Jo Whiley surprised her fans as she reminisced on starring in Love Actually.
The DJ, 60, had a short cameo in the iconic Christmas film - something she reflected on with Zoe Ball during their podcast, Dig It.
Whiley provided the voice for the DJ on the radio who plays Jump (For My Love) by the Pointer Sisters, before Hugh Grant launches into his memorable dance.
In the film, Whiley says: “It’s almost enough to make you feel patriotic, so here’s one for our arse-kicking prime minister, I think he’ll enjoy this - a golden oldie for a golden oldie.”
Ball joked on the podcast it’s the “coolest thing” Whiley has ever done - and lots of commenters on Instagram agreed.
“Oh my goodness. Watched it a million times,” one wrote. “Listened to Jo sooooo many times and never twigged. That’s it then. Ultimate coolness achieved!”
Another added: “Oh my goodness I have watched that film so many times even as recently as 2 weeks ago. How on earth did I not realise it was you Jo.”
Some, however, were well aware of her appearance.
“Absolutely! How can anyone not know this,” one commenter asked. “Only the coolest DJ for the best Christmas film ever.”
Another said: “I completely remember this. Every time we watch it I say that’s Jo Whiley.”
Hugh Grant doesn’t think as fondly of the scene, though, and said the dance is “the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid”.
The dance has been imitated by internet users for almost 20 years since the film’s release, with many users emulating Grant’s snake-hipped moves.
Speaking to ABC news anchor Diane Sawyer during a special 20-years-later celebration of Love Actually, Grant admitted that “some people like (the scene)”.
“I think I saw it in the script and thought ‘I’ll hate doing that’. No Englishman can dance when they’re sober at 8am in the morning,” he said.
“And to this day, you know, there’s many people, and I agree with them, and we think it’s the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid.
“But then some people like it.”
The actor also claimed it had been his idea to have the secretary, played by the late Meg Wynn Owen, catch him mid-boogie.
“I will give myself the credit of having the secretary catch me… genius,” he said, laughing.
