Graham Forgot He Interviewed Britney 🤦🏻‍♂️

5:44Graham Norton:Yeah.

5:45Maria McErlane:So Karen Corrin, who runs the Gilded Balloon.

5:49Graham Norton:Thank you very much.

5:50Maria McErlane:When I did her podcast, she reminded me of a time when we were on a float during one of the festivals. There was a float that kind of went through the town with all the acts upon it, the Oblivion Boys and Raw Sex, Roland Ribbon. Yes. And I was sitting at a table on the float, and I really wanted to go to the loo. And they said, well, it's too bad. We're on a float now. and this is going to take ages. And the float, obviously, we got stuck and we had to wait. And so I went under the table and did a wee-wee. Which obviously went through the float and just landed on the pavement, which I thought was okay.

6:26Maria McErlane:But everybody thought I was disgusting.

6:28Graham Norton:Okay. In fairness, I mean, you were young then. You should have had some bladder control.

6:35Maria McErlane:You were young then. Well, it was a long time ago. But I had completely forgotten that, but she reminded me. And then, of course, it all comes flooding back. I use flooding wisely.

6:47Graham Norton:Yeah, no, when I get interviewed as well, people kind of ask me about things. I remember somebody was saying, they asked me about interviewing Britney Spears. I was going, actually, I haven't. I've interviewed Katy Perry and, you know, Rihanna and all these other ones, but never Britney. And they went, but I've got this. And it was a picture of me interviewing Britney Spears. No recollection of it at all. Yeah, I mean, when they showed it to me, I did vaguely remember.

7:13Maria McErlane:Well, that's going to happen more and more. But I think what we do is we can remember long-term memories. And, you know, like my mum got sort of, was in a home with a bit of old age dementia. She then could remember all the songs that she sang when she was kind of 15 and would sing them at great length. But I never recall hearing her singing them before. Isn't that funny? They were just trapped in there.

7:38Graham Norton:And then as other memories left, they were freed.

7:41Maria McErlane:But you're very bad on short-term memory. Terrible. You can't remember what happened yesterday.

7:46Graham Norton:You know, people's names. Given that I'm a chat show host, you think the one thing I should be able to do is remember people's names or what they look like or who they are. I'm so bad at it.

7:59Maria McErlane:Okay, AI will come and take your job in a minute.

8:01Graham Norton:Oh, I hope it does. That'd be lovely.

8:06Maria McErlane:Hello, Brittany. When's your next single coming out? I don't know why I've made AI talk like that.

8:13Graham Norton:Yes, I'm not sure it'll do as well. Remember, they did an AI Parkinson, didn't they?

8:17Maria McErlane:Did they?

8:18Graham Norton:Yeah. They've got some sort of thing. Oh, like a hologram of him? No, you couldn't see him. It was just a voice. but I think the AI program came up with the questions as well you know you're a lovely lady and

8:36Maria McErlane:Meg Ryan is it? Wasn't that the one that he had a massive fight with?

8:42Graham Norton:Would you mind showing me your norks?

8:47Maria McErlane:Actually if you look at a lot of Park is kind of he was a little bit Well it was of his time It was a different time I know

8:56Graham Norton:Yeah, a different time. I mean, I look at the shows I did 30 years ago, and they did not, they're not like wine.

9:03Maria McErlane:No, but I...

9:04Graham Norton:They have not fared well.

9:05Maria McErlane:I don't think you've ever been questionable in your kind of tone of... Oh, horrible. No, I don't think so. And also, Terry Wogan, I can't fault him for even old-fashioned shows. Oh, that's true. Yeah.

9:18Graham Norton:Yeah, yeah, true that. No more looking back. We must look forward. Oh, my goodness, I like what you did there. Thank you, professional broadcaster. We are going to be delving into our post bag or letterbox or whatever the fuck it is in a minute.

9:37Maria McErlane:This episode is sponsored by TV Licensing. Graham, I have been absolutely hooked on watching Amanda Land. Oh, it's good, isn't it? On BBC iPlayer. Yeah. I mean, who knew that Mother Land could turn into that? I kind of, I want to know if she's really like that in true life. She's, I mean... Yes, is the actor, I think.

9:56Graham Norton:She's not, no, she's not that character. No. But she is, you know, the voice is similar.

10:02Maria McErlane:Well, he looks the same because that's, yes, exactly.

10:04Graham Norton:You know what I mean.

10:05Maria McErlane:Yeah, no, it's very funny.

10:06Graham Norton:There are similarities. You go, oh, that's that lady from Amanda Land. No, I bet her. Lucy Punch, isn't it?

10:11Maria McErlane:Lucy Punch, yes. And also Joanna Lumley, who is very, very funny.

10:14Graham Norton:And actually, I think what they did really cleverly, because Motherland was kind of a different sort of comedy. And so I thought the spinoff would be in a similar vein, but it's much more of a kind of classic sitcom.

10:25Maria McErlane:It is, yeah, exactly. But she does it very well, so we have to go, what have you been watching? Am I? No, bear with me.

10:33Graham Norton:I'm bearing with you. It's just because I think they're unsung heroes of television.

10:38Maria McErlane:Where are you going with this? This morning. Oh, well, they're certainly diligent and long-suffering.

10:45Graham Norton:Well, Cat and Ben do such a good job. Yeah, they are very good, actually. They're really good. And also, you know, they've been through it. But that show, you know, the press were gunning for them. And now Cat and Ben have it. Then they move studios. Now they're in a much smaller studio. But it hasn't affected the show. They're still, you know, and they do it, you know, every morning for I think about seven hours. I think it's two and a half hours. I've been on it. No, it's closer to seven. I've been on it too.

11:13Maria McErlane:And it is just a like monster that keeps rolling. It's like, you know, you go to a break, then coming back. Coming up after the break, you know, and they kind of go from really serious things to how to make an egg look like a smiley face.

11:26Graham Norton:It's so hard what they do and I feel like they don't get the recognition they deserve. So big up this morning on ITV.

11:34Maria McErlane:A TV license covers you to watch over 400 TV channels and everything on BBC iPlayer. To find out more, go to tvl.co.uk forward slash pod.

11:45Graham Norton:She's holding an envelope. She cannot be stopped. She's opening it. Is there something in it? Oh, there is. It's all going to plan.

11:52Maria McErlane:It is all going to plan, and it's only one page. Hooray! Dear Graham and Maria, love the wanging. I wondered if you could advise on this idea swirling around my head. I live by myself, earn a modest salary by UK standards, and I think I have a fairly comfortable life. I'd like to make more money, get a newer car, and perhaps go on an extra holiday every year. I know, I know, this doesn't make me different slash special, but in my particular line of work, I'm an office assistant, these things seem out of reach and fairly unlikely. I've read that there is good money to be made from selling pictures of your feet online.

12:32Maria McErlane:Totally anonymous pics. Plus, you can post people your dirty underwear for a princely sum. I know it's a bit gross and there are some proper saddos out there who shouldn't be encouraged, but it seems so easy and could make me a nice little bit of cash on the side. I'm not materialistic, but the more I scroll through Insta, the more I see friends having a nicer life than I do. And I want in. What do you think? Should I be content with my lot or book myself a pedicure and start a lucrative side hustle? And that's from Olivia. I want to say to you, Olivia, please do not believe Instagram. Nobody posts the reality.

13:12Maria McErlane:It's all kind of rose-tinted glasses and misty lenses, isn't it?

13:17Graham Norton:No one takes a picture of them being bored.

13:19Maria McErlane:No.

13:19Graham Norton:Or, you know, or kind of, you know, eating cold baked beans.

13:23Maria McErlane:Yes, with three weeks of washing up undone on the sink. Yeah. No one does that. The other thing is, do you really want all of these things that you talk of? Is it going to make your life any better, Olivia? I wonder. And as for selling your pictures, I'm not sure it does make that much money.

13:41Graham Norton:I think the story about the money-making is quite apocryphal. I think so, too. People aren't going to be spending a fortune on pictures of dirty pants and things or pictures of feet. Unless you're Lily Allen, she makes a lot of money. Well, says she makes a lot of money.

13:55Maria McErlane:Well, she did say she makes more money from selling pictures of her feet than with her music. But then she just had a fabulous album, so maybe she's put her feet away. I think also you can sell sort of dirty socks. You can sell virtually anything.

14:08Graham Norton:Yeah, but for how much, look, here's the thing, I think, is I've never had one of those salary jobs where in January, you know, this is how much money I'm making for the rest of the year. When I worked in restaurants, you could have a really busy week where you made tips or you picked up some extra shifts or, you know, there was always the best of times, the worst of times. Yeah, yeah, I know. And I've always enjoyed living like that, always hoping next month I'll do some more gigs or next month I might get a telly job or next month, you know, so there's always the hope. And I think if you are working in an office and you know this is it, there will be no good month, there might be a Christmas bonus, that'll be it.

14:53Graham Norton:That's such a hard way to live because if you're scraping by, if you're scraping by, you know you're going to continue to scrape by for the rest of the year.

15:02Maria McErlane:But it is the price you pay for security because, I mean, the life that we chose was some days you would be eating cauliflower curry for four or five days because you didn't have any money. So this is, you know, a secure position where you have the same car, etc. The thing about selling pictures of your feet, I just, will you be able to look yourself in the mirror and go, yep, that new car outside was paid for by pictures of my feet?

15:28Graham Norton:One, the car won't be paid for by pictures of feet. You're going to have to take pictures of other things if you want to pay for a car.

15:33Maria McErlane:Well, that's the slippery slope, isn't it?

15:35Graham Norton:Yeah, and you do feel like granddad saying, oh, careful, because if you make five pounds for your feet, suddenly you'll kind of think, what, I can get 20 for my bum. You're like, suddenly, that doesn't seem so bad. You know, or I'm just selling a bit of weed to friends.

15:57Maria McErlane:Suddenly, I'm locked up for 25 years. They said I was dealing.

16:02Graham Norton:I'm Pablo Escobar. it's just you know so I yeah I worry Olivia I think here's the thing be ambitious you know change your job well not change but just you know yeah try to get promotion try to you know learn new skills you know like there is there is no get rich quick scheme you know you hear about these people oh they decided to sell some lollipops and they sold the company for five billion or something yeah it doesn't happen

16:32Maria McErlane:Well, you never hear about the people that tried to sell lollipops and didn't make it. Or the equivalent. So I just, I feel, I think Olivia is probably going to do this anyway. Try it anyway. But just be aware that it's not all it's cracked up to be.

16:49Graham Norton:Well, you're not going to make money and you've got to feel a bit humiliated and stupid for taking pictures of your feet that nobody wants. Or if they do want them, they'll be for 5p.

16:57Maria McErlane:And also, I don't even think you need to have a pedicure. I think pictures of grotesque feet sell quite well. Not that I'm an expert. Wow.

17:06Graham Norton:Marie will be your foot pimp.

17:12Graham Norton:I just think, Olivia, if you want a better life, make a better life. Yeah. You know, build a better life because you can do that. Because, you know, and I like what Olivia says, you know, I want nicer things. That doesn't make me special. But how much do you want the nicer things? You know, because you are clearly young and in your letter, I'm hearing kind of ambition and drive. I just think you need to focus it into ways that have legs and will sustain you for the rest of your life and over a career. Yeah. You know, because, you know, you might have, what, three good summers of feet left in you.

17:55Maria McErlane:That was a sentence I wasn't expecting to hear today.

17:58Graham Norton:Three good summers of feet. And then...

18:01Maria McErlane:But also, an office assistant, is there any chance of promotion here? Can you learn skills that will take you to the next level? Because I think you're just thinking, I'll opt out now and do my feet rather than invest in my clearly good brain and find a way to progress up the greasy ladder of success.

18:25Graham Norton:Yeah, and also, I just... Yeah, these things, you know, selling your dirty pants and your feet. You're not going to make money and you're just going to feel humiliated.

18:37Maria McErlane:And a little bit dirty.

18:38Graham Norton:And also you're going to feel a bit stupid because you thought you were going to make a lot of money doing this. Maybe we are clueless. Maybe people are out there sniggering at us going, oh, I'm making, you know, 50 grand a year selling old pants.

18:52Maria McErlane:In which case I'm not coming in anymore. Sorry, it's been nice. But my feet take precedence. Shall we see what the... Yes.

19:04Graham Norton:I imagine the wangers won't be encouraging, Olivia.

19:08Maria McErlane:Okay, this is from Claire in Suffolk. Other people's lives always look better on Instagram than reality, but if you want to try and earn more money by selling photos of your feet for weirdos to wank over, ooh, Claire, then it's not actually harming anyone, is it? Is that what they do?

19:25Graham Norton:So they just admired them.

19:28Maria McErlane:Better its feet rather than some of the other things men get excited by. Socks.

19:37Maria McErlane:Ali in London says, at first I'd say, why do you want to encourage the weird behaviors? But somebody else is going to do it. So if you have a lovely set of feet with no bunions, go and get a pedi and make some money. Just stick to the feet.

19:53Graham Norton:See, the thing is, I'm thinking, I know when we were in Japan, there were these vending machines where you get, like, pants out of them, old pants. But they would have photographs of, you know, people wearing them and things. You know, I don't think people are just going to buy your laundry.

20:07Maria McErlane:Yes, I think, you know, you don't really want to show yourself.

20:12Graham Norton:Yeah, but people want to see where those pants were.

20:15Maria McErlane:Well, you know, you use AI imagery, don't you, for that? So that it's not you.

20:19Graham Norton:All right, chat, GBT.

20:23Maria McErlane:Granny from Lelystad in the Netherlands says the problem is...

20:27Graham Norton:Why do so many people in the Netherlands listen to this? I don't know. Is the podcast feed really limited?

20:34Maria McErlane:Feet sniffers. The problem is a common one and easy to solve. Stop comparing yourself with everyone else. There will always be people with more boasting on social media about their perfect lives. Get off your phone and enjoy the life around you. It's not going to get a new car though, is it? No. or further holidays. No, no. Robert from Sittingbourne. Are you happier now that it's somewhere in this country? Oh, I'm delighted. Sittingbourne.

20:58Graham Norton:A great British response to a British problem. Come on, Robert.

21:04Maria McErlane:I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it's actually extremely hard to make anything close to decent money doing that online. Sounds like Robert knows. I know, yeah.

21:14Graham Norton:He's been smearing his pants all over the place, but nothing.

21:18Maria McErlane:Don't say smearing his pants. Unless you're also stunningly beautiful and aren't afraid to show your face, it can also be a slippery slope. One minute someone's offering you£100 for simple feet pics. Next minute they're offering£300 for photos of you stepping barefoot in cake. Well, that's not bad. Then£500 for your nudes. Getting that money for not much work will become addictive. The economy will eventually pick up in time and you'll be able to get a better paid job without having to please others online. Well, I think Robert is right, and I think he probably speaks...

21:53Graham Norton:I think that we're looking to the government to solve our problem.

21:59Maria McErlane:It sounds to me like Robert from Sitting and Born speaks from experience. He seems to have a lot of knowledge about it.

22:04Graham Norton:Yes, I feel like there are some pictures of Robert in a shower out there. I'm going to look for them. That he regrets taking and selling.

22:13Maria McErlane:I'm going to look for them. Oh, Kevin in Kuala Lumpur.

22:16Graham Norton:What? Yeah, I know, right? I feel if you're called Kevin, you should never move to Kuala Lumpur.

22:25Maria McErlane:Nothing wrong with a bit of alliteration. That's why he went there. If you genuinely want a newer car and better holidays, you'd be better off putting that energy into developing skills, gaining qualifications, or moving up a rung or two. It may not be as immediately as enticing, but it tends to pay better and for much longer.

22:44Graham Norton:I'm with Kevin because it's the much longer bit. Because the thing is, you know, it will be fun. and you'll get a little injection of cash, baby. But it's not sustainable. And I feel like Olivia, you know, she wants a better life. She wants to, you know, she has aspirations. Yeah.

23:01Maria McErlane:Attractor in County Mayo. I love that name, Attractor. I'm pretty sure there is little to no money being made by people selling photos of their feet or underwear. A small number of people might make money, but that is the exception. A more realistic money earner would be to ask for a pay rise or to find some extra work. You could work as a cleaner. a survey taker or a delivery driver. I think all of the above are more realistic money earners. P.S. I'm 39. Last time I had my advice read out, Graham seemed to think I was much older.

23:33Graham Norton:I do remember that. Well, no, just because you don't bump into attractors all the time.

23:37Maria McErlane:Oh, that's right.

23:38Graham Norton:You know, those names like the attractor, conceptor, consumptor, you know, they're all a bit older.

23:42Maria McErlane:But they're coming back now.

23:43Graham Norton:Apparently they are. She's not even 40. She's 39. She's 39, eh, attractor? But a tractor is wise because actually, if you want more money, work more. Yeah. I know it's dull.

23:56Maria McErlane:It's a tough pill to swallow, but them's the brakes really, aren't they?

23:59Graham Norton:Yeah, you know, pick up a Saturday, you know, some shifts on a Saturday or whatever, and just get a bit of extra money. And also, the other thing about working, here's my other thing. Okay. When you're working, yes, they're paying you, but also you're not spending money while you're working. That's how I always think about restaurant shifts. even on a quiet restaurant shift, I knew that while I was in there, I mean, I guess it's different now because now you can just do shopping on your phone and everything. But back then, once I was in that restaurant, I knew I wasn't spending any money. So that was already as if I was quids in just by being in there.

24:35Graham Norton:It was stopping me.

24:37Maria McErlane:Yeah, I had a job in Hemdale Films, which was my day job, having to dress up. And then I worked as a cleaner afterwards. So again, I wasn't spending any money. And by the time I got home, I was exhausted. So I have to go straight to bed. I don't recall anything of my youth. Apart from heavy duty labour.

24:55Graham Norton:Yeah, a lot of that. Well done you. Yeah. It made a woman of you. Did it now? Yeah. Well, Olivia, we hope that advice helped you. But remember, if you do go online and decide to do those things, be careful. It's a slightly dodgy world out there. Wangers, thanks for your advice. And if you'd like to, you know, show us your dilemma, then we'd love to see it. Just email us. It is wangingon at listen.co.uk. We will have another dilemma soon.

25:46Graham Norton:Now, Maria, I don't know about you, but I hate it when a website is really clunky when you go to pay. Like, how many times have you just abandoned online purchases? Never. Really? Oh, I do all the time. Yes, I do. I do. I do. Someone told me most things on the internet are just sitting in shopping baskets on board.

26:06Maria McErlane:Yeah, I think there's too many things to have to fill in, this, that, and the other.

26:10Graham Norton:Why do you have to prove you're not a robot? I mean, are robot shopaholics? Do they have a problem? Must they be stopped?

26:16Maria McErlane:I feel I have to prove that I'm not a traffic light. I am not one of these things in the pictures.

26:22Graham Norton:Well, Shopify checkout means more customers actually buy. And returning ones can do it in a single click, which leaves you with more time to focus on growing your business.

26:32Maria McErlane:Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, from some of the world's biggest brands to small businesses just getting started. All you need is the idea. Shopify handles the rest. Start your free trial at shopify.co.uk

26:49Graham Norton:Soon is now. Yeah. She reaches forward. She opens it. She rips it apart.

26:54Maria McErlane:I think to myself, it's true. The internet is lawless.

26:57Graham Norton:Isn't it though? Lawless.

27:00Maria McErlane:Lawless. Look how short that one is. Hooray.

27:06Graham Norton:Maria's favourite dilemma ever.

27:09Maria McErlane:It would be better if it just said, Dear Graham and Maria from Anonymous. This is from Anonymous, actually, but it says, Dear Graham and Maria, I recently found out that my newish mum friend is anti-vax and hasn't vaccinated her child. I'm trying not to judge her for this choice, but I do. I really believe it's ignorant and dangerous not to vaccinate your child. It's changed the way I view her and made me question our friendship. Should I work on being less judgmental and ignore it, or does the fundamental contrast of values mean the friendship is a very short-lived one? This is a very good problem, isn't it?

27:49Graham Norton:It is. I tell you, it makes me worry because, I mean, all dilemmas are welcome, but, you know, you just say, oh, the comment section is just going to be so contentious and full of shouty people, and I find it just exhausting. But anyway, let's go.

28:06Maria McErlane:You know, it is exhausting, but you will never, I think, the thing to remember about people who view life differently, you will never change their mind.

28:17Graham Norton:No.

28:17Maria McErlane:So it's absolutely pointless trying and will only cause sort of upset. So it's one of those things that unless you can put it to one side and talk about your collective babies, which surely takes up most of your time, then you might as well get a new friend because it's just too hard to ever bring that up. You think that you're in the right, She thinks that she's in the right, but neither of you are prepared to change your mind. And sometimes, maybe it's a bit like politics, but maybe a bit more serious. You know, people who vote differently should be able to get along. And you see it in Parliament, you know, people who are on that side of the House and this side of the House, they can be friends.

29:01Maria McErlane:Sometimes they're married.

29:02Graham Norton:Sometimes, indeed, they are married. But I think this is slightly different, isn't it? because it's not a, this isn't a different sort of opinion because this is a different view of reality.

29:15Maria McErlane:Well, it is a different sort of opinion, actually, because you're looking at it from one point of reality and she's not thinking that it's different, the other person. So reality or opinion, whatever. But she's decided to go one way and it's pointless you trying to say to her, no, you really should vaccinate your child.

29:34Graham Norton:I think, but the thing is, it's not, It's more than an opinion because actually you don't want your child to be hanging out with a non-vaccinated child. Well, that's the next question, isn't it? Because there is something fundamentally quite selfish about going, I am going to make this unilateral decision not to vaccinate my child and then send them off to school. And I think the good thing to remember is that your friend isn't being kind of willful about this. You know, she has read something or read things, articles, talked to other people, and she has come to a place in her life where she believes this to be true.

30:16Graham Norton:Which is depressing because, you know, you do think vaccinations are one of the greatest innovations in modern society. And they, you know, it's such extraordinary strides have been made in health. And now it's all kind of sliding backwards. But that's the world we live in.

30:32Maria McErlane:But it's all coming from an evil place.

30:36Graham Norton:You know, I think John Ronson, if anyone's interested in this, John Ronson, he did a series of podcasts, I think they're on BBC Sounds, where he gets behind all of these things. You know, the anti-vax movement, the anti-trans movement, all these kind of contentious social things. And he tracks them back. And it's really interesting where they come from.

31:04Maria McErlane:And where do they come from?

31:05Graham Norton:They either come from a really small incident. Often they'll come from, you know, when it says study say, there will have been a study, but it will have been written by someone really dodgy who was being financed by someone really dodgy. You know, I find all that fascinating. But in terms of the friendship, I think in this instance, This particular thing, this is, I think, it's more than a difference of opinion. I think there's something else going on in terms of the health of your child and just schools, you know.

31:39Maria McErlane:Well, keeping your child safe, really.

31:42Graham Norton:Which both of these mothers think they're doing.

31:44Maria McErlane:Feel that they are doing the right thing. Exactly. And the good thing about freedom of speech and freedom of your own children is that you can make those decisions for your children, and whether they'll thank you for it at a later date. But it's a bit like the Brexit vote, which divided friends. I don't think you can ghost her, but maybe you can say our beliefs are different, and so I don't think we can be friends. Or just don't see her that much.

32:13Graham Norton:Yeah, I think she just becomes a peripheral person in your friend group because, as you said, you're never going to change your mind, so there's no point bringing it up. But just, I think, and it's not about being judgmental. It's just having a very kind of a fundamental difference about how to bring up your children. And that's big, I would have thought.

32:37Maria McErlane:It's hard not to be judgmental.

32:40Graham Norton:Yeah, it is hard. But I think it goes beyond judgmental in a way. In that, you know, you're both mothers and you've made these very different decisions about how to bring up your children. and I think really hard to stay friends in that situation.

32:57Maria McErlane:I kind of agree with you. Shall we see what the wangers have to say?

33:00Graham Norton:Yeah, I mean, again, it worries me because it's such a contentious issue and people get very angry very fast.

33:09Maria McErlane:They do. Lou in Paulborough says, I would suggest you tread carefully here. I do agree with you that the decision to not vaccinate is most definitely an ignorant one in this day and age. Fundamentally, this will cause a rift in your friendship, and I think having mum friends with the same values and morals that are aligned with yours is important, as it will no doubt cause more problems in the future as the kids get older. I would suggest it's best to nip it in the bud and keep your distance. Be nice, but maybe she is better as an acquaintance rather than a close friend.

33:43Graham Norton:True. True. Jason's in Pimlico, and he sent us a voice note. Yes, you absolutely, definitely should work on being less judgmental. How would you feel if someone questioned your parenting decisions? If she genuinely believes vaccines somehow present a risk,

33:58Maria McErlane:then as a parent, she has the right to do whatever she thinks is best. I don't personally agree with her decision, but the decision is absolutely hers to make.

34:05Graham Norton:One more thing, if you're someone who can't be friends with people who have differing views to your own, then you're probably not worth having as a friend in the first place. See, I think Jason's misunderstood this. It's not a different view. I know. It's something, you know, it's more fundamental than that. And it's about the health of your child.

34:23Maria McErlane:Cheryl in Exmoor says, Ask yourself, what kind of friend are you being? Vaccination scares some people and for many reasons, but be it too much conflicting information being served up on the internet or perhaps religious grounds. Maybe it's a fear of something happening to their child. Support your friend in her choice. It's tough. Judgment is not what she needs as a new mum. She needs a good friend and you are falling short at this time. Don't look for an excuse to unfriend her. That's not very nice of you. Be her true friend or keep away from her, but let her make her own choices. Well, yes, let her make her own choices and you make your own, I think.

35:02Graham Norton:I mean, it's the land of RFK, isn't it?

35:06Maria McErlane:Slightly. Yeah. We've got Pennsylvania.

35:08Graham Norton:Oh. Gretchen. They'll know.

35:10Maria McErlane:Yeah. I'm sorry to say it, but this friendship may be short-lived. Ooh.

35:15Graham Norton:Oh, she's going to catch a disease and die.

35:20Maria McErlane:I'd keep her on the periphery, someone to chat with at the park, maybe meet for a coffee. That being said, if it comes up again, I'd encourage you to be honest with that. No, I wouldn't say that you think she's ignorant, but certainly that you see value in vaccinations, both for your child and for your community. And of course, if the friendship continues, you would need to let her know that her child can't come to parties or play dates if you have other guests that are older or vulnerable in some way.

35:51Graham Norton:Yeah, because it is about community. It's about taking responsibility for other people around you. It's about, you know, I think it's a very, there's something very selfish about what she's done.

36:01Maria McErlane:Yeah. Yeah, no, I agree with you. But when she says, when Gretchen says, I wouldn't say that you think she's ignorant, if it comes up again, I'd encourage you to be honest with her. I would encourage you to change the subject.

36:14Graham Norton:Anonymous, this is called a big debate amongst the wangers. So if you want to get involved, let the debate continue. But please, if you are leaving comments, make them as respectful as you can. Don't get all angsty and shouty at each other. We don't want that to be this podcast's legacy in the comments section. So cool it, kids. Can you still be a friend with someone if you've got such a clash of values?

36:41Maria McErlane:And what we can agree on is that there's a lot of conflicting and confusing information out there. So if you want to learn more about vaccines, the NHS vaccination portal should be your first port of call. Or if you're not in the UK, the World Health Organization's page on vaccines and immunisation is a really another good resource.

36:59Graham Norton:John Ronson's series of podcasts, I think it's called Things Fell Apart, When Things Fall Apart. It's on BBC Sounds. I probably don't ever get your podcasts. It's fascinating how all of these things came about. Good luck, Anonymous, and thank you for writing in. Maria, look at the time. I know. We've barely got time to squeeze in an edition of... Am I Weird? Ah.

37:25Maria McErlane:Okay, today's Am I Weird comes to us from Abby, who listens in Melbourne in Australia. Hi, Graham and Maria. Every time I'm getting into bed, I lie on my side, hold my legs over the edge, and rub the soles of my feet together like a cricket or a praying mantis. I do this with bare feet or socks, and I do it whether I'm at home, staying at somebody's house, or in a hotel. It brushes off any debris or dust that I may have picked up while walking around the house. I can't bear the idea of all that stuff making its way into my bed and sleeping with it. My boyfriend thinks it's weird, but I just think it's practical.

38:02Maria McErlane:So, am I weird? I kind of want to have a video of this. It's quite hard to get the palms of your souls together, isn't it? I mean, it's a bit yogatastic, isn't it?

38:13Graham Norton:It is yogatastic, yes. Well done, Abby. But I mean, remember there was that Australian film with Jenny Agatha called Walkabout.

38:20Maria McErlane:Oh, that was a good film.

38:21Graham Norton:Yes. I feel like Abby's just doing walkabout. She's got kind of old witchery grubs and things stuck between her toes.

38:29Maria McErlane:Well, I like the fact that she says she does it where there's, I mean, bare feet, yes, if you're walking around in bare feet. But if you've got socks on, you don't need to do it with socks on because you take the socks off before you go to bed. Yes, and then you've done it. And leave them for the little mites to crawl elsewhere onto your bed.

38:45Graham Norton:You could find the socks wherever the mites take them in the morning. I mean, that's the other thing.

38:48Maria McErlane:We sleep with so many kind of organisms in our beds, don't we, that you can't see. Speak for yourself. Microscopic. I'm not talking about bedbugs. I'm talking about microscopic organisms that are everywhere. I mean, on our faces, we have hundreds of them. They're everywhere. And they do good as well as kind of annoying things. Okay. But also... This is science-based. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I've got a degree in bullshit. I think sometimes when I get into bed, I kind of rub my feet together. And it's like the equivalent of a dog. It's called nuking. It's a sort of self-calming gesture that one does, self-regulating calming gesture.

39:28Maria McErlane:Have you ever squished your feet together like that? No.

39:31Graham Norton:I like the way dogs still flatten the grass. You know, they walk in a circle before they lie down. And it's where they flatten the grass. Obviously, there's no grass in your house, unless there is. Yeah, it's just... Mainly in the bathroom. Yeah, that's why I grow most of my crops. Which must reminds me, I must get home and harvest.

39:57Maria McErlane:Yes, looking for four-leaf clovers again in the artificial grass.

40:01Graham Norton:So, Abby, it all depends. I mean, I don't do it because I feel like my feet aren't exposed to that much crap during the day. No, no. But, you know, Abby, you might be a bit of a free spirit wafting around Australia in some flip-flops.

40:17Maria McErlane:I mean, the other thing you could do, Abby, is just dunk your feet in a bowl of water before you go to bed to get off all the little things.

40:24Graham Norton:That's a great idea. Or sleep with plastic bags around both your feet.

40:30Maria McErlane:Or wear really heavy boots so that you don't get anything nasty on them.

40:34Graham Norton:Yeah, yeah, all of the above.

40:35Maria McErlane:Well, are we saying she's weird? I mean... Her boyfriend thinks she's weird. Yeah.

40:41Graham Norton:I mean, to be honest, yes. Because, I mean, as you said, everything's everywhere. You know, everything's as dirty as everything else. So you're wiping your feet, but you're not really wiping your feet. Your feet are still covered in bugs and crap and germs and all sorts of weird things. I suggest don't eat with your feet. That's really good advice. Well, listen, I'm not a trained doctor, but I'm saying that.

41:07Maria McErlane:I think what this is is a self-soothing gesture before she goes to bed.

41:13Graham Norton:Yeah.

41:13Maria McErlane:A bit like dogs do the nuking thing, which is where they sort of rub their paws or they do a little bit of annoying things if they're on your bed and they're doing stuff. It's annoying, but it's called nuking. I think that's what you're doing, a human version of nuking.

41:28Graham Norton:And also become a yoga teacher because you're clearly very, very spendy.

41:32Maria McErlane:I know, right? Your husband should be benefiting from that.

41:35Graham Norton:Yeah. I guess it's hard to get excited when she's self-cleaning her paws. Yeah, I'd really like to... No, not anymore. I'm done. You put me off. So, actually, I've decided Abby's weird. What do you say?

41:51Maria McErlane:Not weird. Not weird. Okay. Just, you know, a little bit. Okay. Maybe in need of therapy.

41:57Graham Norton:Well, as we leave Abby doing her praying mantis impression, we bid adieu to this edition of Wanging On with Graven and Maria.

42:05Maria McErlane:Do remember, as if I have to say it yet again, we are not experts. If you need professional help with anything that we've mentioned today, do seek it out from the proper channels. There's more on the link in our Instagram bio. We are at wanging on.

42:19Graham Norton:Wanging on with Graham Maria is a platform media production. And guess what? Like it or not, there's more of this next week. Goodbye to Ben. Yes, there is. No.

42:35Graham Norton:This episode is brought to you by ChatGPT. Hey, it's Bill Simmons from the Bill Simmons Podcast. Have you guys heard about ChatGPT work? It's the new way to use ChatGPT for bigger multi-step projects. And when you need more than just answers, give ChatGPT work access to your apps and files, and it can create real work documents like spreadsheets, slides, and structured reports. Get started at ChatGPT.com by selecting work mode

43:03Maria McErlane:Available on Plus and Pro Plans.

43:07Graham Norton:I'm not giving up. I am selling the building.

43:12Maria McErlane:The final season of FX is the Bear.

43:16Graham Norton:The restaurant is flooded. Everything's either going to be okay. No, stop. Or not. We are outgunned and we are outmanned. We have each other. FX is the Bear, the final season. All episodes now streaming on Disney+.