ALEX SCOTT got on the booze early live on Football Focus – but her bold outfit stole the show.
Former England Women’s goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis, who was born in Burnley, was waiting for the host as she emerged from the Turf Moor tunnel at the start of the programme.
As she stood alongside fellow pundit Dion Dublin, it soon emerged that she had something in her hands, along with the ex-Coventry and Aston Villa man.
Brown-Finnis said: “I have a little welcome, a tradition here at Burnley. At half time, go and have a Benny and Hot.”
The trio then grabbed one each and proceeded to drink it as Scott let out a loud “woah” after sinking a sip.
Brown-Finnis then described it as “medicinal” before saying: “That’s why we always have colour in our cheeks and a spring in our step.”
Rather than finish it off, Scott proceeded to continue with the Football Focus show, but viewers appeared to love her willingness to get amongst it.
One fan tweeted with a thumbs-up emoji: “Alex Scott on the bene ‘n hot.”
As another commented: “Enjoying #footballfocus with @AlexScott and @DionDublinsDube.”
The unofficial matchday drink at Burnley FC for the past century has been “Benny and Hot” – the french liqueur Benedictine topped up with hot water.
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And the Burnley miners’ club is the biggest consumer of the spirit outside of France.
The love of the drink dates back to the First World War when men in the 11th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment were billeted in Normandy.
They discovered the local liqueur and started drinking it as grog with hot water.
It soon became known as “Benny and Hot” and travelled home with the troops.
However, it was not the drink that most viewers were interested in, it was the elegant cream dress sported by Scott that they wanted to know about.
One tweeted her to ask: “Where is your cream dress from?”
And another hailed her as “the Queen of Football Focus”.
Scott enjoyed a night out celebrating with fellow England legend Leah Williamson earlier this week after her pal was awarded her OBE by Prince William.
Meanwhile, The Sun revealed that the 38-year-old Football Focus host is dating pop star Jess Glynne.
The superstar singer and the ex-England and Arsenal footy ace have been quietly seeing each other for the past two months.
The couple have enjoyed a series of dates before and after the Women’s World Cup.
Then, on Tuesday night, they partied alongside David and Victoria Beckham at their exclusive Netflix documentary premiere after-party at The Twenty Two in West London.
The 33-year-old Glynne and Scott were pictured together side-by-side in July watching the tennis at Wimbledon and were later seen enjoying a boozy pub lunch in North West London just before the Women’s World Cup in August.
They then stayed in contact as Alex travelled to Australia to cover the tournament for the BBC — before they met up again in London on her return.
Glynne is the only British female solo artist to achieve seven UK No 1 singles, while former Lioness Alex also co-hosts the One Show on BBC away from her sporting punditry.
