Off The Telly - We've got some news for you...

Episode Date: May 14, 2025

Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page chat about all things on and off the telly.Nat and Jo have some news - this is the penultimate episode of Off The Telly. They’ve loved doing the pod but all good things must come to an end. They chat about why it’s ending and how grateful they are for the pod. Plus there’s still time for some telly chat where they discuss some listeners' favourite shows - Firefly Lane, Modern Family and The Assembly.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:11:50 - Firefly Lane (Netflix) 21:52 - Modern Family (Disney+) 30:08 - The Assembly (ITVX)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. You can subscribe to our pod on BBC Sounds and make sure push notifications are turned on in your phone settings so you can listen to every episode of Off the Telly. Hello everybody, welcome to Off the Telly. Hello everyone. Jo, how was your week? Oh my gosh, we've now bought a nice big pen and the pigs are going outside.

Jo, I need to ask you about the pigs because I saw your Instagram and they were in a cage. What has happened this week please? So it's all been fine. Oh God love them, the boys are doing so well and then today I had to take four of them in for their after operation check up and there were four of them and they've all got to be separate so they keep away from each other's stitches. So I basically have turned into that like old woman that you see in the street who's walking around with a pram with an animal in it. But I was walking around with my pram and I had two guinea pigs on the top and I had two guinea pigs

underneath and I walked and James said oh for goodness sake why don't you take two in and then take the other two in afterwards you know people are gonna think you're mad and I said I don't care I don't care I don't mind walking around with four guinea pigs in a pram when they get them out of the cages you never know I might actually just put them in the pram in a blanket and walk them around so you could give them four miniature dummies a few sun hats sunglasses special in the pram be done with it there's Joanna Page wandering up and down the high street with her pram with the pigs in it. So I was really, really proud. Each of them was examined and I've got to be honest, I've never been so proud of a guinea pig's balls.

I was like, they're healing well, they're doing good. They're all pooing, wee-ing, drinking and eating loads. Perfect, that's all you want. Yes, so it's going well. Yeah, really, really well. So I'm pleased. Once we get them outside now and they can chill out when the sun comes back now at the weekend. I'm very pleased.

So what about your week? Oh, that's really good. What's been happening with you? Well, it's been really good. I started my BBC Care show. Yes. Which is not going to be out until probably next year. Even like no idea on time, but it's going to be 2026.

So I don't want to go into it too much, but I feel really proud and almost Joe, I've been with some nurses and stuff today and I sort of feel like I should, that's a job I should have done. Really? I really love it. Oh my god. I really, really love it. Well that's amazing. That is really, you're going to love this aren't you? I feel really like it's going to be an eye-opener and something that I'm really going to be proud of.

So again, it's the beginning and there's a long time to go. I might change my tune, but yeah, it's been a really great week. Thank you. Oh, well that is fantastic. My God, it's going to be so fulfilling. By the end of it. I mean, my God, you'll just, you'll be a changed woman. Well, who knows? Cause this is, this is only sort of half, it's an MVQ, a level three

MVQ, so sort of half an A level, but it sort of dips into all care. And I thought, well, what if I really like something and I want to do an MVQ in that, you know, another level of care. What if you want to specialise in something? Well, you don't know. Oh my god. So there we go. And then what if you change career and you just go, right, that's it, I'm going to become,

you know, this. Who knows? Oh, well, that is amazing. That is going to keep you really, really busy. I mean, like, and you're going to be like, it's going to be so emotional as well, as well as physically like, oh my gosh, it's going to gosh, it's going to be full on, isn't it? It will be full on. And at the weekend, you may have seen me make a bit of a tit of myself on the hit list.

Oh my God. No, I wish I'd seen that. That wasn't too bad, but I could have been better. And my family will annihilate me over it because they're really good at it. So it's been an eventful week. Once you get under those lights, I say it about all of them, the chase, all of them, the weakest link. I'm just not very good at quizzes once I get on them. Now I think, I bet you're really good and if it was in the house and if it was Christmas time and if you had a drink, you'd be absolutely fine. It's just the nerves it is and it's the flipping pressure. Oh honestly, me and Jamie Balfwit, we had a go but there you go, what can you say? What

can you say? Anyway, we've got a little bit of news haven't we for everybody? We do! This is actually going to be our penultimate episode of Off the Telly. I know. Yes, we're gonna be finishing our podcast next week. And we just want to say how utterly wonderful a ride it has been. And thank you all for coming along with us. And we wouldn't have been able to do it

if it wasn't for you listeners. When we started this Jo, absolutely. And when we started this to think, we started off and it was an idea and we got together and we did one and we did a pilot and then we said, oh, you know, BBC kindly said, oh, let's do it for a bit longer and a bit longer. But never in a million years did we think it would run for, you know, nearly, well, 18 months nearly. Yeah, we've done about over 80 episodes or something, haven't we?

We have, we have. And I think, well, it's sad because we know we've created a community of people and I know that the people that do listen really love it. But I think what we have to remember also is the BBC do like to try different things and they like to put their money into new projects, new things, which is really, really important. And me and Joe are old hat at all this and we are very busy elsewhere. And we have got a lot going on. Not because we don't want to do this, but sometimes you have to make room for other people to grow. And I've got my own pod. I've got Life for Nat, which is a couple

of times a week, which is really busy also. But I think, you know, never say never, we could always come back to it, couldn't we Jo? We've absolutely loved it. We've got the most wonderful community. It's been a joy getting all of your messages, listening to your voice notes, taking on board all of your recommendations, you coming along and sharing it with us and your funny stories and just knowing that we've just got this big gang who we chat to each other. Absolutely, recommending stuff. Yeah, that we're chatting to them as well and it's just been a joy. Oh my God, we've

had a laugh. But yeah, never say never. We've got each other and we've got our community. Jo, what am I going to do without your smelly sandals? I don't know, you're going to have to send me selfies each week. I think the sandals should have their own Instagram page. Oh my god, I think they should. I think you should have where are the sandals, what they're doing this week. Even if it's just for me and they've got one follower, but I bet you get a few. I think we should have the Sandal Instagram please. Oh my god we so should. We should have the Sandal Instagram and we should have the

Guinea Pig Instagram as well because there's just so much going on with both of them. There is a lot going on but honestly it has been no joke, no word of a lie, an absolute joy. And I've loved every second of it. Really I have. Oh my God, me too. I tell you what, we have enough laughter. We have laughed so much. So next week is going to be a massive off the telly celebration. We're going to just look back at stuff. You know, we'll have a glass. You're all invited. I want you to pick up a glass.

We want to have a laugh. We want you to laugh and really just look back at our time during this pod because it has been one hell of a ride. A look back at all of our favorite moments, all the funny things that have happened, everything that we got up to. Yeah, so for the first time ever we're not going to be reviewing any TV shows next week are we? We're just going to have a natta. Good old natta, but we can talk about our special ones, what really touched us.

Our favourite things. Absolutely our favourite things. I might make an effort and before next week I might watch Dod Dodger that you've been going on about for 18 months. I swear to God, if you watch Dodger now, fuck off, Jo. I'm not having that. Can I tell you another one this week though for everybody listening? A children's recommendation and it's a throwback. It is old, but Eliza introduced it to Joni the other day because Eliza loved it and it's called Hetty Feather. It's a fantastic again, see BBC program and it's, what's her name? Oh, for goodness sake, what's the writer? The amazing writer, help me.

Julia Donaldson? Thank, no, no, no. Oh, is it the one that does things like... With the glasses, the grey hair. What's her name? Agatha Christie. I am going to... It's definitely not Agatha Christie. It's definitely not Agatha Christie. Is it a murder mystery for children? It's Jacqueline Wilson. It's her books and it's Hetty Feather and it's all about... It's set in the Victorian Wilson, it's her books and it's Hetty Feather. And it's all about, it's

set in the Victorian times and it's all the children, the foundlings that go to, you know, end up in this kind of orphanage, if you like. And it's all about their life, what they get up to, the boys and the girls, breaking in, breaking out. But it's very Dodger-ish, which you wouldn't bloody know yet. But I haven't watched it for ages. Joni's really got into it and she'll kill me for saying it. But the other night, Eliza was glued to it. And at 14, she said, oh, Mum, this brings back so many memories. And it's still brilliant. So Hetty Feather and Dodger for the Bloomin' Children, please all watch it.

Right, I'm going to get Eva onto that because I think she'd love it. It's really good and it's even, it's a Sherry on a Sunday for us. Oh, I like that. I like that. It's got a lovely music. You're going to love the music, Jo. Yeah, I'm going to check that out as well then. Yeah, that sounds really good because I love the whole Mallory Towers thing. I sat and watched that. You'll love it. Oh my God, I'm going to check that out as well then. Yeah, that sounds really good. Because I love the whole Mallory Towers thing. I sat and watched that. There you go, you'll love it.

Oh my God, I loved it. Joe, Hetty Feather, you'll love it. It's brilliant. Really, really good for all the family. Really, really good. Obviously, we've loved having all of your recommendations. It's absolutely brilliant. And we've heard about Firefly Lane for a long, long time.

So we thought, right, okay, it's on Netflix, we're going to do that one. We've had so many voice notes, you've really recommended it, said it's really good about like, you know, best friends, women together. So we thought, right, we're going to check that out this week. Absolutely. Yeah. We also decided to do on ITVX, The Assembly. I went for the one with Danny Dyer, obviously.

What one did you go for? Of course you did. I watched Danny Dyer and I watched David Tennant and a little bit of The Little Mix Girl. Can't remember her name, that's not me being rude. I was going to do all three. After the first one, I thought I'm going to carry on and then I thought, no, get your other episodes in for the other shows first. So I haven't gone back to it. But yeah, I was going to do the same thing because I was just like, oh my God, I just want to keep watching and then what was the last one? Oh the last one we just thought we'd have a little chat about Modern Family.

Oh yes. It's just such a show that brings everybody together that we thought we'd have a little netter about it because we get loads of recommendations for it and it's just a great great comedy that you can sit down with all the family. It isn't too offensive. Anyway, we can go into it later. What shall we chat about first? Shall we do Firefly Lane? Yes. Shall we listen to the voice note first? Yes, let's have the voice note.

I just wanted to say that a lady mentioned about a show called Firefly Lane that you must watch. Oh my god ladies you need to watch it is absolutely amazing. The acting, the cast, everything, the story going back to the past, now the future it's just oh absolutely loved it loved that show so much it was just really really sad but there's no gonna be no more seasons after the second one. So yeah, definitely watch ladies. So yeah, give it a go. Totally recommend it. Well, I put it on and so it's on Netflix. I put it on and I thought, because I'd seen

it on Netflix loads and I didn't want to put it on because I just thought, oh God, it's going to be some schmaltzy American sort of thing. I don't know. I just don't fancy it. I put it on and it's got Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalk in it and it was first out in 2021, two series and it's had a bit of a resurgence recently. And I put it on and I've got to be honest, I was really drawn into it. Both fantastic actresses. I love both of them. And I just, I started watching it and I thought, right, okay, I'm really liking this. It's going back and forth in time. Two best friends end up meeting. One of them moves next to the other one.

And one of them, Tully, has got a mum who isn't really there. She's, you know, often taking drugs or she's off doing her own thing or she's drinking a lot. She's not really there for her. And then the other girl, Kate, has got more of a sort of secure and stable family and she's really into her work and, you know, they're kind of a bit like opposites. They end up becoming friends and then they end up working in the same place together and, you know, it's kind of unfolding. I've only seen the first episode

and I started watching and I kind of thought I can't actually stop watching this and every time I sort of started thinking, oh, I don't want to get pulled into something because I know I'll enjoy it and then I'm on it then and I've got to keep watching it. It just kept drawing me in and the doorbell rings, telly goes to answer the door and it's her, you know, old boss who it turns out then starts speaking and saying, you know, that he thinks he's really messed up his life. He shouldn't have got married to Kate.

The divorce is all really hard and then he says can I stay with you? And Tully is like no go back to your wife and he's like no I want to stay with you. And so obviously she's been having an affair with him or something. And Tully is best friends with Kate but she's obviously been shagging her husband or something. Well with that I would talk. Excuse me, excuse me. You need to keep watching. Stop jumping to conclusions. That is what I've come to after the end of the first episode and it's got me hooked. What did you think?

Well I watched the first one. Yeah. And I really didn't like it. I had to push myself through it genuinely. Why didn't you like it? Just thought it was a little bit dull. I thought the women were great. The flashbacks for me going back, I don't know. There's a lot of them in there. It's a lot to take on board, but there's just a lot of setup, if you like, with not a lot happening, I thought.

And then I thought, no, I'm going to push on through, got to number two, I'm not going to spoil it. I love them. I am now, I flicked through, I did three, flicked through four and five in the car, but sort of on a speedy, because I can't, I don't really want to watch all of it, but I want to know what happens. And actually you really get used to the jumping, you know, from time, from the seventies, eighties, from when they're young to when they are back at work, newly at work together, to then having children. You really see their relationship, you can see why they do do the time jumping.

You learn about their relationships together. And I think the friendship is so amazing because what you realize is yes, they're always there for each other, but Tully did have kind of a really unstable upbringing. Yeah. And she has all the fame and money in the world and just isn't happy. And it's showing you that it's just that grounding experience, I think. Money isn't everything, fame isn't everything. And you see it throughout this show that happiness really is feeling comfortable with yourself

and knowing who you are. So I think it's a really lovely life lesson as well if you did want to watch it, say with an older daughter, because there's quite a bit of sex in it and drug use and stuff. But I really, really have really enjoyed watching it and I can completely understand why we've had so many recommendations. I think it takes a little time for me. It took a little time to get into, but I think it's really clever. I think the makeup's clever, how they've aged people up and got them young. The two young girls playing the friends are fantastic. You see quite a lot of, you know, there's been a lot of damage done. Tully has been

in a lot of compromising situations, especially when young. She lost her mum in a crowd, which has haunted her and she keeps having flashbacks of that. And there was an awful kind of sexual violence that occurred in her teen years. So it's really, really interesting, really compelling and actually thank you for the recommendation because I've really enjoyed it, really enjoyed it. I think all of our ones this week have been really quite emotional, haven't they? They have, yeah. Because watching it, yeah, watching it, I just couldn't stop watching it because the

relationship between the two women was just, you know, it was just, it was messy, but there was so much love there. Yeah, it really has a heart. You're absolutely right. It does. And it kind of, as far as I've got, you know, you can understand that, and you can kind of excuse some of the fuck-ups and the things that have gone on. Of course. Because you kind of go, well, that is kind of what life is like. Life isn't perfect, people aren't perfect, people don't always say the right thing or act in the right way or do whatever they're supposed to or whatever. But you can see that

there's just this bond between them. I don't know about you, but you know, like you and I, women of a certain age, we're now coming up to our 40s, late 40s, whatever you want to call it. But I just thought how refreshing for a show to be absolutely focused around the women. Yes. And I watched it and I thought that really shouldn't be something I'm picking out. But obviously I am because that doesn't happen that often. It doesn't. It really doesn't.

Does it? You know, as far as I've seen, when he comes in, like the ex-husband, he comes in and the, you know, the men are like the extra rad ombits. It's all about the women, all about their relationship. They are the ones that are focused everything on. Honestly, just because of time you would have cracked up because I was on Netflix, another episode, another episode. And then I was sort of skipping through it on slow fast forward thinking, oh, oh, someone's in black. Oh oh what's happened honestly I would I'm gonna

I'm definitely gonna watch it properly but I just was really I haven't done that with a show for ages I really was quite impatient about what was going on. I know you just want to know what's happening. I can see why we've had so many recommendations and I would say that it is one to watch. It's heartwarming, it's emotional, it's really gripping I mean it does get you and you're like heartwarming, it's emotional, it's really gripping. I mean, it does get you and you're like, oh my God, I need to know what's going to happen. Because it's kind of as if you are there and you are part of the female, the group, you know, you feel like I'm alongside them.

Have you got a big female group around you? No, I don't. No, you are. Yeah, you're opposite to me. I'm an only child and I've always been quite a loner. So I don't have a big, big group. Because I was thinking... Who are your ride or dies though? You must have... No, I would say I've got two girlfriends that are full on ride or dies, but I would say that it's James. Oh, that's lovely. I know, but I would say that he is like my bestie bestie. Because you're opposite to're opposite to me, though aren't you? I mean, you've got your like, you've got a big gang

of all females around you. I have got a very large gang of females around me, but I would still class Mark as my best mate. Definitely. And I think actually, I think if you don't see your man as your best mate, I don't know, if you can't ever laugh and tell someone everything, what's the point of being with them really? Because I've read things, you know, when everybody is different and I've read things along the lines of you can't expect your partner to be everything. Oh, I can.

That's yeah, me too, right? You can't expect your partner to be everything because you need to have your female friends, you know, because they provide something and then you need to have your gay friends for such and such and you have your different groups and so you go to them for if you want to go and have a drink and a moan and you want to... No, but I see James as everything. It's like, you know, we have a laugh, we talk deeply about stuff, we mess around, we'll sit and have a meal and we'll have a drink and I tell him absolutely everything and he tells me everything and he sees me in all sorts of predicaments and whatever and there's like nothing we don't know about each other and he is my bestest mate. Yeah, no that is fab. It is fab. I mean apart from when you want to have a moan about him

and then you phone your girlfriend don't you? Well yeah, when he's pissing me off I do then go elsewhere and say how much he pisses me off. Although saying that as well, I'm quite happy to say that to his face as well. I was going to say. Because he's really pissing me off today. That is true. That is so true. But no, listen, Firefly Alain is on Netflix now and the series is based on the novel by the same name written by it, Kristin Hannah. And it really is a heartwarming watch. I suggest you go and watch it. Really, really good. So our next one that we've been watching off and on, all the way through anyway,

Modern Family. I mean, it's just, and I can't believe that obviously it's all wrapped up, it's all ended now. Alongside that, know obviously it's all wrapped up, it's all ended now and alongside that now there is this documentary about the ending of it. So I've been watching you know Modern Family but I also watched this documentary and I do have to say that it just really reminded me of ending Gavin and Stacey and I just felt really quite weepy. And it reminded me of leaving EastEnders. It absolutely did because you've got these children that have completely grown up on this show and it was just me.

Because my whole life has been on the telly. So all my home videos from 10 are on the telly. Everyone's grown up with me. And, you know, just that family that you build on a set and then it ends, you know, I think it's, and it was really well done, I thought, you know, there was no bullshit. They were just saying how they felt and it was quite emotional. And, you know, it's a grieving process that when you leave something like that. It was nice getting to listen to, you know, the director and the people who cast it and all of like the behind the scenes people and learning about how it started, how many actors

were seen for all the different parts. Yes. And what it originally was going to be like. And when the pilot came out and it was called like an American family or something, wasn't it? Yeah, that's it. How it first started, what their ideas were behind it. Ty Burrell who plays Phil, how the network didn't want him at all, they didn't think that he was warm enough or they thought he was a bit cold and stuff and so the cast and people and the director got him together

and with a camcorder and just filmed a basic scene to show to the network and then they were like oh my god now we understand, yeah, definitely cast him. Isn't it amazing how one-track minded people are? Yes. That they can't see past something and they're like, oh no, that's not right, that's not right. How brilliant that they went ahead and said, no, no, no, bloody watch this, we know that we're right.

Yes. You just think, oh, can you imagine how many choices or changes there would be in the casting world? Yeah, if you'd have just, it's funny, isn't it? Because you would think as well, the casting world and the TV world and everything, where you think it's going to be so creative and stuff. And a lot of the time it is just like, no, we can't see them as anything other than that. And, you know, but, but, you know, they went with him and you couldn't ever, ever think of anybody else playing that part. And I just thought it was just fascinating and watching them all come together when they're in something brand new, nobody knows how it's going to turn out. They all start on this small little

thing and then how it grew and grew and grew. And then just seeing just the heartbreak of all of them when it's their family and they've spent, you know, every single day with them and you know, they've gone through divorces and they've spent, you know, every single day with them and, you know, they've gone through divorces and they've had children and then suddenly it is like goodbye and lots of the crew members, they're like, I won't ever see them again and you just will never ever be in that circumstance with those people ever, ever again. It is crazy. I mean, Jo, when you think about sitcoms, you look at Friends, you look at Seinfeld,

you look at Frasier, all of those. I don't know about you, but you think, oh, there'll never be another. Yes. And they came up with such an amazing idea. And at the time, I've read quite a bit about it. And when you think about Mitchell and Cameron, the gay couple and they adopt the child, you know, that's kind of the first episode they adopted the child. It's hilarious. He comes in with like a lion king moment because he can't, you know, he's not a shy person. And they say to him, turn it off. And he's like, I

can't, it's a part of me. It's just a part of me, it's who I am. But when you think about when that started, you know, it really was a huge turning point because it wasn't your bog average, not boring, but you know, like us boring. But that sort of 2.4 children, if you like, your mum, your dad, your this, the that. And the whole premise of it was about a family, which is just a family because it's a family. It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, what sexuality, what nationality. You know, she, I mean, the lady who plays, it's Sophia Vergara who plays Gloria, this sort of hot-headed, sort of South American woman with her older husband. And you just think, there's everything,

you've got multi-generational, it all just goes together. And yes, it's dysfunctional, but again, it has a heart. Yeah. And families are dysfunctional, aren't they? Yes of course they are and I just think for anyone who feels a little bit out of their comfort zone or they might think oh my family isn't normal, you know, go and watch Modern Family because it just breaks down every barrier and I just think it is superb. And it was so groundbreaking as well wasn't't it, when Cameron and Mitchell get married and you know. Absolutely. I mean that was just absolutely huge.

And God you just think it just must be so, you know, it's been just so, so hard for them to all just go right, you know, to go through all of those moments together and all that filming together. And you know, it's funny isn't it, and then for it all to end because as a viewer watching it you're like oh my god just do it forever, just keep making it forever and then I bet the actors are like you know we could just keep doing this forever and ever because you've just all become a family and it's sad though but it makes it all the more wonderful when it does end because you miss it then and you're just like oh my god it was just amazing.

It was an amazing, amazing show. And I think it's timeless. And I don't think I think you can pop that on at any minute. I would even go, don't hate me, everybody. But I would even go as far for me. I'd rather chuck that on than Friends. Yes, yes. I think I think Friends, I grew up with Friends.

It was my absolute favorite, absolutely go-to programme, but I don't think it's aged well at all. I watch it and go, this is really old, whereas that, I bang it on and I could just watch it and it's still relevant and it's still hilarious. Yeah, it is funny isn't it because Friends, you look at it and you can sort of see that it's like 90s, like you can physically see that it is kind of old, but then also as well, all of kind of like the themes and the stuff and everything is half-naged well. But with Modern Family, you put it on and it could literally be like, oh my god, I am just walking into this family here and

now, isn't it? Yes. Yeah. And I feel like I know families like it now. I know couples like it. Do you know, I just find it really funny. And when I think about it, it does make me smile. And I think, wow, bloody credit to the writers. Those writers rooms are in America, Joe. You know, so many people. And for one line, it takes an hour to get the line right. And you just think that's why they're so good. Yes. But it's funny, isn it? Because there must be so many pilots and so many shows that have gone out over the years and what is it that makes that one show just so special and then it's like boom a huge hit and then it runs and runs and runs. You know you're very lucky if you end up

writing one of those and you've got the idea for one of those and you know it's your one. up writing one of those and we've got the idea for one of those and it's your one. I've seen a couple of the writers on it or the exec producer, wherever I've seen them, and saying, we did the pilot and we all thought, oh, this is going to be special. And can you imagine that moment in a studio thinking, we got something here, you know, really, yeah, really, really good. But if none of our listeners have ever seen Modern Family, please put it on because it really is such a brilliant programme. Isn't it Jo? It's so brilliant. It's so good. You can watch all 11 series of Modern Family on Disney Plus now.

11 series of Modern Family on Disney Plus now. So the assembly is a TV program where you have autistic, neurodivergent and learning disabled interviewers who ask an A-list celeb some incredible and very, very honest questions. I know it was only roughly 25 minutes long, but how did you enjoy Danny Dyer being interviewed in the assembly? I didn't expect to cry, and I was crying. I thought it was quite wonderful.

I found it so incredibly emotional because Danny Dyer, you know, he comes across and you see him straight away, he comes across as this, you know, like, you know, tough fella and he's really cockney and he's, you know, but then I sat there listening to him talk about his own family and his behaviour and how he was and, you know, the way that every male person in his life who he felt love for or respect for or he bonded with ended up leaving him either through death or just abandoning him and how that affected him growing up and why then he went into therapy for that and you know that what the positive things

that he'd got from therapy and listening to him talking emotionally was so so moving and then that on top of this most incredible show where there are a big group of neurodivergent people these people can ask any question that they want at all no holds barred to the celeb. And they do. I mean the first thing Danny has asked is like, you know, when Joanne, your wife, walked out on you because you've been so terrible to her, she cleared half of your bank account. I mean, you know, what's it like now? And Danny answered everything. He said, right, come on, give it all to me. And he answered everything. And it was really wonderful listening to all of

these people being able to have a platform and being able to have their own show asking whatever they wanted to. The most interesting questions that we all want to ask but are never ever asked because it's always either advertising a show or something glossed over or they just asked, they were straight to the point, asked, you know, really interesting questions. And then the person who asked the question about Danny, like how he coped with not having a father figure and how he had found that and losing, you know, like, I think it was, you know, both sets of parents. This person, when they asked that and how emotional they got because they were actually going through it with their father and not

being accepted. Oh my God, it was so incredibly moving. Well, I was just crying. It was just, it was really, really moving. And then at the end, you know, when they finished with the song. Oh my God. Well, the group of them. I mean, Danny was in bits. I mean, Danny was in bits. He was really in bits. Oh my god. Well, the group of them. Danny was in bits. I mean Danny was in bits. He was really in bits. It was incredible. It was quite, because again, people that haven't worked with Danny or met Danny or spent any time with Danny, you could still sit there and be cynical. You could still sit there and say, well, this is a programme, he's doing that. But from the bottom of my heart, I promise you that is Danny. And it was so brilliant

to see him open, himself. That was all Danny. He's so full of love. He has got so much love to give and he's funny and he's kind. And I've always said that he's just such a lovely man that I just loved watching it. I loved it. And I think the whole idea of the show is brilliant. I know it was on BBC, wasn't it? It started off on the BBC. Did it? Because I watched it on ITVXX but I thought it was very interesting that they let Danny when they said about EastEnders and then he quite openly said that a new boss came in and the new boss was getting rid of all of his family, got rid of his daughter and everything and you know and he was quite open about it and I thought my god I'm surprised

that they're actually leaving that in because they never normally would, but it's very refreshing that they are. Well again, and I think how lovely that it's just going to be black and white. Would you do it, Jo? Oh God, yes. I wouldn't have any qualms about sitting there. I mean, I'm always pretty honest and open and I say what I think and I say what I feel and you know, I'd be perfectly fine about answering anything that anybody wanted to ask me. I wouldn't care, wouldn't mind. What about you? Would you do it?

Yeah, no, I would definitely do it. I think we as celebrities, so to say, and sort of in inverted commas, I think it's really good to just sit somewhere and be strip bare and go, yeah, Yeah. And also really interesting because how many times do you just get asked the same questions and if you're doing a press thing, everything has always got to be sweetened and perfect and whatever. And it is actually quite nice just to sit there and say, actually, this is how I feel and this is, you know. Where's your trumpet?

Quite a lot. I mean, someone could ask me where my trumpet is, which would not be a problem. But I really love the breadth of questions. Well, I would say, yeah, it's definitely worth watching. All of the, I'm going to watch the other two episodes. And yeah, I'd say definitely check it out on ITVX. It's definitely worth watching. We might be on there next year year Jo. What do you think you'd be asked? I think I would be asked, are you really as sweet as you come across in Gavin and Stacey? Are you always really smiley and whatever? And I'd have to be like, no. I mean James has said to me,

Jesus, if people only knew what you were really like. Like, thanks. Shut up James. Yeah, he's got it because I can be really quite crabby sometimes. I think we can all be crabby, but as long as we recognise it, that's okay. Do you know what I mean? What a lovely episode. I know, that was really lovely. We had such a nice chat. That was really good.

I'm looking forward to next week where we are just going to get to just chat and chat. That would be nice. Yes, it'll be really, really good. And please, I'm going to be talking about the next week. I'm going to be talking about the next week. I'm going to be talking about the next week. I'm going to be talking about the next week. I'm going to be talking about the next week. I'm going to be talking about the next week. I'm going to be talking about the next week. I'm going to be talking about to next week where we are just going to get to just chat and chat. That'll be nice.

Yes, it'll be really, really good. And please, please send us your voice notes and just say goodbye maybe. Yes. Because it'll be lovely to hear a few voice notes to say goodbye and to see if you're outraged that we're going or not. I'm going to bring in a bottle of champagne to the studio. So we're going to have to watch ourselves because by the time we're halfway through, we're going to be half cat.

Brahms and List, as my lovely dad used to say, God rest his soul. That is Cockney slang. Yeah, for what? Brahms and List. Pissed! Oh, that's good. Brahms, Brahms and List. Brahms and List. Yes, I do. Well, catch us next week. And Daddy Dyer would be good. Brahms. Brahms and Liszt. Brahms and Liszt. Yes, I do.

And Daddy Dyer would be proud. He would. He would. Catch us next week when we probably will be Brahms and Liszt. Have a lovely Brahms and Liszt. Have a lovely, lovely week. We love you so much. Jo, love you to pieces.

Love you too. And I can't wait to see you next week now. Absolutely, you take care guys. Have a nice week, bye. Bye. Off the Telly is hosted by Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page. The producer is Georgia Keating and Becky Carew-Jeffreys. The commissioning editor is Rhian Roberts and it's the BBC Studios audio production for BBC Sounds. Hi there, I'm Izzy Judd and I'm so pleased to be back with the Music and Meditation podcast series 5. We'll be talking about everything from defining boundaries and letting go of guilt,

to evolving with change and concentrating on your own path, with an insight from a wonderful line-up of special guests including Deepak Chopra, Helen Marie and Light Watkins. So if you need to find some moments of calm in your day, and could do with the help of some guided meditations and beautiful classical music, we've got everything you need on the Music and Meditation podcast on BBC Sounds.