BBC local radio’s Late Show is hitting the road this week as presenters Becky Want and Jo Good take their show on tour—broadcasting live from pubs across England in a journey packed with history, community, and a touch of EastEnders nostalgia.
At the heart of their travels? A very special companion—the Queen Victoria bust seen perched on the bar in Walford’s iconic Queen Vic. Thanks to BBC History, Becky and Jo are carrying a replica of the famous soap prop on their nationwide adventure, taking it to real-life Queen Vic pubs across England and meeting the people who call them home.
Their journey began on Monday night at The Queen Victoria in Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Next, they head to Queen Victoria pubs in Darfield (Barnsley), Syston (Leicester), Malden (Essex), and finally Bermondsey (London).
Each night, from 10pm to 1am, Becky and Jo are bringing the Late Show live from the pubs, chatting with locals about their stories, memories, and what makes these places so special. Whether it’s regulars who’ve been propping up the bar for decades or landlords with tales that rival anything the soap’s writers could dream up, this tour is a celebration of community, character, and classic British pubs.
For Becky Want, it’s not just about the journey—it’s about giving the Queen Vic bust a front-row seat to history:
“What an honour to be taking the precious Queen Vic bust on her first-ever road trip across the country! She’s seen some sights in Walford over the last 40 years, and we can’t wait to find out what stories she will witness this week from England’s real-life Queen Vics.”
From Newcastle to London, from pints to proper pub banter—this week, BBC local radio is bringing the Queen Vic to life in a way that even Peggy Mitchell would raise a glass to.
