The Tooney & Russo Show - Catching up

Episode Date: May 30, 2025

A lot can happen in a break between recordings so the trio wanted to update each other on everything that they’ve been up to since the last series. Alessia reveals the new reputation that Ella has developed within the Arsenal squad following their holiday in Ibiza and the reasons why Tooney felt compelled to get a stylist to help improve her look. And after losing her father Ella reveals the support that her best friend provided and how she has been navigating the process of grieving for a loved one. Tooney's period away from the game also meant Alessia experienced her first England camp without her best mate, so they discuss that and talk about the impact of supporting someone through a tough period. Warning: This episode contains discussions about bereavement. If you or someone you know is in need of help, you can find links to organisations who can provide help and support at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.

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cargurus.ca. BBC Sounds. Music, radio, podcasts. So the first night, Toonie wore a lovely outfit. Was it a little black top and a little cheetah print skirt? Lovely. Lovely. Lovely.

And then... And then the next night, she pulled out this cheetah... This lovely cheetah print dress. And everyone was like, well, she loves cheetahs. So now Katie McCabe calls her Cheetah Girl. You're right, Cheetah Girl. She said it to me last night when I saw her. You're right, Cheetah Girl.

We're back! We're back, baby! Hey! Smack that! I can open it. Oh, it's like we've never been gone. I know. Hello and welcome to the Toonie and Russo show with me, Vikar. Yes, we are back and I'm here with two of football's most famous friends, Alessia Russo and Ella Toon.

I've not seen you for, oh God, how long has it been? Ibiza will have been the last time. That seems like ages ago. It's like a lifetime ago. Yeah, it's gone too fast. Yeah. We were thinking this episode, since it's the first one back, it would be a bit of a catch up.

Like what you've been up to in between. I know so much has happened. But for anyone who might be accessing the podcast, either visually or audio, for the first time, how would you describe it?

Like what is this? What are we doing? We're having a little catch up, aren't we? Yeah, we were giving the people what they want. I think they're a bit obsessed with mine and Alessia's friendship and knowing everything about us. And yeah, I think we've got a nice little, you know, little group here sat on the sofa.

I like the hands you did there. A little groovy time. And if anyone didn't listen to the first set, I'm the odd here sat on the sofa. Like the hands you did there. A little groovy time. And if anyone didn't listen to the first set, I'm the odd one out on the sofa. And them two have formed a real nice friendship over a lot of things. And I'm just the odd one out on the end. No, you're not.

Well, you know what? There was a few things that we found, Alessia and I, that we had in common. A love of country music, for example. We're both like olives and coffee. One thing that we talked, unless you're right, that we had in common a love of country music, for example. We both like olives and coffee. One thing that we talked about last series, sort of like a bit of an icebreaker actually,

was that you too could love olives if you'd like. And you may notice in front of you. You teed it up perfectly. I did wonder who they were for. I thought they were for you too. We've just got 12 olives to share. Yeah, look, there's two of each different olive one for each of you

who was it who said that if you try something if you have seven of it then you can like it did you say that no that's like a fact isn't it yeah oh it's a mother's tail or whatever it's called a mother's tail it's one of them wives tales

you're going to make me eat seven and I'm going to feel sick all day. Sorry, have you ever tried Nalif before? Yeah. Properly? With you, probably. She forces things out of my neck that I don't want. Right, I'm just going fully in. Yeah, one go.

Might take a while, this. Oh, God. There's a lot of juices coming out of that. Yeah, juice. Bit of pepper. Do you want ASMR of me? No. You don't look too disappointed.

No, I don't. I'm not enjoying it, but I can eat it. Okay. Better than last time you tried it? Yeah. My taste buds have definitely matured. Yeah, I think they have too. She likes rosé wine now.

Do you? Yeah. I didn't mind that one, you know. You, I think they have too. She likes rose wine now. Do you? Yeah. I didn't mind that one, you know. You know, I can tell. You actually you're like, oh yeah. Ella's got that little that little smirk, you know when someone doesn't want to admit that they quite like it and they're like oh no, it's awful.

It's a bit flavoursome for early in the morning, isn't it? Oh yeah, I know. What is it? About nine o'clock and I'm eating seven olives. Just what I like. I didn't have any breakfast this morning. But you don't like these ones? Mm-mm. But you might.

Maybe. It'll be a different flavour, that. Oh, I'm going to taste these olives all day. Someone's going to have to get me a chewing gum. Oh, that's very soft. I don't think I like that one, though. I don't think your face looks... Well, now we know.

Now we know. Oh, God! Do we have a bin or a bucket or something? I need to eat it. Oh, yeah, that's my worst one so far. I can't do seven. You know what, Ella? Don't worry about doing seven right now.

We've got the whole episode. I'll leave them in front of you and you can just keep picking away. No, I might do. By which point you're going to love them. Yeah, I might eat some more, yeah. How was the rest of your summers after Ibiza, or even after I saw you in Ibiza? Did you make it onto the big inflatable?

We didn't. No. We went on a boat, though, and I used my goggles that you provided. Excellent. That you got me. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it was great. It was going so well and then I saw a jellyfish

and I couldn't get back in there. There's a big problem in Ibiza. There's a lot of jellyfish. Oh yeah, they're my worst nightmare. Oh my God. But it was good,

weren't it? Yeah, we had a great time, didn't we? Ella got a bit of a name for herself out there. Ella, you've never called me that.

Sorry. Why did you do that on this podcast? What name did she get for herself? Was it Ella? So embarrassing. What kind of name was it?

So basically, let me just set the backstory a little bit. So Toonie... Can I set the first backstory? That I was in a house with a lot of people I didn't know. No, that is the backstory. The backstory is a lot of the girls that I was in the villa that we were staying in were all the Arsenal girls. And I was like, come on, Toonie, like, everyone will love you. Like, you'll love everyone.

Which I did. Yeah, and they all loved her too, because who doesn't? But, so it was like, she was a little bit nervous, weren't you? Because you're just not. I am shy at first when I don't know people. And when there's a big group of people that you're not, like, super close with, it can be tough. But you, it was great yeah but anyway so we got to the villa and we were going out like we had things planned every night and the first night we went to Oshawaia and then the next night we went to

Blue Marlin was it yeah so the first night, we went to that place, that show. Oh, yeah, Leo's. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That was brilliant, Marlin. So these were, like, the first two nights back-to-back. So the first night, Toonie wore a lovely outfit. Little black... Was it a little black top and a little cheetah print skirt? Lovely.

Lovely. Lovely. And then... And then the next night, she pulled out this cheetah, this lovely cheetah print dress. And then suddenly everyone just thought that everything that Toonie owned was cheetah print. I just, I just. I think cheetah was really out at that time. Every time I went in Zara, there was something else cheetah. And I thought, that's nice, I just... I think Cheetah was really out at that time. Like, every time I went in Zara, there was something else Cheetah,

and I thought, that's nice, I'll get that. Bearing in mind, on the way to the airport, on the way to Ibiza, I got stopped because my case was far too heavy. I was going for three nights, it was far too heavy. I had to take all my stuff out and put it in my hand luggage, and I wore two Cheetah outfits back to back to back. And everyone was like, well, she loves cheaters. So now Katie McCabe

calls her cheater girl. You alright, cheater girl? She said it to me last night when I saw her. You alright, cheater girl? It's like a superhero name. Got a right name for myself now. And then it was funny because I had a little birthday party a few weeks ago and Toonie's mum came and she looked gorgeous but she had a cheetah print skirt

on. I forgot to remind her don't wear any cheetah in front of anyone. And Katie was there and she said, I know where Toonie gets it from. So now, you won't see me in any cheetah again, I'm going zebra print. I think lean into it.

I think go with it you've got the name now she's a cheater girl i know i am a cheater girl how does that song go again we are the cheater girls you are the cheater boys touch my bum this is nice nice. I think, anyway. So yeah, right. Now I've got a stylist. Did you actually get a stylist since then? I have as well.

Are you styled now? Oh! Get rid. You're cutting that cheater out. You are dropping out a 50-year-old woman. It's the mob wife aesthetic, though. Yeah, it is. It actually was very popular last summer. It was.

It was just the fact that it was back-to-back. I could have split it up a night, you know? Oh, Christ. What was your styling session like with your stylist? Oh, it was hard work, I'll be honest. Oh, my God, I'm so intrigued. So lately, so after the injury, I put on a bit of muscle. Like, for the first time, it was my time to just get big, get strong,

in the gym all the time. Anyway, put on a lot of muscle, bigger legs, bigger glute, you know, bigger calves, tore my calf. Just one glute., bigger glute, you know, bigger calves just one glute one big calf and can't fit in any jeans anymore so she come round, oh she's amazing by the way

she's so nice she came round, she brought loads of outfits loads of stuff for me and she bought about 10 pair of jeans not one pair fit me. Actually, these did. These fit me. But none fit me at all. And I think I'm now between an eight and a ten.

So I'm a nine. But they don't sell nine. So it was a bit of hard work. And I've come round to the fact that I've got to let go of the fact that I'm not an eight anymore. But yeah, she's amazing. And she's sorted me out a bit. Makes it easier though, like, you know when someone picks your outfits for you.

Oh, it's one less thing to think about, isn't it? Yeah. And I need help with like pairing stuff up and I've got so many clothes but I don't know what looks nice with what. So, yeah, she's really good for that. Do you ever style this less? Just for like events and stuff. But less is good at styling herself. You love this, Les? Just for events and stuff.

But Les is good at styling herself. Because you love fashion, right? Yeah, I love putting... Toonie finds it really stressful, but I actually really enjoy it. Putting things together, going out shopping, buying new clothes. Like I said, that outfit's lovely, Les. Where have you got that from?

She said, Cos. I said, yeah, but how have you found that? Like, did you go in the shop? I'm not much of a shopper, to be fair. Did you go in the shop? Yes.

Yeah. I just don't get how you find that. It's just not, it's not necessary. Like, I find it quite claustrophobic sometimes going into a shop and I can get quite overwhelmed

by, there's so much choice, there's so many things out there and it's like a minefield of what do you go for? But if you lean into it, if you really enjoy it yeah it's great yeah one thing i'd hate doing is trying stuff on in the shop yeah me too i would rather go back i'd rather go and take it back yeah oh i don't take it back that's my problem then that's you end up with so much cheetah print yeah yeah but thing is with cheetah print you can only wear it once. Or twice. Twice in a row.

I mean, the actual outfit. I can't wear that cheetah dress again. You know, I've already worn it. What do they say? Once a cheetah, always a cheetah. Yeah. One of my favourite episodes of the last series was finding out about camp. You've had a few more camps since I last saw you.

Because we've got the Euros coming up this summer so there's it's got to be quite a busy year for you yeah yeah both club I mean depending on where you know your teams get to and then also internationally yeah well when Toonie hurt her calf I had to do my first ever camp without her how was that was that hard yeah it was sad that's we literally do everything together on camp. We knock on each other's doors in the morning, go down for breakfast. If you see one of us, you see the other.

That's what all the medical staff say and everything. We're booking for treatment at the same time. Or if you have treatment without me, everyone's like, have you fell out? Yeah. So it was sad. I missed my right arm. But I was in Dubai anyway.

You needed it. I took a bit of time off, yeah. At first I was gutted. I was like, I'm going to miss camp. I'm going to miss games. I'd just reached, I think it was like 100 appearances in a row for Man United or something along those lines. Something mad. And then I was like, oh, I'm going to be out for three months.

I'm going to miss games. I'm going to miss England camp. But then when I sat down and actually thought was like, oh, I'm going to be out for three months, I'm going to miss games, I'm going to miss England camp. But then when I sat down and actually thought about it, I needed the break, mentally more than anything. I'd just lost my dad before the season started. I'd played back-to-back games after that and probably weren't enjoying it as much as I should have been. But I would never have told myself that,

I would never have, like, admitted it because all I ever wanted to do was play football for him. You know what I mean? So when it actually got taken out of my hands, it made me realise, right, I do need this. Like, I do need to step away from football. I need to get myself mentally right more than anything. I need to have that love for the game again and miss it.

And at first, I didn't miss it. Like, I was in Dubai I was doing my rehab I was enjoying being in the gym and getting stronger and then when I was back on the grass and I was getting back with like around the girls and stuff I was like I miss it and that's when I knew like I'm ready now to yeah to really kick on and yeah it was the best thing I could have done even though it wasn't in my hands it was the best thing I could have done. Even though it wasn't in my hands, it was the best thing that could have happened to me at that time. It was the time I needed to step away, have a break, get myself mentally right, you know, actually grieve. I don't think I grieved, I don't think I thought that it was real. And that was the time I started speaking to a counsellor

as well, which really helped. And then and then yeah came back and and started playing well scoring goals and yeah that and then my love for the game just really grew after that and I weren't putting as much pressure on myself as I was before and wanting to do everything and wanting to score for dad and oh my I'm never going to score again do you know what I mean and yeah I think it was perfect it was perfect And yeah, now it's made me realise that it's okay to be upset and sad and however you want to feel, whenever you want to feel.

But yeah, it's really helped talking about it and to people. And yeah, I think I'm in such a better place than I was before. And now it's about not falling again. And it's hard football because you're up and down all the time anyway. So it's about trying to find that balance and find what's about, you know, not falling again. And it's hard football because you're up and down all the time anyway. So it's about trying to find that balance and find what's right for you.

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And I've seen so many posts that you've done since he passed away. I'm so, so sorry for your loss because it's just grief that comes in waves, doesn't it? Yeah, it does. It's not linear. You can't control it. Nothing can ever prepare you for that. No. How important are friends in times like that?

Yeah, I'm really lucky I've got a really big family, really big friend group, and I'm at home. I couldn't ever imagine not being at home at that time. Like, they were amazing for me. Like, everyone come together. Like, even Les came down straight away. Like, she drove to Manchester. And, yeah, they've been amazing

and even like my teammates as well you know just being normal like not pottering around me or not knowing what to say just making things feel as normal as they could have felt so yeah I think I'm quite lucky that I've got a really good you know support network around me and people who can you know lift me up when I need it and people who just be normal and get on with it and then it makes me think, right, no-one's looking at me weird or no-one's thinking this about me. But, yeah, everyone's been amazing and, yeah, I'm definitely very grateful for the people I have around me.

But, like I say, life will never be the same now, so you've just got to ride the waves. I think, like you say, it comes in waves and you've I've got to lean on the people around me a lot more than I probably would have done before so yeah I'm a I'm grateful that I have them in my life and people who I can you know lean on when I need to. Les how conscious were you of being that person that support doing the right thing whatever that might be in that time when you know your friend needs you yeah it was hard because I was so far away which wasn't nice um

but yeah I just wanted to be there as much as I could and knowing what Toonie's like as well like as a person and how she thrives off making people laugh and like being around people and things like that I just wanted to be there for anything like to cry to have a laugh to go for dinner like and yeah how she has handled herself through it all is just so inspiring to everyone um and yeah it was horrible and it still is horrible but I think everyone's so proud of how she's handled it who she is as a person and when she had a time out we said it didn't we like it was a blessing in disguise she needed it because she's the type of person that would be like no I don't need a break like I'm playing through and sometimes that's not healthy like when she did her calf I was, thank God it was just your calf

and it wasn't anything more serious. Because when you're under so much stress, things like that can happen because obviously football is so intense. But to see how then she came back and scored for fun and you just looked freer when you were playing football and you could see it. So, yeah, I mean, it's been... I think everyone who's close to you has been, yeah,

just so proud of everything that's gone on and how you've just handled yourself with class, and, yeah, you've just been great. Yeah, and I think, like, you know, when it was the funeral, it was unbelievable to see the amount of people there. But, like like for me like i had the girls coming up from london i had georgia flying over from bayern like i had all these people coming and i thought wow like i'm so lucky to have these people like or else like

what would i have done do you know what i mean so yeah that's also credit to you and your dad yeah you know what I mean top lie yeah everyone the whole of Tilsi was there it shut down the town of Tilsi shut down the guy the guy who like

runs the funerals and stuff he said I've seen a lot of funerals in my life I have never seen one that big yeah I couldn't believe it I thought I thought I was popular

and I turned up and I thought wow you're actually I was more popular yeah yeah it was mad and it was a nice day? Yeah, that was more popular. Yeah. Yeah.

It was mad and it was a nice day. It was as good as it could have been that day. It was credit to him for just being a good person, you know what I mean? So, yeah, we celebrated, made sure we celebrated, but it's hard because everyone's sad that day and talking memories and all that and then it's done then for everyone, but for us it's still so hard, you know what it's hard you're not gonna carry that yeah yeah but yeah I've been

I've been blessed with a lot of good people around me and definitely couldn't have got through without them but now just yeah just want to keep you know kicking on and doing doing things right and making him proud so I think it's really important as well what you said about being able to be vulnerable and open up yeah how important do you think it is to be able to say like here on a podcast it's okay not to be okay sometimes and just if you need to reach out talk about it it's so important it's so important not to bottle things up yeah and like have it eating away at you're like I can't hold me on we like everyone knows everything about me because I can't keep things in I need't keep things in. I need to get things out.

And especially with that, I could not have let that eat away at me and not speak to people. Like, I love speaking about him, which helps. And it's always a funny story. So it's always easy. But then, like, then you let yourself be vulnerable and obviously speaking to a counsellor,

that is the hour that I have to not be like, Ella Toon, who's on the telly, who's playing football, who's fine, like it's an hour to just get everything out, she doesn't know me, she doesn't know dad, you know what I mean, like it's easy to just let yourself go for an hour, get it all out, get it all on the table and then go again, you know what I mean, so I think that speaking is massive and speaking to anyone, just speaking to getting it off your chest, getting it out there in the open, it really helps you move on and be OK. But you don't know when it's going to hit you.

It could hit you whenever. One little thing you might see and think, oh, it reminds me of Dad that, I'm crying now, you know what I mean? So it hits you whenever and that's fine. And you just, yeah, you've just got to be open and honest with the way you feel and have good people around you. That always helps as well. It's interesting how like humour can help us deal with things.

Oh, massively. It's so much, isn't it? Like I've got that off dad. Like he weren't a serious guy. Like he wouldn't never, I don't, I think he cried once when Tiger Woods missed a golf shot. I don't think he cried when I was born, do you know what I mean? So, like, yeah, for me, that's how I deal with things.

I deal with things by laughing, by having a joke, by thinking about him and thinking of a funny story and, you know, telling someone. So, like, that's how I deal with it. But I know that there's other people who deal with it in different ways and that's fine as well with it, but I know that there's other people who deal with it in different ways, and that's fine as well, like, but that's my way of coping, and I like to talk about him and laugh about him, because that's what he would have wanted,

and he was the least serious guy you could ever meet, so it would, like, when we were like, all around him and hugging him and kissing him and like you know being crying over him we were just laughing thinking he would hate this he would hate that we're all kissing his forehead so we were laughing at that like in the hardest times ever it it was the laughter that brought us together and brought it out of us and that's because of the person that he was as well so yeah well we'll always laugh about him because he was funny, wasn't he? Yeah, he was so funny. It's that ability to be both,

like, for you to be so open and honest here. Like, thank you. Like, I really appreciate that. But also we found out that you're a cheetah girl. Exactly. There's a place for all of it. Your dad would be proud of the cheetah girl. It's what he would have wanted.

He really would. Oh, God. Basically, anything goes here on the Toonie and Russo show. So whatever's in store for the next episode, who knows? Watch this space. But thank you so much for watching, for listening to the Toonie and Russo show.

With me, Vic Hope. That's that. Bye, guys. See you next time. Bye. On BBC Sounds, this is Sports Strangest Crimes. From the man who tried to buy cricket. One night, one game, winner take all, 20 US million dollars.

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