Lorraine Kelly and her pal Ross King gear up for a right good radio blether.
If you’ve ever wondered what best mates Ross King and Lorraine Kelly really chat about when they get together for a blether, then here’s your chance to find out.
From today, the pair are launching their must-listen new radio show right across Scotland on Bauer Radio on Clyde 2, Forth 2, Westsound, Northsound 2 and Tay AM.
In short, wherever you live in Scotland you’ll be able to tune in and hear the two gossip, banter and debate the issues of the week. One thing’s for sure. These two will NEVER be lost for words.
The pair go back decades. They go together like mince and tatties, fish and chips, scones and jam. They’ve been mates for so long that they can’t even remember for sure where or when they met.
“I think it might have been on Pebble Mill at One. Or was it when you were just a baby at Radio Clyde, Ross?” Lorraine wonders.
“I know one time I’ll never forget. It was when I saw him on stage with Allan Stewart. Ross was wearing the miniest of mini kilts, the shortest I’d ever seen.
“I think he got it from wee Jimmy Krankie. Luckily he had undercrackers on, but it was still totally eye-watering! I’ve tried, but I can’t forget that image!”
Both are bubbling with excitement about the thought of doing a radio show together something they’ve talked about for years. Ross does have a worry, though.
“I’m sort of concerned that one of us might say something we’re not supposed to,” he confesses. “We know each other so well and like any pals we love a good gossip.
“We’ll be talking to each other on air for a long time, and I think it will be easy to forget there are microphones around!”
Lorraine laughs. “Yes, we’ll have to be careful!” she says. But there’s so much we will be able to talk about I can’t wait.”
Just what is the secret of the pair’s friendship?
“We always say we were married in another life!” says Ross. “And we just never run out of things to talk about.”
Lorraine agrees. “Yes, when Ross phones for a chat, Steve (Lorraine’s husband) just hands me the phone and says I’ll see you in an hour!”
The two share similar Scottish values, too. They’ve worked hard to get where they are, but have never forgotten family or their roots.
“We’ve got similar types of family,” says Ross.
“Then again, everyone in Scotland seems to have the same type of family, don’t they? We’ve all got an Auntie Margaret and Uncle Jimmy we meet up with at parties.”
Speaking of parties leads them on to the bash Lorraine had when she received her OBE.
“Now that was fantastic,” Ross says.
“It was really great to meet her neighbours, see her mum and dad again and party with Auntie Margaret and Uncle Jimmy! It was a brilliant night.”
The two are naturally bubbly and upbeat. But they’ve always been there for each other when life isn’t so sweet.
Ross’s dad David died last year and his mum has become increasingly frail as she’s gotten older and it’s been tough for him. Lorraine is one of the mates who has helped him through the hard times.
“He’s had it really tough,” Lorraine says.
“Ross’s dad was an absolutely lovely man and it’s been hard for Ross to see his mum struggle with such a terrible illness.
“I met his mum and dad at New Year a few years ago and they were such lovely people, so genuine.”
Similarly, when Lorraine fell off a horse and was rushed to hospital in February last year, Ross was one of the first on the phone and wanted to fly over right away.
“When I first saw her after the accident, I realised she’d played it down. She really did come a cropper,” Ross says.
“I tried to take her mind off it with an afternoon of tea, biscuits and chat! It was great that I was in the UK when she came back to work, everyone totally spoiled her.”
The two always make a point of having a long lunch when Ross comes back to the UK. “People never expect to see us together,” Ross says.
“Not that long ago we were in a restaurant in Edinburgh and we overheard two women wondering if it was us. But they decided no, it couldn’t be, because I’d never be in Scotland!”
“Yes, but some people don’t believe Ross does actually live in LA!” says Lorraine.
“Loads of people have said to me that they think Ross is just in a wee box in the studio when we do our Daybreak slots. We had studio guests once and when we went to do our chat with Ross, they were looking about for him!”
The new show will be like listening to two good mates having a catch up and talking about whatever takes their fancy. It’s the perfect way to start a Sunday.
“We’ll be talking about who we’ve met during the week, what’s on in Scotland during the day ahead and things that have happened over the past few days. Just what anyone would talk about,” Ross says.
“Yes you’ll be saying you’ve met the likes of Hugh Jackman and Brad Pitt and I’ll have met Ed Miliband!” laughs Lorraine.
“You know, everyone in Hollywood loves Ross,” she continues.
“He’s too modest to tell you, but because he was on TV in America he’s well-known and they all call him Scottie and wander over for a chat.
“And his house is a-maze-ing! I went there on holiday, I was swimming in the pool, I looked up and there was the Hollywood sign. It’s fabulous!
“But you know what? Even though he’s part of Hollywood and loving the business, he’s still a Glasgow boy. To an extent he’s still on the outside looking in.”
The two have been familiar faces on our TV screens for so long that we all feel as if we know them like we know old friends. But there’s only once they fall silent during our chat.
Lorraine, tell me something about Ross that no-one else will know.
“What! My goodness, that is so difficult!” she says, before mulling it over.
“I know. If you want to get Ross to do anything for you, give him Silver Shred marmalade. It has to be Silver Shred.
“I took a whole suitcase of marmalade for him to America.
“He took one look at it and said, no, wrong because I’d bought Golden Shred!”
Ross’s turn. He also takes a minute.
“You know what? People always ask me what Lorraine is really like they never think she can really be that nice.
“The truth is that what you see is what you get. That Scottish girl that you see on TV who seems so down to earth and likeable?” he says. “That really is what she’s like.”
Lorraine ends our chat by summing up their friendship.
“Ross is the type of mate that if I go without speaking to him for a while, when we finally do catch up, it’s like we’ve never been away. Perfect!”
Sunday Morning with King and Kelly, 9 am 11 am, on Greatest Hits Network which includes Clyde 2, Forth 2, Tay AM, Northsound 2 and Westsound.
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