BreakingThe News BBC Recording, Drygate, Glasgow. Thursday 30th October, 2025

Host: Des Clarke 

Panellists:
Mark Nelson

Kemah Bob

Amy Matthews

Robin Ince  

Dry when we arrived, wet when we left. This recording was actually for TV as well as radio, the broadcast due to go out on Friday night on BBC Scotland. The seating layout had been altered to accommodate the cameras: three pointed at the stage and one was carried to show audience reactions. One of the sound guys wore what looked like a proton pack, with a microphone on a looping pole pointed at us.  

I learned that I'm so fat now that I've lost the ability to pull in my stomach. As I tried to squeeze past the gentleman sitting on the bench next to me, my tummy inadvertently gave him a back rub. 

A rather large gentleman sat on my left during the recording. His upper half invaded my space so much that I had to lean over on my wife's side. After the two-hour recording, when I stood up, I keeled over and had to grab the chair to stop me falling. My balance was totally messed up. I did admire how he timed his pint so he finished it just at the end of the final round. 

This was my first time seeing Kemah Bob in action. Her voice is strange, but she acknowledged that, blaming the years she smoked weed. Her hair looked fantastic, like a black Sideshow Bob, only with red highlights.

One joke about Prince Andrew might not make the cut, not because it was slanderous, but because it's already out of date. By the time the show goes out, Andrew is no longer a Prince, the Royal having subsequently relinquished his title and royal home after the recording finished.

I learned that Amy Matthews is a people pleaser, and that Robin Ince is a lot funnier than he appears.  The football round discussing the resignation of Celtic Manager, Brendan Rodgers, left most of the panellists floundering, with only Mark Nelson and Des Clarke knowledgeable on the subject.

A good show this week.

Ticket Price: Free from BBC Tours and Shows