"Why Hello Jill!" – How Ainsley Harriott created a joyous meme

In the last 12 months, Greg James has climbed the UK's highest mountains, sent a pasty round the country, and interviewed a lion. But his radio bucket list couldn't be complete without speaking to Ainsley Harriott.

Why? Because Ainsley is the voice behind Greg's favourite soundbite of all time. If you recognise these words, you'll be a fan of it too:

"Why hello Jill!"

Regular Radio 1 Breakfast listeners won't need any explanation, because Greg has been playing the clip for years, but it emerged when Ainsley guested on ITV's This Morning and visited a lovely lady named Jill.

Jill was being given a surprise Mother's Day treat. And there she was, sat alongside Alison Hammond, looking completely startled when Ainsley spectacularly entered the room, frying pan in hand, belting out the words: "Why helloooo Jiiiiiiill."

And this week, after years of trying to get Ainsley on his show, Greg finally succeeded. "I don't think I've ever been so excited to have a guest on the show. I mean it," he said on Thursday.

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"The reason I love you so much is you spread joy wherever you go. You just need to accept these compliments," Greg said, explaining his love for the former Ready, Steady, Cook host. "And then one day, I was watching This Morning. And something happened on This Morning that changed my life forever."

Since Greg first played the clip on his show, listeners have been sending him videos of their own "Why Hello Jill" impressions. He hears about it every single day.

Ainsley had no idea this one moment on daytime TV had managed to spread so much joy around the country.

But now he was finally in the studio, what else could he do besides call up listeners named Jill?

Some Jill's were more thrilled than others.

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