Hello and welcome to Whitewine question time and something a little bit different. Because it's only a week away from Christmas, we've lined up some special guests to share with you. And on Christmas Day, Mr Christmas, no, no, no, no, no, not Santa, the other one. Noddy Holder. Before that, though, on Tuesday, I'll be catching up with the Queen of the Huns, a woman who's had a year of total reinvention and has got a Christmas single out to boot, Denise Welsh. But today, we wanted to celebrate someone who has had a phenomenal 12 months. A woman who will look back on 2025 is the year. She went from great to, well, simply unstoppable.

After winning R&B act at the Brits back in February, it was, Where's My Husband, that became,

well, for me, the song of the year. We've all tried singing along, haven't we? Some of us with,

well, more success than others. She wowed audiences in the UK, and the world has opened up to her. But what an extraordinary

backstory this is. As you're about to discover, as we revisit a conversation that I had with Ray

back in 2020, where she'd thrown all of her cards on the table and was going out to do it her way

or the highway. I love this chat with her. Extraordinary talent, extraordinary

grit, resilience and determination. She's our woman of the year. It's Ray. I am so excited to finally

talk to you. I feel like I know you because one of my best friends is my hairdresser and your hairdresser,

Alan. Oh my God. I didn't even know that. I love her. And she speaks so beautifully of you. And I feel like I've followed your journey through her. And you've got, well, you've got a very busy year this year. You've got seven tracks that you've written.

There's kind of a body of work to this, isn't there? And it's much, you've themed these next seven tracks. It starts with Natalie, which I love, by the way. And that's your, you're paying huge respects to Dolly there, Dolly Park. Yeah, I am. I mentioned her name and song. I just love it. And you've used Jeline as a massive influence on that, haven't you?

Yeah.

Homage. in her name and song. I just love it. And you've, you've used Jailene as a massive influence on that, haven't you?

Yeah.

Homage.

Yes. I remember when I first heard that song, I was, I think I cried. I was so young, but I had it in my little MP3.

And I was like, what is this? Story is so moving. It is. You can immediately put yourself into the shoes of, I think everyone's had their own Jolene moment, you know, their own Natalie moment. Yeah. So Natalie is your Jolene? Yes. And let's face it, Jolene's a bit of a bitch. Yeah. Yeah. He's going to take your hand.

Listen. Oh, sigh. You know, this is why I love being a writer because if I, if I wasn't, I don't know how I would have handled that situation.

Maybe I would have egged someone's house.

Maybe I would have gone crazy. Okay. I just, I'm a little bit of reckless sometimes, you know. But this is why it's really great that I'm able to channel these emotions into something. And I'm,

I'm really happy that Natalie did what

Natalie did because that now I have Natalie don't and I love it you know and the most

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