver Cromwell and you kept going on about the history and even the few hundred years, you've got it all wrong where you'd googled Oliver Cromwell.

I just remember thinking, God, why have they made the decision to not have Oliver Cromwell looking like how he should look? And it's because obviously the character was Thomas Cromwell. I remember being really confused about it. And also, when we were talking and you kept saying Thomas Cromwell and I thought, Jesus, she keeps saying the name wrong all the time but I'm not going to say anything because that's going to be a bit rude. Like I know it all, even though I do obviously know it all because I know the name of the person. And I thought I'm just going to leave it up to Georgia, our producer, to correct her at the end because I mean that would be better. And it was me

all along. Really hilarious. And you'd really done a bit of homework on him as well, hadn't you? I had, but is Thomas Cromwell related to Oliver Cromwell? I don't think so. But why? They've got the same name. Surely they should come down in line. So has Eva Cassidy, he's got the same name as me but I'm not related to her. But in court, right, it's all in court and all of that, so if one of them, if Thomas Cromwell was working in court, then surely the other Cromwell who's come a couple of years later... It was about to change parts, wasn't it?

I just remember being astounded that they didn't have the same hairstyle or the same clothes and I didn't understand why, like, they hadn done the clothes and light scenes in the telly. It was absolutely hilarious. Oh God, what about Rivals? Are my obsession with Danny Dyer? Ah right, now Rivals, they're filming aren't they? They are filming now. They're back filming. Yeah, because at the back there's Danny Dyer got up because he won best comedy male.

For Mr Big Stuff. Yes! Which we loved as well. Which we absolutely loved. Danny's had a very good year. Yeah, he has. When you think about the programs we've watched. The Assembly, he was great and we've only just done that one and that was fantastic.

Obviously Rivals and Mr Big Stuff. And he was sporting his big moustache. Yeah. But yeah, we loved Mr Big Stuff, didn't we? And they're doing another series of that. Did you see him? Did you just chat to him? No, I didn't speak to him. Oh, fair enough.

I think I would have been too scared too. I think I've perved over him so much on this. I'd be slightly ashamed to go up in the night. Little bit embarrassed. Little bit awkward. I understand. I tell you though, a new favourite of mine, right, which we've not reviewed, but I have literally just started watching it right, At the BAFTAs, Marissa Abella won best actress for industry. And I've not seen industry.issa Abella won best actress for industry and I've not seen industry so I was like oh my god I wonder you know I'm gonna have to check this out. I've heard everybody talking about it so much but I've not watched it at all.

Oh good god right. Well in the space of about two days I am now on the last episode of series one. Oh my god I love it. Is it good? It's amazing. Okay. I don't know if it'd be up your street because there's quite a bit of sex, but oh my God, it's so good. So they're all in, you know, like in the city and they're all traders and doing all of that. Oh my God, the two main girls are fab. The boys are all brilliant as well. I mean, the cast are brilliant.

No, I think I love it. I love it. I love it. I would highly recommend that. Okay. Yeah. I'm going to finish off the last episode today and then I'm straight into a series two BBC iPlayer. Oh, okay. Brilliant. Industry and she's brilliant. Oh, I'm definitely going to give it a watch. Love it. I love

it. Yeah. So, so good. Fantastic. Yeah. So I would say that my top three are Alice and Jack rivals and actually industry, which I've only just recommended now. But you loved it. But I love it. What else did I love? Oh, we've done so many things, haven't we? Do you forget about them? I'm going to be honest though. Yeah. I've loved doing this show,

and it's really opened my eyes to different genres, different things. Has it changed my tastes? No. Mm. I'm quite looking forward to getting back to watching Grand Designs, Gardener's World and just watching the things that I like, the old sitcoms, chucking on W, chucking on

Dave. I know that I'm boring. No, you're not boring! I like what I like and I do love a drama every now and again but if there's four series I'm not going to go back and watch it all. It's not going to happen. Me too. And you're not boring. I mean, oh my god, I'm loving the new series of Alan Carr's Interior Design Masters. Oh yes, brilliant. I am loving it and there's nothing beats a really good gardening show. I don't think

my tastes have changed either. I love a good drama. I still like stuff which is quite dark, but I haven't really watched, you know, like a documentary that's about crime or anything for a while because life's been too busy castrating guinea pigs. Yeah, how are they? They're, oh my god, they are on fire in an amazing way. They've been another highlight for me. Oh my god, right. So now it's been like a squash and a squeeze, the Julia Donaldson

book. I love the book. Yeah, so it's like, take in your, your cow, said the wise old man. Well, the wise old man told me to take in, take in your four guinea pigs. And they took over the playroom. Yes. By the end of it, they stank. I was going mad. I developed an eye twitch. My dad felt physically sick and couldn't come into the house and had to leave early once when he came to visit. So the guinea pigs now, right, have gone outside. I am like, Jesus, I've got a brand new room. I've got my peloton in it. I've got a sofa.

I've got a chair. I've got the piano in it. I can sit down, both built in blocks in the middle. We've got a room back, right? And we have got this really nice big pen. Basically, we've got a petting zoo now in the back garden. Love it. And they are loving it out there. They're wandering around. They've got their own space. They're climbing up. That's great.

And they're adorable. And the other day, Kit was lying on the sofa bare chested. Messi was lying on his chest and then Messi like, clutched his head around and then he rolled on his side and sort of went up like that on his back and started clutching and going to sleep. So it's lovely at the moment. So they're still in the house sometimes. Oh, they come in for a visit. They come in, right. so the kids come in from school, straight out, they bring them in,

so yeah, they're in the house and they're, you know, coaching. Messy was on my bed last night as well. Oh good. Yeah, he's on my bed, he's been on the sofa, he's been on kids chest, he's been cut up and around my neck, chewing on my hair. So they come in, they've got like, you know, but then they come to a point. Any piss or shit on the bed? Wee on the sofa, which he would have loved. Poo on me and then messy weed on Eva. So she had to go up and get changed and have a shower. But the bed's okay?

The bed's okay. The sofa's got guinea pig wee on it, but James sponged it. Fine. So that was all. Yeah, but a bit of poo and wee everywhere. But who minds when you've got the love of a guinea pig? I would. I would mind. But that's alright. That's okay. The rabbits pop in every now and again and they are assigned to the kitchen only because of the hard floor. Oh, have they ever come into the living room? No, no, no. No, thank you.

Oh, my God, the guinea pigs, they've been in like every room, every room. I took Messi into the toilet the other day as well. I was just carrying him around. I'm considering getting one of those bags so I can have like a pouch of sling. Because it's like a he's like a therapy peg. It's ever so relaxing. You know, it's like carrying him around. Yeah, it's so calming. I do like that.

Yeah. David Jason. Sir David Jason on our pod. Sat where you are now. Yes, I mean our very first guest. I was terrified. I mean, for you as well, right? I mean, oh my God, ever since I first ever, ever met you and you said just how much him and only fools and horses

just, just such a huge part of your life. Yes. Yeah. It was went and flipping interviewed him. Yeah. It was huge. And I'd say for me, that was my absolute highlight of doing this pod to be able to have sat with him and had that hour with him and got to talk to him, have our picky done. That was a really big one for me. But all of the Gavin and Stacey stuff, the build up to the Christmas special, you know, having your friends in, all of that was really special and I know people absolutely loved it because you know. God it seems so long ago now doesn't it?

It does but it wasn't really. No it wasn't. Six months ago. Yeah and we went through all of that doing the pod in hotels and all sorts and trying to work out how to do the computers ourselves. Yeah, that's been funny. You would have loved that everybody honestly. We could do an hour special just on weekend trying to get onto Zoom and record it properly. That was quite funny. There was one time when I was in the hotel in Cardiff and I just couldn't get it to work. And I remember I nearly started crying. I switched it all off and just thought, sod this, I'm just not even doing it. Because I was about to cry. But we got through it, didn't we?

We got through. What about all of the EastEnders special and all of your friends coming in? It's been lovely. Me being completely, utterly starstruck, being like, oh my God, I am sat here in amongst the EastEnders cast. This is mental. Oh no, it's all been really good. And how about me lying to you about the Masked Singer? Oh my God. That was quite fun.

That was so exciting. You knew it was me though. I was like, it's gotta be you. It's gotta be you. All of the clues, the voice, I mean as it was going on and more towards the end, the voice, you just couldn't help it. I mean and I was hammering away at you going tell me, come on tell me, tell me. And I didn't. You didn't. You kept stung didn't you? The same as I kept saying come on tell me what's happening in the Christmas special. Yes. Just tell me and you were so good. I was so good, we didn't, we're very good at keeping secret. We didn't reveal anything.

No. I can't believe though that you did The Masked Singer all the way through doing this as well because we've like recorded this at all sorts of times and stuff haven't we? Yeah. Because both of us working, having kids all over the place. I mean we've been filming, well recording this until midnight sometimes haven't we? When I was really busy at EastEnders, I remember those few weeks. Yes! Doing 12 scenes a day and then coming here for eight. Just before the live one!

Just thinking you must be so stressed right now. You look back though, you do get through things. I think that's really important. It looks such a mountain to climb and you think I'm never going to do it. And now when you're past it and you're down the other end, you look back and you think that was fun. Yeah, I did it and it was fun. I got through it and actually enjoyed it as well.

Yeah. So it's good. Yeah, because I remember just before you were doing the live episode, it was just like, oh my God, you were working, rehearsing all the time. But I knew with your documentary, you did your wildlife stuff, then you were doing Gov'n and Stacey. You know, we've both been, in fact, we're very, very lucky. We are. Because we're always busy, which is great. We are. So hopefully for anyone who does enjoy us together, who knows, we could do something in the future

together. Yes, we could. You never know. Yeah, yeah. Oh my gosh, I'm so going to miss talking to you with your dry sense of humour and the way you can just catch me at the core. I hope that we do definitely keep in touch. Oh God, definitely, definitely. I hope so. Yes. Well, we half bumped into each other the other day because we were both doing the same thing, which we can't say what it is. No.

We were both doing the same thing but at different times. It was quite funny. And I sent you a voice note where I called you a slag. You did. Am I allowed to say that? You did. You went, hello you old slag. Am I allowed to say that? You did. You went hello you old slag. I thought hang on a minute here. But I liked it. I liked the fact that you were in a good mood and you feel comfortable to call me that.

Well I hope that there's going to be many more messages where I get to call you a slag. Absolutely. I hope so. I'm looking forward to them and I want pictures of the sandals. At least on a fortnightly basis. I know we're both busy. Yeah I'm going to send you quite exotic exciting ones of where is the sandal places that you wouldn't imagine the sandal to be. Okay. Oh my god I've literally just thought of one straight away. Have you? Sounds ominous. And I can't believe I'm slightly ashamed of myself that that was my first thought and an image that I can see. What was it?

It's in my bum crack. Oh it was then? Yes and then I thought it was back to the match. I thought you'd hung it off of James' willy. Oh my god! Well I've got two options now. Oh my god, do you remember when the stripper from Gavin and Stacey's first series, when his daughter sent us a voice note?

That was amazing. And I now follow the pair of them on Instagram. Do you? Yes! But isn't it mad to think, I'm like, we're listening to the voice note and everything and I'm now following her on Instagram but I've seen her father's willy. It is quite funny isn't it if you think does it make you feel a bit old? No I felt a bit shocked and embarrassed at first because I'm sure I've chatted about

that so much because it was such an imprint in my mind of a memory of when I must have been about 29. I mean like when he stood in front of me I just remember seeing this like black sort of leather although I don't think it was leather thong like in my face and that memory is so imprinted in my mind. I can't believe that like we've basically sort of not chatted but like had communication with his daughter. Really funny, really funny and I'm sure well she was proud of it wasn't she? It was brilliant. Yes, yes. Absolutely brilliant. Yeah we have had some corkers. We really have.

Shall we listen to some voice notes? Oh yes. We've had so many. God we've had hundreds haven't we? We've had loads. But I thought we'd just put them on, crack for as many as we can and then we can say thanks to them all. Yes. For the last time, let's have another one.

Hi Joe and Nat, it's Anna in Sutton Caulfield. The time has come, the final show. We love you dearly, Nat and Joe. Each week you bring a joyful cheer, but now the end is sadly near. Save our podcast, we all cry, But with a tear we wave goodbye. Bye to Sonja, fierce and bright, Bye to Stacey, pure delight. You've cheered up all our Wednesdays blue, We've laughed a story, something new. We've loved the sandals, bush and booze, Add for car chaos we'd never lose. Your telly tips, your wise suggestions, solved our streaming type confessions. Now we're lost, what will we do?

What will we listen to without you? Thank you for being so joyous and kind. A funnier duo we'll never find. You've given us giggles, a comfort, a glow. Forever our faves. Dear Nat and Jo. I'll really miss the podcast. Lots of love. Oh Anna, that was so gorgeous.

Oh my god, how lovely. I do love a poem. Me too. Really gorgeous. I don't think anybody's ever written me, or asked, you know, like, but ever written me a poem before. That's lovely! Beautiful. Very nice.

Very good. Loved it. That was gorgeous. Thank you. Hi girls. It's bastard trucking again. Barry. I've just listened to the episodes where you've just announced the end of the pod.

And I'm not ashamed to say I'm absolutely devastated because I do look forward to this every week I love the little special episodes we get I love your banter your relationship is magical I love listening to Joe's voice because I just it's just like what um listening to um Stacey she just obviously I know it's the same voice but you know it's um it's just like you're both in character so yeah you get two things you get your favorite characters and you get a fantastic podcast of two friends oh that's lovely oh my gosh that's so nice that he said that about my voice. Lovely, Baza.

Yeah, because if anybody slags me off about anything, it's always about my voice. Well, there you go. Baza likes it. He likes it. So the rest of them can fuck off. Hello ladies, it's Emma from Nebworth. I've just listened to your episode where you have just told us all that it is the penultimate episode. I'm mortified.

I'm so upset. I'm almost like, when I heard the biggest lump in my throat, you two have been absolutely fantastic. You have made a difference to my life because I have company on my way to work on a Thursday morning because I listen to it a day later but today I put it on on my way to do my chores and the shopping and the food shopping and my aqua size glass for over 50s. If anyone doesn't do that I highly recommend it, it's brilliant. But I just want to say thank you,

thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Oh, I'm getting all choked up again because you two are just so natural and I feel like I'm listening to my friends speak and I'm really going to miss it. I'm really going to miss it. I mean, yeah, I'm going to miss the TV recommendations, but I think most of all the community that you have created, sorry, will miss you two more than anything because your voices are a pleasure, absolute pleasure to listen to and you really make my day.

Oh my gosh, what a lovely, lovely message. Pull yourself together Emma, it's just a podcast. Oh, I'm going to start crying. That's so sweet. No Emma, thank you so much. Oh. Oh. Shall we have another one? Yeah.

Hi Natalie and Joe. I just wanted to send a quick voice note to you guys. I'm so sorry to hear that you're finishing your podcast. I started listening to the podcast some time ago. Unfortunately, I lost my mum back in early 2024. And this was something I just started to listen to, just kind of have it on in the background, distraction whilst I'm on walks or at work or wherever. And it really cheered me up.

Something lovely about it as well is that my mum absolutely loved Gavin and Stacey, and she loved EastEnders. It was something that we shared, both of those shows we shared. So yeah, it felt almost like, I don't know, it just felt like the perfect podcast for me to listen to and it was kind of like she was around, you know?

But yeah, yeah, it's been lovely listening to you guys and using your recommendations, everything like that. So thank you and all the best to both of you. Oh, that's so kind. Thank you so much. So lovely. And we're both really busy. So I know people are upset and I know we're not chatting together. But you know, you're going to see you doing loads of exciting things and me doing lots of exciting things and who knows in the future we will get together for something I'm sure. God, what a community we made. Yeah, absolutely and people have really loved it and I think it's been a really special

project to do. Yeah. It really has. Right, shall we have our last voice note ever? Yes, our very last one. Come on then. G'day ladies, Jack from Adelaide Australia here. I've just heard the news that the pod is coming to an end and I've got to say I'm absolutely gutted. I listen every week on

midnight while cleaning out the cat trays and you literally make a shit situation so much better. You also make me snortle. You know that snort-chortle laugh? So yeah, I can only imagine what my partner thinks happens in the garage every midnight. Anyway, besides the EastEnders 40th anniversary pods, my best memory of the telly is just you two. The warmth, the banter, the friendship, it's been an absolute joy to listen to you. And from all of us, thank you for each week making the world a bit brighter and life a bit more fun. And Joe, we need a new pod from you. We've got Nats, which is a hoot and a holler, but now we need one from you. I'm invested in your family and I'm invested in these bloody guinea pigs.

Oh, that was such a lovely message. I'm very happy to keep Jack company whilst he's doing his shit jobs. It's about right for us. It is. I feel like it's a nice way to end. Yes. Just putting the bins out. Putting the bins out. Yeah. Cleaning up the shed. Yes. It was really lovely. What lovely messages from

everybody. Absolutely gorgeous messages. You need to do your own pod love. Well, watch this space or listen to this space. I think there's going to be lots more guinea pig tales to come. Oh, why not? You see? You see? Fantastic. Well, we've also got a surprise voice note from Georgia, our producer. Oh. Oh, let's have a listen to it. Okay. Hey now, Joanna, it's Max. And just wanted to say thank you so much for and just wanted to say thank you so much for bringing bodies on your platform and talking about the show it's so lovely of you although now you need to

continue watching it I love that I really love that you were so kind about it Joe, thank you so much. And yeah, it's a brutal drama, it's one that I'm most proud of really. Written by the wonderful Jeb McCurion, I think it's some of his finest work. But seriously ladies, very very honoured that you were talking about it on your show. Thank you so much. Oh my god, Max Beasley said my name! Oh that's so kind of him. Oh, that really is lovely.

But it's true, my God, I love the show. Yeah, you loved it, didn't you? I have rewatched Bodies. Oh my God, I don't know how many times, because I love it. And it is, it is the human relationships. Yes, it's all the stuff and all of the drama that plays out on the wards and all of that,

but my God, it's all of the human relationships. What a lovely message there from Max. It's so, so lovely. That's a nice finish, isn't it? Cherry on the cake. I need to go back and watch it. Oh, my God, go back. Cover your eyes for the group. I know, it's just a little bit, yeah, I need to do it.

Because you'll love all of the rest of it. Maybe I'll start it again with Mark, because we, you know. Yeah, yeah. A couple of things. Industry. Industry. Bodies. Yeah, but yeah. And it'll keep us going. If I'm going out on one I will say I

recommend bodies because I mean it's the only show I've ever watched over and over and over again. Love it. Mine would have to be only Fools and Horses. Yes, oh my god, those are our two then. What does that say about us? Because yours is only Fools and Horses, mine is bodies. Those are the recommendations we leave you with. And I think they sum us up very, very well. They do, don't they? They do. They do. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Let's thank everybody behind the scenes of this pod because we can sit here and have a chat

But our lovely producer Georgia every week getting everything ready for us. We come into the studio beautiful Adrian, Rich our exec, for everybody who commissioned it in the first place, Rian Beautiful Becky who's done a lot for us as well over the last few weeks and lovely Chris We may have not seen him in real life, but he's a tech hero over the Zooms helping us along. It has been an incredible team of people. Absolutely amazing. All a pleasure to work with. And quite genuinely we couldn't have done it without you because as has been seen, I'm shit technically. Absolutely terrible. Right, our last goodbye. Thank you all. Thank you. I'm not very good at goodbyes. I get really sentimental though. I can't like say goodbye. You know, like if I were, right,

so we're at a party now, right? Like if this was a party, I do a French goodbye. That's when you just, you're silent and you just like go. And like whenever I've been at parties, they're sending like, Oh my God, where's she gone? Where's she gone? And then I don't even send a text message. It's only when they're like, where are you? Where are you? And they'll go, I've gone. So I'm going to do a French goodbye.

Okay. Even though I love everybody and thank you to all of our listeners. Oh my gosh. This, you know, we hope that you follow us along in other ways, but thank you so much to our community. We love you all so much. And that I loved speaking to you. I have absolutely loved chatting to you. Long may it continue, even if it's not on mic.

Yeah. And to everybody, thank you so, so much for listening. Thank you. And catch you later. Bye. Off the Telly is hosted by Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page. The producer is Georgia Keating, the commissioning editor is Rhianne Roberts and it's a BBC Studios audio production for BBC Sounds.

How would a cockney rebel turned famous actor survive on a desert island? There's nothing better than a geezer naked dancing about on a desert island listening to rave music. Hello, I'm Lauren Laverne, presenter of Desert Island Discs from BBC Radio 4. My castaway is Danny Dyer. You might know him as Freddie Jones from Rivals or Mick Carter from EastEnders. He wanted me to play an alpha male that wore a pink dressing gown. I was like, wow, I didn't expect this. Danny talks about the lows and the highs of his life and career, including some advice from the renowned playwright Harold Pinter. He always said to me, just be you, everyone else is taken.

And I never quite understood what that meant. I get it now. Danny Dyer on Desert Island Discs. Listen first on BBC Sounds.