Do they know it's NEARLY Xmas time?

I don't know why, but I'm starting to feel very Christmassy. I think it's probably because the Christmas tv guide came free with the Mirror newspaper today. Despite the fact that most of the schedules feature a show called "To Be Confirmed".

Anyhow, it got us talking about the one thing that marks the start of Christmas for you. Many people said the Coca Cola ad, although the Budweiser and Penneys ads got mentions too. Lots of people talked about putting their tree up (including one listener who had theirs up since Halloween!). For me, it was all about hearing that phrase, which I heard for the first time about ten days ago... "if I don't see you, have a lovely Christmas"

We'll be officially launching Christmas on Tuesday morning's show (December 1st - the general consensus on when it should start). I'm getting the Christmas songs ready! We also have our Christmas toy show all next week, and I'll have news of our massive Christmas Eve party - which will be taking place in Wexford this year.

Voting continues for Runaway Bride today. I'm starting to get quite excited by it now. As you may be aware, I will be chaperoning one of the brides, so I don't have a clue where I am going to be this Sunday! Keep voting at the Beat website.

Random Video of the Day is a real gem. This was released by the Henson Group a couple of days back, and already has had over 3.2 million hits on youtube.



Some other stuff from today's show....

• The X-Factor winner's song is revealed
• Could you live with no cash for a year?
• How could voo-doo that to me?!

Vinny's Big Hard One
Clue: You can have me, but you cannot hold me. Gain me and quickly lose me. If treated with care, I can be great, but if not, I will break.
Ans: Trust

Going For A Song
Clue: Serial killer Fred's existence... questions the present.
The answer is here.

We have all the regular Friday stuff tomorrow... TFI Friday, Get It Off Your Chest, Cheese or No Cheese and Free Fruit Friday!
N.

Voting is open!

Finally, after all the waiting, you can now have your say on which couples take part in Runaway Bride. You heard all five of them last week, and you can now listen back to their interviews, find out more about them, and cast your vote here!

You are only allowed vote once on the website. We are also allowing text votes. You need to text "Runaway bride" + the couple's first names (four words in total with a space behind each) to 085 1029103. You can only vote once per mobile number, and standard text rates apply.

The voting lines are open until Friday afternoon, and on Friday's Beat Drive, Andy Mac will be revealing the two winning brides. Then on Saturday, the great adventure begins! We have special programming on this weekend, so make sure you tune into Beat to find out how the couples are doing. The big finale is on Sunday afternoon, where Liam Tutty will be broadcasting live from the Lismore House Hotel, and revealing the winner of the dream wedding!

We also had Jenna Toro on today's show. She is an up and coming singer/songwriter from Dublin, and she performed a fantastic version of her new single, Electric City, live on Beat Breakfast. You can check out her website here.

Random video of the day was discovered by VB. This is genuinely one of the funniest things I have seen on youtube in a long time.



Some other stuff from today's show...

• Some people really like to put on a show
• Death of a Christmas tradition?
• Carlow's Saoirse Ronan meets the Prince!

The Big Hard One
Clue: At times you love me, at times you hate me. About what I have to say, girls worry more, but some guys worry too. The lower I read, the happier you are. What am I?
Ans: A weighing scales.

Going For a Song
Clue: Old-fashioned chewy bar relives festive season.
The answer is here.

Talk to you in the morning,
N.

Irrational hatred!

Pictured on the right is Hannah Newton-Smith. Hannah was the British winner of Runaway Bride earlier in the year. She managed to get from England to Palma on just a tenner!

Hannah will be joining us on Wednesday's Beat Breakfast to talk about how she did it, and to give some advice to the South East brides taking part in the Irish version of Runaway Bride on Beat 102 103.

We'll be opening the voting lines at 9.30am for you to vote on your favourite couple. You can vote by text or on the Beat 102 103 website - and I'll give you the details tomorrow morning.

Also tomorrow morning, we're going to be joined in studio by singer/songwriter Jenna Toro for a sing song!

On today's show, we talked about irrational hatred... people or things that you dislike, but you can't give a good reason for it. Mine has always been Daithi O'Se. Mary dislikes ugg boots, particularly with tracksuits. Cars were mentioned on the textline, particularly Micras and Puntos!

Random video of the day is a fantastic performance of "Set the fire to the third bar" by Snow Patrol and Cheryl Cole at the Children in Need concert last week.



Some other stuff from today's show....

• Dinner parties are stressful
• How often do you think about your body?
• Fancy dumping an unwanted relative this Christmas?

The Big Hard One
Clue: My first three make up the commonest word. My fourth can start something quite absurd. My fifth, sixth and seventh are one short of a tree. My whole stages something for you to go see. What am I?
Ans: A theatre.

Going For A Song
Clue: First name of a Flintstone, with fifth letter of the alphbet and Quicksilver... I'm existing without any company.
The answer is here.

Back tomorrow morning at 6.50am,
N.

Goodbye Jedward!

The dream is over. The one thing that got us through the last few tough months. The one shimmer of Irish pride after the heartache of the World Cup knockout last week.

Jedward are gone from X Factor. You can't really argue with them going when they were up against Olly... but how the hell is Lloyd still there?

Anyhow, I'm pinning my colours to the mask and admitting that I want Joe to win. I know he doesn't have the charisma of Olly, but he has some set of lungs on him.

Vinny is on leave this week, so it's just myself and Mary on the show. The office is slightly calmer and more upbeat aswell. By Thursday, we'll probably miss his grumbling. Probably. Chances to win on the show this week are with the Clonmel Park Hotel on Beat the Bomb, and we have hampers to give away from the new Niall O'Reilly hair and beauty supplies in Waterford.

Random video of the day is the Peter Kay Children in Need charity single. The song is muck, but the video is very impressive. He has managed to get all the major animated characters of the past thirty years to work together on this video, with original voices by Ringo Starr, Neil Morrissey, etc. Take a look....



Some other stuff from today's show...

• Piers Morgan has some strong words on Roy Keane...
• The Irish public snub Henry the Hoover!
• What's your favourite takeaway?

The Big Hard One
Clue: A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later, they both go out and have a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?
Ans: She is taking and developing a photo of her husband.

Going For A Song
Clue: Visually bruised veg wants a 50-50 compromise rendezvous.
The answer is here.

Talk in the morning,
N.

A dark day in every respect.

To happier things firstly.... this is Mark Ronan and Denise Roche... our fourth couple on Runaway Bride. They are from New Ross and they joined us on this morning's Beat Breakfast to tell us why they want to win. They also brought lovely scones!

There were two main talking points on today's show... the awful weather, and the awful result in the match. There is not much more can be said about the match. It's just utterly frustrating and depressing. Tony Cascarino has some strong words about it, which you can read here.

Tomorrow, it's your last chance to win prizes from Georges Court on Beat the Bomb... and the last chance to win the pandora bracelet from Summerhill Jewellers. Well done to Rachel this morning who got it in an incredible nine seconds!

Random video of the day is by far the angriest man in Ireland over the match. I must warn you.. there is some serious bad language in this, so proceed with caution....



Some other stuff from today's show....

• Kate Moss proves what a complete and utter gobshite she is.... again.
• Did you know it's possible to be too ugly to be a criminal?!
• Old man goes for paper... ends up 600km away.
  

Vinny's Big Hard One
Clue: My head and tail both equal are, My middle slender as a bee. Whether I stand on head or heel is quite the same to you or me. But if my head should be cut off, The matter's true, though passing strange. Directly I to nothing change. What am I?
Ans: The figure eight.

Going For A Song
Clue: Craziness with loose fitting lower clothing.
The answer is here.

Extra bonus random video of the day... Beyonce goes crowd surfing. I imagine many men beneath had a feel!


Back tomorrow from ten to seven!
N.

Give it a lash Trap!

This is couple number three... Jennifer Delaney and Donal O'Rourke (Duck!) They are from Lismore, and they joined us this morning to chat about their relationship and why they want to win the wedding!

We're wondering if anyone can beat Cathy on our Pandora's Box competition with the new Summerhill Jewellers in Tramore. Cathy worked out what was in the box in 12 seconds, so she is in line to win the 500 euro worth of charms.

We were a bit taken aback this morning by the reaction of listeners when we mentioned the new scary movie Paranormal Activity. We got a flood of texts from people who had seen the movie, and claimed they hadn't slept in over a week. We've never had a reaction like this to a movie before. Mary has decided she definitely wants to go see it, whereas I value the little sleep I get, so I might give it a miss.

You can check out the official trailer - it's our random video of the day!



Some other stuff from today's show...

• Jedward are now bigger than the Beatles!
• Good grounds for divorce.
• What keeps couples together?

Vinny's Big Hard One
Clue: What is one half of one quarter of two ninths of three sevenths of 84?
Ans: 1

Going For A Song
Clue: Fishing pole's meat dish in gallery is going to sea
The answer is here

Back tomorrow from ten to seven, hopefully celebrating a victory tonight!
N.

Tuesday's show

Meet Tuesday's couple... Anita Kennedy and Ronan McDonagh. We had a lot of fun with these guys. They had some great stories, and will be looking for your votes next week!

You can read more about them and listen to their interview this morning on the Beat website. We'll be talking to another couple tomorrow morning.

Today, we dealt with weird celebrity crushes. Heat magazine had a survey out today which featured names such as Simon Cowell, The Stig, Louis Walsh and Phillip Schofield. We had some very strange texts including listeners who fancied Mary Harney, Ryan Tubridy and Chewbacca from Star Wars. Whatever floats your boat...

We're also having lots of fun on our Pandora's Box competition with the new Summerhill Jewellers in Tramore. You'll have another chance to win around 9am tomorrow!

Today's random video of the day is Jedward playing a blinder on Sky News!



Some other bits from today's show....

• The old "make love to me or I will die" trick is still working
• What is the cost of happiness?
  
• A very talented cat

Vinny's Big Hard One
Clue: Can you think of a five letter word of one syllable that becomes a different word of two syllables when the fourth letter is changed from V to U?
Ans: Valve changes to Value

Going For A Song
Clue: Part of corporal capital stock for every single bit of fossil fuel will aggressively defend non scoring tennis point.
The answer is here

Talk in the morning,
N.

Things are really hotting up this week on the Beat 102 103 Runaway Bride. We have narrowed it down to our final five couples, and we're introducing a couple to you on the show each day this week!

Pictured on the left is Laura Finnegan & Padraig O'Halloran. They live in Waterford city, although Padraig is originally from Bansha in Tipp. We had some great fun this morning, and they proved that they really do know each other inside out on our Mr. and Mrs. quiz!

You can read more about the couple, and hear their interview on the Beat website. We will be meeting couple number two tomorrow morning at 8.25am!

I should say a big thank you to all of the twenty couples who I met with on Saturday. They were all great, and it was impossible to narrow it down to the final five.

Some other stuff from today's show....

• Here is one man who definitely doesn't want to lose the remote control!
• Who causes the most rows in your house?
• Who'd have thought Beaker would cause such a fuss?

Vinny's Big Hard One
Clue: What force and strength cannot get through, I with a gentle touch can do. And many in the street would stand, were I not a friend at hand.
Ans: The key.

Going For A Song
Clue: Beckham gets old hair colour with Hanging Gardens
The answer is here.

We meet couple number two tomorrow!
N

We're all a bit plain!

What a morning. I've never seen such rain and such dark skies. I decided to mark the occasion by taking a lovely pic of Orla and Vinny after the show heading to Tesco for breakfast. How cute :)

There was a lot of serious debate on today's show. A new report from the website Beautiful People has revealed that the Irish are bottom of the list when it comes to attractiveness. Scandanavians and Brazilians were up the top of the list. The only positive was that Irish women were regarded as hotter than Irish men.

This was debated at length, and many foreign listeners told us why the Irish weren't so attractive. Alcohol was a big issue, as was too much make-up on the ladies. But as one listener put it.... "sure what good are foreign men? They can't use a hurley, and they look shite in a pair of hurling togs". So that's that then!!

We also had a bit of a row about the new Ryanair hot cabin crew calendar. Orla agreed with the National Women's Council who thought it lacked imagination. Needless to say, Vinny had no objections.

Random video of the day is a classic clip of the Breffmeister from the Apprentice!



Some other stuff from today's show....

• How the Grinch stole Christmas
• Watch out for the tsunami!
• Ronan wants a Boyzone night on X Factor

Vinny's Big Hard One
Clue: A simple riddle you behold, All that glitters is not gold. My first is second in line, I'll send shivers up your spine. Thought I'm not quite shining bright, I seem to glitter in the light. What am I?
Ans: Ice

Going For A Song
Clue: Tiny walker is top of the charts
The answer is here

Final show with Orla tomorrow from 6.50am.
N.

Brains 2 Burn!

We've just had our workout for the day. Not the physical kind though - no pumping iron for me and Power - but the intellectual kind.

It may have taken us over half an hour and more than the necessary amount of Tipp-Ex but we got there. Causing most of the trouble was the clue "Mythological creature - 7 letters" Cyclops? Tipp-Ex. Centaur? Tipp-Ex. Mermaid? Score.

Anyway, I feel a bit more intelligent now. Who needs Nintendo DS when you've a newspaper!

VB

Jedward spotted in Tesco!

So, I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked into Tesco and spotted Jedward looking back at me!

Har-de-har. A busy show today. We explored at great length the issue of men's underwear, and in particular, who buys them. A new survey has revealed that men only buy their own pants for 17 years of their lives - relying on their mothers, wives and girlfriends to make the purchases.

This came as news to both Orla and Vinny - who both swore they would never buy for or be bought for!

My favourite text came from a listener whose dad was asked to buy some boxer shorts in town, and he came home claiming that he couldn't find the boxers section in Dunnes Stores. Reminds me of that scene in the Xmas Father Ted where the priests get lost in the lingerie section!

Our other big talking point today was talented pets. We heard about a dog in Poland who revived his owner when he had a heart attack. I spoke about my Fred's ability to open doors. Orla has two of the cutest dogs in the region, but they're pretty talentless. We had some great texts, including the goldfish that dances to Shakira and the parrot that told the hospice worker to "f**k off!"

There is a very talented cat living in Waterford. She's deaf, but has still learned to play the guitar. Check out the video....



Some other stuff from today's show...

• What's happening on this week's X Factor?
• A surprise visitor at a funeral!
• If you're hungry, you're hungry.

Vinny's Big Hard One
Clue: What word is true only for the moment you say it? After that, it is not until you say it again.
Ans: Now.

Going For A Song
Clue: Juvenile death document exits immediately.
The answer is here.

Talk to y'all in the morning!
N.

"Somebody stole my flip flop!"

Today's pic of the day is of Jedward as babies! Ok... I'm not sure if it's actually Jedward, but it's funny nonetheless.

Before we talk about today's show, let me remind you of the wonderful prizes on offer this week.

We've teamed up with Orchestra Kids Fashion in George's Street in Waterford to celebrate their 2nd birthday! You can win vouchers by telling us a good story about a kids party. If you have a fun story, email us at talk@beat102103.com

We also have a break away to the Ferrycarrig or Kilkenny Hotel with a fitness consultation and use of the five star Active Club. All you have to do is get the highest score on Beat the Bomb.

Now... today's headline refers to a topic we did today about the weirdest thing that was ever stolen on you. It followed a story in the Sun today about a man who keeps stealing shrubs! Anyhow, there are some strange South East thieves out there. We heard about stolen shoes (always just the one!), stolen family photo albums, and stolen tampons. Eew.

Random video of the day is Pat Kenny getting a right boll**king!




Some other stuff on today's show....

• I bet you thought that your neighbours were annoying!
• The ultimate blind date
• How to get an ex to take you back

Vinny's Big Hard One
Clue: My voice rises about the din, Sometimes catching all unaware. I never ask questions, yet get many answers.
Ans: A doorbell!

Going For A Song
Clue: Short Jason at end of alphabet has New York Art Deco building in head
The answer is here.

Back tomorrow from ten to seven.
N.

Happy Birthday Nell McAndrew!

It's Ms McAndrew's birthday...and that, for me, is reason enough to post a picture of her in all her underwear modelling glory. After all, we did the same for Bryan and Ryan Adams the other day so it's only fair!

Let's all take a moment...












Now...IT'S FRIDAY!!! I'm starting to get that weekend feeling so forgive me if I don't hang around...

This morning on the show, Leigh continued his obsession with hot food - getting Mary to eat some of his extra spicy Jamaican chicken! I didn't try it. Video to follow!

We spoke to Snow Patrol keyboard player Tom Simpson ahead of the band's upcoming Best Of.. and tour dates in Ireland. You can here that and all the rest of the week's best bits on the podcast.

Vinny's Big Hard One..."Enter through one, exit through two. Then enter through two, exit through one."
ANS: Pants/Trousers

Going For A Song: "Basic Roar Stone"
You can watch the answer here.

Niall is back Monday. We'll talk to you bright and early then!

Have a good weekend everybody!

VB

Happy Birthday Bryan and Ryan Adams!

It's the greatest coincidence in celebrity birthday history! It's both Bryan and Ryan Adams' birthdays! Mary still can't get over the fact revealed on this morning's show. In celebration, today's picture is of the Canadian cheeserockmeister that is Bryan Adams while the random video is a Ryan Adams track called When The Stars Go Blue which you should, in all seriousness, check out if you haven't heard it before. Enjoy.



Also on the show today, we heard your job interview nightmares. Our favourite stories were from the listeners who vomited, walked into a glass door breaking their nose and the woman whose blouse popped open leaving all on display!

Are you looking to make more than friends on facebook? Well in that case you need to know the top 10 tips on how to to take social networking that one step further! Click here to become a facebook flirt extraordinaire!

Vinny's Big Hard One: If a bottle and cork costs €2.10 and the bottle costs €2 more than the cork, then how much is the cork worth?
ANS: €0.05

Going For A Song: "Where the sun sets, question the moment."
You can watch the answer here.

Tomorrow on the show, we'll be speaking to Snow Patrol!

Talk t'y at 6.50!

VB

Posh and Pig

These are micro-pigs. They're the new designer pet and the latest trend among celebrities, it would seem. As we found out this morning on Beat Breakfast, Posh has given one to Becks as a present. We're not really sure if he asked for it or if he's even going to have the time to look after it, given he's moving to Italy again in January.

Anyhoo...they are, according to most of the girls in the office the cutest thing on the faceof the earth. I've just spent the last while opening image after image of the things for females each side of me to fawn over them. I find them a bit strange. In my day, pigs were pigs. A cat shouldn't be bigger!

Irish men have the sexiest accent in the world! That's according to a new survey and I'm not going to argue! Italy came 2nd, followed by the Scots, French, Aussies, English, Swedish, Spanish and Welsh with the American accent only 10th sexiest!

This morning's Big Hard One: They are dark and always on the run. Without the sun there would be none.
Answer = Shadow. Easy. Easy. Easy.

Going For A Song: "Elephant with packed trunk turns up thermostat at current location."
You can hear/see the answer here.

Talk t'ya bright and early tomorrow!

VB

Howdy.

That there is a traffic cone. Just your plain old simple everyday traffic cone. Much like the many that go missing...because of students! It would seem that you haven't quite done college properly if you haven't brought one home after a night out. When we asked you to tell us about some of the questionable behaviour you got up to in your life, stealing traffic cones was probably the most common story. Our favourite story, though, was that of the group of lads who wanted to bring a bit of Jackass to the south east and so bought thongs and ran around a golf course in Waterford...while a group of players looked on.

I felt the picture of the traffic cone was a better option than lads in thongs...


Also on this morning's show, we found out more about the campaign "Going Green On November 14." If you're going to Ireland's World Cup play-off against France at Croke Park on Saturday week, then do your bit to REALLy get behind the biys in green. You can find out more at the You Boys In Green website.

Vinny' Big Hard One;
"It runs and runs but can never flee.
It is often watched, yet never sees.
When long it brings boredom,
when short it brings fear."
ANS: Time!

Going For A Song; "Divide entire blackbird and suggest new clothes for the better."
You can watch the answer here!

Rightio, until tomorrow at 6.50

Byeeeeee!

VB