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Craig Revel Horwood and Ashley Banjo

Craig Revel Horwood gives Zoe the first play of his new Christmas single and Ashley Banjo discusses stripping off for Strictly The Real Full Monty.

Craig Revel Horwood gives Zoe the first play of his brand new Christmas single, It鈥檚 Christmas, Merry Christmas!, which he's recorded with Strictly tour singer and best friend Rietta Austin. Craig is of course best known for being a judge on Strictly Come Dancing since its inception in 2004, however he's also a professional dancer, choreographer, author and actor. He's performed on the West End, published three autobiographies and a novel, starred in countless pantomimes plus he even choreographed the final scene in Paddington 2!

Ashley Banjo is the presenter choreographer of this year's The Real Full Monty on ITV. This year it's back with a sparkly new twist, joining forces with Strictly Come Dancing to become Strictly The Real Full Monty. The aim of the show, as well as being great entertainment, is to raise awareness of cancers in intimate parts of the body and the importance of making checks. Ashley will be supporting the anxious celebrities, including Colin Jackson, Christine McGuiness and James and Ola Jordan as they appear in front of a screaming audience in Blackpool.

Plus Jay Flynn returns with another round of his Virtual Radio Quiz where he tests the team on their general knowledge to see who comes out on top.

Along with Clare Runacres on news, Richie Anderson on travel and Mike Williams on sport, Zoe and the team have the best start to your morning.

There's also a Pause For Thought from Muneera Pilgrim and your calls, texts, emails and voice notes as Zoe entertains the nation with fun for the family!

2 hours, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Jona Lewie

    Stop The Cavalry

    • The Ivor Novello Winners.
    • EMI.
  • Ed Sheeran

    Overpass Graffiti

    • = Equals.
    • Asylum.
  • Daryl Hall & John Oates

    Private Eyes

    • Single Mixes.
    • RCA.
  • The Weeknd

    Take My Breath

    • (CD Single).
    • Republic Records.
  • Andy Williams

    It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

    • Christmas Love Songs (Various Artist.
    • Arcade Records.
  • The Tymes

    Ms Grace

    • 70's Number Ones Vol 3.
    • Old Gold.
  • Fleetwood Mac

    You And I, Part II

    • Fleetwood Mac - Tango In The Night.
    • Warner Bros.
  • Darlene Love

    All Alone On Christmas

    • Christmas Hits (Various Artists).
    • BMG.
  • Niall Horan & Anne-Marie

    Everywhere (大象传媒 Children In Need)

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.
  • Queen

    Radio Ga Ga

    • Queen - Greatest Hits II.
    • Parlophone.
  • Kim Wilde

    Hey Mister Snowman

    • Wilde Winter Snowman.
    • Wildeflower Records.
    • 001.
  • DNCE

    Cake By The Ocean

    • (CD Single).
    • Republic.
    • 1.
  • All Saints

    Rocksteady

    • (CD Single).
    • Parlophone.
  • Pretenders

    2000 Miles

    • The Best Christmas Album In The World.
    • Virgin.
  • Joel Corry

    I Wish (feat. Mabel)

    • About Last Night....
    • Polydor.
  • Craig Revel Horwood & Rietta Austin

    It's Christmas, Merry Christmas!

    • Earth Angel Records.
  • Britney Spears

    Baby One More Time

    • Now 44 (Various Artists).
    • Virgin.
  • Greg Lake

    I Believe In Father Christmas

    • The Anthology, A Musical Journey.
    • BMG.
  • 补鈥恏补

    Take On Me

    • Fantastic 80's Disc 1 (Various Artis.
    • Columbia.
    • 1.
  • Years & Years & Galantis

    Sweet Talker

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.
  • The Ronettes

    Sleigh Ride

    • A Christmas Gift For You (Phil Spect.
    • Phil Spector Int.
  • Whitney Houston

    I'm Your Baby Tonight

    • Whitney Houston-I'm Your Baby Tonight.
    • Arista.
  • Leona Lewis

    One More Sleep

    • (CD Single).
    • Syco Music.
  • U2

    Your Song Saved My Life

    • Sing 2 O.S.T. (Various Artists).
    • Island.
  • Ariana Grande

    Santa Tell Me

  • James Blunt

    Unstoppable

    • The Stars Beneath My Feet (2004-2021).
    • Atlantic.
  • Go West

    Call Me

    • Fantastic 80's - 3 (Various Artists).
    • Sony Tv/Columbia.
  • Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

    Shallow

    • A Star Is Born O.S.T..
    • Interscope.
  • The Smiths

    Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now

    • The Smiths - Hatful Of Hollow.
    • WEA.
    • 5.
  • UB40

    Kingston Town

    • Now 1990 - The Millennium Series.
    • EMI.
  • JLS

    Postcard

    • 2.0.
    • BMG Rights Management.
  • Cliff Richard

    Little Town

    • That's Christmas (Various Artists).
    • EMI.

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

Yesterday I laughed on the phone with an old lover, and that is something I never imagined I would do. I say 鈥榣over鈥 rather than 鈥榩artner鈥 or 鈥榖oyfriend鈥 because being in that relationship made me realise just how deep I could love, and how worthy and deserving of love I am, and that was despite not always feeling worthy or good enough. When I was in school, although I knew everyone, I wasn鈥檛 one of the popular girls; if I was lucky at times I would get to play joker or the insufferable sidekick that longed to be noticed. I also had undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD, so with no support, I was in the bottom set for everything, which meant I had no hope of hanging out with the smart kids.听听

Instead, I was a wanderer, learning to bend who I was and contort myself to fit into groups and situations. This stayed with me right into my adult life. The听very first conversation I had with that boyfriend听he called me 鈥榓 people pleaser鈥, and told me, I would be wonderful if I didn鈥檛 try to fit in so much.听He really helped me. Challenging听me at every point, and听questioning the reason why I did things.听听Through this I learnt my likes, dislikes and even created boundaries that allowed me to have healthy relationships in other spheres of my life.听

When he declared that he wanted me in his life permanently, I was overjoyed. It felt so right, and I was so happy. I planned how we would tell my parents,听but then听he broke up with me! He was never really clear on what the reasons were, but it hurt, a pain I never thought I would get over, and I was sure I never wanted to see his face again.听听When I was going through it I came across a verse in the Quran where Allah听says that burdens from our back are removed: 鈥楧id we not raise you high? With each hardship comes ease, verily with each hardship comes ease.鈥 When I heard it, I did not understand it, but laughing on the phone with my ex听yesterday, I now know dark times do not last forever, and even they help me to grow.

Broadcast

  • Thu 2 Dec 2021 06:30