Leave Ariana Grande Alone

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Many of the reports around Wicked haven’t focused on the quality of the film, but once again on the appearance of one of its stars, Ariana Grande. Is the reporting on female appearance becoming more toxic than ever before? Will a TikTok Grandma win the battle for Christmas number 1? Richard takes us through the historical runners and riders. Our friends at More In Common carried out some polling based upon some previous show topics as promised. Does the UK think Jeremy Clarkson could be PM? What is Britain’s most loved Christmas song? And, most importantly which is the nation’s favourite Quality Street… Richard and Marina disagree.
Producer: Neil Fearn + Joey McCarthy
Executive Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

Inside This Episode:

• Royal Albert Hall Event
  Marina Hyde and Richard Osman recount the chaos and joy of their live podcast at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring a comedic and surreal highlight: Marina being carried onstage by Nitro from Gladiators. Nitro’s appearance, accompanied by a live rendition of the Gladiators theme by the Sensation Band, created a moment that they describe as “pure magic.” The miscommunication over the band initially preparing the theme from the movie Gladiator instead of the TV show added to the hilarity.
• Ariana Grande and Body Image Scrutiny
  Ariana Grande’s recent press tour for Wicked has reignited discussions about the pervasive body-shaming culture in media. She became emotional during interviews, likening her public life to being “a specimen in a petri dish.” The hosts critique how tabloid coverage, often masked as concern, perpetuates harmful narratives, drawing parallels to the public treatment of figures like Britney Spears during the 2000s.
• Impact of Ozempic on Weight Discourse
  The hosts explore how the growing ubiquity of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic has exacerbated societal obsession with body size. They highlight the moral judgments often associated with these drugs, suggesting they amplify existing stigmas. This conversation ties into broader themes of how social media amplifies toxic beauty standards and fuels comparison culture.
• Brenda Lee’s TikTok Resurgence
  Brenda Lee’s 1958 classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” experienced a resurgence after the 78-year-old joined TikTok. Her lip-sync video with Kacey Musgraves helped the song climb to number 1 on the Billboard charts last year, making her the oldest woman to achieve this feat. This trend is noted as part of the increasing role TikTok plays in reviving older music and shaping pop culture.
• Poll Insights on Christmas Films and Songs
  A poll by More in Common revealed generational and political divides in Christmas film preferences, with Love Actually most popular among Conservatives and Elf favoured by Labour supporters. Die Hard’s status as a Christmas movie was rejected by 51% of respondents, disqualifying it from the top five. Among Christmas songs, Last Christmas and All I Want for Christmas Is You dominate Gen Z playlists, while older generations prefer Fairytale of New York.
  LINK: Britain’s Voting Intention by Favourite Christmas Film (@Moreincommon)
• Quality Street and Chocolate Wars
  A lively debate erupts over the merits of various Quality Street chocolates, with the toffee penny sparking particularly strong opinions. Richard defends it as a nostalgic favourite, while Marina derides it as the cheapest filler in the assortment. Poll results reveal the Malteser from Celebrations as the nation’s favourite Christmas chocolate, further fuelling the spirited discussion.

Media Mentions:

Movies

• Gladiator
• A Star is Born
• Wicked
• Die Hard
• It’s a Wonderful Life
• Elf
• Love Actually
• Home Alone
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
• Scrooged

Television Shows

• Gladiators
• Outnumbered
• Homes Under the Hammer

Music Albums/Singles

• Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
• Last Christmas – Wham!
• All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
• Fairytale of New York – The Pogues
• Feliz Navidad – José Feliciano

Books

• The Proof of My Innocence by Jonathan Coe

Hot Takes:

• “The 2000s were an absolute nadir for all this [body shaming] stuff.”
• “Weight loss drugs are making all of this worse.”
• “You’re never you’re never just thin enough or you’re never just fat enough or you’re never just whatever the right size is.”
• “The Malteser is the best celebration… It’s just an absolute given.”
• “Home Alone is… absolutely flawless. Every time you watch it, it works perfectly.”

Who’s Who:

• Nitro: Former Gladiators cast member known for his athletic prowess and charisma.
• Ariana Grande: Pop star and actress currently promoting the movie Wicked.
• Brenda Lee: Singer behind the Christmas classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
• Martin Lewis: Financial journalist and founder of MoneySavingExpert.com.
• Jeremy Clarkson: Broadcaster, writer, and former Top Gear host.
• Cynthia Erivo: Actress and singer co-starring with Grande in Wicked.
• Johnny Marks: Songwriter of numerous Christmas classics, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
• Greta Thunberg: Swedish climate activist and advocate for sustainability.
• Michael Caine: Legendary British actor who starred in A Muppet Christmas Carol.

Notable Numbers:

• 78 years old: Brenda Lee’s age when she joined TikTok, reviving “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
• 73%: Martin Lewis’s predicted vote share if he ran against Jeremy Clarkson for PM.
• 51%-31%: Poll results on whether Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas film (majority said no).
• 100 paid streams = 1 sale: Key ratio in UK chart calculations.