The Tooney & Russo Show - Birthday Bashes & Hen Party Plans

Episode Date: June 13, 2025

Birthdays mean everything to Ella Toone & Alessia Russo, so this episode is dedicated to the ultimate celebrations - iconic parties, unforgettable presents, and even a detour into the world of hen dos!Tooney spills the tea on her dream hen party destination, her perfect birthday (if money were no object!), and slight concerns about potentially taking on Maid of Honour duties for Alessia.They also dish on which footballer guarantees a flawless first impression when meeting teammates’ families and share inside stories from Alessia’s 26th birthday - where football friends and family came together for one big celebration.

BBC Sounds music radio podcasts. I know where I'll take you for your hen do. Where? Benidorm. Benidorm, oh yes. I would like that. Don't take me to Benidorm. Oh, what is it not about me? I'm being a bummer.

Yeah, my hen do will be what she... All about me. Benidorm baby. Hello and welcome to the 2D and and Russo show with me Vic Cove and Hewlett Tooth Football's most famous friends, Alessi Russo and Ella Toon. Everyone's going to think why have you not changed your outfit, you're Trump. Yeah, me too. Yeah, but you look alright, you've put your jacket on. I haven't set mine off. You can.

My car has gone. It's sustainable. Get some more views. Keep your jacket on, handset mine off. You can. I can, if you want. It's sustainable. Get some more views. Keep your clothes on, Ella. Sorry, it is BBC. Before we start the episode, before we were rolling, Ella said she's got something to show us and I don't know what it is. So basically, I've been obsessed lately, like all week, with asking people's birthdays and

then Googling it and finding out what was top of the charts on the day they were born. Oh, great all week, with asking people's birthdays and then Googling it and finding out what was top of the charts on the day they were born. Oh, great, yeah, that's fun. Mine's Mambo number five. Oh, for God's sake. That's a good one, that one, isn't it? You have to do the dance.

One, two, three, four, five. Everybody, I like Angela, Pamela. Yeah. Rita, and as I continue. You know, I worked with these kids on Friday's a literacy project and the other day, one of them said to me, Miss, were you born in the 1900s?

And I was like, yes. You little brat. What are you bringing up? But I was. 25th of September, 1989. Ride on time. Oh, what a cute. But I was. 25th of September, 1989. Ride on time. Oh, what a tune.

I beat the classic. Rattletown. Rattletown. Love that. Last, eight for Feb. Yeah. You didn't think I knew that, did you? No, I didn't.

1998. 99. Oh, you're 99. Why am I here? Why are you here all the time? Because you were born in, you were September, so you were in school year below. All right, but I'm the oldest in my school year. You both born in the 1900s as well. Oh, you don't know me.

Play it. I can only think of the Ray and Jacks Jones. Oh, yes. Another IB for classics. Another, oh. Anyway, I've been doing that all week for everyone. Well it's very apt actually because this episode we do want to talk about birthdays. Yeah.

And parties. Well I teed it up nicely. Perfectly teed up. We did have a nice birthday party didn't we? Way back in February. That was between our last series and this series. I feel bad because we didn't get to celebrate all together because we weren't recording. So Les, before we go any further, I've got you birthday present here. From the podcast. My birthday's in September.

But that's ages away. But that's me. I gave you a present, I beat that. Oh yeah, all right. Oh, I know, I feel so bad. This is for both of you. For both of your birthdays. Oh, it looks good, whatever. We can share. Look, cowboy hat.

Oh hey. That is so sick. So, Les has got a red cowboy hat, which she's just put on Ella's head. And that's sick, is that a cup? It's a mug in the shape of a cowboy boot. You know what, so funny. You've got really weird obsession with stuff like that. Yeah. You know what is so funny? The other day I ordered a little cowboy boot that's a match

holder. Oh great. And Cara came round the other day and I said that is my favourite thing in my apartment. She's also got this weird fish jug. I know the fish jug. They're similar. Because I've got one too. I've got one too. I know. I used to got fish jugs and I have not. I love the fish jug. They're so cool. I once saw it on Great British Menu. They served the gravy out of it. I thought I've got to get that. Yeah, I reckon you should. What're gonna drink tea coffee I love that thanks Vic oh you're very welcome I've got some water you can drink your water out of the drinkers clean this was a great great present they just know me

to a tea on this well I hope they clean this out before you drink it out of it. How does it feel to drink dirty dust off shelf? Drinking water out of it. It's like a cow. It's nice, isn't it? Yeah, this hat reminds me of, we had a day off on England camp, didn't we? Yeah. And me, you, Millie, Zell, Grace, Mayor, Mary,

all went to Lesse's and then we went out for some food in a local town thing. Just disclaimer, I was petrified to go back to that restaurant after we'd been there because of the havoc that we caused in there. Anyway. But Les had a cowboy hat in her house. So we took this cowboy hat with us and it was like a big tapas, weren't it? So there're all there was loads of food on the table. Like we'd ordered like for 500 people. And then firstly, Millie Turner was just, honestly, you cannot take that girl anywhere. Sorry, in the middle of the restaurant, bearing in mind it's a restaurant, it was rum, banging on the table, man, beef, food. I was like, it's a restaurant, the food's good.

Because she was saying that the fish, like obviously she's so picky and she doesn't like fish and stuff. She was saying it was like a bush took a trial. Bush took a trial. Bush took a trial. Bush took a trial. And I could not believe my eyes.

Anyway, I was sat there with the cowboy hat off. Because it suited my outfit, didn't it? Yeah, and then we did this thing that if you, we ordered way too much food and we were like, and we were like, we couldn't eat anymore. So if you had the cowboy hat on, you had to eat more food. So we were passing the cowboy hat. Classic game.

Honestly, I don't know, we didn't get kicked out. Do you think anyone recognised you? Probably. And knew who was musing. We were dressed up giddy kippers, weren't we, that night? The cowboy hat just set us off. How was your birthday back in Feb? Oh it was so nice. Basically I decided to throw like a little party with all my friends and family because I was really frustrated after Christmas when I was like I miss all my friends and family get-togethers with football. And I was like, let's just host a party on a date that I knew I could go

and get as many friends and family there as I can. And it was just the best time ever. We should all celebrate our 26th with a party. Happy 26th. Hey, you're only 26th one. Exactly. And I was like, oh, is it like a it like a big, is it a big party? Like all these chairs there.

Oh, she's having a party. Yeah. But I just wanted to get everyone together and it was a lovely little venue. And then I got this band there because I'd been to see a few things at the O2. And we'd been in one of the lounges before and there was this band in the lounge and they were so good. And I was like, if if I ever have a party I'd love to get this band there so I took their little card and then I messaged them they're like the resident band at the 02 they're called Fairview and they were amazing and they came and the band was on and

everyone was dancing and it was just really nice yeah I wish we could do it more often. Yeah, well it's March 26 soon, so I'm not, I love one of them. Yeah, but it was nice, like you were there, Mary was there, some of the Arsenal girls, then just like friends and family. Like it was just, yeah, it was nice. Some old friends that we played with years ago. It was just nice to catch up with everyone.

You sound like a really good party planner. Yeah, I did like the playlist myself, got the band to play the certain songs that we wanted. Yeah you are a bit of a good planner. Yeah I couldn't plan a party. I'd plan it for you though. Yeah no well I was talking about this the other day about if I got married I'd have loads of bridesmaids and then I was thinking who would be my head chief, what is it called? Maid of honour. Because I honor. Chief, right, chief. I was like, one of them has to plan the hen do and all that.

Yeah. And I was thinking, it'd probably be you. But I was thinking, I will never have that opportunity. Well, you will probably be my made of honor. So you would have to. No. And I think that's a task that you'd be ready to step up to at that time.

I love that this is a beautiful moment where you just said, you know, Ella, you'll be my maid. I'm really stressed now.., you'll be my mate. I'm stressed out. It's on my mind now every day. Now she's stressed about it. I'm going to have to write stuff in my notes. What does she like?

I thought, I know. You know. Vineyard. I know where I'd take you for your hen-do. Well, Benidorm. Benidorm. Oh, yes. I would like that. your hendu. Benidorm. Benidorm, oh yes. I would like that. Don't take me to Benidorm.

Oh, what is it not about me? I mean about what? Yeah, my hendu will be what she's. All about me, Benidorm baby. Do you know we play this game all the time called partners and it's like a board game that you have to work in twos and me and Tuneia are always partners. You like sit opposite each other and then the other two girls sit opposite each other and you have his teamwork like you're a team to get your eight pieces

back around the board and back home. We're always a team and Tunia loves to ignore that I'm part of the team and get all of her little men home and let me struggle and then come and help me together. You do? I do like to think about myself, yeah. Because I've had enough of thinking about everyone else and not looking after myself. So that is the time that I do it. But what about me?

There's times where she does throw me under the bus but gets away with it. What do you mean? When? When you know I need something and you give me that bloody heart that I don't need. And you just bite the tongue on it and don't ever say anything. It's like she's done it again.

Get it out girls if you need to. This is now therapy. This is therapy. We've been through a lot actually. We've been through the beautiful moment of asking each other to be each other's maid of honours. The warning, the threats around that. Yeah. You needed to get that off your chest.

Obviously. Yeah. No, but you do have to look after yourself in order to be a good friend to others. It's like, you know, on a plane, if it's going down, you put your own mask on before you put the child's on. Exactly. But I've just got this reputation in that game that I'm just quite selfish. Because you always say it. I just got them after myself. quite selfish and because you always say it, you say, I just got them after myself. Oh God. Back to your birthday.

Do you get to look after yourself? So, you know, you've got the band, they're playing the set that you chose. You've got all the friends that you've invited. You've made sure it's an amazing party. Are you enjoying yourself? Oh, yeah. I had a really, really nice night. Just being with everyone. you've invited, you've made sure it's an amazing party. Are you enjoying yourself? To get into it? Yeah, I had a really, really nice night, just being with everyone. I didn't realize how much I would be a little bit like still hosting, you know what I mean? Yeah, you're always hosting.

Yeah, and I didn't speak to people that I wanted to speak to for as much, because I'm worrying about other things. But- You can't just dance and- No. You've got to chat to people. Yeah, but it was lovely. Like, it was just nice to get everyone in one room because I can't remember the last time I had that many family and friends all together.

Yeah, I think normalize having a big one for whatever occasion. But it's a party for anything we're doing for your 26th. Yeah, I don't know. Then it's another party. And it's nice. I think that group that went for the meal with. Another party, yeah. Benadol. Nice. I think that group that went for the meal with the cowboy hat, Zell likes a party.

Yeah. Zell's a very good planner as well. Yeah, she is good planner. If she comes on your hen, she'll have to help me plan. She would be my... Yeah, but she's a bit of a control freak. Yeah, but that's quite good for planning a hen. She can be my assistant planner.

Okay. Yeah, maybe she can be mine for you as well. Yeah. And definitely as well when it comes to the day, the big day, you maid of honour, you need them to just be on it. Yeah. Yeah. Like right down to if you've accidentally got a bobble still around your wrist, they need to be on it, get that off your wrist.

Yeah, take it off. Yeah. You know, that sort of level of detail. Do you think you'll be good at that for my wedding? I might not be able to see that bowl on your wrist. After a few of your glasses of wine off your vinyard. I don't even like wine. I've made myself like Rosé. I really wanted to like, you know, take a box for Lessie's

friendship that she obviously needed ticking. She kept saying, oh, I wish she drank wine. Anyway, forced it down my neck over Christmas and now I love it. That's a Rosé. A Rosé in the sun is lovely. Yeah. Yeah, it's not too bad. I'm like, yeah, I started off with loads of lemonade in it. Yeah, you should. I've cut back with the lemonade. That's spritz. Yeah.

But yeah, maybe ask someone else to do that job. What were the outfits for Lessa's birthday? I actually got styled for your birthday. Yeah, you looked lovely. Yeah. Yeah. But it was a bit of a stress for me because we just played in Manchester and then we had to drive straight to the party, get to the hotel, get changed really quick.

So really I would have had a bit of a curly blow if I had time but... when have you ever had a curly blow? the stylist wants me to have more curls. I would if this was filmed in Manchester you know I'd go out and get my hair done and then come. would you? yeah probably. for the podcast? is there any girls that the stylist has suggested to you alongside a curly blow that she'd like you to try? The big glasses that are in at the minute. Oh yeah. What, sunglasses or just clear? I think they're just clear.

But do you need glasses? I don't need glasses but it's stylish isn't it? So just no lens? Yeah like the ones that you used to pop out from the cinema. Not them then. It's through to your glasses. no lens. Yeah, like the ones that used to pop out from the cinema. Not London. So you come home and then you got like a nerd shirt on. I used to have a nerd shirt. And what else?

Cowboy hats. No, that's not in. She might tell me off for wearing this. Just for anyone listening on BBC sounds, still wearing the cowboy hat. Still got it on. If you're planning a birthday, either of you, how far in advance do you start planning? Are there any birthdays in the future you're thinking, okay, it's probably gonna be a big party,

or I'm dreading it, we're really looking forward to it? Oh, well the next big one for me is 26. 26. Yeah, I mean, you know what, listen to Les, I'm like, yeah, you know what, oh, something's going off, there's a cowboy hat. That's Les. Like, we might as well, we miss out on a lot of stuff, so we might as well celebrate when we can. So I might just have one every year now.

Why not? I had a really, really good party. It weren't a birthday party, but after we won the Euros, I had a massive party. And oh my God, the whole of Tillsie was there. There was just, it was just amazing. There was big fireworks, everything. And then I had a house party before I went to the World Cup,

like a good sending off. Yeah, that was good too. And we had a live singer there, literally in my garden. And then a big, this DJ came and put the decks up in the garden and that. And to be fair, all the neighbors were sound with that I could see them peeping out the window. But it was just so good. Yeah, it was a little fly.

It was really good. It was nice to just have everyone in the same place, like to see everyone and just celebrate. So that's how she feels about that. That's great. It's been a fly all of me, all of us, all Bob. It's gone now anyway, I think. From that.

Yee-haw. No better feeling than just having all your favourite people in the world. All in one place. I tried to plan one for my mum's 50th but she won't have it in any other. Oh really? Absolutely not, Hila. No, not having it. So I tried.

Yeah. I don't know how well I would have done. How do you think she'd feel about a surprise party? How do you feel about a surprise party? Because it's not for everyone. She'd love it. Right. I'd love it.

Oh yeah, I'd love it. Yeah, I'd love it. Joe did a few surprise stuff for me and me surprised me for one of my birthdays all the girls and family came for some food and as I walked in they were all there and then before I went to the euros he was all let's go for some food we'll go for a curry so anyway walked into the place and then the room was just full of my family and friends and that nice yeah I'm not so good at planning surprises but I like to be So anyway, walked into the place and then the room was just full of my family and friends. So nice. Yeah, I'm not so good at planning surprises, but I like to be surprised. Even though, you don't have to do that. I can't believe you've done that.

What's the mingling situation like with friends and family or your teammates? Do you like to see new groups forming and people getting to know each other who maybe wouldn't have met otherwise? Yeah, all my friends are really close to my family. I think being in Telsie, everyone knows everyone anyway. So they're always like, like my mum and dad have always had like six daughters, you know what I mean? Because all my friends have always just walked into the house and you know, just like being a part of it. But I really love my mates meeting my footy mates. I lessen my mates all really get on like,

whenever we've been out before as a team and a few of my mates have come, like everyone loves them, don't they? They're just, that's a good laugh. I mean, they've all settled down and they've got kids but yeah yeah seeing my mates be with my footy mates you know they're gonna get on anyway because I obviously get them with them I obviously get them with less than the footy girls so you know that they're gonna get on. Yeah because you're the coming to know it yeah exactly but it's nice to

bring people together yeah they they love it they love all you lot and you know being out with you. Yeah remember that one year actually for my birthday party again. Sure what was it 24? 24 in Manchester maybe it was 22nd. Yeah it must have been the summer. Oh 23rd it wasn't a big one but we had another party and it was at one of our when we lived lived in Manchester, we had like three play houses. So me and Millie lived in one and then there was some of the foreign girls in the other, wasn't it? Our owner and smudge. Yeah.

And then in the other one was Zell, Marf and Jess. And they hosted a house party for my birthday. There was like maybe 10, 15 of us in it. And it was like all our football girls and then all of Toonies mates from home, like five or six of our school friends. And it was the funniest night. The videos are multi-faceted. We did a talent show.

Why would you say that? We did a talent show, but only Oslo got up. So it was just one act and there was no one else got up. For like 25 minutes. What was the act? We did Let Me Love You by Mario. Yeah, but it wasn't a dance. It was a dance and a sing,

but the problem with my mates is they all wanna be the center of attention. Like they all wanna be the loudest one. So they were pushing each other out the way, getting in the front. And then the next one would push the other one out the way and they'd get in the front. And I was just like, well, I mean, I was involved.

I was just like, what on earth is going on here? Even you were like calm. Yeah. Like trying to calm down. I'm calm compared to all them. They were so funny. Which of your football friends do you find? It sounded like something in between us then. Football friends. What would you do with football friends? Get on really well with your families. Everyone's mums love Martha. Yeah, Martha Harris.

She's got something about her that the mums just love. She used to play with us at United and now she's at Birmingham, but she's just like. My nan is obsessed with Martha. She's a charmer, isn't she? Yeah, my nan's a charmer. How's my friend Martha, she says. Yeah, she's a good nan.

Yeah, Martha's really good with family and mums and dads. Martha's one of those names as well. If your nan says that, she could be talking about one of her friends at her own age, but equally. Yeah, my dad, you say she's bloody gorgeous, Martha, ain't she? All the time. She's got like ginger hair, but it's like such a nice colour. Like it's yeah, she's the best, isn't she?

Yeah, Martha. Yeah. How are you both with gifts? Do you prefer to receive or to give? Looking at you. No, I do like to give, but I wish I was a bit more thoughtful in my gifts. I'm a proper gift giver. Yeah, you're good. But you do like receiving gifts. Oh, yeah, I do like that. Who doesn't? Yeah. Who doesn't like receiving gifts? I don't like asking for gifts. Like, I don't like it when someone says, what do you want? Because I'm like, I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. Yeah. Who doesn't like receiving gifts? I don't like asking for gifts. I don't like it when someone says, what do you want?

Because I'm like, I don't know. I don't know. Do you like a surprise? Like, I bought you some flowers. You know what? The best things for me anyway are either flowers because they make me so happy or like an experience, like something you can do together. It doesn't have to be material.

I think I went to the shop and I bought you back your favorite chocolate. Yeah, the thoughtful gift. Lovely. Time spent together, like with my family, it's always tickets to something so that you then get to spend the time together. That's nice. I don't need anything.

Like a memory. Yeah, unless, if I need something, I'll get it myself, but it's more memories and things you can do together. You like to bring prong crackers for me on camera. Oh. Not prong crackers. They're not even pr prawn crackers. She says it all the time. What are they? Chili crackers. They're like chili rice crackers and they come in like a row of four.

Yeah, like a little rectangle thing and there's like four of them and so we always open a packet and have half each, like two little rows each. And one time I was like, I'm going to surprise Toonie and order some to England camp. So we've got some for when we get there because she'd already messaged me and was like, oh, I didn't bring any chili crackers. I was thinking, don't you worry, there's some on the way. Anyway, so I ordered these chili crackers.

I said to Toonie, I said, I can't believe that. I did like wanna do a nice surprise and I ordered three packets of these chili crackers. It cost me 30 pound for three packets of chili crackers. Bearing in mind they're like. Pass me the shoe. They're like this big. And I started to really wonder like,

how have I just spent 30 pound on chili crackers? Bearing in mind they're like two quid from Tesco. Yeah Tesco, you can get them anywhere. The box came for them. I ordered three packs of five. So I had 15 packs of chili crackers on England camp and they came in this huge big box like this and they're just stacked like this.

So I gave them out to everyone, they all loved it. Yeah, great, get your pound well spent. Did you spill some water from your shoe there? Almost. That's okay. And she lent the shoe back on her, right, like that, and the water was literally on the edge and she just continued to talk. It's actually quite a good shape because I feel like it keeps the water in quite well.

Yeah. I think you should plant some plants in that. That would be nice. Rather than drink out of it. Yeah, but I like. Because I've learned now that I drink rosé that it depends on the glass. You could drink rosé out of that.

Not out of a plastic glass. No, but yeah, what are you drinking out of that that's gonna taste nice? Tea, nice cup of tea. Ella, can we just get you to whip the hat off? Oh yeah, cut, sorry. Ella's had to take her hat off because apparently it was messing with the focus on the camera. I've just been blurred the whole time. Yeah, your face is blurred. But I'm here now. The hat's in sharp focus.

Just red hat. Your blurred face moving underneath it. What's been the best or the worst gifts that you've given each other? I went through this period of Les buying me really nice jewelry. Like she bought me a really nice ring once and we'd be out and I'd just lose it. Well, I lost it. I remember I was messing with this ring.

So I took it off like that, messing about with it, giving it beans, dropped it and it went right in the middle of this crack in the floor. Couldn't get it out. so she stopped buying me jewellery. But Les bought me a few really thoughtful gifts after my dad passed which were really nice and her mum actually bought me a nomination bracelet and everyone knows the Russo's have always won nomination bracelets and now I feel part of the Russo's.

Yeah, when you get given a little charm as well. You get little charms in the family, aren't you? Yeah, I'm in the family now. So she got me a nice little charm. It's like a heart with like wings on it. That's nice. Is that what you're describing? Yeah.

And you got me this one, this little heart that says sister. I got like for you 26. Yeah. And you bought me. We bought you a Gucci belt that never fit. Oh yeah, it's too small for me. Couldn't get it done. More fit on a wrist.

Bracelet. I think I gave it to you. It don't fit me anymore. Maybe Milly still got it. For anyone who doesn't know, what's a nomination bracelet? It's like a little charm bracelet and you can get little like pictured charms.

Like I've got a little sunshine, little heart, little home. You just click them in and out. Yeah. Yeah, they're really cute. And you can buy, you know, buy little charms for each other and- Yeah, they're cute. Matching ones. Yeah.

Pick what you care about. Yeah. Let's say that budget, schedule, any kind of restrictions don't exist. Okay, describe your ideal 24 hours of celebrating your birthdays. I would start off early and just have like a place where all my family and friends, so just in Tilsie, all my family and friends would be live music,

bit of a DJ, weather's nice if we can choose that, loads of nice food, and then I would fly to Oshawa. Oh, you're coming to Ibiza? Yeah. Great, I'm gonna also say you can have, so you've got all friends and family and then you can also nominate three people, dead or alive, anyone,

to just gonna add a little bit of pizzazz, you know, who you wanna be there. Pizzazz. At the party. Yeah. Well, I won't go deep with it. I'll go, no, you say dad. All right, dad can come. I mean, I won't go deep with it. I'll go... No, you say dad. All right, dad can come.

I mean, he didn't really, he weren't really a big part yet, but anyway, dad can come. Who else? Olivia Atwood. Okay. You love her, don't you? Did you see her party that she had the other day?

I saw it. I don't know how old she was, but it was a great party. I think it must be like 30 or something. Was it? Yeah. It looked great and she is think it must be like 34 or something. Yeah. It looked great and she is mad. And I'd just invite Elton John. Fine. And he can perform.

Great. Les? Mine would be on a beach. Nice sleeping and then like people can just walk down to the beach. There's music, drinks, food down on the beach. Nice and hot. And then you're just there all day. Where are you? What beach? I don't mind. Just a little private beach somewhere.

And then the music that's on, there's three performers. They're my three people that I'm going to invite. That's actually very good use of the... So the early afternoon is Luke Holmes doing a nice country set. Chill. I don't think I'll be sleeping in at all. afternoon is Luke Holmes doing a nice country set. Chill. I don't think I'll be sleeping in at all.

And then we'll have Coldplay. Oh yeah. I'll be there for that. And then we'll end with Calvin Harris. Oh cool. Oh yeah. So it livens up as the night goes on. You just programmed your birthday. Let's have a festival liner. I obviously don't think I'm planning that one. Yeah. And then I don't think I've got the strings for that.

Good food, good drink, good vibes, great music. What would yours be, Vic? Yeah. I'm gonna have a beach as well. No, I'm gonna have a boat. I'm gonna have a beach and a boat. So earlier on the day we're on the beach and then a boat will set sail.

So we wanna be on the boat for golden hour for as the sun's setting. Yeah, that's a great shout. And we're gonna be somewhere. I mean, we have like Spain, I've been through all of that. Or even if we can do anything, just go to Jamaica. Why not? Chill.

Yeah. You know, actually, if we're there, one of my people could be Bob Marley. No, he'd have some reggae for the morning. Yeah. And then we move through. Hmm. Who else? Who else is going to be good vibes? All I can think is Barack Obama, but I don't know him. It feels a bit much. It feels a bit left field from to just be on the boat. I wonder if he'd be a party on the mill or not. Why are you on my boat, Barack? Anyway, he's there. All my friends, all my family

and then one more person who's gonna like bring it. I'm gonna go with like Stevie Wonder to end the night because that's pure euphoria. By this time we're back on the beach but there's like fairy lights up and it's like really sparkly and dwindly Stevie Wonder's but they're the songs that at the end of the night you need the songs where everyone can join in and understand the song I feel like. Everyone needs to know the lyrics that's what makes it great and euphoric and yeah and it's not a party for me I'm not a huge fan of being kind of the center of attention but I love just being part of the fun. That's why I love like friends' weddings and stuff.

And just like celebrating life and love. Like it doesn't have to, this is for my 36 or something. Yeah. It's gonna be fun. Do you have any birthday traditions that you do every year? Birthday tradition? Yeah, like, I don't know when you were young, in our house, it was always first thing in the morning, whoever's birthday it is, we'd all go and get in Mum and Dad's bed.

We don't do this anymore. We'd all go and get in Mum and Dad's bed. And sing happy birthday. Now it's kind of like, we'll all meet on Zoom or something and sing happy birthday. But no, mine would just be go out for some food. Yeah. It's funny because I actually do plan that I only just book somewhere for food but no matter whose birthday it is I'm booking where I want to go you know I mean it was it was mother's day the other day and I was thinking where would I like to go she needs to look after

herself cherry tree I'll book that so I told them we're going there it was a lot right whatever as long as you're having a good time, everyone will have a good time. Yeah, exactly. Happy to, and a happy life. Yeah, you don't want a miserable one. Whenever I book something for us, she's like, I don't care where we go, but just make sure that they have chips. Les likes to do this thing where she books like proper Italians

because she's a bit Italian. But these proper Italians don't have chips. So I'm like, not for me. I don't care where we go. Just make sure I have chips on the menu. So what we've learned today is if it's anyone's birthday, no matter who's, they need to have chips on the menu for Toonie. We've learned that you're going to be each other's maids of honours, but watch out because it's a big task. The Elton John's going to be at your next birthday party, the big 2-6.

And finally, our mantra is, happy Toonie, happy life. Thank you so much for watching the Toonie and Russo show with me, Vic Hurt. We've got loads of episodes for you to get stuck into on BBC Sounds and on YouTube where you can watch and listen and we'll see you next time. Bye. Bye. On BBC Sounds, this is sports strangest crimes from the man who tried to buy cricket. One night, one game, winner takeoff, $20 million. The kidnap of a super horse. It must have been terrifying. Of course it was.

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