S3 - E1 - Stay Out of My Shoebox (feat. James R Hearn & Roxy Yarnold)

Could you survive the Maldon Mud Race with only your wits and a pair of gold shorts? Join us as we recount Jack's third challenge in "Jack's Drive to Save Lives" and his hilarious escapades through mud, mussels, and more. With Henry and Mark by his side, this episode is filled with unexpected tasks, laughter, and camaraderie. Special guest James R. Hearn joins us in the studio, bringing not just humour but also pizzas topped with the most unusual combinations, sparking a lively debate you won't want to miss.

Ever wondered what happens when a theatre company gets their hands on a chocolate orange spread? We venture into a whimsical mystery involving a playful incident that has everyone pointing fingers. With accusations flying, we speculate on potential culprits like Katie Green, making for an engaging and amusing discussion. The episode also features a heartfelt chat with a returning entertainer who shares delightful stories about the joy of performing and the evolution of the show "Simply the Best." Expect humorous critiques of notable performers and behind-the-scenes antics that keep the laughter rolling.

Rounding out the episode, we sit down with Roxy Yarnold to discuss her new role and the creation of "Simply the Best." From quirky personal anecdotes to the collaborative efforts behind the scenes, this conversation is both insightful and entertaining. We also touch on the drama of missing costumes and superstitions surrounding a Morris dancing hat, giving you an insider's look at the evolution of our productions. As we prepare for future shows and embrace the excitement of change, you'll hear about the challenges and triumphs of refreshing a long-running production while keeping the magic alive.

Transcript

Long Day at Maldon Mud Race

Speaker 1 0:00

This has been a very, very long day.

Speaker 2 0:02

It's been an exceptionally long day. What have you been up to, jack, today? Well, I mean, I would know because I was there, but you tell me anyway.

Speaker 1 0:08

Today I woke up nice and early, got myself ready. Obviously, the gold shorts went on, and today I completed my third challenge of Jack's Drive to save lives. Yes, today was the Maldon mud race and you thought you were going alone for a while. Yes, today was the Maldon mud race and you thought you were going alone for a while.

Speaker 2 0:27

For a while I was going alone and then I said can I come? Because I wanted to get out of bingo sales, naturally. And then Mark said he wanted to come because he wanted to get away from Sky and Claire, of course.

Speaker 1 0:38

And we went, we did, and actually I needed someone to hold my car keys, my phone and also film the event and wash you off, and wash me off. Yes, and that's what I did, didn't I? And wow, what a day.

Speaker 2 0:50

I scrubbed your thighs like no one ever has.

Speaker 1 0:52

You did Not necessarily willingly on my part, but you quickly rushed over to scrub my thighs as I was getting changed.

Speaker 2 1:05

Before we get on with the story about the modern Magrace, who was the person who had to cover all of my duties that I skived Brian Graves.

Speaker 4 1:11

And Is that a hint for me to talk?

Speaker 1 1:37

Yes, you're talking about James R Hearn.

Speaker 2 1:39

I'm speaking about James R Hearn who seems to be in the room with us now the man I was just listening to you.

Speaker 1 1:44

The legend James R Hearn, who seems to be in the room with us now. The man I was just listening to you. The legend James R.

Speaker 4 1:47

Hearn is back. Sorry, guys, I was just in a spell with you Just listening to you, because obviously I've listened to you through the years, and now I'm actually in your studio and I honestly thought you were just in a little cupboard, but actually you have, honestly, the refreshments provided by you guys the pizzas.

Speaker 1 2:06

No, no, no. Please don't talk about the pizzas, because we don't give all of our guests pizzas. Well, I feel really privileged.

Speaker 2 2:12

We made this mistake, when we announced to Roxy that we'd got her pizza, and then everyone else kicked off.

Speaker 1 2:15

Yeah, the only person we've agreed we will never get pizza for is Ben.

Speaker 2 2:21

Yes, that's true. Why is that? Don't ask? You don't want to know.

Speaker 1 2:24

I do. It's his choice of toppings, is it?

Speaker 2 2:26

pineapple, tuna and banana. That's no such thing. There is.

Speaker 4 2:31

People go mad with a wine, so is that true?

Speaker 2 2:33

with a banana that was a public outcry.

Speaker 4 2:35

Domino's don't do that, pizza Hut, don't do that.

Speaker 1 2:37

I tell you what though it's even better, Other pizza places are available.

Speaker 2 2:49

Available because this pizza, unlike roxy's, was a company expense. I don't think we're legally allowed to tell anyone that we are a company expense whose was roxy these ones? Thank you to the great scott the ones what we've got now.

Speaker 1 2:57

Mike bought us these. Wow, the mike scott. I don't think he knows it yet, but he did I was going to.

Speaker 4 3:02

there's a lot of pizza there for just three of us, I mean that order was about 60 quid. Yeah.

Speaker 1 3:08

It's a lot of money wasn't it. Yeah, we had to hand out the rest of the pizzas to the guests who are still up.

Speaker 4 3:14

But don't you think they really enjoyed that though? It's a concept that we should maybe give. We should give free pizza out on the end night and maybe the rebookings will go up.

Speaker 2 3:23

It's actually just been announced that we do now give away free pizza on every break. Yeah.

Speaker 4 3:27

That is an official thing. It's better than the hot chocolate, isn't it?

Speaker 2 3:29

It is. Some would say it's better than non-alcoholic gin. I do want to point out that there has been born a series tradition, that I'm going back to my season one roots Because I, since the Roxy Arnold episode, have not had pink gin on an episode of the all-exclusive podcast. But today, on season three, episode one, here is the pink gin.

Speaker 1 4:04

It is, it's back. Let's hope that your tolerance has increased from the last one.

Speaker 4 4:08

Oh, it has. Can I just say Molden.

Speaker 1 4:10

Yeah.

Speaker 4 4:11

Famous for its muscles. Did you know that?

Speaker 2 4:13

Yeah, I know, and muscles as in M-U-S-S-L-E.

Speaker 4 4:16

Yeah, as in muscles. Yeah, yeah, as in shellfish.

Speaker 2 4:20

Right, not muscles as in.

Speaker 1 4:21

Yeah, and I ended up walking past a lot of muscles. Thank you, while I was running, we left you because obviously you are an Essex boy. Yeah, we left you here at Hopton on sea.

Speaker 4 4:32

Yeah, thanks for leaving me all day. We went down to Maldon yeah, I mean I hope you really enjoyed yourself, because it was a great day out, Henry, though, wasn't it that?

Speaker 2 4:40

gave me the day off kind of. He said I didn't have to come in until later.

Speaker 4 4:44

Yeah, could have told the other people that they were going to cover you, though, but rather than leaving it 15 minutes before to tell me it actually was as well, wasn't it? You probably knew all day.

Speaker 2 4:53

Yeah, yeah, so we drove to Malden. Picked up Mark.

Speaker 1 4:56

When you say we drove to Malden, you drove I drove you and Mark, who has just had his knee operation, down to Maldon. We then had to walk from the car park to the registration. I had to get my little tag that I had to sort of clip to my shoe.

Speaker 2 5:11

I know, it was very clever, wasn't it? We then had to tape your shoes on, because obviously it's exceptionally deep mud and the shoes could just we definitely they were on.

Speaker 1 5:23

We taped those shoes on.

Speaker 2 5:25

Especially your left foot. I did that one. Yeah, that one wasn't going anywhere.

Speaker 1 5:29

Yeah, you did an okay job. I did a great job. We did that, obviously, and then we were waiting around.

Speaker 2 5:34

You had to adjust your.

Speaker 1 5:35

I had to go do a warm-up.

Speaker 2 5:37

With Sergeant Gilroy Mm.

Speaker 1 5:39

Yes, and that I I want to say that was possibly one of the most unpleasant bits. He wasn't nice. Was he a real sergeant? Yeah, yeah. And he kept making us do squats and there was quite a lot of people there and he kept trying to get us to touch elbows and chests and things to the floor.

Speaker 2 5:56

I think it was a little bit over the top. I'm going to be honest. Sergeant Gilroy, I think, just quite enjoyed the airtime. Yeah, he enjoyed having the mic, but shout out to you, sergeant Gilroy, he probably listens.

Speaker 1 6:07

Tell you what I'm going to do. I want to do a little bit of a gratitude corner.

Speaker 2 6:11

Shall we take a visit there now.

Speaker 1 6:17

Gratitude corner. Jules, while we were taping my shoe up this random woman. She asked me about what I was running for the charity. So I told her, and then she donated £20.

Speaker 2 6:26

It's like if you've ever seen the film Christmas on the Square with Dolly Parton who plays a slightly camp country angel who embodies Jesus. At the end of the film she does very similar things. She appears and kind of says Change, but not that kind of change. She means of change, she means social change.

Speaker 1 6:47

Right Sounds really good, jules, I'm grateful for you, we're so grateful for you. Anyway, yes, what a day. And the sun came out. The sun came out. I had to stand on that start line for quite some time. The sun will come out tomorrow.

Speaker 2 7:12

Well no, it came out today. Today bet your bottom 20 quid that today there was sun Mud and lots of mud, just thinking about today. So you gotta hang on for today Till there's mud, when I'm stuck with a day, stuck in the mud that's grey and lonely and smelly. I just stick up my chin and grin and say oh, lonely and smelly. I just stick up my chin and grin and say oh, oh the mud will wash off tomorrow that'll be there for a long time. That was nice though.

Speaker 1 7:57

Thank you, Roxy would be proud of that I think she would say why are you singing, you weird child?

Speaker 2 8:04

I'm not a child. How old are you? I'm 20. You're a child.

Speaker 4 8:08

Ask how old I am Middle-aged, late middle-aged, not late 46. Late middle-aged Is that late?

Speaker 1 8:14

Yeah, it's been a long day. It's been a long day I had to stand on that start line, got stuck in the mud. I managed to pull myself out and I was off like a whippet it then took you a while though.

Speaker 2 8:25

So we, mark and I, saw you go. It took you a while to find us afterwards because you were very quick on the race. Oh so I hear. But we didn't see you cross the finish line because we, as you saw, got distracted because the Tiptree Jam Company had a stall.

Speaker 1 8:48

This is it. You watch me go through the start line and then I complete the race. I had to sit down because I was exhausted. It was tough.

Speaker 3 8:59

That was tough. It looked hard, that video.

Speaker 1 9:02

I sat down, had a little bit of water. I washed off a lot of the mud. There was a shower thing there. I had to. You know it was more like pipes leaking pipes.

Speaker 2 9:16

But whilst you were showering yourself off, you came to find Mark and I for us to congratulate and put an arm around. You Got my medal. We were at the tip tree stand trying jams and bought a three pack for eight pounds, which is exceptionally good value it was incredibly good value that was in notting hill I did actually at one point make you feed me um some of the chocolate orange spread.

Speaker 1 9:37

Let me show you, because I still had mud on me so I got um what we got.

Speaker 2 9:41

Mark doesn't have it because I stole it, and the reason they're open is all the theater company insisted on trying them well smelling them okay, which is a bit weird. So we got a passion fruit curd, which is delicious like lemon curd. I love a lemon curd we can try some in a minute if you like. Um, we got a tip tree chutney which has sugar, apples, wine, vinegar, raisins, plums, onions, salt spices, gelling agent, citrus pectin.

Speaker 1 10:12

I love gelling agent.

Speaker 2 10:13

I love a gelling agent. And finally, we bought a chocolate orange spread. That's palm oil and nut free.

Speaker 1 10:22

That is my favourite because that's what I tried and I love chocolate orange full stop.

Speaker 4 10:26

But that Tiptree brand is all over the world, isn't it? Everywhere you go, they serve that. I want to say, though.

Speaker 1 10:31

I know other people have mentioned this before. I know David, one of our listeners, has mentioned this. We should probably go to the Tiptree Jam.

Speaker 2 10:38

Well, we could get eight pounds. It'd be free. They'd probably give it to us.

Speaker 4 10:42

he's actually known as the willy wonka's factory. Isn't it of jam, as in it is very special factory who's ever described it as that?

Speaker 2 10:49

james?

Speaker 4 10:51

I I've quoted that. Someone said to me hey, you want to go to the tipsy jam factory? It's like willy wonka's factory, but they serve jam instead of chocolate right, it's a river of strawberry jam that runs through the yeah, there's similarities, augustus.

Speaker 2 11:08

Gloop would have been doomed if he weren't in that river.

Speaker 4 11:11

Talking about Augustus Gloop, where do you think he is now?

Speaker 2 11:14

Apparently, according to a Daily Mail article in 2013, that was about me. One of the readers of Mail Online said I looked like Augustus Gloop Really, yeah, so apparently I like Augustus Gloop.

Speaker 1 11:24

Really.

Speaker 2 11:25

Yeah, so apparently I am Augustus Gloop.

Speaker 1 11:28

Augustus.

Speaker 4 11:30

Don't do it Augustus, get up the vibe Augustus.

Speaker 2 11:33

Mama. Mama, no my baby, I would like to show you something. A great crime was committed backstage today.

Speaker 1 11:39

I can't believe. I've already seen this. I'm offended.

Speaker 4 11:45

I'm just going to pass this round. Okay, do you want us to taste it or just spend it?

Speaker 2 11:48

No, just have a look at it, just see what's happened to it. Somebody has forked this.

Speaker 1 11:54

Oh my God, I can't believe. No, but somebody has.

Speaker 2 11:58

Someone's actually taken a fork and put it in there, so that's chocolate orange, so it is Right.

Speaker 4 12:02

Sorry in there. So that's chocolate orange, so it is.

Speaker 1 12:03

Sorry, can I just say no stop. Right here, it's Willy Wonka, no stop. We have a mystery on our hands which one of the theatre company members has forked our chocolate orange spread?

Speaker 2 12:13

Because I know who it is. You know who it is. Yeah, I know who it is, so I'm going to let you do it. Who do you think? Who do?

Speaker 1 12:18

you think is rude enough to fork our spread, and who would have a fork?

Speaker 2 12:22

on them to fork the spread. Well, the fork was in the bag because it was one of the forks from our shawarma.

Speaker 1 12:26

So you're telling me someone saw the fork and forked it. Can I say that shawarma was amazing.

Speaker 2 12:30

Yeah, Essex Shawarma Company. That wasn't the name of the thing.

Speaker 1 12:33

No, but it was. Yeah, they kept ringing a bell every now and then. Yeah, a cowbell Clattery knees now, or clattery knee, but yeah, so anyway, shall I tell you, like Cluedo, where it was found. Give us clue number one. Shall I tell you where it was found. It was found in the girls' dressing room Right, so it was potentially one of the girls or one of the boys were trying to frame one of the girls and forking an orange spread. I think it was Fraser.

Speaker 2 12:56

Really yes, would he risk it though?

Speaker 1 13:00

To say that is definitely not Saskia, because she's allergic to life. True, she would be dead.

Speaker 2 13:04

We would find her with it, like Cluedo. She'd have a chalk outline around her if she'd had some of that. So it's definitely not him or Sass. So it's two out.

Speaker 1 13:12

Who else was it Kara we potential.

Speaker 2 13:20

I wouldn't trust Kara, because she did come on yesterday wearing green shorts in one of the chorus line. Everyone saw that. I saw that. Yeah, she felt very bad about that, so I don't think she'd have it in her to steal the.

Speaker 1 13:26

No, I think Steph is too nice and polite. Sophie can be evil. Sophie is the evil one. That's the point.

Speaker 2 13:33

I'm trying to get at, and Katie Green can be evil.

Speaker 4 13:36

I think Katie Green is a suspect.

Speaker 1 13:40

I think Katie Green suspect there there's something about her.

Speaker 2 13:44

So are we convicting Katie Green?

Speaker 1 13:45

Are we throwing the gavel down on Katie Green? This feels like an episode of the.

Speaker 4 13:49

Traitors. I'd like it to be Katie Green. I'd like it to be Katie Green, but I think she's the cheekiest.

Speaker 1 13:54

Are you sure that that's a fork knife Mark and not?

Speaker 2 14:01

like three swipes tooth, it was a four. Could that be someone's little hand?

Speaker 1 14:05

I saw it happen I think jemma's too sweet and innocent, but maybe that's maybe maybe it is the quiet people, though, is it?

Speaker 2 14:14

there are a couple people you've not mentioned I only have two in the dressing room.

Speaker 1 14:18

Ah, lucy and chloe those are the two people I'll mention. Actually, actually I take back no. Lucy's a prime suspect and I think Lucy, she was just bold and brash and I think Chloe.

Speaker 4 14:31

I think she's eating lead Chloe, probably with Lucy, I think they they may have eaten off the same fork which one forked our chocolate orange. I'm thinking, I'm really thinking. Hang on, sorry Katie.

Speaker 2 14:43

Green, I think it Our chocolate orange spray.

Speaker 4 14:44

I'm really thinking Hang on, sorry, I just got something wrong.

Speaker 2 14:46

I think it's Katie Green. What A second crime was committed.

Speaker 1 14:49

Wait a minute. This changes everything there.

Speaker 4 14:50

better not be another fork, or is it a spoon this time?

Speaker 2 14:53

The passion fruit curd had the fork flipped around and using the handle of the fork a scoop was taken out, which means there's been Another crime, a double forking.

Speaker 1 15:07

They've worked together on this I feel like they would have egged each other on.

Speaker 4 15:10

Yeah, I think they've worked together. I think this is double crime, so is your vote on both.

Speaker 2 15:14

I think it's a crime of passion, so they're both going to the gallows.

Speaker 1 15:17

Yes, a crime of passion for its spread.

Speaker 2 15:19

Yeah, I think it's that I can reveal that the perpetrator of the crime of the century is Lucy Hunt how do you know?

Speaker 3 15:35

because I was there, so you made us go through all that, even though you knew, yeah, why didn't you just tell?

Speaker 2 15:42

us because it was a game, because we're trying to get our listening figures back up this game sucks this is like a murder mystery.

Speaker 4 15:50

James, oh right, is it a new edition? Is this new for?

Speaker 2 15:52

this episode. James, you don't know anything about this podcast you've only listened to three episodes.

Speaker 1 16:02

I may have told this story before on the podcast, but the last time I was stung by a wasp I tried the tactic of going I'm just going to sit here and not be bothered by the wasp, because if I don't react it'll just leave me alone.

Speaker 2 16:17

I think that wasp was annoyed at how laid back you were.

Speaker 1 16:20

Yeah, it stung me on the neck.

Speaker 4 16:22

I've hit a hornet with a tennis bat and it still got up. Yeah, hornets me on the neck.

Speaker 1 16:25

I've hit a hornet with a tennis bat and it still got up.

Speaker 4 16:26

Yeah, hornets though are evil.

Speaker 2 16:26

Have you ever tried the Mark Brewer technique Wet a tea towel and throw it at the insect. Is that what?

Speaker 4 16:31

happened? Oh no, I did it in the dressing room a couple of weeks ago we talked about waterboarding insects once.

Speaker 2 16:36

Yeah, defense. What happens? Is it worse if you water waterboard, waterboard an insect with a cholera infected rag? No, I think it's too late by that point. Yeah, they aren't going to contract anything, are they?

Speaker 4 16:53

but apparently I said this other day what's the point of wasps? Apparently there is a huge point of wasps and I can't think what the what they actually do?

Speaker 2 17:01

no, I think there is. Well, it's all in the circle of life, isn't't it? Yeah, that's right, is it?

Speaker 1 17:05

pollination to some extent, but then they don't get pollinated. I think it's more extermination of other things, other insects yeah, I think they play a big part in diseases.

Speaker 2 17:15

So I am mildly arachnophobic and really can't deal with spiders at all. I once had a spider in my bed. Really can't deal with spiders at all. I once had a spider in my bed.

Speaker 1 17:26

I then screamed, jumped out of bed, turned up the whole bloody room.

Speaker 2 17:28

Yeah, he then hid under my bed. I hated him because I can't kill insects either I really hate it or any kind of living thing. I just can't do it. So but I'm terrified of him. So he runs under my bed. I literally had to take my mattress off, move my bed. I literally had to take my mattress off, move my bed.

Speaker 1 17:45

He was so quick, have you seen the trailer for that film with the spider, where this girl gets a spider and it keeps growing. But it keeps growing and growing oh, I've seen the trailer. Yes, and then it like lives in the walls and it's like a horror.

Speaker 2 17:57

The slogan is your worst nightmare just got bigger yeah, wow.

Speaker 1 18:00

It keeps getting bigger and bigger, this Spider. It's a new horror film that's coming out.

Speaker 4 18:03

It'll be like Aragog yeah, a little bit Sounds great.

Speaker 1 18:08

What's your favourite film ever? Sorry, I went into talking like I do when the kids are here for the family base. What's your favouritest film?

Speaker 4 18:16

What's your most favourite film? Yeah, I'm a massive film buff Huge. Well, it depends.

Speaker 1 18:25

And it's a very because me and henry have been set the challenge to watch some films um.

Speaker 4 18:28

Can I ask what films they are?

Speaker 1 18:29

well, the first one on the list, and I have the time of recording. We haven't yet watched the first film, which is shawshank redemption. You've never watched shawshank I have? No, no, no, I love it and that's why I've set henry the task to chocolate yeah, but that's.

Speaker 2 18:42

Ben loves chocolate and I delighted. I had a whole conversation about it the other day.

Speaker 1 18:46

He loves Chocolat. Shawshank Redemption James Morgan Freeman.

Speaker 4 18:50

Tim Robbins man to Get Things. One of the best films, probably along with Green Marl you've never seen Spinal Tap have you?

Speaker 2 18:59

no, have you seen Spinal Tap, James?

Speaker 4 19:01

I haven't no, oh my god, you would love it why would I love it?

Speaker 2 19:06

You probably would enjoy it. I know bits about it. Yeah, it's your sense of humour, it really is.

Speaker 1 19:10

Maybe we'll include you in one of our movie nights.

Speaker 2 19:12

It's a documentary about a rock band, Right, and it was so. It hit so close to home with some rock bands At its premiere a fans who were invited actually left the film because they thought that they were making fun of them, and they were. And I think it's even funnier that they left, because it means it runs. So true, and these ludicrous, ludicrous things. It's genius, and a lot of its improvisation is genius. James, how does it feel to be back?

Speaker 4 19:36

it feels great, I mean, to be sat here at two in the morning when I've on my 16th hour of work. I think it makes makes me realise how much I missed it.

Speaker 2 19:44

Yeah, because you're obviously here whilst Mark's having his knee replacement.

Speaker 4 19:49

Yeah, absolutely no, it's been brilliant, I think. Yeah, fantastic Working with you guys, obviously.

Speaker 2 19:54

And you've just we can exclusively announce, all exclusively, all exclusively announce that, james, you're staying on until at least after summer.

Speaker 4 20:03

Absolutely.

Speaker 2 20:07

That's just been confirmed.

Returning Entertainer Reflects on Potter's Show

Speaker 4 20:08

You sound really happy about that 100. I should be happy. Yeah, it's been, it's. Have you enjoyed being back 100? Yeah, because honestly, you never. You know it's like anything in it when you come away from something for a you know a few years, whatever. I've been here and there for the last 20 years. Here there, back here, there, do your own thing. Come back then. To be actually being asked on a serious note was really really nice. Do you know what I mean? And it was quite unexpected, I think, from my point of view. But, yeah, absolutely loving it. Yeah, and lovely to see a guest reaction, isn't it how they sort of appreciate us all? I think it's the appreciation of all what we do, I think to have. When you used to be here, the guests hated you. No, they've always loved me.

Speaker 1 20:50

It's just you, Henry. Yeah, really, Henry, honestly.

Speaker 2 20:52

Yeah, yeah, I mean what am I doing wrong, James? What am I doing wrong?

Speaker 4 20:57

Yeah, you know you're, you think you're better than you are where I'm, I know how brilliant I am, but I let the guests tell me what have you missed most about the job? Um, I think what everyone as an entertainer or performer does miss is the fact of applying their craft or what the thing that makes us who we are. So welly wanging them, I would say curling, curling yeah because without curling I don't think I would have probably been as successful, as I'm at 46.

Speaker 2 21:38

Let's talk about your room, james, because your wonderful partner.

Speaker 1 21:42

Yeah, sarah visited yesterday. Oh no, yesterday You've taken over from my old abode.

Speaker 2 21:47

Yes, well, it gets worse, jack, because you would think that living in a room that Jack Jenkins once lived in was bad enough. But, James, I went past James' room the other day. He was trying to squirt me with a water bottle.

Speaker 4 22:00

Wow, do you want to tell the real story? You tell it, James. Tell your truth truth, james, I will tell that I tried to squirt you. Yep, is that the truth? Yep, I you just walked past and I squirted you out of my room. Is that what you're saying, henry? You are, what am I? You know what you are, henry, tell me. Look, potters might be able to take your lies, but I won't so what am I?

Speaker 2 22:23

I can censor it out, Right right, right, let him speak, henry.

Speaker 1 22:26

Let him speak James Henry.

Speaker 4 22:28

This is a forum where you, I, was just walking back innocently singing Sunset Boulevard that I've heard for the 50th time.

Speaker 2 22:36

Sing it in my chalet.

Speaker 4 22:37

Sing it no, I'm not singing it. I've forgotten what it sounds like. It's not. It's not a sing off right, and only Nicole Scherzinger should sing it, sing it only Nicole Scherzinger can sing that.

Speaker 2 22:49

She didn't sing that song, it was Tom Francis oh, whatever what your boyfriend right there'll be magic in the woods beautiful.

Speaker 4 22:57

I was walking to the chalet and he decided to say squirt me with water. And he started throwing water. And what he did? You did something to the bottle so it would all spray out. That's how it initially started.

Speaker 2 23:08

I realised I don't know how I realised this two years ago when I first joined here. If you get a bottle of water from the fridge that we're not allowed, that we're not allowed.

Speaker 1 23:22

That Kirsty banned us from having, and, kirsty, we never get water from the fridge Ever.

Speaker 2 23:27

But when hypothetically one gets one, or I buy it from the shop with my own money. If you take it to the bungalows and you scratch it against the wall, Scratch it from the shop with my own money if you take it to the bungalows and you scratch it against the wall, scratch it against the wall. Yeah, is this a trick?

Speaker 1 23:38

that's like a common knowledge thing yeah, because I taught myself this when I was about eight or nine at school. I taught myself this what's the trick.

Speaker 2 23:46

I didn't know that that was a thing. I thought it was something that I could just feel it because I once did it accidentally yeah and then I realised oh my goodness, this changed my life there'll be magic in the making thank you, jack. Have you got a message for Tom Francis or Nicole Scherzinger from the London and Broadway cast of Sunset Boulevard?

Speaker 4 24:04

what I would say is Tom Francis, you're very lucky because you're quite a mediocre singer, but I think your acting is very, very strong. However, like I said, you must know someone on in the on them on the olivier award board. You are better, though why did my poor motives offend me that's why he commented on your video saying you got a great voice wish I had that voice?

Speaker 1 24:29

yeah, wish I had that voice.

Speaker 4 24:30

That's what he meant in fairness to her, the pussycatussycat Dolls was great, but I never, ever thought that you'd ever hear Nicole Scherzinger sing that song. Hats off to her, but she's got massive feet.

Speaker 1 24:44

You keep saying that You're obsessed with feet, though, aren't you?

Speaker 4 24:46

No, I'm not obsessed with feet, honestly, when she was you were a little bit obsessed. Three rows from the back and all you could see was those.

Speaker 1 24:58

Simply the Best is a show that obviously, when it was first created, you were a part of. Yeah, we went to rehearsals and a couple of years down the line, we are obviously recreating that show. It's going to become an ever evolving show and this is something we're going to be hearing about in this episode. So this is you know. Are you excited to be a part of the new? Simply the best?

Speaker 4 25:20

definitely, absolutely. I think simply the best I'm a part of, lucky to be part of at the moment is the always the last night show at the moment, so I've been involved in rehearsing that and obviously every thursday night on the midweek break and every Sunday on the weekend break is the show.

Speaker 1 25:36

How do you feel about that being a show Considering? Obviously, you've not been here for the last two years, but you have been at Potter's for many, many years. You're a part of the history of the place.

Speaker 4 25:47

I think, yeah, I think, personally, it's a brilliant last show. I think people really love it. Why do you think that is? I think, personally, because it's variety, isn't it? I think people really love it. Why do you think that is? I think, personally, because it's variety, isn't it? I think everyone loves variety. I think it's. You know, the Spotlight Show, example, is wonderful. It's a musical theatre. I love musicals, you know. You can't beat, in my opinion, a good musical and lots of people love the musicals, the old ones, the new ones, you know. But I think variety is always the spice of life and I think there's a little bit of opera, isn't there? There's a little bit of comedy as well, from, obviously, us guys. It's a nice interjection, light relief, comedy, musical. And the Les Mis section, to be honest, is always going to be a hard hitter because everyone loves Les Miserables.

Roxy Arnold Interview on Simply the Best

Speaker 1 26:38

So I think let's find out a little bit about what we've got to look forward to, coming up not just with our new Sibley the Best show, but also with you joining us over the summer. Let's find out a little bit more about what there is to look forward to over the summer, but before we do.

Speaker 2 26:50

Have you got a message you'd like to give to Roxy Arnold Any?

Speaker 1 26:52

message. It can be professional or professional, considering she is now your new boss.

Speaker 2 26:56

What would you like to say to Roxy Uncensored? Tell us.

Speaker 4 27:03

I would like to say you're pure perfection.

Speaker 2 27:06

What do you think of Roxy's foot size? I think?

Speaker 4 27:11

she could be an understudy for Nicole Scherzinger.

Speaker 2 27:14

Well, what do you think her foot size is? Give us a number. Are you saying she's got abnormally?

Speaker 1 27:18

large feet.

Speaker 4 27:18

I think they could be ten and a half.

Speaker 1 27:22

Maybe eleven in flip-flops. How does her foot size get bigger in flip-flops?

Speaker 4 27:28

Because the sun makes them swell.

Speaker 2 27:30

So, Roxy, what size are your feet?

Speaker 3 27:33

That is. You've started on an aggressive question. You know that that's gonna upset me is it. It depends if I'm on a first date. I'm a size four yeah real size probably six and a half, seven woman, seven I'm really glad you had to sort of clarify that. Do you not know the story of this? No, what? Oh, I thought you were literally taking the mick at me. No, Because there was one time when who used to be here in Maldrae? What's his name? Martin.

Speaker 1 28:07

Martin yeah.

Speaker 3 28:07

So Martin used to work here and I needed a shoe and I was like he was like what size are you? And I was like he was like what size are you? And I was like a seven. He was like a man seven. I was like, no, just a seven. And I was like, and he kept saying, well, this is a man seven like shoe. And I was like, yeah, but I'm just a regular seven. And then he kept giving me an insole and he cut it to the man seven shape and I was like it's just become a thing that anytime I need a shit, I'm like, oh, I need a six, six and a half or a man seven so that question was asked by james r hern.

Speaker 2 28:42

We were recording with him last night and we were up till three in the morning and got bits of content he was speaking about nicole scherzinger's feet and then we asked james, if there's one question you want to ask roxy, what is that question? And he says what size feet are you? Because I'm glad you thought you had nicole, oh I thought you were.

Speaker 3 29:02

You were trying to upset me off the off no, I would never do that.

Speaker 2 29:06

We didn't even know the backstory yeah, it's a touchy question I reserve upsetting you for my concerts, and then I just do it there instead oh, I don't want to let james know what size shoe I am.

Speaker 3 29:16

I think he's going to think about it too much I mean it's too late now.

Speaker 2 29:19

He's out there he also can just just go into your box.

Speaker 3 29:22

He's probably been in the been in the shoe box. He's probably sniffed a few of my shoes.

Speaker 1 29:26

I'm gonna I'm really glad we moved on from whatever you just said.

Speaker 3 29:29

I just I thought ignore it. Well how?

Speaker 2 29:34

does it feel working on the brand new Simply the Best, simply the Best.

Speaker 3 29:41

It's exciting. I feel it's a good. This is the first show that I'm working on from the beginning and creating obviously the entirety of the show, which I think, being a show where we're meant to bring back old things and kind of give them a new lease of life, makes me feel a little bit better, that I've got a good starting point, cause you know, it's a bit scary to just.

Speaker 1 30:05

It must be quite interesting as well because, obviously, moving forward, you will be in charge of creating some of the fantastic shows that we've got here.

Speaker 3 30:12

But starting on something, looking back at some of the fantastic shows that we've got here, but starting on something, looking back at some of the other work, sort of must help inspire you moving forward and creating new content definitely, and yeah, I think so but also having we've had we've got so many people that work here, that have been here for such a long time, and we've obviously I've seen shows over the last nine years that I've been here and there's bits that I remember really well, but there's obviously a whole history that I haven't seen. So, like speaking to Mark and and like actually looking at old footage from shows from years ago and, you know, seeing the reactions of the audience and seeing what worked well, there's so many things we could have picked from there's so many things that we could have recreated.

Speaker 3 30:49

So it's just picking things that you think is gonna obviously please the audience, but obviously as well that the team are going to enjoy doing so, giving some things to the dancers that they've. You know, they've got a tap number in there. They've got like some contemporary stuff. They've got also like some really good jazz numbers and same for the singers. There's so many different styles in this show and then we're really heavily featuring the comedy team as well, doing all sorts. So I feel like it's just a really good show to work on. As a starting point, I feel like everyone's in a really like. Everyone's really enjoying the process. So that's, that's good.

Speaker 2 31:22

I already know that this is going to be one of my new favorite shows.

Speaker 3 31:25

Yeah oh, that's exciting because we.

Speaker 2 31:28

We have a theatre company group chat that we get sent all of the rehearsal videos on, and yesterday they sent the friend like me choreography yeah, and it looks, and it's the same there.

Speaker 1 31:39

Yeah, yeah well this is emily emily.

Speaker 3 31:42

Actually I teach, uh down the road, uh b tech to um kids obviously from 16 to 18 that are then going to further education, and she actually works there. I've only worked for the last year or so, but I've just seen some of the content that she's created there and she's got a very specific style that for that number. I just thought would be really cool to bring that to that number, which we have actually done, friend like me, a few times. But this is a completely different idea behind it. So that's the thing with this show, I behind it. So that's the thing with this show. I feel like we're definitely bringing old things back, but we are putting like a twist on things or bringing it back in a different way. So it it it feels old but new it's strange.

Speaker 2 32:21

So it's like when they brought back ghostbusters, but with melissa mccarthy, that's one of the definitely not that, definitely not that.

Speaker 1 32:27

This couldn't be further away what we're doing no definitely not. I want to make that very clear I haven't seen, seen it, so I'm going yeah, no comment, no, I think that's what's exciting, because it will be familiar for those people who've been coming here for years and years, but new and fresh enough that it's still exciting and brand new for them.

Speaker 3 32:44

Yeah, definitely, I think that's what's great?

Speaker 1 32:46

And actually you're talking about choreographers. I think it's so great that we're using a mixture of different choreographers for different sections of the show to give it that new, fresh feeling, and it really does. It looks amazing. So far, what's been produced.

Speaker 3 32:59

And the dancers are dying after rehearsals, I think because you know the choreographers coming in and they've got one day to produce a number, or if they've got a few numbers they've got a couple of days but their rehearsals are intense. So they're you, you know they're leaving rehearsals and you know, with that group chat we said you know someone said can someone help me get out of bed this morning because they just couldn't move.

Speaker 2 33:19

I enjoyed the gif of the crane lifting someone out of bed.

Speaker 3 33:23

Whereas today, obviously, they're in with Dan Waite again. He actually used to be a performer here at Hopton about four or five years ago now, but he also works with me outside of here and he teaches tap at performers and he's amazing. So he's choreographing the tap number that's going to be in the show and they look amazing down there at the minute. So, yeah, it's exciting. It's exciting seeing them so excited about content as well.

Speaker 2 33:48

What's your favourite part of the show that you're most looking forward to with Simply?

Speaker 3 33:54

Oh, it's so hard because I feel like there's everything's so fresh and everything is exciting to me at the moment. Obviously, we're doing Boudoir and we've finished vocal rehearsals now and the, the boys just sound incredible and I think it's going to be a real goosebump moment for the audience and they just sound brilliant at both resorts. Um, but then I'm so like seeing the tap number, dan doing anything goes. That's going to be great. There's just going to be so many moments and I think also the first time we're bringing back a comedy sketch with the wild west thing, which, if you hear that, if you know you, know you've seen it you remember that it was an iconic sketch we did in the past.

Speaker 3 34:35

That's exciting that we're bringing that back as well and actually featuring you guys.

Speaker 1 34:39

Because a lot of people do comment that they would like to see more comedy within the shows. Just to break up different sections, and that's something we've definitely taken on board, because we do read these comments that people leave after the breaks.

Speaker 1 34:51

So we are taking these things on board and trying to apply them to shows moving forward yeah and that's what I think for me personally, I think is exciting because it's become more a real collaborative experience with you and different choreographers and different team members, the tech crew again getting them involved and what's what's possible. What can we create to give that sort of wow factor to the shows?

Speaker 3 35:13

that people know and love and even in terms of like. Obviously we've got simon that helps with the lighting and the screen content, but we've also used a woman called allison that's creating some of the screen content, which is gonna look incredible as well. So there's things that I didn't think I'd be excited about. That I am even, you know, costumes is. You know, I obviously love buying clothes. My wardrobe is huge but you know.

Speaker 3 35:39

I've never had to think about the look of a number and actually sitting down with people that are so passionate, with Katie, who is head of wardrobe at both resorts, and Kirk that's originally um been employed, who actually makes things from scratch, and you know the we're doing be our guest from um disney and he's making the whole all the outfits from from scratch and it looks amazing, it's exciting.

Speaker 2 36:04

I enjoyed walking into the dressing room the other day because he's amazing with wigs, as well, oh my god, I think he did that as, yeah, yeah and your madame tenorio wig in simply the best. We, we walked in the other day speaking about the new, simply the best, and there it was this incredible kind of beehive beehive it's exactly what it should have been yeah but you don't think about those little details.

Speaker 3 36:27

You, you, you know we've got people now that are working on the show that bring that then, that, that creativity themselves that he's just grabbed that. That wig wasn't brought new. That was the old wig that I've worn over the last 18 months and it looks completely different you wouldn't know it's the same. It's incredible and I think that's what's.

Speaker 1 36:45

That's what's beautiful about it's having that collaborative team and they're all bringing their own sort of talents and skills to it, which does create a better overall product.

Speaker 3 36:55

Yeah, I mean he did message me that the day that he sorted the wigs and he said I've just gone into your dressing room. Your, your lamest wig is a bit of a mess. Is it all right if I had a go and I was like I was thinking, oh god, what's he gonna? Is he gonna make it really neat? Because I was like, oh no, the number. I am meant to look a mess. He's just made me a an iconic mess, a stylized mess, yeah yeah, he's fab, he's really good.

Speaker 3 37:19

We've got a great team and everyone's really, you know, excited to get this show up, which is it does, it feels exciting, doesn't?

Speaker 1 37:26

it feels really exciting, yeah, and I think again going back, but simply the best is such a firm favorite for many of our guests but, it is time just to sort of move on, but this show is not changing completely, is it?

Speaker 3 37:38

No, we've kept a couple of the things that I think you know. Obviously, the show's run for how long now it's about 18 months.

Speaker 1 37:46

I would say it's nearly two years maybe.

Costumes, Hats, and Show Evolution

Speaker 3 37:49

Maybe, maybe it's been going for a while, but there's certain numbers that, no matter how long, the reaction is always bigger than other things in it. So you have to just take that on board. What gets the best reaction?

Speaker 2 38:03

basically every time I'm out on stage really.

Speaker 1 38:06

I don't know if that's true, especially not last night no, we've already discussed that in the podcast so far.

Speaker 2 38:11

No, I can't tell Roxy about that.

Speaker 1 38:13

Yeah, a couple of breakdowns from Henry last night. And obviously the intro to this episode. We do talk about it with James, but Henry basically broke down because he couldn't find any of his costumes and he left it until the last moment.

Speaker 3 38:27

What was she wearing?

Speaker 2 38:29

The right stuff at times.

Speaker 1 38:32

And he kept blaming James for stealing costumes, and I will. I will point out actually, when James left two years ago, suddenly everybody kept their own costumes and now he's returned, things go missing a lot more frequently.

Speaker 2 38:45

So I walked into the dressing room and the first thing I always reach for is my Morris dancing hat, because it means a lot to me yeah and I reach. That gets you into character.

Speaker 3 38:53

It does lot to me yeah, and I reach, that gets you into character. You know that's. It's simply the best. We find him wearing it, right? I?

Speaker 1 38:57

just put my socks on and my morris hat and nothing else nothing else that I sit there with my ribbons and bells and I've quite frequently had to leave the dressing room because that's what I've walked into and uh, I'm so glad the dress rooms are separate yeah can you imagine if we had one communal?

Speaker 3 39:15

dressing room. It would be Absolute, it would be.

Speaker 2 39:17

I'd put my space next to you, rox, I would. It would be between you and Dev, oh, you and.

Speaker 3 39:21

Dev, I think I'd create my own like privacy screen, screen, screen.

Speaker 2 39:26

Yeah, what like at Five Lakes and the Glade. Yeah, like, yeah Thing.

Speaker 3 39:31

Knock. If you need anything kind of thing, don't knock.

Speaker 2 39:34

Okay, I don't know what that means. I was going to say ask for Roxy, yeah, but no, I reached for my hat and realised it wasn't there. Then I saw in James's box a hat, and my hat's got some specific bits of damage on it because it's been through wear and tear of two years, especially on the nights out, it's been on yeah right.

Speaker 2 39:56

And I look at it and I go hang on, that's my hat. And I look inside my hat and I wrote a threat in my hat because people kept stealing it of Henry's hat do not touch or face death.

Speaker 3 40:06

So now James' face is death.

Speaker 1 40:08

He is not here now. It's weird because you don't really. Nobody would say you're quite a threatening person. I am. It also does suggest that the hat has some sort of I don't know supernatural qualities that maybe now you've worn that hat, it's cursed. It's cursed, yeah. Only I can wear the hat Right or I'll see a cousin. But I mean, let's face it. I mean the last person legend says the last person to steal that hat, that was Johnny Mac, and we all know what's happened to him. Cursed.

Speaker 3 40:33

Well, I do hate to break it to you guys. We are losing the Morris Dancing Section, so maybe so.

Speaker 2 40:38

I'll just keep the hat.

Speaker 3 40:39

Maybe I think that's best.

Speaker 1 40:41

Probably for the best.

Speaker 3 40:42

Yeah.

Speaker 1 40:42

Probably for the best, but that is.

Speaker 3 40:44

It has always had a good reaction, but I think it's time for a little refresh. Is it the highlights of your career being on stage for that? I leave at that moment, don't I? Yeah, well, you do, I get out of it. I can't. I've never actually watched it from never watched it.

Speaker 1 40:59

Talk about things you have watched, then. So simply the best. I think what's exciting about this because it's such a staple show now anyway, because it is sort of um, you know, it's giving you all of the the 104 years. I know we were only doing 40 years of entertainment, but it really does sort of help some 104 years, I know of entertainment he still was here.

Transitioning Roles and Embracing Change

Speaker 1 41:22

But what's exciting is Simply the Best is going to stay, but it's going to be an ever evolving show. So we're going to keep the essence of Simply the Best and always, on the final night, we have that as our celebration of potters yeah, celebration of people who've been coming over many, many years, but it will keep evolving. But is there anything that we're losing from this? Simply the best that you're really, really going to miss? You can say no, because it's exciting, moving forward, right and, like you said, I don't I don't think there's anything.

Speaker 3 41:55

I think if there was anything, I felt that the team and the audience would really miss. I wouldn't have decided to refresh it.

Speaker 3 42:02

Um, I do think there's things that we've enjoyed doing, but you know, it has been running for a while as it is and I do think we're ready to say we really enjoyed that. But, looking forward to this, I I still love bohemian rhapsody as an opening. I feel like it was a great vocal number. But again, I think you, I'm looking forward to it evolving so actually, I think I feel the same.

Speaker 2 42:26

I think everything I enjoy doing we're keeping to some extent, and that's why they call Roxy the people's producer, because no, I heard that, but I take it. Yeah, no, they do, because you listen to the people.

Speaker 1 42:40

As long as you don't listen to Henry. Yeah, I was going to say Obviously we don't want to give too much away, but can you tell us one thing that is remaining that people will love to keep seeing, will love to, they will be happy with the fact that they are seeing that again.

Speaker 3 42:58

Oh, it's hard because I bet I'll say something and someone will comment. I hate that part.

Speaker 1 43:03

Well, yeah, of course you're always going to get that. It'll probably be Meg Aldridge.

Speaker 3 43:06

What's really exciting actually. I think you know that Frankie Valley in the four seasons has always gone down well here. We're keeping that because it's a fantastic section which always gets a great response. But also what we are doing actually is Aaron is joining the team at Five Lakes for Simply the Best. So any you know regular guests that we have that have noticed now that Aaron isn't in Simply the Best here because Sean is in Aaron's track as Frankie. Aaron will be going to Simply the Best to Five Lakes to do it there and obviously he was the original Frankie as people remember here.

Speaker 3 43:46

So I think that's going to bring something old but fresh to that at five lakes as well.

Speaker 2 43:51

Did we just post aaron in like a small parcel to five lakes?

Speaker 3 43:54

yeah, he would just send him over there.

Speaker 2 43:55

Yeah, yeah, just kind of courier him back and forth yeah, yeah it's nice he's still going to be here just as much.

Speaker 3 44:02

We actually just yeah, he's still going to be here three, three nights a week, and then he'll be at five lakes for two as well. So if you are, if you have been coming to potters for years and years, like most of our guests have, it's nice to go to the other resort yeah, um and feel like you know the new resort.

Speaker 2 44:21

But see someone so if people did like a resort marathon and did hopton midweek, five lakes weekend or the other way around. They would be sick of aaron bolton by the end yes, yeah if anything they could, yeah, he could go with them travel with.

Speaker 1 44:37

He could travel with them, yeah wow, maybe he'll publish his hours on facebook

Speaker 2 44:41

yeah, that's it, follow aaron follow aaron, like that santa tracker they put on at christmas. You know where you see the sleigh move across the world. If we just put an air tag on our bottle at all times.

Speaker 1 44:54

I think that would be very useful for us as well. Yeah, where not to be?

Speaker 3 45:00

He's coming into the dressing room. Leave, leave, leave, leave, joking Aaron.

Speaker 1 45:05

We just touched on Christmas there as well, because I know your brain's already starting to think about Christmas, is that? Is that?

Speaker 3 45:11

that scares me. I don't, I don't know why it scares me. I feel like Christmas is such, it's such a hyped up break for people. It's one that people look forward to, for, you know, some people only come at Christmas and they're expecting. Obviously we call it the Christmas spectacular every year. Not sure if we're going to call it that this year, but I haven't decided how spectacular can we get every year Exactly. And it's hard to what people's expectations are to getting it right, I think. And there's also only so much Christmas material.

Speaker 4 45:43

So, it's.

Speaker 3 45:46

I'm excited, but I feel like it's a big task to get right and I also feel like I will be told if it's wrong.

Speaker 2 45:59

You will get that feedback. I think a safe bet is to extend the Frosty the Snowman. Thank you very much. I would bring back Frosty the Snowman. I would extend that cameo to 20 minutes 25 minutes.

Speaker 3 46:12

Oh, just 20, 25 let's offer another solution to that.

Speaker 1 46:16

Why don't we put Henry in the Frosty the Snowman? Question and just set him out on his own somewhere else.

Speaker 3 46:23

Or in the car park, as Frosty.

Speaker 1 46:25

No.

Speaker 2 46:26

I don't do that. As people leave for Hypothermia, the Snow no man yeah, I think that's good, good idea.

Speaker 1 46:33

Well, it's a good starting point I suppose one of the things we've got to say as well, like because and I think guests will be thinking this um, because obviously we all love you on that stage we could have left it just we all love you.

Speaker 3 46:46

We all love you. Yeah, I'll take that, we'll just pack it up to you and just send that to you periodically. We all love you.

Speaker 1 46:49

We all love you. Yeah, I'll take that, we'll just pack it up for you and just send that to you periodically. We all love you on that stage and off the stage as well. But hearing you sing, so how is that going to work? Balancing that, moving forward and things like that? Yeah, because obviously you can't do everything and obviously something's got to come first, and delivering these fantastic shows have got to take a priority on that.

Speaker 3 47:12

Yes, I think I mean I found another fantastic vocalist that's going to come in and and kind of take my place within the shows.

Speaker 3 47:23

For now, I think, until I find my feet with this new role, and it's, it's tricky, it is all consuming. You think that the little part you don't think about all the details that go into it and the amount of communication that needs to happen to get things right and to deadlines, and yeah, it's just a lot. I mean at the moment, obviously, being in the show still, it can be like 78 hour weeks and it's just. I'm definitely I've, you know, I've. I've kind of made a plan. I'm doing a full weekend of shows on the 21st of June as kind of not my last lot of shows. I'll always be into cover and if there's any kind of special weekends or new years or things like that, I'll probably come and do a set or sing some numbers in the show or or whatever. But I think for a little while I'm going to have to take a little step back and kind of get the balance Right.

Speaker 1 48:19

I think that's the sensible thing to do, right? I think that's the thing. Like this has got to, it's got to take priority because you're working towards the future and building that system. Because you're working towards the future and building that system and, like you said, there's a lot of new moving parts of that and you're still finding your feet with that, and I think I I personally think the guests will understand that and support you, as I think, as we all do, we will support you moving with that, because it's a difficult task.

Speaker 2 48:42

I'll support her, but I'm kind of annoyed because you've chosen your final weekend as doing shows fully, as literally a day I go on holiday I know I didn't realize let's face it, it should have picked I don't know 90 of the weekends or midweeks you go on holiday yeah, you are literally.

Speaker 3 49:00

I'm never here. You're never here at the minute. No, this is like my first day back and yeah since new year's and every weekend that I chose there was like it felt like the wrong weekend and also it has to work with getting ellie into the new show so it was just a sorry, henry, you just weren't important in that decision.

Speaker 2 49:18

We'll miss you, but we all know what your voice sounds like so we've heard it before.

Speaker 1 49:22

You know, we've heard it before should we not record you singing some things and just play them around the door in the corridors?

Speaker 3 49:29

I've got an idea.

Speaker 2 49:31

You know how they're doing Abba Voyage with the hologram Abba, we do Roxy Voyage.

Speaker 3 49:36

That sounds weird. Roxy Voyage.

Speaker 1 49:39

Yes, let's get a hologram of you in the garden park.

Speaker 3 49:41

I was about to say I'm not dead, but neither are Abba.

Speaker 2 49:43

That's a really. I think we'll get a hologram of you singing all of your favourites, just all of the favourites.

Speaker 1 49:52

Even if we do it once. I think let's do that, let's record you singing and let's have you in the corridor on the screen.

Speaker 3 49:59

I think we don't do this, maybe like, even like Different numbers. Yeah, good morning. When they're going to breakfast, good morning.

Speaker 2 50:06

Just looping.

Speaker 1 50:07

Yeah, and at that point, everyone would be so sick of you they wouldn't want you in the show, thank god.

Speaker 2 50:11

I think on the hour as well. Like, yes, like kind of Big Ben, she comes out in her soldier costume from Christmas and like changes the clock. Yeah, because I know that's your favourite costume of all time. Right, yeah, it's like which?

Speaker 1 50:24

is it in an airport or somewhere? Is it Amsterdam or somewhere where they've got the man who's painting the time on, and every minute he paints on a new.

Speaker 2 50:31

And if we yeah, if we do that, oh, we should just do that with Rox, because she's got all, because now she's got all the time in the world. Yeah, let's do that, so we can just have you live behind some glass painting the time on the resort.

Speaker 3 50:44

I'll think about it. But, in all seriousness, it's a bit of a sweet thing because I think I'm obviously going to miss it, I'm going to miss the team, but I'm just going to be involved in so many other ways and also never say never. You know, when we do the next, simply the Best, maybe you know that is the show that's meant to bring you know, bring back memories, so maybe we'll see.

Speaker 2 51:09

So maybe you're, you are the memory I am the memory you're what we're bringing back. Maybe it'll be like you that sounds very.

Speaker 3 51:17

Um, what is it when you love yourself very? Self-absorbed yeah, maybe with the new sim, with the best, I'll come back. That sounds really like that. Didn't mean that at all I just meant she's already planning her return, maybe might feature me in the future in some point, but I do think just for a little while. I need to find my feet and then see how we get on. But yeah, I'll always be around to cover and featuring things, if, if, the team need it.

Speaker 1 51:42

So no, I think it's a really exciting sort of if that did happen.

Speaker 2 51:45

Could we call it? You know, simply the best roxy rocks hopton roxy edition yeah, roxy rocks hopton yeah, that no no, really no I think stick to the whatever it is you do yeah clearly not the day job is it frosty the snowman? I don't know what I do anymore. You actually vowed never to come on this podcast again last time you were on it.

Speaker 3 52:09

I actually didn't know that this is what I was doing today. I thought you were taking just a little video, being like to put online for me to say oh, this is what to look forward to. I didn't realise I'd be sitting in front of this microphone with you two in this room again.

Speaker 2 52:26

Is it bringing up old memories?

Speaker 3 52:27

Well, I'm glad that it's the daytime, because obviously we recorded about 11 o'clock at night last time, didn't we, and it went till very early I was the morning and there was gin involved, as we know.

Speaker 2 52:38

Well, that's what I'm drinking in this bottle today, right? I hope not. This clear liquid is just gin, um I'm on the diet coke.

Speaker 3 52:44

I'm just putting that out there.

Speaker 2 52:46

So I mean it's not as fun as it isn't as fun but also maybe it won't take three and a half hours.

Speaker 1 52:51

So what are you most excited for for this summer, then? So obviously, we've got the new simply the best going up. We've got, you know, spotlight that's there, and and all the exciting things. What are you most excited for for this year's summer of fun? Just to round things off before we let you go, oh, there's loads of things I'm excited for.

Speaker 3 53:08

Like me, me and Jack and the rest of the comedy team are going to be looking really closely at refreshing some of the pre-show entertainment as well, but also the new show going up I'm really excited about because it's going to be my first full thing that I've created um. But also we're bringing some new bits. Like I said, we're gonna refresh some of the modules, but we're bringing party oaky to the summer, which means that it is kind of a it's karaoke, but the audience are yeah, because that's quite divisive.

Speaker 1 53:38

Some people love it, some people hate it, but it's not just one person getting involved no excuse me, it's not just one person getting involved, it is the whole room getting involved. Yeah, I'm excited for that yeah, I know.

Speaker 3 53:48

yeah, I'm really excited to see how that's going to work. I think the kids are going to love it, but again, they can dance as well at the same time. So we're going to have our amazing PTC vocalists that are, you know, running that event.

Speaker 1 54:02

Yeah.

Speaker 3 54:03

But they'll be. When it comes to the chorus that everyone knows, those lyrics will be there but for the entire audience to sing their hearts out to. So, yeah, I've kind of been and seen something similar and it worked so well and I just think it would be great to to bring here, especially for the summer and then obviously moving forward, seeing if we can continue that for us the year as well. But there's so many things I'm excited about even hearing, you know, the stuff that's happening throughout the daytime. There's so many new activities that are coming, which is sort of circus school and all of these great things.

Speaker 1 54:35

we're sort of expanding the entertainment in all areas, not just a brand new show, but also if you know every moment, because, as as people know who've been coming here for many, many years, you get entertainment from the moment you wake up to the moment, a hundred percent.

Speaker 3 54:48

And also I'm just really I've been so heavily involved with Hopton other than just um doing the vocals at five lakes I haven't have haven't had as much um time over there. So I think now I'm I am coming out of the shows, I can be over there a little bit more, and yeah, I love being over there as well. So, and yeah, I love being over there as well. So I'm excited to kind of spread my time a little bit more between both. So, yeah, it's exciting.

Safe Space Dialogue

Speaker 2 55:12

Except in a couple of months. We hear you, we see you.

Speaker 3 55:16

Thank you for telling you don't see me. You're just hearing me, though, right? Well, I see you and thank you for telling your truth. Why does it end so weird all the time?

Speaker 1 55:25

No, but he's trying to make this his catchphrase and it's really weird. No, I just want people to feel a safe space. That sounds like you're a judge or something.

Speaker 2 55:32

I just want people to know this is a safe space. They can tell their truth.

Speaker 3 55:36

I would never tell my truth to you.

Speaker 2 55:38

Well, you just did.

Speaker 3 55:39

No, it was all lies.

Speaker 2 55:41

Okay, well, on that note thank you very much, Roxy. Roxy, is there anything you'd like to James Arhern?

Speaker 3 55:47

Stay out of my shoebox.