Tyler West: 40 Torches and a Handball

Summary

Podcast Summary: Sort Your Life Out Unpacked

Episode: Tyler West: 40 Torches and a Handball (May 12, 2026)

Host: Dilly Carter (E)
Guest: Tyler West (A) – Radio and TV presenter, Strictly Come Dancing alumnus

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Overview

In this heartwarming and humorous episode, Dilly Carter welcomes Tyler West to “Sort Your Life Out Unpacked.” They explore Tyler’s deeply personal connection to three mystery objects from his home: an Olympic handball, a hand-knitted cushion, and his notorious torch collection. Through these items, Tyler opens up about his journey from a shy kid on a council estate to a TV and radio star, the influence of his family, and his unique approach to organization and sentimental living. The episode also features memorable tales of cleaning at 3:30am, relationship dynamics with his fiancée Molly Rainford, and an unexpectedly passionate discussion about torches.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tyler’s Approach to Organization and Home Life

• Opening banter about being “10 out of 10” at organization

  • Tyler jokingly claims top marks but immediately admits to forgetting one of the items he meant to bring.
  • "I'm good at organization, not good at remembering to do the organization." – Tyler (02:33)
  • Dilly teases Tyler about his habits and standards for household order.

• Quick-fire Home Truths

  • Describes his home as a “sanctuary.” (02:53)
  • Discusses bugbear: heating, due to living in an apartment where temperature is hard to control. Tyler institutes a “coat and blanket before heating” rule. (03:05–03:44)
  • Money-saving is a learned value from childhood.
    • "I grew up on this council estate in South London... my mum always taught me about the importance of looking after your money." – Tyler (04:03)

• Dishwasher Disagreements

  • Admits Molly is better at loading the dishwasher. "If you open the door, some of it's going to fall out on you. Guaranteed every single time." – Tyler (04:45)

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2. Mystery Object 1: London 2012 Olympic Handball

[05:02–10:49]

• Dilly unboxes a battered London 2012 handball.
• Tyler explains this ball is from his time playing for GB Handball Team at the Olympics.
  • "Not many people know... I used to play handball for Great Britain." (05:38)
• The ball is profoundly significant – the “entry point” for his media career.
  • “CBBC came to do an interview... and that was the start of my career as to then why I'm sat here today.” (05:41)
• Tyler discusses his shyness as a child and how sports and that first TV moment (at CBBC) changed his path.
  • "I used to be the shyest person in the whole entire world... Handball got me back out of my bedroom." (07:05)

Reflection on Memory Keeping

• This handball, battered as it is, is stored in what Tyler calls his “Harry Potter cupboard” (his personal memory/junk closet).

• Emphasizes the power of revisiting memory boxes:

  • “It’s nice every now and then when you go back through and you’re like, oh, do you remember that? It’s motivational.” (10:22–10:49)

• Both Tyler and Dilly share how challenging family circumstances gave them their careers and organizational passion.

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3. Mystery Object 2: Hand-Knitted Cushion

[11:07–14:57]

• Dilly reveals a beautifully hand-knitted cushion, crafted by Tyler's mum as a housewarming gift.
• The story behind it:
  • Craft tradition passed down from Tyler’s nan (grandmother) to his mum.
  • Took over a year to knit; infused with love and personalized buttons.
  • “When somebody makes you something really personal, but it’s actually good... the bar’s been set very high.” – Tyler (12:14)

Family Memories & Sentimentality

• Tyler reminisces about summer holidays at his nan's bungalow in Kent:
  • “It was really wholesome... my nan was so special.” (12:33–13:56)
  • Nan never saw his success, but her legacy and character live on through him and sentimental items.

Top Tip: Lavender for Home Scenting

• "She used to take the lavender and sprinkle it across the house and then hoover it up... the whole house would just be scented with lavender." – Tyler (14:09)

• Dilly and Tyler discuss how his fear of insects (especially spiders) impacts his cleaning habits, leading to a very tidy flat.

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4. Relationship Dynamics & Home Organization

• Tyler’s and Molly’s approach to moving in together, decorating, and organizing:

  • Adopted tips from “Sort Your Life Out”; relate to audience about the real-life impact of the show.
  • "It has transformed not only my life, my relationship, the house, the space, everything." – Tyler (16:57)

• Minimalist but sentimental decorating style; tension over “show cushions” and “coffee table books.”

  • “Who on earth is walking into our flat and going, right, hi guys, nice to see you, show me your show cushions?” – Tyler (18:16)

• Amusing discussion on how to properly “karate chop” and arrange cushions, as seen on Dilly’s show.

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5. Mystery Object 3: Tyler’s Torch Collection

[20:52–27:52]

• Dilly is astonished to discover Tyler owns a vast torch collection—including a 300-lumen head torch and a pen torch.
  • “I collected torches when I was younger. I had like about 60–odd torches.” – Tyler (21:35)
• Tyler’s torch obsession is a running joke between him and his fiancée Molly.
  • Molly’s voice note:
    “There is a 40 piece-ish collection... They just end up everywhere. There’s a torch in every cupboard at this point, which is not ideal when you want to, you know, live your best organized life.” (22:17)
• Tyler defends his torches as quirky, useful, and even essential.
  • “If you've got a quirky little thing that makes you happy, then just go with it.” (21:47)
  • "I light up my life every step of the way." (23:43)
• He describes various specialist torches (underwater, shoe-mounted, different colored lights for avoiding insects, etc.).
• Celebrates the rare but triumphant moment of a blackout when his torch arsenal truly shone.
  • "I went to go get my big powerhouse torch... over a thousand lumens." (25:12)

Torch Convention Aspirations

• One of Tyler’s “career highlights” was being invited to a torch convention and his ambition to attend in future. (25:31)
• Dreams of torch-lit features at his future wedding.

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6. Sentimentality vs. Practicality: Keep, Donate, Sell

[28:03–28:46]

• Dilly asks Tyler to choose what he’d keep, donate, or sell:
  • Keep: The cushion
  • Donate: The torch (he has plenty left)
  • Sell: The handball (“There’s some really big Olympic fans that would love to just hold that one.”)

7. Happy Place at Home

[28:54–29:35]

• Tyler’s “happy place” is the kitchen—the hub for hosting, music, and meals.
  • “It’s a place where we can host, a place where I can play my music, and have some good food over the dining table.” (29:16)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |-----------|---------|-----------------| | 02:33 | Tyler | "I'm good at organization, not good at remembering to do the organization." | | 04:03 | Tyler | "I grew up on this council estate in South London... my mum always taught me about the importance of looking after your money." | | 05:38 | Tyler | "Not many people know... I used to play handball for Great Britain." | | 05:41 | Tyler | “CBBC... that was the start of my career as to then why I'm sat here today.” | | 07:05 | Tyler | "I used to be the shyest person in the whole entire world... Handball got me back out of my bedroom." | | 12:14 | Tyler | “When somebody makes you something really personal, but it’s actually good... the bar’s been set very high.” | | 14:09 | Tyler | "She used to take the lavender and sprinkle it across the house and then hoover it up... the whole house would just be scented with lavender." | | 16:57 | Tyler | "It has transformed not only my life, my relationship, the house, the space, everything." | | 18:16 | Tyler | “Who on earth is walking into our flat and going, right, hi guys, nice to see you, show me your show cushions?” | | 21:35 | Tyler | “I collected torches when I was younger. I had like about 60–odd torches.” | | 22:17 | Molly | “There is a 40 piece-ish collection... They just end up everywhere. There’s a torch in every cupboard at this point, which is not ideal when you want to, you know, live your best organized life.” | | 23:43 | Tyler | "I light up my life every step of the way." | | 25:12 | Tyler | "I went to go get my big powerhouse torch... over a thousand lumens." | | 29:16 | Tyler | “It’s a place where we can host, a place where I can play my music, and have some good food over the dining table.” |

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Tips & Takeaways

• Organization is as much about sentiment and stories as it is about order—memory boxes and “junk” can have deep personal meaning.
• Family traditions and home-crafted items create strong emotional ties to our living spaces.
• Living light (as practiced on “Race Across the World”) has helped Tyler and Molly keep home clutter under control.
• Quirky hobbies like collecting torches can be a delightful part of who we are, even if partners find them excessive.
• Simple home hacks—like lavender in the hoover or a regular “Sunday reset”—make a big difference in creating a harmonious living environment.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:03 – Tyler’s “10 out of 10” organization debate
• 03:05 – Money-saving and home heating philosophy
• 05:02 – Unboxing the Olympic handball; Tyler’s backstory
• 07:05 – Personal growth and overcoming shyness
• 11:07 – Unboxing the hand-knitted cushion; family stories
• 14:09 – Lavender home-scenting tip
• 16:57 – How "Sort Your Life Out" changed Tyler’s home
• 18:16 – Rant about “show cushions” and decorating dynamics
• 20:52 – Unpacking the torch collection ("40 Torches" segment)
• 22:17 – Molly’s voice note on the torches
• 25:12 – The blackout “big moment” for Tyler’s torch arsenal
• 28:03 – Keep, donate, sell choices
• 28:54 – Tyler’s “happy place” at home

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Tone & Final Impressions

This episode is a lively, comedic, and heartfelt look at how our possessions tell our stories. Tyler’s candidness with Dilly produces both laughs and moments of real insight into how backgrounds, family, and idiosyncratic passions shape our homes and lives. If you’re looking for organizing wisdom mixed with warmth and wit—plus more torch knowledge than you ever expected—this is unmissable listening.

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Listen on BBC Sounds or watch on iPlayer for the full conversation and more home truths, hacks, and heart—and don’t forget your torch!

Transcript

[A]

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[E]

I'm Dilly Carter, the organized one, and this is Sort yout Life Out Unpacked. Get ready to unpack three boxes with my celebrity guest. Every box has an item from their own home, plus a load of stories and memories. And standby for my tips on how to sort your own life out too. This episode, my guest describes himself as a full 10 out of 10. Yeah, I said 10 out of 10. When it comes to organization, I mean, that is the holy Grail. He is a radio and TV presenter who says that sometimes he even tidies. At 3:30am before going to host his Kiss FM breakfast show, he had a brilliant run on Strictly Come Dancing before being beaten by his now beautiful fiance, Molly Rainford. In the Dance off, it is the super talented Tyler White.

[A]

Oh, what an intro. Dilly, we're doing it.

[E]

This is sick.

[A]

This is so cool. Thanks for having me down.

[E]

Oh my gosh, it's such a joy to have you in my leopard print chair.

[A]

This is amazing. And like straight off the bat, you've called me a 10 out of 10 when it comes to organizations.

[E]

Can I just. Can we just. Let's unpack this because. What did you forget?

[A]

No, it doesn't. It doesn't matter.

[E]

What did you forget?

[A]

Listen, you forgot something. By the end of you forgot one of your items, it will be here. That's all that matters is that it's on its way here now. Listen, I didn't say I was the most like you said you were 10

[E]

out of 10, Tyler.

[A]

I'm good at organization, not good at remembering to do the organization.

[E]

Organization. If you're organized, you're organised. 10 out of 10, that was. You were giving yourself top marks.

[A]

I'm sorry.

[E]

And then you forgot something.

[A]

I'm sorry.

[E]

Okay. I actually cannot wait to see what you brought in. Yeah, this is gonna be very interesting. But first I'm gonna ask you a few quick fire home truths.

[A]

All right, hit me.

[E]

How do you describe your home in a sentence?

[A]

Oh, sanctuary.

[E]

Sanctuary.

[A]

That's a big word.

[E]

No, it's a big word.

[A]

Yeah. Come on.

[E]

10 out of 10. Sanctuary. Wow. We've got opinions of Tyler. Okay, what's your home? Bugbear.

[A]

Oh, heating.

[E]

Heating.

[A]

Yeah. Listen, I told you, it's going to be random today. Heating. I overheat. So even. I'll tell you what, even in here. Yeah, even in here. What is there not cost of living crisis going on? I'm sweating like I overheat so bad.

[E]

But you are wearing a thick angora cardigan.

[A]

Yes, I should. Mate. Should I take it off? Should we just get. Should we just get straight to the

[E]

good part because you're going to get sweaty.

[A]

Get straight to the good part. Start stripping on a podcast. That's great. Oh, that's it. Now we're comf.

[E]

That's better.

[A]

We're in an apartment building. So the apartment below. An apartment above when they put their heating on. Yeah. Sweat box in the middle.

[E]

I mean, that is the most random thing that you could have said is your bugbear. Heating.

[A]

I have this sort of rule, like if you're in the flat before you touch the heating. Have you got a coat on? Have you got a blanket over you? And is it really that deep? That's what I say. Before we get to that point.

[E]

I'm all for that. I'm all for money saving tips.

[A]

Money saving. That's it.

[E]

Have you always been that sensible when it comes to money?

[A]

Oh, 100%. Ever since. So I grew up on this council estate in South London, right. And I loved it there because it just taught me so much, like about. On our environment. My mum really didn't have a lot and we. We made what do and got by, right? But my mum always taught me about the importance of like looking after your money and trying to come up with ways to save it as well. And I think that's sort of been instilled upon me from young and that has sort of carried on and carried away mentality. So when I say, like, I'm so Organized, I mean, like spreadsheets galore. Everything has a place in our house.

[E]

Spreadsheets. Oh, that excites me. Okay, who stacks the dishwasher correctly?

[A]

Not me, you or Molly. Yeah, not me. It's Molly. It's Molly. Yeah. I'm bad.

[E]

You're bad at this dishwasher.

[A]

If you, if you open the door, some of it's going to fall out on you. Guaranteed every single time.

[E]

I mean this 10 out of 10 is slipping to an 8.

[B]

What?

[A]

Whoa, hold on. Is this what we're getting judged on now?

[E]

Yeah. Can we have a look at your first Pass me over that box. Cuz I am just too excited to see what's in it.

[A]

I actually don't know what's in it, so I don't know what's.

[E]

Okay. So this is quite a big box.

[A]

It's not about the size.

[E]

It's not about the size. All right, okay. I mean to me this is, it is a ball.

[A]

Ah, there we go.

[E]

It's a ball in this box. And I mean it's not a football. I don't know much about sport, but I know this isn't a football. This is a. Let's imagine this is like a small size football. London 2012 Official Ball IHF. What is this ball about?

[A]

National Handball Federation. So it is a handball from the 2012 Olympics.

[E]

A handball from the 2012 Olympics. Now why have you got that?

[A]

Because not many people know, like, so I started out, I used to play handball for Great Britain.

[E]

Wow.

[A]

And that was my sort of in like CBBC came to do an interview with the team during a training session and was like, oh, do you fancy like talking and explaining the rules of handball on camera? And I did like 30 seconds and I was like, oh, why not? And I used to be the shyest person in the whole entire world. I did this 30 seconds on camera and then the show was like, oh, you're quite good at this. You fancy guest presenting. So then that was the start of my career as to then why I'm sat here today. So even though this, and let me say just everybody that can't see it, this ball is battered. Right. This ball has been through the trenches, but that's what I sort of took away. And I would never let it go. Cause I was like, that's such a core memory for me. It definitely does go in my Harry Potter cupboard.

[E]

Oh my gosh.

[A]

That has all of my little gadgets, gizmos, junk that just don't match the aesthetic that's going on in the flat. But it's fine, it's there. It's a core memory.

[E]

Wow. So when did you start playing handball?

[A]

So I started playing handball when I was about 16.

[E]

And. Ted, can you just explain what handball is? Handball's essentially, I'm imagining volleyball, that type of thing.

[A]

Everybody sort of jumps to that. I mean, it's one of the biggest sports in Europe. It's essentially like football with your hands. Okay.

[E]

Football with your hands.

[A]

Football with your hands.

[E]

Okay.

[A]

Indoor sport, really, really fast paced, big over in Europe. But 2012 was basically, we qualified for the Olympics, obviously, because we was the host in nature.

[E]

And so you got spott talking about handball. Literally just your presenting skills.

[A]

Well, it just helps when, like now you can't shut me up. But when I was younger, honestly, I no lie. My mum used to get called into school and they would ask, is everything all right at home? Because I would go into school, I would sit at the back of the class. I wouldn't say anything to anyone.

[E]

Why do you think you were so shy?

[A]

I don't know. I think I was just always, like, I was always scared of the world. Like, I hung around with the wrong people when I was. When I was really, well, sort of like 30 in my teenage years. That didn't help. I was always sort of like in the shadows behind another, bigger voice in the room. Didn't really understand confidence and things like that. And then consequently, I went through, like, quite a traumatic few years. I struggled so bad mentally. But the positive spin on that, though, is that handball was the thing at my school that got me back out of my bedroom. And then from that, the interview with cbbc, and then from that, it was like all these opportunities. So if, like, if I hadn't gone through those tough times, then I wouldn't be here with you now.

[E]

Exactly that. I. I strongly believe in those tough times. I wouldn't have become an organizer if I didn't grow up with a mother with mental health issues. So, you know, the fact that my house was always in chaos meant that it taught me how to, you know, find something. Some joy in helping my mum and dad, you know, keep on top of the house.

[A]

Exactly.

[E]

And it's now turned into a career and I'm sitting here talking to you.

[A]

Exactly.

[E]

So it's a huge bonus. I mean, we're gonna talk about the fact that you've got a Harry Potter cupboard. What is that?

[A]

That's just basically I am an adult child, right. So I collect things. I'm so easily swayed on why I Will need something. So I've got so many sort of like gadgets and gizmos and that's the cupboard that it goes in.

[E]

So it's like my equivalent to a Monaco cupboard is your Harry Potter cupboard.

[A]

Yeah, that's it. Everybody's got a junk drawer. I've got a junk cupboard.

[E]

Okay, and how is your cupboard? Is it organized?

[A]

Well, the Harry Potter cupboard is minimal now. Like things have reduced.

[E]

Yes.

[A]

More so when me and Molly moved in together because we have a clear out, like probably like once, if not twice a month. Like we're very good at it. When we clean the flat, we. Every single cupboard gets opened, everything gets dusted down.

[E]

That is excellent.

[A]

Yeah, it's one of the cleanest flats in London when it happens.

[E]

Oh really? See, you give it a good deep clean. It's not just a little surface.

[A]

Listen, when, when I'm in that zone and I've got my music on and it's like a Sunday reset, I'm all over it. The candle gets lit.

[E]

We love a Sunday reset.

[A]

Yeah. The sofas get wiped down, they get hoovered up like every. There's not a crumb. There's not a crumb inside.

[E]

I think having a reset, especially a Sunday reset, there's something so satisfying about it, isn't it? Getting yourself set up for the rest of the week. Because now you are up early off.

[A]

Yeah. Half 3:00am, alarms.

[E]

Half 3:00am and you said that you like cleaning at 3:30 sometimes in the morning.

[A]

Yeah. So to give context, sometimes in the mornings, if I'm like ready before I have to leave. Yeah, I will, absolutely. I'll take the bins out. I'll like get organized like that because then at least it's done before your neighbors love you.

[E]

At 3:30 in the morning, taking the bins out.

[A]

Yeah. Unless I also come back from a night out. What I, what I actually do, and this is controversial, I, I tidy up after a night out so that when I wake up in the morning, you

[E]

don't have to do it.

[A]

It feels great. Whatever state you wake up in, it feels amazing. That's my top tip. Ty's top tip.

[E]

Ty's top tips. I mean, who knew you weren't going to be giving the tips on this podcast today when you moved out, obviously you took your handball with you. How many of those have you got?

[A]

I've only got one.

[E]

That's it.

[A]

Yeah, I've only got that one. That one's from the Olympics. I was like, that's pretty special. Got a memory box. It's got like a couple of. I've run the marathon a couple of times. It's got some of those things in. It's got some passes from like hosting at the Brits and you know, hosting various different things. Like, it's got like load of memories just in this box. And I'm like, yeah, let me just keep that so one day I can show my kids and things like that. And also it's nice every now and then when you go back through it and you're like, oh, do you remember that it's sort of motivational, very important

[E]

to revisit your memories because actually just shoving them in the box is great. But it's nice sometimes to get those memory boxes out and look at them. Look at where this item has taken us. Isn't it amazing? Shall we have a little dig into your second box? Okay. What is in this big box? Okay.

[A]

Yes.

[E]

So in this big box is a very beautiful big. I mean a very well hand knitted.

[A]

Yeah.

[E]

Cushion.

[A]

There we go. I mean, courtesy of my mum, number one.

[E]

That is so beautifully knitted. And I love the fact that she's even added buttons to it.

[A]

Personalized buttons that says personalized buttons. I mean, she was on it, don't get me wrong. So it was meant to be like a housewarming present when we first got our place. Took about 12 to 13 months to be delivered because she took us so long to make it. But yeah, it was so special. My nan went like, I was so close to my nan growing up and my nan was always into crochet and she would always try to teach me but I was never, never good at it, like at all. And then my mum learned and it's sort of that sort of tradition that's been passed down from my nan to my mum. And then my mom made us this cushion when we moved in. And yeah, it was really special because I mean you can buy all the sort of everything different, different things. You can go out to the shops, you can have, you know, the time of your life. But when somebody makes you something like really personal, but it's actually good. Like I, I'll be honest, I don't really like junk and clutter, aside from a little Harry Potter cupboard. But whenever somebody gives me something for the house, I'd rather them either like give me a candle or just gift card or something like that. Because unless it's something like mad personal like this. Yeah. The bar's been set very high.

[E]

I know, hasn't it? I mean that is an incredibly well knitted cushion cover. So tell me about your relationship with your grandma.

[A]

Oh, my nan was so special. She was just like. So all the six weeks holidays, obviously, because we couldn't afford as a family to like, go away or anything like that. It was just me and my mum and my brother, we would always go down to my nan's house in Kent in Broadstairs. So I spent most of the six weeks holidays growing up, like, just down at the beach, down by my nan's, at a little bungalow, literally doing puzzles and things like that. Like, it was really wholesome. But my nan, unfortunately, she passed away before I started any of this stuff. So she never got to see me on telly, she never got to see me on the radio, she never got to see me on any of those things there. But I know that obviously she's with me in spirit with everything I ever gone to do. Because, like, Strictly was like her favorite show ever. She loved watching telly on. Like, that would be our thing. We'd get fish and chips and we'd watch Saturday night telly and that would just be it. That's all like, my sort of core memories there. But there's so much of my nan that still, like, lives on in me.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

And, yeah, she was just. I mean, she was great. I mean, she had the most beautiful garden that I've ever seen in my whole entire life. Like, she was so into, like, floristry and stuff like that. And she made me, like, dig out. She had, like a pond in her back garden. Then when she became, like, unwell, she made me fill in the pond and then she was like, oh, actually, no, I want the pond back. She was such a funny character, but they weren't a bad bone. And she would always find that little bit of, like, love or trust in someone. So, yeah, she had a really beautiful soul. And so then it's so nice, like, when my mum obviously has done something like that, it meant the world moving into our new place.

[E]

So it reminds you of your nan as well?

[A]

Yeah, my nan. I'll tell you what, one little tip. My nan used to. She loved the smell of lavender because it's, like, really calming as well. This is another way to make, like, your place, really sort of.

[E]

Top tips from Tyler. Here they come.

[A]

Top tips from Tyler. This is a new segment, guys, I'm back. But she used to. She had a lavender, lavender, like, plant in her back garden. She would take the lavender and then sprinkle it all across the house and then hoover it up and then the Smell would come out of the Hoover and then it would. The whole house would just be scented with lavender, which was really sweet.

[E]

Great, Great tip.

[A]

Yeah. I'm scared of bees as well, so that didn't really.

[E]

Scared of bees.

[A]

These were all on the lavender plant, so I just didn't like it.

[E]

Where's that come from?

[A]

Well, I'm scared of every single insect known to Matt. I don't know why. I'm six foot three. Yeah.

[E]

So we won't see you in the jungle.

[A]

Absolutely not. I don't know where it came from. Spiders. Nuh.

[E]

Is that why your house is so clean?

[A]

Potentially.

[E]

Cause you don't want to see any

[A]

of the spiders in, like, the first month of us moving into the flat, there was this fat spider. Like this spider was. Yeah. It almost said, hey, how you doing? Like it was talking. And Molly, me and Molly had just come back from dinner and she was like, you're gonna need to get rid of it. Cause she was scared. And I was like, I can't. I genuinely was about to go stay at Mum's. I was like, come on, let's just. Let's just leave the night. I'm sure he was gonna see himself out and then we'll just cut from here. It was. Yeah, it was bad.

[E]

And the fact that you and Molly are both scared of spiders is no good.

[A]

That's the worst thing. I'll tell you what you should do. When it's like you're in a partnership like that, you should go on a show called Race across the World and just see what it's like over in that side of the world.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, in Guatemala and.

[E]

Well, you'd think after that experience, you'd be better. Yeah.

[A]

No, not at all.

[E]

No.

[A]

Race across the World genuinely changed my life. One of the greatest shows. One of the greatest shows on Earth.

[E]

Living out of a backpack.

[A]

Living out of a backpack.

[E]

How did you find that with your stuff?

[A]

It really sort of taught you that you needed to pack light.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

So now the good thing is, is that when we do go on holiday, we are very cutthroat and we are very much like, you're good.

[E]

Do you use packing cubes?

[A]

Packing cubes.

[E]

Well done, Tick.

[A]

Take it one step further.

[E]

Go on.

[A]

What's the ones where you can zap the air out of it?

[E]

Vacuum bags.

[A]

Vacuum bags, compression bag, possession bags, the lot. Wow.

[E]

Do you think that brought you and Molly closer?

[A]

Oh, without a doubt. We got to see some parts of the world that I could never once imagine myself going to like. There were so many times where it just hit home for me. I was like, Rod, like, I never once imagined growing up, like, on that estate, that I would ever see this side of the world. I'd never been on holiday, do you know, I'd never flown abroad, so.

[E]

You'd never flown abroad?

[A]

I'd never. For such a long time growing up. And then. And then when I went away on it, I was like, wow, this is what life is about. And you're talking. You're meeting so many incredible people in all these different countries. So, yeah, it really was like a pinch yourself, once in a lifetime experience.

[E]

Obviously, you and Molly have only recently moved in together, haven't you? So what's your flat like now? How's that been moving in and, you know, two of you? Have you decorated it?

[A]

It was a blank canvas when we moved in. I was like, oh, no, maybe we don't need any color. I'm very monochroma. So that was the sort of vibe that we was going with. But then all of a sudden it's like you start seeing interest. Like you start getting inspiration on Pinterest and seeing even shows, I'll be honest. Sort yout Life out was. One of the things that I actually have to say thank you for is because when me and Molly first ever got together, we would always watch, like, we loved, like superhero movies and things like that and superhero series. And then Molly was just like, oh, yeah, I'm gonna Stick on Salt yout Life Out. And I was like, what is this? Like, what are we watching all of a sudden? It has transformed not only my life, my relationship, the house, the space, everything. Night of A six. It was so good. So it was like our thing that we just chuck on in the background, even when we've got. When we're doing the flats all out. I am so glad you feel double organized. There are some pointless things in our flat that I didn't agree with, which I know that you're gonna agree with. So we have like, on the coffee table, we have, like, place. What's it called? Like books or something like that.

[E]

Coffee table book.

[A]

Yeah, coffee table books. And nobody ever reads.

[E]

No, no one's meant to read them.

[A]

Cushions. I love this one because it was from my mum. The other cushions, like the 6, 7 scatter cushions on the bed that I have to wrestle with every night before I get into bed. Pointless.

[E]

You get well with my hus. Husband. He's the same.

[A]

What is he at? Is it right?

[E]

He's the same. He's like, why have we got the cushions on the bed? Where does this cushion live? Your mum's cushion.

[A]

That's actually on our bed. One of the 17 on our bed at the moment. But the thing is, is that, like, Molly came back and I was sat there and I was knackered from work and I fell asleep. She was like, oh, you're not sleeping on that, are you? And I said, what do you mean? She was like, that's a show cushion. And I said, what? Who on earth is walking into our flat and going, right, hi, guys, nice to see you. Show me your show cushions. Like, it doesn't happen. And then.

[E]

It's so true.

[A]

It's also the point. Like, whenever you're making the bed, and I've seen you guys do this on the show so much where you, like. You, like, turn into, like, Mr. Miyagi and chop the cushion down the middle. You karate chop them.

[E]

Everyone. Everyone karate chops their cushions. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. But apparently when I karate chop the cushion, it's not the same. When Molly karate chops, you don't do it right.

[E]

Do you do, like. Do you spin it four times and puff it?

[A]

Spin it. Like, there's a technique to chopping a cushion.

[E]

You've got to spin every side.

[A]

I've heard it all.

[E]

You spin it, puff it, spin it, puff it. You gotta get all the. All the feathers ruffled up and then you karate chop. So that's probably what she's doing, which you're not. You just pick up that cushion and karate chop it, don't you?

[A]

Yeah, 100%.

[E]

Yeah. You've got to spin it first.

[A]

I've got a lot to learn.

[E]

It's about living in that space.

[A]

You gotta let it marinate.

[E]

Yes, you do.

[A]

That's what you gotta do.

[E]

It's exactly.

[A]

Chop the cushions and let it marinate.

[E]

Chop the cushions. I know. It sounds like a recipe, doesn't it? So your grandma did knitting, your mum did knitting. Does that mean that you are gonna do some knitting?

[A]

I'd give it a go, you know, I actually would.

[E]

Can Molly knit it?

[A]

Let me make something for this set. Yeah, let me try and knit something for this set. Like a little throw or something.

[E]

Well, I think your mum and your nan would be very proud.

[A]

I hope so. I. I don't know. I haven't done any crocheting yet, so.

[E]

Well, you know, there's still time. There's still time. Shall we have a look and see what's in your third and final box?

[B]

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[C]

Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[B]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[C]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[B]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[C]

Liberty, Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[D]

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[E]

Okay, so we have got a smaller box in here. Let's see what's in it. What is this? Okay, so I have got a box. I am taken out of the box. It looks. Is this a head torch? Yeah, it is a head torch.

[A]

Not just any head torch. That's like 300 lumens in your hand right there.

[E]

That means absolutely nothing to me.

[A]

Thank you very much.

[E]

And then a pen torch.

[A]

Yeah, that's more casual one. Casual only about 100.

[E]

100 lumens.

[A]

100 lumens.

[E]

Is that what you measure light in?

[A]

You measure light in lumens?

[E]

I mean, I've learned something new today. I never knew that. So you measure light in lumens. So this is a pen torch, and this is a head torch. So what tunnel are you digging?

[A]

This is geek Tyler over here.

[E]

Geek Tyler.

[A]

This is geek Tyler coming to life. I collected torches when I was younger.

[E]

You collect torches?

[A]

I had like about 60. 60 odd torches.

[E]

Stop it.

[A]

Yeah, and then I was like, okay, I need to grow up and I need to get rid of some of these.

[E]

Why?

[A]

I honestly couldn't tell you, but it's one of those ra that I've championed. I'm like, yeah, listen, if you've got like a quirky little thing that makes you happy, then just go with it. Just go with it. And those torches came in handy when we did race across the world. I looked like Iron Man. There was no insect. In fact, there was all the insects coming near me. But then I've got another head torch that has a red light.

[E]

What?

[A]

So when you're around insects. If you have a red light on, it doesn't attract the insects as much, but you can still see where you're going.

[E]

Oh my gosh. Okay. In fact, we have a voice note from your gorgeous fiance about your collection.

[F]

So I first found out about Tyler's torture collection during strictly because he got a bedazzled torch from Claudia, which is pretty iconic. But I didn't realize the extent of it until we actually, you know, started dating, moved in together. There is a 40 piece ish collection. I did add to that one anniversary I bought him a torch that said Tyler. But he does blame me for making him cut the collection down just because, you know, the storage, they just end up everywhere. There's a torch in every cupboard at this point, which is not ideal when you want to, you know, live your best organized life. Look, we can take and leave the torch collection, but I think Ty would say something different.

[E]

Whoa, hold on a minute.

[A]

Whoa. Right, what is this? Are you trying to cause conflict in my relationship? Because that is like that rant, by the way. She said it's not ideal. Why is she saying that to everybody?

[E]

She's saying it. She's put it out there. She feels safe.

[A]

I'm glad it's a safe space for her. Like I feel attacked.

[E]

She feels safe.

[A]

So now you understand why I got my Harry Potter cupboard.

[E]

She's saying they're in every cupboard around your house.

[A]

Absolutely not. I have cracked down on them. I'll be honest. I've got like underwater torches. I've got like 16 LED ones. I've got loads like head torches. I've got ones that go on your shoes as well.

[E]

Oh, please, that's great. Stop it.

[A]

And then whenever I go and take the bins out, I can see where

[E]

I'm going at 3:30 in the morning.

[A]

I light up my life every step of the way.

[E]

It's a little bit genius.

[A]

It just became an obsession when I was younger and something that carried over. And you know what this is? What this is What? I've got bones of it with Molly when I get back here because she goes, oh, it's so sweet, you know, that you like, you're like this big like guy and you love torches. It's such a little cute obsession all of a sudden. To dilly. Oh yeah. No, it's not ideal. We need to get rid of some of these torches. They're in every cupboard.

[E]

It's amazing. It's amazing what people tell me. Yeah, I don't think I own a torch. I Don't actually own a torch in my house. I actually don't own a torch. In fact, I know I haven't because everything's beautifully labeled in my moniker cupboard. Everything's in containers. So I've got, like, you, Harry, you look disgusted.

[A]

I'm taken back.

[E]

Not one torch. I tell you. The torch I've got is on my phone.

[A]

Oh, that is poor.

[E]

And that's not even a torch.

[A]

That is poor.

[E]

Have you got one on your key ring?

[A]

Have I got. No, I don't think.

[E]

Oh, I mean, what type of Torch fan are you? That would be somewhere you would keep a torch, right?

[A]

No.

[E]

So, Molly, if you're listening, buy Tyler Torch fees.

[A]

I don't know. I don't need no more. Look, everybody's been honest. Everybody is clearly making me out to be the weirdo with the torches. Right? And I will sit on that hill. But I mean, first of all, you need torch. There was one point just after lockdown, and it was my big moment. There was a power cut for, like, the first time ever in South London, in the area. I was in South London, and I went. I stood up from the sofa and I felt like Superman. Yeah. And I ran to go and get a big powerhouse torch. No, I went to go get my big powerhouse torch.

[E]

How big is the big powerhouse?

[A]

It's over a thousand lumens.

[E]

I mean, that.

[A]

It will light up. It will light up a good area.

[E]

Yeah, but how, like, is it big hand? Like, how.

[A]

That's probably the size of a microphone. Just like a microphone torch. Yeah, like a microphone torch.

[E]

Okay, so it's not the size of the torch, it's the power about the size.

[A]

That's what I'm saying. Do you know what I mean? Do you know what? One of the highlights of my career so far is being invited to a torch convention. Yeah. And this, I promise you. Now, this happened, and I was so angry that I couldn't make it because of my radio show.

[E]

So they didn't make you an ambassador.

[A]

But now I've changed. Now I'm on the KISS Breakfast show. I promise you now I'm gonna be going to.

[E]

That you need to go revisit it.

[A]

They said that you can play with this. There's this other torch called. It's called the Immolant. Right.

[E]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

And the Immolant Torch is. This is how powerful it is. You can't shine it into the sky. It would light up a neighborhood. And it will send planes the other way.

[E]

No, it's how Powerful.

[A]

So it said that you can actually have like, a. A physical demonstration with this torch.

[E]

Maybe you can get married to, like, a torch lit walkway. They could be like, loads of torches along. Instead of having candles, you could have, like, just a load of torches sat upright as you walk down the aisle.

[A]

Everybody can wear, like, those wristbands. It would look like a Coldplay concert. Minus the CEOs.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah, minus the CEOs.

[E]

Oh, my God. I mean, this is what you spend your hard earned money on, right?

[A]

Well, this is it. Yeah. I mean, I'm tight, man. I save. Like, I love sa. I love a bar. TikTok shop has me in a chokehold.

[E]

Please don't say that. Tyler. Do you constantly buy random things?

[A]

No, it's not random things. If it's a torch like that, that's not random. That's gonna get used at some point. Do you know what? When again, on Race Across World, when Molly asked me, can I use a torch? It was the proudest moment of my life. Like, it was the mic drop moment. It was like, oh, you need a torch, do you? Are you in the dark?

[E]

There we go. Suddenly I'm helpful.

[A]

Check your pocket. I was like, check your pocket. There was like, three in there. She was fuming.

[E]

How many did you take with you?

[A]

Oh, I put one in each pocket because it needed easily accessible.

[E]

Okay.

[A]

About seven each.

[E]

That's probably why Molly was, like, attracted to you. She's like, is that torch in your pocket

[A]

died? I.

[E]

And it turned out it was.

[A]

That's what put it across the line.

[E]

And that is what it was. And how disappointed she must have been.

[A]

Yeah, that's it. It was a cold room, guys. It was a very cold room.

[E]

Who knew? Who knew? It's getting there anyway. And then I was gonna ask, do you think your torch collection will grow any further?

[A]

Okay. My torch collection? Yeah, I think it's. I think my torch collection is. I mean, it grows. It grows sometimes.

[E]

Oh, my gosh. Tyler, I've loved every single one of your items. Thank you so, so much. I mean, do you want to keep at all seen and heard more? Do I want to keep a torch of yours?

[A]

Yeah.

[E]

Oh, please.

[D]

Can.

[E]

Can I have the blue? Can we leave the. Is that too special?

[A]

No, absolutely.

[E]

Can I just have it there just for when I'm feeling, like, sad? I can look at the torch, you

[A]

can turn all the lights off, have

[E]

a little raver, and if the lights go out, we know we've got Tyler's to torch forever.

[A]

Tell you what, just thank me later,

[E]

if you had to. Out of these items, what would you keep, donate, or sell?

[A]

I'd keep the cushion.

[E]

Keep the cushion.

[A]

I'd donate the torch.

[E]

Cause you've got enough.

[A]

Yeah. Cause I've got three more of those ones. That's fine. And then I'd probably sell the ball because I feel like there's some really, like, big Olympic fans that would love to just hold that one.

[E]

You could auction them off. Yeah, okay. That's good. Very, very good choices. And my last question to you. Where in your home is your happy place?

[A]

Oh, gosh. Where in my home is my happy place?

[E]

Yeah. Under a blanket with a torch.

[A]

I see what I mean. How did we get there? Anything I say now is just gonna be like. If I say in the bathroom, it's gonna sound weird, isn't it?

[E]

Yes, yes. Very strange.

[A]

Bathroom is actually a really cool place, though. In honest, it is nice.

[E]

Oh, okay. No, that.

[A]

One of the happiest places in my house is probably in the kitchen. It's a place where we can host. It's a place where I can play my music and it's a place where we can sit down and have some good food over the dining table.

[E]

I mean, the kitchen is the hub of the house.

[A]

It is. It really is. And, yeah, it's special, man. It's all lit up nice.

[E]

Yeah. With all your up lighting, your down lighting.

[A]

That's it.

[E]

Everything around. Tyler, you have been unbelievably amazing.

[A]

I absolutely love this.

[E]

You've been so kind and such a lovely person to sit opposite and divulge with because. Because who knew? Who knew all of these things about you?

[A]

Nobody knew.

[E]

Nobody knew. But now they all know. It's out there.

[A]

Dilly, you're so special. This is amazing. Thank you for having me. And you can have a torch.

[E]

I can't wait to be back with you. For more revealing home truths, organizational hacks, and celeb unboxings, sort your life out. Unpacked is presented by me, Diddy Carter. You can watch us on Iplayer and listen on BBC Sounds. And don't forget to subscribe on BBC Sounds and have push notifications turned on to make sure you don't miss a. If you enjoyed my conversation with Tyler west about Race across the World, then make sure you check out Race across the the Detour. Tyler hosts the video companion podcast discussing all things travel fails and hacks with celebrity guests. Watch Race across the World the Detour on Iplayer and listen for more on BBC Sound.