Just like WIlly Wonka, Catboy is rumoured to be a purple-velvet-wearing, miserable, old recluse who secretly hates kids, and just like the chocolate magnate, once a year, Catboy throws open the doors of the Dubai 92 studio to Mums, Dads and most importantly, the kids… Lots and lots of crazy, little, hyper kids. This year Catboy & Geordiebird wanted to go bigger than ever before, since they’re in the brand new studio.
Well, you didn’t let them down. Over two-hundred people lined the corridors of Dubai 92 and crammed into the studio for photos, tree-decorating, a little bit of radio and a whole lot of silly fun.
A HUGE thank you to Crowne Plaza DFC, Intercon DFC, Bistro Madeline, Toffee Princess, Kitsch Cupcakes and Festival Centre for all the lovely food and nibbles.
Here’s some photos…
The inaugural Dubai 92 tree decoration is hung!
Decoration no.2 goes up.
Even though htere’s not a lot on it yet, three thumbs up for the Dubai 92 tree…
… And even the new logo gets the seal of approval.
Okay, it’s getting busier. Claustrophobia sufferers beware.
From the moment we opened the first box of Kitsch cupcakes, mayhem ensued.
Never one to stand on ceremony, Geordiebird dives in for cupcakes.
Laughing at “Catboy’s Christmas Cardigan®” was this little fella’s final mistake.
iRod gets arty with his tinsel shots.
Nathalie “paps” Catboy from the back of the room. Expect to see that one on TMZ.
For legal reasons we should point out that “Give me the cupcakes or I’ll break their necks” was not meant seriously.
“When I squeeze your back, you shout GOLLOCKS”. Catboy and the human ventriloquist dummy.
Jamie has the eyes of a killer (but a fun killer, like Dexter).
The rumours of Catboy & Geordiebird’s secret child have been greatly exaggerated. This doesn’t help.
Look at that head of hair! Not bad for (not) 40.
“Fake smile… Moi?”
Live on-air, both doors open, free-flowing Dubai folk.
Conducting an impromptu ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.
There’s nothing like handing your radio career to a child. We forgot him to sign the ‘no tourettes’ clause.
The start of Catboy’s compensation claim for a bad back, due to cheap chairs.
The Geordiebird’s Eye View of the Dubai 92 studio.
The scrum continues to spruce-up the spruce.
We invited Dubai landlords and some cowboys turned up. Geddit?!
The many hairstyles of the Dubai Mums.
What happened to all the little people?
Oh, there they are. Catboy’s Little Helpers.
Catboy “papped” again. The curse of the mobile phone generation, eh?
Put your hands up for Dubai!
Big box, little box, etc…
This lady was speaking a strange language called “Scotch-tish”.
Still plenty of Kitsch cupcakes & Toffee from the Princess.
Superfan, Dotty, promises Catboy some Al Boom Marine bikini shots. Naughty girl.
Forget Catboy & the kids… Who are the Mums giving the daggers to???
The kids of DESS squeeze in for pic with CB.
Slade wished it could be Christmas every day. Catboy disagrees vehemently.
Catboy shouts at a girl picking the world’s biggest bogey. Look at the size of it!
The cast of “The Goonies” remake with Sloth.
Catboy enjoys a salad FANTASTIC KITSCH CUPCAKE!!!
‘New-Lou’ regrets accepting the Dubai 92 job.
This is the same Kitsch Cupcake as two photos before. Honestly.
Superfan Dotty still in the studio. It was like ‘Play Misty For Me’ (with a fatter Clint Eastwood, obviously).
The iRod from The Power Drive finally gets a well-deserved cupcake (Vegemite stuffed, of course).
The dream team… Or the stuff of nightmares?
PR Shot Take 1 – “Touch my tree and I’ll break your legs!”
PR Shot Take 2 – “Touch my tree and I’ll break your legs whilst smiling.”
Lovely, decorated tree.
More lovely tree.
A kooky way of advertising missing children.
More decorations. What? I was just finishing the film!
This is a bag of Christmas. Honestly. It smells exactly like Christmas.
GB gets a personalised decoration, probably from one of the Dads.
Altogether now… “Aaahhh!”
See! Everyone’s smiling. No crying kids. Joy!
“Sorry but my hair is WAY too cool to wear the Santa hat”.
Christmas comes early as Nathalie finds two she wants to keep.
Nathalie again, this time with two schoolkids and Mini-Mika!
A stick-up occurs right in the middle of broadcasting.
Somebody wasn’t wearing deodorant and we were determined to find out who.
Radio DJs are getting younger and younger these days (and their IQ is getting higher).
They… Just… Kept… Coming…
The cowboys hold-up Catboy. Unfortunately he’s like the Queen… Never carries cash.
They were actually growing out of his head… Oh deer…
Reactions were varied to Catboy’s joke…
… Although his second had them rolling in the aisles.
By the third joke, one Mum cottoned-on and faked a smile for Catboy.
Toffee Princess, Suz McDonald from toffeeprincess.com helps with the tree.
You can tell none of these kids work in radio because none of them stabbed Catboy in the back.
Great blog and pics. I posted this blog as a link to my “Toffee Princess” Facebook Fanpage.
It is now 9.30.a.m. in Anglesey North Wales, how wonderful to see the excitement in the childrens faces, and marvelous technology to be able to be linked up to “Catboy and Geordiebird Dubai 92″ Only thing is I’ve searched and searched to find my little Grandaughter, Sophie Duce.! I spotted my son Robert in his yellow shirt.! Anyway I’m sure that they all had a memorable day, and when they got a lot older, they will be able to recall the fun of that event, dressing the Christmas tree. Well done, and thanks from all Grandparents all over the world, for letting us view the pictures. I bet you all were weary after all that effort, but went home with a lovely warm and contented feeling of sheer happiness. Take care and keep well, have a simply wonderful Christmas and New Year. Who knows one day I just might meet up with you all in the flesh so to speak.! All my good wishes to you all, Margaret, “Grandma Duce.xxxxxxx
Hi Folks, I have now been perusing the ‘photos and need to make a correction, I’ve spotted my Sophie, and can’t get over how she’s matured, I’m biased but I think that she’s a positive little Star.! Why don’t you start a childrens hour? Letting them introduce records, it would be very good for them to learn the radio set up at an early age. Take care and keep well! love Grandma Duce.
Speak to the boss, Grandma Duce… Although he rarely listens to anyone apart from old recordings of himself.
CBGB and Natalie – what a fantatsic way to start the day! My 2 little boys, Omar and Laith, had a LOVELY time, and were soooooo excited on the way back about seeing you, and that you’re in fact real and not just voices! Also, Omar was very chuffed at getting his snowman papercup on top of the tree, and asked if you could please tell Santa to have a look! Well done, marvelous effort, and you all were so patient and full of smiles. Honestly, the best team on radio, anywhere in the world xxx merry christmas xxx
Thanks guys. Pics are good. Jamie had a great time and his Mum heard him on radio when talking to Catboy. Keep up the good work.
A great big thank you to you all for making my day/week/year(!) by allowing me to come into the studio on Thursday morning.
I am still pathetically excited about it and of course had the photos with me at the school Christmas staff night out this weekend – and everyone had to hear the whole story!
On my 50 ( not ) birthday I got a cake from the staff at the Ranches and in my speech the two things I said that I loved about being in Dubai were working at JESS and the CB and GB breakfast show! Sad but true!
Any chance of a Paolo Nutini song one morning this week to say a big thanks to Julie Piechowiak and Yvonne Inglis for arranging it? Their daughters Megan and Belle were in my class last year – so Merry Christmas to them too!
Thanks again! x
[...] have gone all out in making this little patch of sand as festive as possible. We’ve had the Dubai 92 Tree Decorating, when literally hundreds of kids came to the Breakfast Show, decorated the tree, ate our cupcakes, [...]