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!
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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!
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