By Carole Dennett
Wet Leg’s Rhian Teasdale appears in an unlikely pairing with comedian, actor, and screenwriter, Joe Wilkinson, in the second episode of Channel 4’s Train-ing It with Joe Wilkinson. The cameras follow them on a train journey from London to Portsmouth as Rhian heads home to the Isle of Wight.
Rhian, who founded Wet Leg with her friend, Hester Chambers, proves she can surprise offstage as much as on as she presents Joe with a handheld gadget, designed to detect ghosts by measuring electromagnetic frequencies.
“The Isle of Wight is very haunted,” she tells him, explaining that green means calm, but amber or red could signal a spirit nearby. Joe declares: “It’s about time I got one of these.”
The conversation bounces from music to the supernatural and horror films – when the ghost finder mysteriously turns orange as Robin Gibb arrives – to Island life. Rhiannon reveals she used to take the hovercraft to school “five days a week”, so often that the novelty wore off.
Joe, horrified, says he’s “never done it” and can’t imagine it becoming routine. They then swap party tricks – although Joe is prevented from swallowing a whole satsuma on health and safety grounds.
There are candid exchanges about band life, including the pressure on drummer Henry, who starts every song and sets the tempo. “Being the drummer would be a nightmare job,” she laughs. She also describes the Grammys as “like end-of-year assembly” and how it is difficult to go to the loo when you’ve been stitched into your costume.
The pair share crisps, swap stories and Rhian even signs Joe’s new autograph book. Rhiannon remains unfazed about fan recognition, calling it “surprising and cute”.
As the train approaches Portsmouth, Joe admits he’s jealous that her mum will be picking her up. Rhian smiles: Joe replies that he’s visiting the Island in a couple of months. “I want your mum to pick me up,” he says. But Rhian says firmly, “No, she’s not a taxi service.”
The full episode of Train-ing It with Joe Wilkinson can be viewed at HERE.
Mal Butler