Great Moments In The Mark Radcliffe Show

Mark and Lard threatened to leave Radio 1 unless they were given a daytime slot so they started a big campaign. "That`s daytime material" they would say after each quality item, "It`s wasted here at night". Mark managed to purchase a mobile phone for under a grand (bargain) so that he could negotiate with Roger Bannister. They missed Roger`s call telling them that they could go on daytime because Mark and Lard had both left the studio to go for a slash but Roger who was obviously desperate not to lose Mark and Lard phoned again and the job was theirs. As their show ended at midnight and The Breakfast show started early in the morning they decided that it was not worth going home so they slept on the floor of the BBC Manchester Studio. They set their alarm clock for 6.30am thinking that the show started at 7.00am.

At 6.30 Dave Pierce finished his show and said that after the News would be Mark and Lard, the news finished and .... silence, Rrrrringgg! Mark and Lard stumbled out of bed and they were starting to get dressed when the phone rang

"Hello, ...Whatt! Bloody hell Lard" said Mark, "That was Dave Pierce and he said that we are on air now, the show starts at 6.30 not 7.00, BOLLOCKS!"

"Right! I have had enough of this, so sod you, because I quit!"

After meeting Clare Sturgess Lard was immediately attracted to her. At any mention of her name Mark would play the "David Bowie Erection Sound Effect" Sproooing! This went on all through the show and in the middle of most of the records. When the show finished, instead of saying a professional "Thanks Mark" Clare burst into laughter and giggled insanely until she managed to press the button to play the first record.

Lard's Song for Claire

"Bollocks to it Lard I`ll see you in court" said the DJ. as he ripped the needle off the turntable.

At around Christmas time Lard got a rare idea for the show, at 11.00p.m. he would stick his head out of the window at The Palace of Glittering Delights and wave to the crowds who had gathered below, at least that was what was meant to happen. Mark and Lard started building this item up from the moment the show started at 10.00p.m. They gave out requests for people to gather outside the Manchester Studio, and after virtually every record Lard further built up the item "Only 20 to go" he would say. At the appointed time Mark sent Lard to the window, at first he just peeped out to check if anyone was actually there "I to not adamant believe it" he shouted excitedly as he saw that a few people with nothing better to do with their lives than wait outside a BBC studio on a cold and snowy night had actually turned up (I would have gone if it were not for the fact that I live to far away). Mark Radcliffe unable to believe that anyone was actually there went to have a peek and was stunned. Lard plucked up his courage and opened the window stuck his head out and waved at the multitudes. Below were about 10 cold people who on seeing Lard gave a cheer and pelted him with snowballs. Lard triumphantly and rather snowball covered moved back into the safety of the studio. They were obviously desperate for links so they sent their studio guest (either Andrew Collins or Stuart Maconie-I can't remember which one) out into the cold to fetch one of the snowball throwers. The cold listener was brought inside and when asked about the experience announced that that day had been a very special day and when he saw the fat Manc leaning out of the window he knew his life was complete.-something like that anyway.

Here is a first hand account of what happened that night by James Cooper who was one of the people who waited outside the studio to see Lard waving.

Last winter, Mark and Lard put out a request for people to come and stand outside the studio so they could 'Wave from the balcony' - a real quality item. (they don't actually have a balcony, and they can't open any of the windows) so I rushed down there and a small crowd had gathered. We were talking when they appeared at the window. We waved, they waved and then it was getting a bit lame, so I decided to throw a snowball at them. Their window is on the 2nd or 3rd floor, so it was quite a way up, and most of the snowballs were missing the window, then Lard made this sort of 'come on then' gesture, and I threw it really hard at him, and it exploded right in front of his face, and he jumped back, as if the snowball was going to hit him! then we were all laughing at Lard, Scrawn included!

Not only that their song You`re Gorgeous was nicked of a Manchester band called Baby Bloke Check the evidence out yourself.