BBC Radio presenter Jo Whiley has confessed that her husband was left utterly appalled after stumbling upon her unconventional secret for the perfect Christmas dinner gravy.
The Secret Ingredient That Caused a Stir
Appearing on her Dig It podcast alongside co-host Zoe Ball, the 60-year-old DJ revealed that for years she has been adding a generous dash of tomato ketchup to her festive gravy. Whiley explained that the condiment provides a welcome vinegary tang that her family has always enjoyed.
The truth, however, came as a shock to her spouse, Steve Morton. "Last year, my husband actually saw me put the ketchup in and was genuinely horrified," Jo recounted. "He's been eating this gravy for years and praising it. But now, he insists it's wrong?"
Despite her husband's disgusted reaction, the broadcaster remains defiant. She confirmed to listeners that she has no intention of changing her long-held culinary tradition, stating firmly, "Obviously I'm going to keep doing it."
A Hidden Role in a Festive Classic
In the same podcast episode, which featured a festive quiz with their daughters, Whiley stunned her co-host and family by revealing another secret: a cameo in the iconic Christmas film Love Actually.
Whiley disclosed that she is the uncredited voice of the radio DJ who introduces the famous scene where Prime Minister David, played by Hugh Grant, dances around 10 Downing Street to Jump by The Pointer Sisters.
Kickstarting the revelation, Jo said, "I actually do the voice of the DJ in this particular scene." A stunned Zoe Ball immediately responded, "You do! You're in Love Actually!"
The admission left Ball's 16-year-old daughter Nelly speechless. Whiley then recited her line from the film: "So that's what the girls were just saying, a golden oldie for golden oldie, this one's for Prime Minister, and it's Hugh Grant."
Jo's daughter India, 33, declared it the "coolest thing" her mother had done, a sentiment echoed by Zoe Ball.
Hugh Grant's 'Excruciating' Dance Scene
The podcast discussion touched on the actor's own feelings about the now-legendary dance sequence. Hugh Grant has previously admitted he found filming the scene "quite excruciating."
In a past interview, Grant said, "I saw it in the script and I thought, 'Well, I'll hate doing that.' I didn't fancy doing the dance at all, let alone rehearsing it."
Writer and director Richard Curtis joked that Grant kept refusing, hoping the director would fall ill so the scene could be cut. Curtis noted Grant was "grumpy" on filming day but performed due to a "contractual obligation."
Grant later quipped about his rhythm, or lack thereof, saying, "I'm out of rhythm, by the way, especially at the beginning when I wiggle my ass." Despite the actor's reservations, Curtis was delighted with the result, calling the perfectly awkward performance "agonisingly embarrassing" in the best way.
