The Saturday Lie In Radio Show 1998 - 2003

On the 18th of July 1998 a new show hit the airwaves on Northsound 2. Hosted by John McRuvie, and a camp hairdresser called Patrice, “The Saturday Lie In” was ready to blaze a comedy trail, which would send echoes of laughter across the north east of Scotland.

A unique style of comedy was born and within weeks word had spread that at last the area had a show in which it could identify with. Patrice was not afraid to use the Doric vernacular, his mother tongue. It had never been tried on radio before, but guess what, it worked.

Within a short time the lads were in demand to, ‘go public’ with the show and in October of 98 they appeared on stage for the first time. “It was nerve wracking to stand up on stage for the first time and tell gags”. Says Patrice, “but I felt a genuine warmth for the character the minute I uttered those first words, “Hows it going?”

The popularity of ‘The Saturday Lie In’ has spawned the release of two Cds, two books and a video. “No one else from local radio in Scotland can claim such a feat.” Says John McRuvie. “With a bit more support who knows what we could have achieved.”

As Patrice said when the show was axed from Northsound two, “It’s a sad day for local humour and culture. We had a show, which expressed the peculiarities of the native climate, scene, habits and people. Northsound’s decision threatens the very existence of the Doric dialect, the native language of the north – east. A national language is a precious possession.