Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh - Season 7 Episode 32 - video Dailymotion

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Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh - Season 7 Episode 32

Transcript

00:00:00That's the official start of Advent, so we're setting the festive tone from the get-go with some truly special guests, our Christmas dogs.

00:00:08Like Jesse here, you may recognise from the festive classic Peter Pan, famous for being big droolers.

00:00:15Jesse is a Newfoundland known for their charming personalities and striking appearance, perfect to cuddle up to.

00:00:22But as relaxing as this looks, Jesse, we've got a show to make.

00:00:26Coming up, cats, chart toppers and cocktails.

00:00:31Sounds interesting, sounds irresistible.

00:00:34Come on, Jess, off we go. Time for Love You Weekend. This way.

00:00:56Every part of Britain has its own character.

00:01:15From the Yorkshire Dales to the Welsh Valleys to the Scottish Highlands, wherever you may be in the British countryside, you can be guaranteed incredible scenery, a rich heritage and unique character.

00:01:28You just have to take the time to enjoy it and look.

00:01:31Much like today's show.

00:01:33Coming up, swapping style tips.

00:01:35By the looks of it, Tom Allen and Nigel Havers provide the chat and the charm as they settle into life down on the farm.

00:01:43And turning the soundtrack of the generation into a smash hit musical.

00:01:47Faye Tozer on the enduring legacy of steps and her biggest career challenge to date.

00:01:53Panto with Biggins.

00:01:55Now, do you know your Norway spruce from your Nordman fir?

00:01:59A woman who does.

00:02:00Horticulturist Camilla Bassett-Smith's back with everything you need to know about buying a real Christmas tree.

00:02:06Plus, the heartwarming story of the baby sparrowhawks given a second chance at life.

00:02:12We join Folly Wildlife Rescue as they prepare to be let back into the wild.

00:02:17Not a dry eye in the house with that one.

00:02:19More barnside banter now and who better to bring the charm and the wit.

00:02:29Welcome Tom Allen, Nigel Havers and making her Manor Farm debut, Brave Girl.

00:02:34Faye Tozer.

00:02:37That's on me.

00:02:39Thank you for having me.

00:02:40Now, Advent tomorrow, 1st December tomorrow.

00:02:42Are you Christmas tree up in October types or Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve?

00:02:47Well, funnily enough, I did Room 101.

00:02:49Long time ago and I tried to put Christmas into Room 101.

00:02:52Oh, you beast.

00:02:53Good for you.

00:02:54Oh, okay.

00:02:55Are you Scrooge?

00:02:56Slightly.

00:02:57Bar Humbug.

00:02:58And the idea of Christmas decorations is in sort of end of September.

00:03:02Oh, please.

00:03:03Oh, I'm with you there.

00:03:041st of December.

00:03:05Isn't it funny that I wanted to put Christmas into 101 but now I've changed and I'm happy with Christmas.

00:03:11You're benign in old age now, are you?

00:03:12Yes, exactly.

00:03:13Sorry, let's see New Year's.

00:03:14Yeah.

00:03:15You've found a nice way of saying this, old age.

00:03:17Faye, what about you?

00:03:19No, so my birthday is middle of November so I always need Christmas to happen December because it separates it all.

00:03:26Also, I find, because it's so early now with the decorations and the music in store, I feel like it's over before it's even happened.

00:03:34And I feel like it's kind of, it's lost its sparkle.

00:03:36We've peaked too soon, I feel.

00:03:38Well, my partner, he would put the Christmas decorations up in June and I don't, I don't care for it.

00:03:45I, no, I'd put them up very late, as late as possible really because then you can get into the spirit of actually Christmas when it's there.

00:03:51What is the spirit of Christmas?

00:03:52Well, I, for me, it's eggnog or a mulled cider.

00:03:59Me too.

00:03:59I love a mulled cider.

00:04:00Well, I think you might be pleasantly surprised later on in the show.

00:04:03Oh, really?

00:04:03Yes, this may be your reward later on.

00:04:05Oh, well, if I'm a good boy.

00:04:07Yes, quite.

00:04:08I'll boot on that.

00:04:09And I'll do it with Tom Sergi.

00:04:11What's particularly lovely today for me here is that, I mean, I do get people here.

00:04:14I mean, I don't want to mention any names of people who have been here in the past, rather sort of slovenly dressed.

00:04:19But I have three people here.

00:04:21Tom Sartorial Flair is second nature.

00:04:24Nigel, you've always been known as dressing well.

00:04:27Here you are in a delightful jacket.

00:04:30Earlier this morning.

00:04:31Yes, I know, it's a shame you couldn't find the collar for the shoe.

00:04:33But there it is, I love the collar.

00:04:36Faye, glorious.

00:04:37Thank you very much.

00:04:38Dressed for the occasion.

00:04:39Yeah, I'm a big fan of vintage and re-loved stuff at the moment.

00:04:44I'm going a bit eco-friendly.

00:04:47And, yeah, that's our thing at the moment.

00:04:49Those boots, they're called...

00:04:51I like those boots.

00:04:52They are, thank you very much.

00:04:53Nigel, steady.

00:04:55Remember your age?

00:04:56They're always like pantomime, though.

00:04:56Do you remember when they had...

00:04:58They used to have a lady play Prince Charming.

00:05:00They did, yes.

00:05:01And she used to say, yes.

00:05:03Oh, very...

00:05:04Do you remember the line?

00:05:05Yes, I do.

00:05:05Go on.

00:05:06Let's save that.

00:05:0742 miles and no sign of Dick.

00:05:10No, it's true, Dick Whittington.

00:05:13I know what you meant.

00:05:14And the Prince's balls get bigger every year.

00:05:16They do indeed.

00:05:18Oni swa ki mali ponce, I would say.

00:05:20Evil be to him who thinks evil of it.

00:05:23Anyway, there we are.

00:05:24So, moving swiftly on to Thomas.

00:05:27But in a jumper to Dad.

00:05:29Well, thank you for noticing.

00:05:31I just thought I'd go a little bit cash since we're in a barn.

00:05:34But you know I'm really enjoying this car.

00:05:36When I thought I'd bring back cravats.

00:05:37Are they in yet?

00:05:38They come back round.

00:05:39I just think of cravat.

00:05:40I just thought that was a bit sort of David Niven of me.

00:05:43Very nearly in.

00:05:44Do you think?

00:05:45But it keeps the breeze off the neck.

00:05:47Well, I do get very cold around the Adam's Apple.

00:05:51So, I do like to keep my apples warm.

00:05:53And I nearly wore a waistcoat, actually.

00:05:56But then I thought you sometimes wear a waistcoat.

00:05:58And then we'll look like Mumford and Sally.

00:06:01Waistcoats and gilets.

00:06:02I've got gilets with sleeves, eh?

00:06:03That's amazing.

00:06:04It's not really a gilet.

00:06:05That's just a coat.

00:06:06It is a coat, yes.

00:06:07I do like tweed.

00:06:08I think it's not supportive.

00:06:09Oh, I like a tweed.

00:06:11English or Irish.

00:06:11Indoors.

00:06:12It's for the benefit when you go out.

00:06:13No, I will.

00:06:14I'll have another one on, then.

00:06:16Layered.

00:06:16No, I'm arty outside.

00:06:18It's lovely finding things in common.

00:06:21It's sartore elegance between you.

00:06:22But also, three Agatha Christie fans.

00:06:26Yes.

00:06:26Now, Tom, you're a great Miss Marple fan.

00:06:30Yes.

00:06:30I like particularly the adaptation of Miss Marple

00:06:33when Joan Hickson performed.

00:06:34Well, that's the definitive.

00:06:36I always think the definitive.

00:06:36And I think Agatha Christie wanted

00:06:38Joan Hickson to play Miss Marple.

00:06:40And I actually met her once

00:06:42when she was a younger actress

00:06:43and said,

00:06:44you will be a good Miss Marple.

00:06:46I like that the story.

00:06:47There you go.

00:06:48I mean, how wonderful.

00:06:49And I sort of see myself now

00:06:50more and more as I get older

00:06:51being more like Miss Marple.

00:06:53I basically, you know,

00:06:54spend a lot of time

00:06:54going around garden centres

00:06:55and sitting down quietly

00:06:58solving murders.

00:06:59I'm basically living the life

00:07:00of an 87-year-old woman.

00:07:01Do you know, it's funny.

00:07:02Something came to mind

00:07:03that Miss Marple.

00:07:05When I walked in.

00:07:05When you walked in.

00:07:06You're my Agatha.

00:07:07Faye, what do you work with

00:07:11David Suchet?

00:07:12Well, that's my connection, I guess.

00:07:13Yeah, I was really, really lucky

00:07:15to work with Sir David Suchet

00:07:18two years ago at Bristol

00:07:20for the Panto.

00:07:22And it's the only Panto

00:07:23I think he's ever going to do.

00:07:24And he was Captain Hook.

00:07:26And he was the most delightful.

00:07:28But I grew up on Poirot.

00:07:29You know, just the music.

00:07:31Can you hear the music?

00:07:32The saxophone.

00:07:34Exactly.

00:07:35Just gorgeous.

00:07:36Now, the man sitting on your right

00:07:38left for me, Nigel.

00:07:41You must have done umpteen

00:07:43Chris, Agatha Christie's on the box.

00:07:46No doubt with all the Miss Marples.

00:07:47I think I should have.

00:07:48I remember just talking of Captain Hook.

00:07:50I played Captain Hook in a panto

00:07:52years and years ago.

00:07:54And I forgot.

00:07:55I came on halfway through

00:07:57and I forgot the hook.

00:07:59So I went,

00:08:00a miracle.

00:08:02It's all I could think of.

00:08:04Ta-da!

00:08:07Well, he was an old Etonian.

00:08:09So well-schooled in improvisation.

00:08:14But Agatha Christie,

00:08:15the whole story of her life

00:08:17is so fascinating, isn't it?

00:08:20She's a mystery herself,

00:08:22in a ways.

00:08:23But I mean,

00:08:23she must be the most famous writer ever.

00:08:28I think she is.

00:08:28Apart from Shakespeare.

00:08:29Yes.

00:08:30I mean, she's up there, isn't she?

00:08:31And still selling.

00:08:33Every, you know,

00:08:34mystery is still in print.

00:08:35And I remember reading the books

00:08:37when I was a kid

00:08:38and absolutely loving them.

00:08:41And The Mousetrap has been running

00:08:42for over 70 years.

00:08:43I'm still in that theatre.

00:08:45It's incredible.

00:08:46No, I can't say it

00:08:47because it spoils the whole thing

00:08:48as a giveaway.

00:08:49Well, no, don't tell us

00:08:50because I haven't been yet.

00:08:52Have you not?

00:08:52Who done it?

00:08:52No, I'm saving it all.

00:08:53You just get going.

00:08:57Is that my length of life

00:08:58or the play's length of life?

00:09:00My favourite thing about The Mousetrap

00:09:01as well is that

00:09:02when you walk past the photographs,

00:09:03apparently, I think,

00:09:04there's a thing

00:09:05where they have to do

00:09:05the same poses

00:09:06as they did the original,

00:09:07like, 50s production.

00:09:09So they're all slightly

00:09:09melodramatic,

00:09:10kind of like in the...

00:09:12Unless there's a...

00:09:13Americans want to see it

00:09:16when they come to London.

00:09:17So if they get a taxi

00:09:18and they don't tip properly,

00:09:19the cab driver says,

00:09:20right, the...

00:09:21did it.

00:09:23Is that true?

00:09:24Is that what they do?

00:09:25Spoiler alert.

00:09:26If my memory serves me right,

00:09:28Richard Attenborough

00:09:28was in the first cast.

00:09:29He was.

00:09:30And he...

00:09:31They didn't do very well

00:09:32to start with,

00:09:32so they asked the cast

00:09:34to take a reduction

00:09:35in their fee.

00:09:37To keep it on.

00:09:37To keep it going.

00:09:38And he said,

00:09:39I'll do that

00:09:40if I have a...

00:09:41can have a percentage

00:09:42of the run of the play.

00:09:43No!

00:09:44Oh, really?

00:09:45That was a choice.

00:09:45And they said, fine.

00:09:46That's like Alec Guinness

00:09:47and Star Wars.

00:09:48Alec Guinness took...

00:09:49Would he take 1%

00:09:50instead of a fee

00:09:51or something?

00:09:51And something to do

00:09:52with the merch,

00:09:53was it as well?

00:09:53Yeah, there was something.

00:09:55Wow.

00:09:55Made up for life.

00:09:56So if anybody wants

00:09:57to do the sequel

00:09:58for Star Wars,

00:09:58you have four people here

00:09:59who will take half a percentage.

00:10:02I'll take a quarter.

00:10:03A quarter.

00:10:04Much more from Faye,

00:10:06Marjol,

00:10:07and Tom coming up.

00:10:08I think,

00:10:08as you realise,

00:10:09you're in for a good

00:10:09morning of conversation.

00:10:11Now, help yourself

00:10:12to our amuse-bouche

00:10:13of delicacies here.

00:10:14Still ahead,

00:10:15Leslie Joseph's got herself

00:10:16in all hot and bothered

00:10:17about the squirrel

00:10:18in today's

00:10:19Down the Garden path.

00:10:20She doesn't get out much.

00:10:22I do worry about her.

00:10:23And Santa Paws

00:10:24is coming to town.

00:10:26Sorry, I couldn't resist.

00:10:27Yvette Bollou-Esser

00:10:28is here with the dog breeds

00:10:29we associate

00:10:30with the most wonderful

00:10:31time of the year.

00:10:32And rocking around

00:10:33the Christmas tree,

00:10:34quite literally,

00:10:36our singing horticulturist

00:10:37Camilla Bassett-Smith

00:10:38is standing by

00:10:38with her pick

00:10:39of the finest

00:10:40festive trees

00:10:41for your home.

00:10:42I'll be back

00:10:42with Camilla

00:10:43and her rather fine

00:10:44collection of spruces.

00:10:46You don't get that

00:10:47on this morning,

00:10:48do you?

00:10:48Right after this.

00:10:49Tom,

00:10:50toasted tea cake?

00:10:51Please don't call me that.

00:10:52With December

00:11:09just around the corner,

00:11:10there's a certain allure

00:11:12to the British countryside

00:11:13in the winter months

00:11:15with literacy lovers

00:11:16flocking to the Pennine Moors

00:11:18to evoke the mood

00:11:19of Wuthering Heights

00:11:20while the country's

00:11:21coastline is especially

00:11:22dramatic and enchanting

00:11:24on a stormy day.

00:11:26I think of Lime Regis

00:11:27and Jane Austen.

00:11:28Equally enchanting,

00:11:29a man who spent

00:11:30much of the mid-90s

00:11:31standing up

00:11:32and making people laugh

00:11:33after starring

00:11:35in his youth

00:11:35with Stephen Fry,

00:11:37Tom Allen

00:11:37on how his love

00:11:38of theatricality

00:11:39led to his

00:11:40sartorial taste

00:11:41in clothing

00:11:42and from a classic

00:11:43rum punch

00:11:44to a mulled cider.

00:11:46It's party time

00:11:47in the man-at-arms,

00:11:49Tom Sergi

00:11:49serving up cocktails,

00:11:50punchbowl style.

00:11:53Ladles of festive cheer

00:11:54to suit every taste.

00:11:56Now to really get us

00:11:57into the festive spirit,

00:11:58we're turning our attention

00:11:59to some classic

00:12:00Christmas greenery.

00:12:02Those seasonal plants

00:12:03that come into their own

00:12:04at this time of year.

00:12:06Without these

00:12:06horticultural delights,

00:12:08there'd be no Christmas traditions

00:12:09like decorating the tree,

00:12:11hanging your wreaths

00:12:12or kissing under the mistletoe.

00:12:14Here to celebrate the plants

00:12:15that make Christmas

00:12:16truly magical,

00:12:17welcome horticulturist

00:12:18Camilla Bassett-Smith

00:12:20with two trees.

00:12:21Indeed, yes.

00:12:22And a Christmas pudding

00:12:23on my head.

00:12:23I know.

00:12:24No sixpence underneath it.

00:12:25It's hard to miss that one.

00:12:26No sixpence in there.

00:12:27Nor the moment.

00:12:28But it's the time of year,

00:12:30isn't it,

00:12:30when we make perhaps

00:12:31the most important decision

00:12:32about our interior design

00:12:33over Christmas

00:12:34and that is

00:12:35what tree to have.

00:12:36And that's the traditional one,

00:12:37isn't it?

00:12:38It is.

00:12:38The good old Norway spruce

00:12:39that Prince Albert championed.

00:12:41And I still love it.

00:12:43I mean,

00:12:43it's kind of,

00:12:43it's been around

00:12:44for such a long time,

00:12:45hasn't it?

00:12:46Good shape,

00:12:47really nice scent.

00:12:48And actually,

00:12:49the scent of a Christmas tree

00:12:50has been voted

00:12:51one of our top scents

00:12:52alongside the ocean

00:12:53and cut grass.

00:12:55So,

00:12:55the good old Norway spruce,

00:12:57but it has a bit of a problem.

00:12:59Well, it drops.

00:13:00It does.

00:13:00The trouble is,

00:13:00it's because we bring

00:13:01Christmas trees in earlier

00:13:02and earlier.

00:13:02Yes.

00:13:03If you don't bring it

00:13:03until Christmas Eve,

00:13:04it will see you

00:13:05through the festive tree.

00:13:06That's it.

00:13:06In a couple of weeks,

00:13:06it's probably okay.

00:13:08Quite sharp needles there.

00:13:10And, of course,

00:13:11the Norway spruce

00:13:11is the one that we have

00:13:12in Trafalgar Square in London.

00:13:14They're about a 60-year-old tree.

00:13:15And they are a good shape,

00:13:17aren't they?

00:13:18But, yeah,

00:13:19I love the Norway spruce.

00:13:21But this is a bit

00:13:21more sophisticated.

00:13:22It is, isn't it?

00:13:23This is the blue spruce.

00:13:25And it's the state tree

00:13:26of Colorado, actually.

00:13:27But isn't it gorgeous?

00:13:29And it has...

00:13:30It shows how tonal you can get.

00:13:31You've got one ball blank on.

00:13:33I have.

00:13:33It's not whether you're a minimalist.

00:13:34I know, very minimalist.

00:13:34You're pointing up the fact

00:13:35that you can do these kind of...

00:13:37I'm never quite sure.

00:13:38You know,

00:13:38I do like a sort of tonal Christmas tree

00:13:41or tasteful.

00:13:42But better than that,

00:13:42I love the one that's got things

00:13:43that the kids may...

00:13:44That's it.

00:13:45It's the memories, isn't it?

00:13:46It's a little bit of everything.

00:13:47And I have that.

00:13:47And sometimes you can have

00:13:48two trees, maybe,

00:13:49and have one somewhere else

00:13:50that's tonal.

00:13:51One in the posh room.

00:13:52That's it, yeah.

00:13:53And then one that's just

00:13:54full of everything.

00:13:55But these blues and greys on there.

00:13:57But quite sharp needles.

00:13:58That's the only thing with these.

00:13:59They look beautiful.

00:14:00But pungens in its Latin name

00:14:03means quite sharp and spiny.

00:14:05But it does look really good.

00:14:06And in the garden,

00:14:07as well as a garden tree,

00:14:09you get that...

00:14:09It's another shade of green, really.

00:14:11And it's slightly slower growing.

00:14:12It is.

00:14:13Yes, yeah.

00:14:13And if you buy them in a pot,

00:14:15you can plant them out.

00:14:16But be careful.

00:14:16I mean, you see a lot of people

00:14:17who plant them out

00:14:17right outside the front window

00:14:19in a small house.

00:14:20And within a few years,

00:14:21you can't see out.

00:14:22That's one thing I love

00:14:23about the Norway spruce.

00:14:24If you walk around anywhere,

00:14:25any town,

00:14:26you see so many of these

00:14:28in particular, don't you,

00:14:29from years ago

00:14:30that have just grown

00:14:31and grown and grown.

00:14:31And it's a little peek

00:14:32into people's memories.

00:14:33Thanks, Camilla.

00:14:34And we'll be seeing you later on

00:14:36with more seasonal plants.

00:14:38Indeed you will.

00:14:44Now, it's hardly surprising

00:14:45that dogs,

00:14:46as Britain's favourite pets,

00:14:48play a significant part

00:14:49in our Christmas festivities,

00:14:51whether due to a breed's connection

00:14:52to colder climates

00:14:53or an appearance

00:14:54as a beloved character

00:14:56in our favourite festive films.

00:14:58Some dogs have become

00:15:00intrinsically linked

00:15:01to this time of year.

00:15:02So today,

00:15:03we're celebrating those dogs

00:15:04in our Christmas canine special.

00:15:07Here to guide us through

00:15:08is our manor farm vet,

00:15:10Bolo Esu.

00:15:11Bolo, lovely to have you

00:15:12with us again.

00:15:13And so many dogs

00:15:14are associated with Christmas,

00:15:15as I say,

00:15:15either on screen

00:15:16or because of the nature

00:15:18of the beast, really.

00:15:19Exactly.

00:15:19And their geographic location

00:15:20as well.

00:15:21Yeah.

00:15:21Hopefully you can introduce some.

00:15:22Well, first up,

00:15:23we've got Tony

00:15:24and Ooni.

00:15:26Now, Ooni is

00:15:26a Finnish laphund.

00:15:29Now, that's a new one on me,

00:15:30a Finnish laphund.

00:15:32So what's the association

00:15:33here with Christmas?

00:15:34Geographic location there,

00:15:35so Finnish laphund,

00:15:36Lapland,

00:15:37Finland.

00:15:39You thought I'd have spotted

00:15:39that one,

00:15:40wouldn't you, really?

00:15:41It was close,

00:15:41we tried to give you a hint.

00:15:42It did, really.

00:15:43Tony, tell us about Ooni.

00:15:45Ooni's a two-year-old

00:15:47female Finnish laphund.

00:15:48So does she get

00:15:49many Christmas engagements?

00:15:50She does,

00:15:51and she's always

00:15:52trying to do her PR bit

00:15:53out in the park,

00:15:54telling all the kids

00:15:55that she's looking

00:15:55after Santa's reindeer

00:15:56for them

00:15:57and ready for Christmas.

00:15:59Now, as a breed then,

00:16:00Bollu,

00:16:00temperament?

00:16:01A lovely personality.

00:16:02A lovely personality.

00:16:03Say no more.

00:16:05I mean,

00:16:05there's history there

00:16:06with the reindeers,

00:16:06so rounding up reindeers,

00:16:07but also helping the reindeers

00:16:08out,

00:16:09outdoor sleeping as well,

00:16:10in Finland as well,

00:16:11so like as a herd dog.

00:16:13So a hardy dog too.

00:16:14Yeah.

00:16:15They're one of the few breeds

00:16:16in Finland that are allowed

00:16:17and licensed to sleep

00:16:18outside in the snow.

00:16:20Really?

00:16:20Yeah.

00:16:21Just beautiful personalities.

00:16:22They're great dogs,

00:16:23they've got that spitz,

00:16:23and I think they've got

00:16:24a lot of character to them,

00:16:25so they've got that

00:16:26kind of characteristic.

00:16:27Their spectacles

00:16:27make them look very cute.

00:16:29They've got that teddy bear look

00:16:30because they are a spitz breed

00:16:32with the pointy ears.

00:16:33Very lovely.

00:16:34And the curved tail,

00:16:35but lovely cuddly pets.

00:16:36Demanding of exercise?

00:16:38They like a good hour a day.

00:16:40They will take a lot more,

00:16:41but anything less than that

00:16:42is probably not enough.

00:16:43We can see what you mean

00:16:44about the spectacles now.

00:16:45You can see the spectacles now.

00:16:46Yeah.

00:16:47Flesh, Tony,

00:16:47thank you very much indeed.

00:16:48Thank you very much.

00:16:49Nice to meet you, Uni.

00:16:50Off you go

00:16:51with your Christmas duties now,

00:16:52right?

00:16:53Now the next one,

00:16:54I mean,

00:16:55I remember seeing comic strips

00:16:56as a boy,

00:16:58and this particular dog

00:16:58always had a little cask

00:17:00of brandy underneath it.

00:17:01I've never met one yet

00:17:02that does.

00:17:03Kay is here

00:17:04with Leisha,

00:17:06the St. Bernard.

00:17:07Yes.

00:17:07Now this is a dog,

00:17:09is this a dog

00:17:09or is it a horse?

00:17:10Exactly.

00:17:12So our giant breed dogs

00:17:13are part of the Molasa breeds,

00:17:15so they're like the huge

00:17:16giant breed dogs

00:17:17and rescue dogs.

00:17:18Yeah.

00:17:18Our connection to Christmas,

00:17:19well,

00:17:20we've got multiple connections,

00:17:21whether it's the snow

00:17:22and the cuddly nature of them.

00:17:24We've got Santa's helper.

00:17:25Santa's helper,

00:17:26yes.

00:17:26Santa's helper,

00:17:27also was a St. Bernard

00:17:28as well.

00:17:29And, you know,

00:17:30that casket that you mentioned

00:17:31is when they used

00:17:32to rescue people,

00:17:33they'd carry around

00:17:34the brandy mythically

00:17:35because I think

00:17:36if somebody's cold,

00:17:37the last thing

00:17:37you want to do

00:17:37is give them brandy.

00:17:38You're such a killjoy,

00:17:41really, aren't you?

00:17:42In terms of their temperament,

00:17:43then,

00:17:43are they quite docile?

00:17:44They've got a lovely temperament,

00:17:46very loving,

00:17:48they understand,

00:17:49they know when you feel down.

00:17:50Yeah.

00:17:51She will come

00:17:51and put her head on you.

00:17:53Bless her.

00:17:53Yeah.

00:17:54Now,

00:17:54if you're thinking about

00:17:55a St. Bernard then

00:17:55from a vet's point of view,

00:17:56I mean,

00:17:57there are things

00:17:58that they obviously need.

00:18:00Huge dog.

00:18:00We have to be used

00:18:01to having this dog

00:18:02occupy a lot of space

00:18:03in your house.

00:18:04I think,

00:18:04obviously,

00:18:04the drooling nature of them,

00:18:05that's something

00:18:06that people need to

00:18:07take into consideration.

00:18:08They are quite drooly dogs,

00:18:09but they're such

00:18:09lovable family dogs.

00:18:11But it's their joints,

00:18:12so arthritis,

00:18:13things like that

00:18:14can get to them.

00:18:14And they're a lot bigger,

00:18:16so they don't live

00:18:16for as long

00:18:17as maybe our smaller dogs.

00:18:18So those are things

00:18:18to consider.

00:18:19But they're amazing companions.

00:18:21Well,

00:18:21it's lovely.

00:18:22Kay and Leisha,

00:18:22thank you for being with us.

00:18:24I'm only disappointed,

00:18:25Kay,

00:18:25that Leisha didn't have

00:18:26the brandy.

00:18:27There we are.

00:18:27Maybe next time.

00:18:29I like the way

00:18:29she's got a bib

00:18:30for a drool.

00:18:31That's very,

00:18:32very sensible,

00:18:33isn't it?

00:18:33Oh,

00:18:33more in-comers now.

00:18:35Teagan and Oakley.

00:18:36Now,

00:18:36Oakley is an American

00:18:39Cocker Spaniel.

00:18:40Teagan,

00:18:40welcome to you.

00:18:42Welcome to Oakley.

00:18:43What a lovely name

00:18:44for a dog.

00:18:44Tell us about

00:18:45the American Cocker Spaniel,

00:18:46then.

00:18:46What's the association

00:18:47here with Christmas?

00:18:47Okay,

00:18:48this is a little bit

00:18:48of a connection,

00:18:49right?

00:18:49So we've got

00:18:50our favourite characters,

00:18:51Disney.

00:18:52We've got Lady and the Tramp.

00:18:53Ah.

00:18:54And it starts

00:18:55on Christmas Day.

00:18:56Right.

00:18:56So Lady is an American

00:18:58Cocker Spaniel.

00:18:58Exactly.

00:18:59But how do they differ

00:19:00from normal Cockers?

00:19:00The English Cocker Spaniel.

00:19:01So when the English Cockers

00:19:02came to America,

00:19:03they slowly started to diverge.

00:19:05And we've got our Cockers,

00:19:06Americans here,

00:19:07have a shorter face

00:19:08and a more dome-shaped muzzle.

00:19:10And then we've also got

00:19:11that long coat,

00:19:12the long, luscious coat,

00:19:14the fluffy looks

00:19:15and the curls.

00:19:16It makes them really beautiful,

00:19:17whereas our English Cockers

00:19:17are a bit more springy

00:19:18and used to working

00:19:19in the fields.

00:19:20So tell us about Oakley.

00:19:21How old is he?

00:19:22So he's just turned two,

00:19:24so he's still quite young.

00:19:25Does he ever eat spaghetti?

00:19:27Like Lady and the Tramp?

00:19:28No, I'm afraid he doesn't.

00:19:29No.

00:19:30No spaghetti?

00:19:31No spaghetti, no.

00:19:32But grooming here

00:19:33is a big thing,

00:19:34presumably,

00:19:35with that coat.

00:19:36Yes.

00:19:36We bath him once a week,

00:19:38but he has to be brushed

00:19:39every day

00:19:40to contain all the mats

00:19:42as well.

00:19:42Yeah, they do.

00:19:43Well, they're quite

00:19:44loads long as well,

00:19:45aren't they, Bollos?

00:19:45So I mean,

00:19:45you're going to be picking up

00:19:46burrs and things like that.

00:19:47Well, American Cocker

00:19:48is similar to the show Cocker

00:19:50with that long, luscious look

00:19:51and it's just a lot of brushing,

00:19:52a lot of grooming,

00:19:53looking after them.

00:19:54Look, we get to see now

00:19:55these glorious,

00:19:56the legs,

00:19:57pop him on the floor

00:19:58just so we can see

00:19:59the length of the hair

00:20:01on the legs.

00:20:01It's like walking

00:20:03through a skirt.

00:20:03He looks like Dougal

00:20:04from The Magic Roundabout.

00:20:05No legs visible.

00:20:06Yeah, yeah.

00:20:07Bless him.

00:20:08Bless you.

00:20:09Thank you, too.

00:20:09And thank you, Oakley,

00:20:10very much indeed.

00:20:12He looks like his legs now

00:20:12as he walks off.

00:20:13You see how he walks?

00:20:14Go, well, watch it.

00:20:15Look at that.

00:20:16Just a ripple, really.

00:20:18Wonderful.

00:20:18Like a crinoline, really.

00:20:20Alison, next with Jesse

00:20:21who's a Newfoundland.

00:20:23Now, look at this for us.

00:20:24Another large dog

00:20:25with another bib.

00:20:26We've got another dribbler here.

00:20:27Oh, it's going to be

00:20:28a big kiss on you.

00:20:30The Newfoundland, then,

00:20:32of Christmas.

00:20:33So, our Christmas connection

00:20:34is Jay and Barry

00:20:36and Peter Pan.

00:20:38Of course, Nana.

00:20:39Now, did Barry have Newfoundlands?

00:20:41I believe so, yes.

00:20:42And walk around

00:20:42Keddington Gardens

00:20:43with Newfoundlands as well.

00:20:44So, the adventures there

00:20:45led us to Peter Pan,

00:20:46the inspiration for Peter Pan

00:20:47and here we have

00:20:48our connection.

00:20:49Here we have.

00:20:50So, Peter Pan is a favourite,

00:20:51I presume, Alison, with you.

00:20:52I'll be a flay.

00:20:53Yeah.

00:20:53I'll be a flay.

00:20:54Is she a good baby minder,

00:20:55then, as Nana wasn't?

00:20:57She absolutely loves children.

00:21:00She loves the attention

00:21:02that she gets,

00:21:03which has led me

00:21:04to do a lot of therapy work

00:21:06with her

00:21:06and she goes into school

00:21:08once a week

00:21:09and listens to the children read.

00:21:10So, she spends time

00:21:11with the children

00:21:12and she goes into a hospice

00:21:14and she'll be going

00:21:16to a care home as well.

00:21:18Let's talk about exercise

00:21:19and things like that again.

00:21:19Another big dog ball.

00:21:21Yeah.

00:21:21So, exercise is regular.

00:21:23You want to make sure

00:21:23you're looking after their joints

00:21:24because, as they are big breeds,

00:21:25we are scared of things

00:21:26like arthritis,

00:21:27but it happens.

00:21:28It's just making sure

00:21:28you're looking after

00:21:29their joints properly,

00:21:30feeding them appropriately.

00:21:31they go through so much food.

00:21:33So much food.

00:21:35Not so much now.

00:21:36It's the first year,

00:21:38two years of their life.

00:21:39You have to feed them

00:21:40to help them grow.

00:21:41Grow, yeah.

00:21:42And now she's easing off.

00:21:43But, obviously,

00:21:44when she's working,

00:21:45she does a lot of work as well

00:21:47in the water.

00:21:47So, exercising,

00:21:48we swim her every week.

00:21:50This is a big-time commitment,

00:21:51isn't it?

00:21:52Yes.

00:21:52It's a lot.

00:21:53Bless you, Alison.

00:21:54Lovely to meet you both.

00:21:55Thank you very much.

00:21:56Thank you very much.

00:21:57Go and pull your cart.

00:21:58We'll find you a Christmas tree.

00:21:59Now, next,

00:22:01and the connection here

00:22:03is obvious

00:22:04between this next dog,

00:22:06Donna and Pippa.

00:22:07And Pippa is a Dalmatian.

00:22:09She's the 102nd of our Dalmatians.

00:22:12Slightly liver-spotted here

00:22:14rather than black.

00:22:15So, we've got the normal

00:22:16black and white Dalmatians

00:22:17that we have

00:22:17and then we have the liver,

00:22:18which is that brown colour.

00:22:20And with the brown

00:22:21or liver Dalmatians,

00:22:22you get that lovely

00:22:23almond-coloured eyes as well.

00:22:24And they're so beautiful.

00:22:25They're so beautiful.

00:22:26I love them.

00:22:27They just look gorgeous.

00:22:28Now, Donna,

00:22:28they have a reputation

00:22:29for being very highly strong.

00:22:31So, when it comes to Pippa,

00:22:32I mean,

00:22:33she's quite inquisitive.

00:22:35Yeah, she is.

00:22:36Yeah, she's a good gal, actually.

00:22:37She's quite calm

00:22:39in her nature

00:22:40and her temperament, actually,

00:22:41which is very unlike Dalmatians.

00:22:43Sometimes they can be

00:22:44a bit hyper

00:22:45and over...

00:22:46The first Dalmatian

00:22:47we've had on this show

00:22:47was actually sat still.

00:22:49At least 15 seconds,

00:22:50Pippa,

00:22:51you're doing really well.

00:22:52When you see your arm

00:22:53and eyes are...

00:22:53Such an elegant

00:22:55carriage, really.

00:22:56Again, as a family dog,

00:22:59high-spirited,

00:23:00but OK with children?

00:23:01Yeah, she's brilliant

00:23:02with children, actually.

00:23:03Yeah, she's really good.

00:23:05She absolutely loves

00:23:06the energy that they bring as well.

00:23:07Yeah.

00:23:08Wonderful.

00:23:08And from your point of view

00:23:09as a vet?

00:23:09I think the key is

00:23:10early exposure.

00:23:11So, when you have them

00:23:13really young,

00:23:13you want to expose them

00:23:14to a lot of noise,

00:23:15a lot of sounds,

00:23:15a lot of different people

00:23:16so that they can get used

00:23:17to that kind of energy around.

00:23:18And then they can be

00:23:19a perfect family dog.

00:23:20It's when they're not

00:23:21necessarily used

00:23:22to all the different sounds,

00:23:22different people,

00:23:23different interactions,

00:23:24as they get older,

00:23:25all their energy turns

00:23:26into a bit more

00:23:26destructive chaos.

00:23:28So, you want to expose

00:23:29them to a lot of energy,

00:23:30exercise them well,

00:23:30and then you get

00:23:31a perfect family companion.

00:23:32Lovely.

00:23:33Wonderful to meet you all.

00:23:34Thank you, Bolo.

00:23:35And thank you to all

00:23:36our dogs and their owners.

00:23:38And feeling Christmassy now.

00:23:39Christmas in the kennels.

00:23:41Still to come,

00:23:42we catch up

00:23:43with the emergency team

00:23:44that specialises

00:23:45in wildlife casualties,

00:23:47like the orphan sparrowhawks

00:23:48in need of a helping hand.

00:23:50And to a man

00:23:50who's more than

00:23:51a little bit marvellous,

00:23:53for the last 20 years,

00:23:55he's served laughter

00:23:56and for the last eight years,

00:23:57served insults

00:23:58to amateur bakers.

00:23:59Tom Allen talks

00:24:00razor-sharp quips

00:24:02and caustic put-downs.

00:24:03I'll do that with Tom

00:24:04right after this.

00:24:05MUSIC

00:24:05Welcome back

00:24:20to Love Your Weekend.

00:24:22Coming up,

00:24:22cocktails by the bowl.

00:24:24It must be Christmas.

00:24:25Tom Surgeon

00:24:26breathes new life

00:24:27into the classic party punch.

00:24:29Retro cocktails

00:24:30given a modern twist.

00:24:32And from top of the pops

00:24:34to top of the bill,

00:24:35she's the pop star

00:24:36turned West End headliner.

00:24:38Faye Tozer

00:24:39on her passion

00:24:40for song and dance

00:24:41and turning 25 years

00:24:43of steps

00:24:44into a smash-hit musical.

00:24:46An early Christmas treat

00:24:47now for all you

00:24:48musical fans out there.

00:24:49And believe me,

00:24:50this is one that really

00:24:51needs to be seen

00:24:52to be believed.

00:24:53I give you

00:24:54Tom Allen

00:24:55and Michael Sheen

00:24:56and their performance

00:24:56of Aladdin's

00:24:57A Whole New World.

00:25:02I can show you

00:25:04the world

00:25:05shining, shimmering,

00:25:08splendid.

00:25:10Tell me, princess,

00:25:12now when will you

00:25:14let your heart decide.

00:25:17A whole new world.

00:25:21A new fantastic

00:25:23toy, don't you?

00:25:25No one to tell us

00:25:27no,

00:25:27or when to go,

00:25:29or say we're

00:25:31in a whole new world.

00:25:33A dazzling place

00:25:38I never knew

00:25:39but now from way up here

00:25:42it's crystal clear

00:25:44that now I'm in

00:25:47a whole new world

00:25:49with you.

00:25:50I've only seen Jasmine

00:25:59looking so lovely

00:26:00in turquoise.

00:26:01Some of the notes

00:26:02were actually in tune.

00:26:03Well, I've never seen

00:26:04Jasmine looking so bearded,

00:26:05actually.

00:26:05No, quite.

00:26:06She might have had a shave

00:26:07before she came on.

00:26:08You should have done something.

00:26:08Come on, tell us,

00:26:09how do you and Michael Sheen

00:26:10continue doing that?

00:26:11I haven't seen that

00:26:12for a long time,

00:26:13let me tell you, Alan.

00:26:13I haven't seen that full stop.

00:26:14We all look a lot younger.

00:26:15That was a really fun show

00:26:17that I was part of

00:26:19called There's Something

00:26:19About Movies

00:26:20hosted by Alan Carr

00:26:21that was on Sky

00:26:23and we had a good run

00:26:25of doing bonkers

00:26:27sketches like that

00:26:28and we had so much fun.

00:26:28Jennifer Saunders,

00:26:29Michael Sheen

00:26:29were there

00:26:31and it was ridiculous

00:26:32and we reenacted

00:26:34various moments

00:26:35from movies

00:26:35as well as doing

00:26:36a quiz around it.

00:26:36We had so much fun

00:26:38doing it.

00:26:38There was one scene

00:26:39where Alan and I

00:26:40reenacted The Godfather

00:26:41if you can imagine

00:26:42a more butch environment.

00:26:46Clearly the joy for you

00:26:47a lot of the time

00:26:48is the people

00:26:49with whom you're working.

00:26:50I mean,

00:26:50they're working there

00:26:51with Michael Sheen

00:26:51in front of them

00:26:52looking on

00:26:53the likes of Alan Carr.

00:26:56I'm going to show you

00:26:56a clip now

00:26:57which is a long,

00:26:58long time ago

00:26:59when you were working

00:27:00with somebody

00:27:00quite well known.

00:27:01You were very young.

00:27:02Alan, this is very terrifying

00:27:03the way you do this.

00:27:04It's a bit like

00:27:05This Is Your Life.

00:27:05It's like This Is Your Life

00:27:06but with fewer people.

00:27:08It is.

00:27:09Just you and me.

00:27:10There's no one

00:27:10behind that screen.

00:27:11I don't want you to worry.

00:27:12Nobody's looking.

00:27:13Nobody's looking.

00:27:14Alan, people watch this

00:27:15programme, let me tell you.

00:27:16This is Tom Allen

00:27:18in Tom Brown's

00:27:19School Days.

00:27:20Oh!

00:27:27Sit down, gentlemen.

00:27:29Mr Smith's unwell, sir.

00:27:30I'm taking the third

00:27:31for Greek.

00:27:32I'm well aware

00:27:33that Mr Smith is unwell

00:27:34and I've just come

00:27:35from his house.

00:27:36Go on.

00:27:36Paul!

00:27:47Sir?

00:27:48I believe you have

00:27:49a passage of Xenophon.

00:27:51A blink and you miss it,

00:27:53Rowell.

00:27:54But nevertheless,

00:27:55making your presence

00:27:56probably the amount

00:27:57of internal angst

00:27:58that was going on

00:27:59there in that brief

00:28:00walk past.

00:28:01Impressive, isn't it?

00:28:01I think it was mainly

00:28:03because I had hair.

00:28:04I think I was still

00:28:05holding on to it.

00:28:06How old were you then?

00:28:07I think I must have

00:28:08been a teenager then,

00:28:08late teens, I think.

00:28:09Yeah.

00:28:10I wanted to be an actor

00:28:13at that time.

00:28:15Well, you were an actor.

00:28:16Well, I was of sorts.

00:28:17Stephen Fry.

00:28:18I mean, yes,

00:28:19the bouffant hair.

00:28:20I feel like I look like,

00:28:21do you remember Ivy

00:28:22from Coronation Street?

00:28:23I doubt can I forget.

00:28:24Ivy Tilsley.

00:28:25Ivy Tilsley and Don, yes.

00:28:27I feel like I look

00:28:28more like her

00:28:29than anybody else.

00:28:30Have Corrie never

00:28:31approached you?

00:28:32Well, no,

00:28:32but hopefully today,

00:28:33after today,

00:28:34they will be straight

00:28:35on the phone.

00:28:35I'd love to go

00:28:36down those cobbles.

00:28:37Yes, I know.

00:28:37You will, Oscar,

00:28:38you will.

00:28:39Yeah, it's my dream.

00:28:40But the stand-up

00:28:41then came after the acting.

00:28:42But you see,

00:28:43I always think that stand-up

00:28:44is the bravest,

00:28:45bravest thing to do,

00:28:46to do it and to do it well.

00:28:47But does it take you

00:28:49a while to find...

00:28:49Well, I wish I knew.

00:28:51No, come on, come on.

00:28:52Does it take you a while

00:28:54to work out

00:28:54who you are as a stand-up?

00:28:56Does that make sense?

00:28:57What your style of stand-up is?

00:28:59Because you could go up there

00:28:59and do what your friends

00:29:00think is quite funny

00:29:01and it could absolutely

00:29:02die the death.

00:29:03Yes, that does happen.

00:29:05I can't deny.

00:29:06Yeah, I spent about

00:29:0712 or 13 years

00:29:08doing the circuit,

00:29:09having exactly that experience,

00:29:10actually.

00:29:11And I think the thing

00:29:12with stand-up is

00:29:13you just learn

00:29:15to introduce yourself

00:29:15to people

00:29:16and then once they sort of

00:29:17feel they know you,

00:29:18then you can take them

00:29:19on whatever flights

00:29:20of fancy you like.

00:29:21There's a...

00:29:21You know, WS Gilbert

00:29:22of Gilbert and Sullivan fame

00:29:23said,

00:29:24an accepted wit

00:29:26is only to say

00:29:27pass the mustard

00:29:28and they fall about laughing.

00:29:29Oh, yes.

00:29:29And it is something

00:29:30to do with expectation,

00:29:32isn't it?

00:29:32Yes.

00:29:32I mean, we know you're funny,

00:29:33so you can say, you know,

00:29:34rubbish and there we are.

00:29:35Well, that's...

00:29:36I mean, that's the stage

00:29:37I like to think I'm in now,

00:29:38speaking a load of rubbish.

00:29:39But you've since taken the risk.

00:29:42You're now doing it

00:29:43on paper.

00:29:43I mean, you've now written

00:29:44your first novel.

00:29:45Well, you know,

00:29:46that's the main reason

00:29:46I'm actually here.

00:29:47It's not for the interview,

00:29:48but it's actually

00:29:48to ask your advice.

00:29:49You're not here

00:29:50to plug something.

00:29:51No, I don't want to plug it.

00:29:52I just want to talk to you,

00:29:53Alan, about writing novels.

00:29:55Well, it's called

00:29:55Common Decency,

00:29:56which I think is rather...

00:29:57I thought you might like it.

00:29:58Neat title.

00:29:59Well, it's about suburbia

00:30:00because I grew up in suburbia.

00:30:02I live in suburbia now.

00:30:03And I think it's that place

00:30:04that always gets overlooked.

00:30:05People zoom through it

00:30:07on their way

00:30:07to the centre of town

00:30:09or they zoom out of it

00:30:10or they don't want

00:30:11to sort of celebrate it

00:30:12because it's sort of seen

00:30:12as a bit boring.

00:30:14And I wanted to write

00:30:15a book about,

00:30:16well, actually,

00:30:16sometimes the biggest dramas

00:30:18happen in the most mundane scenarios.

00:30:20And even the most

00:30:21sort of everyday things

00:30:23can be actually very dramatic

00:30:24to the people they affect.

00:30:25Extraordinary things

00:30:26happening to ordinary people.

00:30:27That's it.

00:30:28Yeah, that's the much

00:30:29more relevant way of putting it.

00:30:30Did you...

00:30:30Gosh, you're very good.

00:30:32I'm a writer.

00:30:33Of course, he's been doing it

00:30:34for 27 years.

00:30:35Did you enjoy the process?

00:30:39No.

00:30:40You didn't.

00:30:40No, I did.

00:30:41Well, also, it's solitary,

00:30:43you see.

00:30:43You're on your own.

00:30:44Yes.

00:30:45You know, it is

00:30:46the hardest thing

00:30:47I've ever done.

00:30:48I'm very, very proud of it

00:30:49now it's done.

00:30:50But writing it was intense.

00:30:52I think it is fatiguing.

00:30:53It's exhausting in a way.

00:30:54Obviously, it's not exhausting

00:30:55like, I don't know,

00:30:56digging a road

00:30:56or going down a mine,

00:30:58both of which are things

00:30:59I've done.

00:31:01In a former life.

00:31:01In a former life

00:31:03when I was dressed

00:31:03as a Victorian.

00:31:05And the thing is,

00:31:07it's tiring in a different way.

00:31:08I think because

00:31:09the natural procrastinator

00:31:11wants to go,

00:31:12no, have a break,

00:31:13go on,

00:31:14go for a walk,

00:31:15go and have a drink.

00:31:16Go and tidy your sock drawer.

00:31:17Go and tidy...

00:31:17Yeah, anything.

00:31:18I mean, the house.

00:31:19I could have built an entire...

00:31:20I could have built this barn

00:31:21in the time

00:31:22when I was supposed

00:31:24to be writing the novel.

00:31:25But once I got into it,

00:31:26there's like a meditation to it.

00:31:27And then suddenly

00:31:28you're in the world of it.

00:31:28You know the people you're with.

00:31:30And they do speak to you.

00:31:31I know that people say that.

00:31:32No, they do.

00:31:33I mean, when you're on a row,

00:31:35it's like taking dictation.

00:31:37Yes.

00:31:37I think if you're listening

00:31:37to the voice,

00:31:38you're writing down a conversation

00:31:39and you don't know

00:31:40where it's coming from.

00:31:41Yes, absolutely.

00:31:42It may well be rubbish.

00:31:42I don't know.

00:31:43But that's how it strives.

00:31:45No, I don't mean yours.

00:31:46It might be.

00:31:47I mean, I'm speaking

00:31:48from personal experience here.

00:31:49And I think to myself,

00:31:50this might be rubbish,

00:31:51but they're saying it.

00:31:51So it's their rubbish.

00:31:52And I'm writing it down.

00:31:53Yes, it's been

00:31:54an extraordinary journey.

00:31:55And I think you,

00:31:56if I may quote Alan Bennett,

00:31:59you don't write about yourself.

00:32:01You find yourself

00:32:02in your writing.

00:32:03So you kind of get,

00:32:04people have said to me like,

00:32:05oh, have you written,

00:32:05is one of the characters you?

00:32:07And I kind of go,

00:32:08well, they're all a bit me.

00:32:09They're all parts of my personality,

00:32:11which if you read it,

00:32:11you'll be horrified by.

00:32:12Now, apart from being worried

00:32:13that you're also becoming a novelist,

00:32:15you're making a living

00:32:16out of gardening now.

00:32:17It's nothing sacred.

00:32:18I feel like I'm very much

00:32:20coming here.

00:32:21This is great.

00:32:21I'm all for acolytes

00:32:23and disciples.

00:32:24Keep going.

00:32:25Keep doing it.

00:32:26When did you come to gardening?

00:32:28Well, I used to watch

00:32:28this programme called

00:32:29Ground Force.

00:32:30I don't know if you've ever seen it.

00:32:31Oh, hang on.

00:32:31It rings a faint and distant bell.

00:32:33No, well,

00:32:34I think what I came to realise

00:32:36was gardening

00:32:37is something that I've

00:32:39always wanted to do.

00:32:40And I've realised,

00:32:41when I started having a go at it,

00:32:43I loved it.

00:32:44But you're doing a podcast

00:32:44about it now with friends.

00:32:46I'm doing a podcast.

00:32:47Dragging people into my garden.

00:32:49It's called pottering.

00:32:50And it's the idea of pottering

00:32:52about just doing a bit in the garden.

00:32:53And it can be a lot

00:32:53or it can be a little bit.

00:32:54Look, you will pull in an audience

00:32:56that would think

00:32:57I'm just a boring old...

00:32:58No, no, that's not true.

00:33:01The more people we get

00:33:02who are like you

00:33:02reaching a different audience,

00:33:04that's good for gardening.

00:33:05Well, I just think

00:33:05it's good for the mind.

00:33:07I think gardening as well

00:33:08is very important at the moment

00:33:10because it sits

00:33:10in amongst a lot of topics

00:33:12being talked about,

00:33:13whether it's climate change

00:33:14or whether it's mental health

00:33:15or whether it's

00:33:16about getting off your screen

00:33:17and just being in the moment

00:33:19and it's a mindfulness.

00:33:19And I think it's very...

00:33:21I think it's important

00:33:22for everybody to do it.

00:33:23I'm not very good at it.

00:33:24As I said, quite a lot of things die.

00:33:26And I did try propagating,

00:33:27which I just thought

00:33:28was just chopping a bit off

00:33:29and shoving it in some mud.

00:33:31Yeah, they all died.

00:33:32Yes, you are in the very early stages

00:33:34of gardening at the moment,

00:33:35but we'll try to keep working.

00:33:37Let's show you on form.

00:33:39Oh, gosh.

00:33:40What have you dug up here?

00:33:41Yeah, we dug up,

00:33:42would I lie to you?

00:33:43Look at this.

00:33:43Show me what your left hook is.

00:33:48That's good.

00:33:50You look slightly like

00:33:52you're holding some cards

00:33:53in a game of whist.

00:33:56Hey, Tom, Tom,

00:33:57do you want to stand up

00:33:58and take the stage?

00:33:59Yes, I would love to.

00:34:00Would you like my little hands up?

00:34:01I would love your hands, actually.

00:34:02Or the sports man in the room.

00:34:05All right.

00:34:05What if...

00:34:06I'll take it, babe.

00:34:10No, I...

00:34:11I meant you go.

00:34:12Look at the difference

00:34:14in those two men standing up.

00:34:16Incredible.

00:34:18No, no, I don't.

00:34:20Oh, hang on.

00:34:21Is it too late to put a bell?

00:34:25Can I get a left hook?

00:34:26Yes, that's right.

00:34:28Okay.

00:34:33I can hear the slack from here.

00:34:41Very brave.

00:34:41Was it fun?

00:34:42I mean, it is astonishing.

00:34:45That program just...

00:34:46I know, the things they make you do.

00:34:47I don't think I've ever watched it back, actually.

00:34:50I was thinking,

00:34:50what on earth am I doing?

00:34:51But I've been doing...

00:34:53I do the boxing training.

00:34:54I don't get hit in the face.

00:34:55It won't surprise you to know.

00:34:56But I do the boxing training.

00:34:59I've been doing it about five years.

00:35:00I think it's great exercise.

00:35:02And...

00:35:03Keeping you in trim.

00:35:04No, well, I'm watching back

00:35:05on all these clips.

00:35:06I go, oh, gosh,

00:35:06I was thin then.

00:35:08Less thin there.

00:35:09But in that one,

00:35:11I was thin.

00:35:11But I was...

00:35:13When you're doing it,

00:35:15I mean,

00:35:16as I say,

00:35:16I don't punch anybody

00:35:17and they don't punch me.

00:35:18I just pay a man to hit his hands.

00:35:20But with the gloves on

00:35:21and when he's got the pads on,

00:35:23it's got a great sound.

00:35:24Yeah, you feel as though you're really...

00:35:25Yeah.

00:35:26And working out all those, you know...

00:35:28Oh, yes.

00:35:30...grievances.

00:35:30Absolutely.

00:35:31Well, it beats just being rude

00:35:32to people on Bake Off.

00:35:33Well, exactly.

00:35:34It's so much...

00:35:35It's so much more affronting than that.

00:35:39But, yes,

00:35:40no less incisive.

00:35:41But, yes,

00:35:42it's a great form of exercise.

00:35:43Are you positive about humanity?

00:35:45Do you like folk?

00:35:46I thought you meant us in the music.

00:35:48No.

00:35:48And I do like folk.

00:35:49I like music,

00:35:50but I also like folk as in people.

00:35:53And it's now queer as folk.

00:35:54But the...

00:35:55Yeah, the fact is,

00:35:57as I say,

00:35:58I think we're becoming...

00:35:58I don't know the technology.

00:36:00I don't know if it's bringing us together

00:36:01as I'd like it to.

00:36:02Yeah.

00:36:02So I think any opportunity

00:36:03to show people being amongst one another

00:36:05is a good thing.

00:36:06It's an important thing.

00:36:07So if I can help to do that,

00:36:09then I think I'm doing something...

00:36:10You can help to do that

00:36:11and you can help keep us laughing.

00:36:12Well, it's a lot of pressure.

00:36:14Bless your heart.

00:36:15It's just a lot...

00:36:15And people at home might not realise, Alan,

00:36:17you put a heated blanket here.

00:36:18Oh, you do.

00:36:19Because this barn can get very cold.

00:36:20And I thought...

00:36:22I thought after a little while

00:36:23that I maybe had wet myself.

00:36:25So I'm glad that I realised...

00:36:28I'm happy to be the person

00:36:28to reassure you that you haven't.

00:36:30I know.

00:36:31It's such a reassurance.

00:36:32Yes, but it's why I keep a distance

00:36:34between you and me

00:36:34because I never know

00:36:35that one day maybe you will.

00:36:36Maybe I will.

00:36:37Thank you very much, Tom.

00:36:38Thank you, Alan, for having me.

00:36:40Always a delight.

00:36:40You're welcome.

00:36:40Well, it's lovely to be in your barn.

00:36:42We say barn or shed.

00:36:43Oh, please.

00:36:44I do have a barn.

00:36:45I do beg your pardon.

00:36:46Shh.

00:36:47You should have a barn dance.

00:36:48If you like.

00:36:49We're dressed for it.

00:36:51Well, that's been rambling

00:36:52with Tom Allen, really.

00:36:54Now...

00:36:55That would be a good show.

00:36:56I present that with you.

00:36:57Oh, there you are.

00:36:57Oh, here we go.

00:36:58They say television's dead.

00:36:59Nothing you won't do.

00:37:00Not with you and me.

00:37:01Thank you, Tom.

00:37:02Now, over the weeks,

00:37:03you've been treating us

00:37:04to some spectacular photography

00:37:05from magical winter walking trails

00:37:08to overwintering birds

00:37:09and frozen waterfalls.

00:37:11So if heading outdoors doesn't appeal,

00:37:13just enjoy it

00:37:14from the comfort of your own home.

00:37:17It's time for your pictures

00:37:18in today's Walk on the Wild Side.

00:37:22Your dose of nature, sorted.

00:37:25Walk on the Wild Side

00:37:26on Love Your Weekend.

00:37:28Sponsored by WWF.

00:37:31Sponsored by WWF.

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00:38:56Do you find that as moving as I do?

00:39:04More wonderful shots capturing the British hours at its best

00:39:07and set to Oliver Ledbury's glorious role of honour.

00:39:10Please do keep sending them in.

00:39:12Coming up, from Hanging Out with the Stones,

00:39:15Seduction Lessons from a Screen Legend

00:39:16and Dinners with Princess Diana.

00:39:19He knows how to name drop.

00:39:20The charmer himself, Nigel Havers,

00:39:22sharing stories from his decades in show business,

00:39:25including his acting career and behind-the-scenes gossip.

00:39:28And paying homage to the festive flora

00:39:30we couldn't celebrate Christmas without,

00:39:32Camilla Bassett-Smith gets creative with the seasonal plants

00:39:35that say Christmas is coming.

00:39:37The holly and the ivy and plenty more too.

00:39:39And I return with Camilla right after this.

00:39:54Welcome back to Love Your Weekend.

00:39:57Coming up, the band that truly cornered the market in break-up bangers.

00:40:02Deeper Shade of Blue, One for Sorrow, Tragedy.

00:40:06Faitoza on turning Step's biggest heartbreak hits

00:40:09into a brand-new jukebox musical.

00:40:12Oh, she seems to have brought a horse too.

00:40:15And bringing Punch to the man-or-arms.

00:40:17He looks like such a placid boy.

00:40:19Tom Sergi serves up the knock-out party punch bowls

00:40:22that'll kick-start your festive shindigs in style.

00:40:26Now, earlier, she was getting us into the festive spirit,

00:40:29extolling the virtues of classic Christmas trees.

00:40:32And she's not finished yet.

00:40:33Continuing her horticultural celebration of Christmas greenery.

00:40:37Welcome back, Camilla, with more trees.

00:40:39Yes, they keep on coming, don't they?

00:40:40They're breeding.

00:40:41So much choice.

00:40:42Now, this one, we spoke about spruce trees earlier.

00:40:45We've moved on to firs, and I think there's no denying

00:40:48that this one, the Nordmann fir,

00:40:50is the most beautiful shape, isn't it?

00:40:51It hangs onto its needles far better also

00:40:54than Norway spruce, doesn't it?

00:40:55Yeah, it really does.

00:40:56And I think now probably this country's

00:40:57most popular Christmas tree, for good reason.

00:40:59Also very strong branches.

00:41:01So if you're hanging baubles,

00:41:03and you get some really big baubles, don't you?

00:41:04It really will take it.

00:41:06But a great, great tree.

00:41:08Actually named after a botanist

00:41:10at the Botanical Gardens in Ukraine.

00:41:12Takes its name from that.

00:41:13But this is the tree of choice, isn't it?

00:41:15And I think you often have a Nordmann.

00:41:17Yeah, out of all of them,

00:41:18the Nordmann, for me, is the best one to do.

00:41:21There's your Nordmann, and this one here,

00:41:22which looks like that, you know, grey spruce we had earlier.

00:41:26But again, this is a, you can tell this is a grey fir,

00:41:29because it's got the flat needles.

00:41:31It's lovely to feel.

00:41:32It's a noble fir.

00:41:33And that's the great thing, actually,

00:41:34very child-friendly in a home, aren't they?

00:41:36Because they don't, no poorly fingers from these ones.

00:41:39It's a bit more expensive, that's the thing.

00:41:41I mean, they do go up in price.

00:41:42That's it, but a great option.

00:41:43I mean, just so much choice, isn't it?

00:41:44The noble fir, well-named.

00:41:46It does look it, doesn't it?

00:41:47It does.

00:41:47But you've got other things as well.

00:41:48Our Christmas greenery.

00:41:49It wouldn't be complete without holly, would it?

00:41:51It wouldn't.

00:41:51Now, holly, I mean,

00:41:53we've been celebrating Christmas with holly for so many years,

00:41:56but it goes back, it predates Christmas, really,

00:41:57for the winter celebrations of Saturnalia

00:41:59and people celebrating the solstice,

00:42:02because the Druids believed that holly

00:42:03was the last plant that the sun would desert.

00:42:05It's supposed to protect you from evil spirits and goblins.

00:42:10No-one wants a goblin on Christmas Eve.

00:42:11Oh, no.

00:42:12No, not taking Father Christmas's mince pie and anything,

00:42:15and it doesn't have to happen.

00:42:16But hollies are such good garden plants as well

00:42:19for bringing into the house,

00:42:20but growing in this form of standard,

00:42:23which, these are great either side of a front door, aren't they?

00:42:25Yeah.

00:42:25But you've got this gorgeous variegation,

00:42:26you said this one, Golden King.

00:42:27And this one?

00:42:28And Blue Maid, this one,

00:42:29which berries very profusely as well,

00:42:32so they have a very good crop of berries on these.

00:42:34Quite a new introduction, Blue Maid, I think.

00:42:35It's a bit much to say it's blue.

00:42:37The leaves are very, very dark green.

00:42:38They are.

00:42:39You wouldn't call them blue, would you?

00:42:40If you don't kind of squint your eyes a little bit,

00:42:41put a few blue baubles on them.

00:42:42But the stems, actually, they're quite blue.

00:42:44I suppose maybe that's what the blue is for.

00:42:46They are, but very good,

00:42:47and also good for wildlife as well,

00:42:48you've got those berries.

00:42:49So they look good all year round, don't they?

00:42:51And then indoors.

00:42:51Yes.

00:42:52Now, this is called holly.

00:42:53It's Streptocarpus holly,

00:42:55which is a brand-new introduction.

00:42:57It's the first ever Streptocarpus houseplant

00:43:00to flower at Christmastime,

00:43:01because normally they come into flower,

00:43:03which are just getting into spring,

00:43:04and then they flower through the year.

00:43:06But this one has got a head start,

00:43:07and it's a gorgeous kind of clarity colour, really, isn't it?

00:43:10It is.

00:43:11It's really strong, a strong deep...

00:43:12And also more compact than the usual ones,

00:43:14with slightly smaller leaves.

00:43:15Yeah, they're shorter, aren't they?

00:43:16I always think they look like cow's tongues.

00:43:18This is more of a dog's tongue or something.

00:43:20A small cat.

00:43:21And probably a better bet than a poinsettia, actually.

00:43:24It's going to flower for much longer

00:43:25and be easier to keep.

00:43:26And also, if you bought a poinsettia

00:43:28from a cold street display,

00:43:30remember, they're natives of Mexico.

00:43:32They're chilled at that point.

00:43:34You probably won't see it until you get them home,

00:43:35then the leaves start going black and falling off.

00:43:37So if you are buying a poinsettia,

00:43:38and they're very popular,

00:43:39always buy them from somewhere warm,

00:43:41where they've been kept,

00:43:42preferably a nursery or a garden center.

00:43:43Taken care of.

00:43:44And then these beauties.

00:43:45I just want to know,

00:43:46we've had a little bit of a shower, haven't we?

00:43:47But they won't mind it,

00:43:48because the Christmas cactus quite likes it humid,

00:43:50likes a bit of a shower.

00:43:52And I love this colour, Alan.

00:43:54Look at this peach with the pink in it.

00:43:56Yeah.

00:43:56But they're actually,

00:43:58they're called Christmas cactus.

00:43:59More of a succulent, really, aren't they?

00:44:00Yeah.

00:44:00Those succulent leaves.

00:44:01And they're epiphytes.

00:44:02In the wild, they grow up trees,

00:44:03not as parasites,

00:44:04but just clinging on

00:44:05and absorbing the moisture from the atmosphere.

00:44:08Now, you've got a little trough here.

00:44:09Yes, I have indeed.

00:44:10A Christmas trough.

00:44:10A Christmas trough,

00:44:11because it's something fun to do at this time of year

00:44:13with little ones.

00:44:14Make sure you've got drainage,

00:44:16because that's the key thing, isn't it?

00:44:17You don't want to...

00:44:17Especially in winter,

00:44:17when it's going to fill the water.

00:44:18Yeah, exactly.

00:44:18So much rain.

00:44:19So this has got drainage in the bottom.

00:44:20We've got a multi-purpose compost

00:44:22that we've popped in,

00:44:23and a selection of festive plants as well.

00:44:26Now, in the centre,

00:44:27I adore this plant, Alan,

00:44:28and I think it looks quite Christmas tree-like.

00:44:30I love it,

00:44:31and I love saying its name,

00:44:32which is very euphonious.

00:44:34Cyedopitis verticillata.

00:44:36It's a beautiful...

00:44:36It's very good for checking

00:44:37that you've got your dentures in place.

00:44:39It is, it is.

00:44:39It's pretty ancient, isn't it, historically?

00:44:42It's one of its kind.

00:44:43A bit like the ginkgo.

00:44:44Yeah.

00:44:45Thought to be quite a sacred tree,

00:44:48but it's got these beautiful whorls.

00:44:49Its other name is the Japanese umbrella pine.

00:44:53So these lovely umbrella-like ends to it.

00:44:56Shall I put you a...

00:44:57Popping him in the centre there.

00:44:58Shall I put you a hellebore in this end?

00:45:00Yeah.

00:45:01Christmas rose.

00:45:02Yes, this is Christmas carol, this one.

00:45:04I'm thinking about, with any planter,

00:45:06about creating, with this,

00:45:08quite a formal planter,

00:45:10that sense of height in the middle,

00:45:13and then symmetry either side,

00:45:15which works really well.

00:45:17And these beautiful white flowers,

00:45:18snow-white flowers, aren't they?

00:45:21Pop some soil in the back there.

00:45:23Look at that.

00:45:24That's basically all you need.

00:45:24Shall I tuck a heuchera in the front?

00:45:26We've got a heuchera.

00:45:28This one is silver gumdrop.

00:45:29Silver gumdrop.

00:45:30And I love just that silver frosting on the leaf.

00:45:34But underneath, you've got this plum colour.

00:45:36You can probably get it in there.

00:45:37As well.

00:45:37If you turn it in there,

00:45:38we can get compost around it when they're more gone.

00:45:40There you go.

00:45:41Yes.

00:45:41And then finally...

00:45:42Oh, you've got more to get in?

00:45:43I have, because I'd love a little bit of ivy,

00:45:45because at Christmas,

00:45:47ivy goes with holly, doesn't it?

00:45:48Do you want this corner?

00:45:49I've just got a gap here.

00:45:50I'm going to put him in a corner.

00:45:50There you go.

00:45:50He's been in there a long time.

00:45:52But ivy, of course,

00:45:53is such a protective plant.

00:45:55It's brilliant in wreaths or planters.

00:45:57And actually, Westminster Abbey

00:45:58have ivy on wooden carvings there.

00:46:01So it's very much a part of protecting

00:46:04and Christmas and this time of year.

00:46:06That's a really wonderful scheme.

00:46:08Lovely.

00:46:08Bit of purple,

00:46:09a lot of white,

00:46:10a bit of green.

00:46:11Well done.

00:46:11Thanks, Camilla.

00:46:12Lovely.

00:46:12Pleasure.

00:46:13Time now for one of our regular check-ins

00:46:21with Folly Wildlife Rescue,

00:46:22an animal hospital in West Kent

00:46:24that provides specialist care

00:46:26for a range of native wildlife species in need.

00:46:29They've recently taken in

00:46:31a variety of different bird species,

00:46:33so we pay them a visit

00:46:34to see how their newest arrivals

00:46:36were getting on.

00:46:37We have quite a few special guests here

00:46:44at the hospital at the moment,

00:46:45which include three juvenile sparrowhawks

00:46:48and quite a few housemartins and swallows

00:46:50that are all growing up,

00:46:52ready to become adults.

00:46:53So they all come in,

00:46:55as I say,

00:46:56as white little fluffy chicks,

00:46:57incredibly cute,

00:46:58especially the sparrowhawks.

00:46:59So when we're feeding the baby chicks,

00:47:01one of our priorities

00:47:02is ensuring that they don't imprint on us,

00:47:04to cover our face fully

00:47:05so that they can't recognise us

00:47:06as individuals or as humans,

00:47:08as well as using this chick

00:47:10with some tweezers in its mouth

00:47:12to feed them with,

00:47:13and they begin to associate that

00:47:14with feeding rather than us.

00:47:16So they're really restless in here

00:47:20at the moment,

00:47:20and it's their first time being outside.

00:47:23It didn't quite go as we expected,

00:47:25but they were a little more calm,

00:47:27a little bit more nervous

00:47:27than we thought they would be.

00:47:31But once they were out,

00:47:32they were right out flying around.

00:47:35They've given all of their branches

00:47:36a good go,

00:47:37and they're trying to balance on them.

00:47:39They're a little bit wobbly at the minute,

00:47:40but they'll work it out eventually.

00:47:42And it's just all about

00:47:43building up their strength

00:47:44and their flight skills

00:47:45ready for release.

00:47:47Feather condition's really vital

00:47:49when looking for any bird's release,

00:47:51especially birds of prey.

00:47:52It's really important

00:47:53that their primary feathers,

00:47:54which they use to flight,

00:47:55are completely in perfect condition.

00:47:57If you're in a woodland area,

00:47:59that's their natural habitat.

00:48:01They prefer those areas.

00:48:02It's easier for them to perch

00:48:03while they're waiting

00:48:04to ambush the prey,

00:48:05and then they'll swoop in

00:48:06really low and fast.

00:48:07All of our babies,

00:48:09because they're juveniles,

00:48:10we have no idea

00:48:11whether they're boys or girls.

00:48:12You won't ever find out

00:48:13because by the time

00:48:14they get their adult colours,

00:48:15they'll be out in the wild

00:48:16living their best lives.

00:48:19So our migratory species

00:48:21are a lot more demanding.

00:48:23We feed them every 30 minutes

00:48:25and then that progresses

00:48:26as they get older,

00:48:28whereas birds of prey,

00:48:29we can feed them four times a day.

00:48:32Swallows and house martens

00:48:33are very similar in stature.

00:48:35They're two little small birds.

00:48:37The easiest way you can tell them apart

00:48:39is that swallows have

00:48:40kind of like a brown chin

00:48:41and their wings tend to be a lot longer

00:48:44and they're kind of like bluey grey.

00:48:46House martens,

00:48:47they're a lot smaller.

00:48:49They look like mini penguins almost

00:48:50because, you know,

00:48:51they're white fluffy chests,

00:48:53pure black backs,

00:48:54and you'll find them in open fields

00:48:56kind of hunting,

00:48:57sweeping low.

00:48:58So here we've got some

00:49:00mealworms and waxworms

00:49:02and they've had some crickets earlier

00:49:03so this is like a little bit

00:49:05of a pudding for them.

00:49:06And these guys will be released

00:49:08somewhere near to the coast

00:49:09so that they get a little bit

00:49:10of a head start.

00:49:11They'll then be on the wing

00:49:12all the way through

00:49:13till they reach Africa.

00:49:15It's just amazing

00:49:16that something so little

00:49:17couldn't sustain

00:49:18and sleep and eat

00:49:19for such a long time.

00:49:20These guys have come out lucky

00:49:23and landed on the right

00:49:25claw or talon.

00:49:30I think this is probably

00:49:32a good place to release

00:49:34the spare walks.

00:49:35A golf course may not seem

00:49:37like the most logical choice.

00:49:40The Neville golf course here

00:49:41have such a big rewilding scheme.

00:49:43They're wanting to introduce

00:49:44lots of new species to the area.

00:49:47There's lots of nice open greenways

00:49:50which is a good hunting ground

00:49:52for them.

00:49:52There's lots of tree cover nearby

00:49:54where they can sit and wait

00:49:55and ambush of their prey.

00:49:57We know there's farmland

00:49:58not too far away

00:49:59and there's also urban density

00:50:01that have lots of their prey.

00:50:04Look at him go!

00:50:06He found that thermal quickly,

00:50:08didn't he?

00:50:11There he goes.

00:50:12So we've just released

00:50:13our second sparrowhawk of the three.

00:50:15He's just flown up

00:50:16into these trees up here.

00:50:18He's given himself

00:50:19a little bit of a preem

00:50:20making sure his feathers

00:50:21are in good condition

00:50:21before he takes off.

00:50:23At the same time

00:50:24down by the coast

00:50:25our swallows and house martens

00:50:26are starting their adventure

00:50:28to Africa,

00:50:29their long migration.

00:50:31It's really magical

00:50:32to see them

00:50:33released and out in the wild.

00:50:35It's amazing.

00:50:40Thanks again to all the team there.

00:50:43Sterling work, as always.

00:50:44Coming up,

00:50:45not all punch bowls

00:50:47are created equally.

00:50:48especially when he's

00:50:49doing the pouring.

00:50:50Drinks expert

00:50:51Tom Surge

00:50:52is mixing up the measures

00:50:53with British-made spirits

00:50:54to create the perfect

00:50:56punch bowls

00:50:57for the party season.

00:50:58And celebrating

00:51:00those pop classics

00:51:01with the iconic dance moves,

00:51:03steps Faye Tozer

00:51:04on turning the band's

00:51:06smash hits

00:51:06into a smash hit musical.

00:51:09I'll see you with Faye

00:51:10in five, six, seven, eight.

00:51:27Welcome back to Love Your Weekend

00:51:29this chilly Sunday morning.

00:51:31Coming up,

00:51:31Havers announces

00:51:32new UK tour.

00:51:34Nigel Havers

00:51:35returns to the stage

00:51:36with witty anecdotes,

00:51:38genteel rip-up E,

00:51:39and charm personified

00:51:41as he takes to the stage

00:51:42for an evening

00:51:42of showbiz recollections.

00:51:45And he has

00:51:46quite a few of them,

00:51:47believe me.

00:51:47Well, he's been doing it

00:51:48a long while, hasn't he?

00:51:49Sorry.

00:51:50But first,

00:51:51my next guest

00:51:51made her name

00:51:52as one-fifth

00:51:53of the pop band

00:51:55of the late 90s

00:51:56and early noughties.

00:51:57Their back catalogue

00:51:58of infectious hit singles

00:52:00has now been turned

00:52:02into a romp

00:52:02of a jukebox musical.

00:52:04It's no wonder

00:52:05the show's got them

00:52:05dancing in the aisles

00:52:06when it's packed

00:52:07with sing-along

00:52:09feel-good tunes

00:52:10like these.

00:52:11It's tragedy

00:52:11When the feeling's gone

00:52:14And you can't go on

00:52:15It's tragedy

00:52:15When the morning cries

00:52:17And you don't know

00:52:18why it's not too bad

00:52:20But no one's a lack

00:52:22If you're going nowhere

00:52:24I know you're somewhere

00:52:27Else right now

00:52:29Love is someone

00:52:31Else, no doubt

00:52:33And I want the sorrow

00:52:36In a two-two light

00:52:40But I'm a deeper shade of blue

00:52:45And there's nothing I can do

00:52:49You're so far, far away

00:52:54They've become such a part

00:52:58of everybody's lives

00:52:59Even old grandfathers

00:53:00like me

00:53:01You know, you remember

00:53:01Tragedy

00:53:02And what not

00:53:03Faye, it's lovely

00:53:04to have you with us

00:53:05And particularly

00:53:06when you think of things

00:53:07like that

00:53:07I always find myself

00:53:08wondering

00:53:09the first day

00:53:11you ever heard

00:53:12that song

00:53:12Well, lots of them there

00:53:14You know, five, six, seven, eight

00:53:15But tragedy played to you

00:53:17You're going to be singing this

00:53:19I mean

00:53:19For the rest of your life

00:53:20Yeah, for the rest of your life

00:53:22A, did you mind

00:53:23and B, do you remember that moment?

00:53:24Oh my goodness

00:53:25I mean, that was just like

00:53:26my life flashing before me

00:53:28We had no idea

00:53:30Five, six, seven, eight

00:53:31was the first song

00:53:33that we ever had out

00:53:34back in 1997

00:53:35And we would have no idea

00:53:38that we'd still be here

00:53:39like 27 years later

00:53:42Yeah, still going

00:53:43Yes, amazing

00:53:44Amazing

00:53:45But tragedy

00:53:46We can all do that first move

00:53:47anyway

00:53:48That first move, everybody

00:53:49Yeah, still doing it

00:53:50I always do it like that

00:53:51Oh, no, it's this one

00:53:52Yes, of course

00:53:52That's a bit scared

00:53:53Absolutely

00:53:53We'll have to go that way

00:53:54Yeah

00:53:54My grandchildren were so impressed

00:53:56Faye is teaching me kids

00:53:58how to do tragedy properly

00:53:59You'll be pleased to know now

00:54:01And now we've got this musical

00:54:03this jukebox musical

00:54:04Here and Now

00:54:05which is based on

00:54:06all your songs

00:54:07Not you in it though

00:54:09and not your story as a group

00:54:11No

00:54:11But it utilises all the songs

00:54:13Yeah

00:54:13Rather like, you know

00:54:14Mamma Mia

00:54:15Absolutely

00:54:16So we actually went to see

00:54:17Mamma Mia

00:54:18years and years and years ago

00:54:19as a group

00:54:20when we first came out

00:54:21and we said

00:54:22Oh gosh, you know

00:54:23our music would really

00:54:24lend itself to a musical

00:54:25Like, fast forward

00:54:27to around eight years ago

00:54:29we changed our management

00:54:31and we said

00:54:32we really want to go ahead

00:54:33with this

00:54:33we really want to do a musical

00:54:34because it would be

00:54:35a huge stamp

00:54:35a huge legacy

00:54:36for Steps and our music

00:54:38and it's taken about

00:54:39eight years

00:54:40to actually come into fruition

00:54:41Yeah

00:54:42we ended up with

00:54:43an incredible writer

00:54:44Shaw Kinchner

00:54:45we've got Matt Cole

00:54:46choreographer

00:54:47who is an award winning

00:54:48we've got an amazing team

00:54:50behind us

00:54:50and we've been able

00:54:51to create

00:54:51this really

00:54:53really British

00:54:54down to earth

00:54:55heartfelt

00:54:56story

00:54:57with our incredible hits

00:54:59I'm allowed to say that

00:55:00aren't we?

00:55:00Of course you are

00:55:01Nobody's going to deny that

00:55:02Well last year

00:55:03you were in Liverpool

00:55:04this coming week

00:55:05you're in Brighton

00:55:06That's right

00:55:06Well the show is in Brighton

00:55:07you're not there

00:55:08but the show is

00:55:09That's right

00:55:09But it did strike me there

00:55:10there are similarities

00:55:12with ABBA

00:55:12in terms of sort of

00:55:13orchestration

00:55:14aren't there really?

00:55:14Very much so

00:55:15and I think Pete Waterman

00:55:17back in the early days

00:55:18you know

00:55:18wanted to make a point of that

00:55:19he used to call us

00:55:20ABBA on speed

00:55:21but it was

00:55:24it was definitely

00:55:24because of the blend

00:55:25of our voices

00:55:26the boy girl thing

00:55:27so yeah

00:55:27and we totally own that

00:55:29absolutely

00:55:29It's lovely

00:55:31this long after

00:55:33those initials

00:55:33you say

00:55:34in 1997

00:55:35the fact that you are

00:55:36still together

00:55:37you're still speaking

00:55:37to one another

00:55:38Yeah what's happening every day

00:55:39Well it's quite rare

00:55:40rare nowadays

00:55:41and there's so many fallouts

00:55:42and what not

00:55:43it's rather nice to hear

00:55:45of a group

00:55:45that are still sort of

00:55:47in speaking terms

00:55:48and seeing it going on

00:55:49The initial split

00:55:50obviously there was

00:55:50a big gap in between

00:55:51where we didn't speak

00:55:53because it was quite

00:55:53a tricky ending

00:55:54but that's well documented

00:55:55and we're

00:55:55it's all water under the bridge now

00:55:57but actually

00:55:58You're growing up now

00:55:59Well yeah

00:56:00and there's more important things

00:56:01you know

00:56:01we're all parents

00:56:02you know

00:56:03we all want to do things

00:56:04outside of these things

00:56:05and celebrate each other

00:56:06for that

00:56:06and support each other

00:56:07and we're together

00:56:08because we choose to be

00:56:09now

00:56:10not because we're being asked to be

00:56:12and that's really amazing

00:56:13Is Glastonbury still a dream?

00:56:16Ah

00:56:16Well that would be bucket list

00:56:19it really would

00:56:20but Elton John

00:56:21only got asked recently

00:56:23so there's still time yet

00:56:25Oh dear yeah

00:56:25I would love to though

00:56:26Glastonbury would be a dream

00:56:28Well you've sung with some

00:56:29interesting people

00:56:30I mean we've got a bit of footage

00:56:31you here

00:56:32you singing with

00:56:33Russell Watson

00:56:34so here's Fay Tozer

00:56:36and Russell Watson

00:56:37in duet

00:56:37Why do anything

00:56:40if you just let me

00:56:42in your life

00:56:43whatever it takes

00:56:46I won't make the same mistake

00:56:50I've been searching for someone like you

00:57:06He wasn't paying you any attention

00:57:20and I think I was really rude

00:57:21and you're singing so beautifully

00:57:23where were you when you were doing that?

00:57:25Oh gosh

00:57:26so I went on tour with Russell

00:57:27and we did

00:57:28we went on the QE2

00:57:30for this amazing trip towards New Zealand

00:57:33and that video was actually shot in Tahiti

00:57:36the outside charts

00:57:38and that was part of our tour

00:57:39and we ended up in New Zealand

00:57:40and played to the biggest audience

00:57:42I've ever played to

00:57:43and it's 140,000 people

00:57:45my knees were knocking

00:57:47what does it fit

00:57:48when you're standing in front

00:57:49that's an unconscious

00:57:50they had the most incredible orchestra behind us

00:57:52and I was just like a featured artist with him

00:57:54got to do one of my own songs

00:57:56as well as working with him

00:57:57and Hayley Westrum was on there as well

00:58:01it was just magical

00:58:02lovely

00:58:03knees knocking

00:58:04did you get nervous?

00:58:05yes absolutely

00:58:06but if you don't get nervous

00:58:07I feel like

00:58:08you're not shot up

00:58:09yeah

00:58:09but also it's because you want to do a good job

00:58:11isn't it

00:58:12well you've done various jobs

00:58:15various different ones

00:58:16I mean playing Cruella de Vil

00:58:17in 101 Dalmatians

00:58:19it's quite a different bit of acting

00:58:20and nice to play somebody nasty

00:58:23yeah

00:58:24I'm an animal lover

00:58:27doodle do

00:58:28love animals

00:58:30doodle do

00:58:31love them here

00:58:32and here

00:58:33and here

00:58:34I like my creature

00:58:36comfort's near

00:58:37whoops

00:58:38was that

00:58:39a crocodile tear

00:58:40let's start

00:58:41with the shoe

00:58:42always start

00:58:43with the shoe

00:58:43it lets you know

00:58:45just what to do

00:58:46if you're serving looks

00:58:48with all the feels

00:58:50it's got to be

00:58:51kitten heels

00:58:52let's cut to the calf

00:58:54skin the calf

00:58:56look at that leg

00:58:57beveled darling

00:58:59you don't want something

00:59:00that doesn't look right

00:59:02you want skin tight

00:59:03and when I say skin tight

00:59:05I mean skin

00:59:06in a very appropriate

00:59:09leopard skin

00:59:10you've always loved musicals

00:59:14I think

00:59:14I have

00:59:15I actually was

00:59:16auditioning for musicals

00:59:19when I did the steps audition

00:59:20I wanted to go into musicals

00:59:22that was my thing

00:59:22I didn't realise

00:59:23that I'd end up in the pop industry

00:59:25and I've been really lucky

00:59:27since 2004

00:59:29I did my first musical

00:59:31tell me on a Sunday

00:59:32Bill Kenwright production

00:59:34yes

00:59:34and then after that

00:59:36I think I've now been

00:59:37in the musical theatre world

00:59:38as my other day job

00:59:39for about 20 years now

00:59:41and had some incredible roles

00:59:43incredible shows

00:59:44and worked with incredible people

00:59:45and you're doing

00:59:46panto this year as well

00:59:47are you in Birmingham

00:59:47I am

00:59:48we're at the Birmingham Hippodrome

00:59:50and we are doing

00:59:52Robin Hood

00:59:53so I usually play

00:59:55like the evil queen

00:59:56so this is a different part for me

00:59:58but I'm with the lovely Biggins

01:00:00and also Gok Wan

01:00:02who I've never worked with before

01:00:03good heavens above

01:00:04two pantomime stalwarts there

01:00:06it's going to be a noisy show

01:00:07so who are you playing in Robin Hood

01:00:09so I'm Maid Marian

01:00:09well of course

01:00:10if you're not a wicked queen

01:00:12oh well she's lovely

01:00:13you can give her a bit of

01:00:14I think it's going to be

01:00:15very tongue-in-cheek fun jokes

01:00:18yeah

01:00:18and setting it all up

01:00:19for everybody else

01:00:20so it'll be really fun

01:00:21well we're talking to Nigel

01:00:22about panto as well

01:00:22because it is the season

01:00:24isn't it

01:00:24to be in panto

01:00:25yeah

01:00:26and darn hard work

01:00:27yes

01:00:27I mean it's

01:00:28for most people

01:00:29it's two shows a day

01:00:30six days a week

01:00:31and it's our graft

01:00:32and I think you have to be

01:00:34a certain type of person

01:00:35to want to do that

01:00:36and come back and do it

01:00:37every year

01:00:38but we always have

01:00:39a really really great time

01:00:40and it's dark outside

01:00:42it's a bit dingy

01:00:43so I'm like roll me in glitter

01:00:44and I'm happy

01:00:45and you live in the country

01:00:47you're living up in the north east

01:00:48so it's lovely to meet someone

01:00:50who's not down here in London

01:00:52but way up there

01:00:54and you're a country girl then really

01:00:55you're not the countryside

01:00:56I think I am at heart

01:00:58I really am

01:00:59I really enjoy my downtime

01:01:01being outside

01:01:02I'm a big fan of

01:01:03so I'm about an hour from the lakes

01:01:05which is amazing

01:01:06and just walking and hiking

01:01:10is a real tonic for me these days

01:01:12I love doubling in the garden as well

01:01:13it gives me a lot of

01:01:15I think it's lovely contrast

01:01:17when your life is so busy

01:01:18and so hectic

01:01:19and just getting down to

01:01:21a bit of normality

01:01:22and a space to breathe

01:01:24we're getting you and Tom Allen

01:01:25on gardeners question time

01:01:26before we know where we are

01:01:27top tips all round

01:01:29yes please

01:01:29thank you Faye

01:01:30you're very welcome

01:01:31well we're heading down the garden path now

01:01:34with a secretive and deceptive

01:01:36and suspicious little creature

01:01:38especially where acorns are concerned

01:01:40here's Leslie Joseph

01:01:41and everything you need to know

01:01:43about the acrobatic grey squirrel

01:01:45a very good morning to you Alan

01:01:49and a delicious and delectable

01:01:51good morning to you

01:01:52dear viewer

01:01:53today we go down the garden path

01:01:55to meet

01:01:56the grey squirrel

01:01:58native to North America

01:02:01grey squirrels were first introduced

01:02:03to the UK in the 19th century

01:02:05the species has spread rapidly

01:02:07and there are now

01:02:08an estimated

01:02:092.7 million grey squirrels

01:02:13across the nation

01:02:13unfortunately

01:02:15the introduction of grey squirrels

01:02:17has had a disastrous impact

01:02:19on the UK's only native squirrel species

01:02:22the red squirrel

01:02:24this makes the grey squirrel

01:02:26considered somewhat of a pest

01:02:28the grey squirrel can be found

01:02:29in woods, gardens and parks

01:02:31across the land

01:02:32frequently helping themselves

01:02:33to acorns, hazelnuts

01:02:35and even a cheeky nibble

01:02:37on the occasional pine cone

01:02:38when it comes to stashing supplies

01:02:40the grey squirrel will collect food

01:02:42in the autumn

01:02:43and bury their treasures underground

01:02:45ready to be eaten in winter

01:02:47when food is scarce

01:02:48with a silver grey coat

01:02:50and a brownish face and feet

01:02:51the most striking feature

01:02:53of the grey squirrel

01:02:54is of course

01:02:55their characteristically bushy tail

01:02:57that helps keep balance

01:02:59when climbing trees

01:03:00when it comes to home life

01:03:02grey squirrels make a rough nest

01:03:04called a dray

01:03:05out of twigs, leaves

01:03:06and strips of bark

01:03:08high up in the trees

01:03:09grey squirrels are renowned

01:03:11for their agility

01:03:12adept climbing

01:03:13and cunning craftiness

01:03:15they can crack open bird feeders

01:03:18with ease

01:03:18and run along tightrope

01:03:20like washing lines

01:03:21to get to their nutty prize

01:03:23on the matter of movement

01:03:25grey squirrels have

01:03:26double jointed ankles

01:03:28allowing their feet

01:03:29to face both forwards

01:03:31and backwards

01:03:33a perfect adaption

01:03:35for tree climbing

01:03:36well dear viewer

01:03:37that just about wraps up

01:03:39another visit down the garden path

01:03:41over to you Alan

01:03:43thank you Leslie

01:03:45and did you know

01:03:46squirrels have four

01:03:47large front teeth

01:03:48that carry on growing

01:03:50throughout their lives

01:03:51that's to prevent them

01:03:51wearing down

01:03:52while they're munching away

01:03:54on nuts, seeds

01:03:55and other woody items

01:03:56fancy

01:03:57there you are

01:03:58coming up

01:03:59from jumping hurdles

01:04:00in chariots of fire

01:04:01to taking a passage

01:04:02to India

01:04:03to cornering the market

01:04:04in greasy cads

01:04:06dubious charmers

01:04:07and lovable tops

01:04:09Nigel Habers

01:04:10takes to the road

01:04:11for a brand new tour

01:04:12and he's in panto too

01:04:14as I said

01:04:15playing Keeper of the Privy

01:04:16that well known role

01:04:18I'll be back with Nigel

01:04:19right after this

01:04:20welcome back to Love Your Weekend

01:04:35still ahead

01:04:35the drinks

01:04:36your party guests

01:04:37can serve themselves

01:04:38Tom Sergi gets creative

01:04:40with the hassle-free

01:04:41cocktail punch bowls

01:04:42that'll keep them

01:04:43coming back for more

01:04:45but first described

01:04:46as an entertaining

01:04:47irreverent look

01:04:48at ageing

01:04:49second chances

01:04:50friendship

01:04:50and love in later life

01:04:52proving that it really

01:04:53is never too late

01:04:54just ask Anita Dobson

01:04:56and Nigel Havers

01:04:57we love you Cynthia

01:04:59you can finish me

01:05:01you ready?

01:05:07it had to be you

01:05:14it had to be you

01:05:17I wandered around

01:05:21and finally found

01:05:23there's somebody who

01:05:25could make me be true

01:05:28and could make me be blue

01:05:32I'll even be glad

01:05:36just to be sad

01:05:37thinking of you

01:05:39well Tom Allen was rubbish

01:05:40but you were really there

01:05:41quite good I thought

01:05:43I've not seen that

01:05:45so it comes as a bit of a shock

01:05:47it does

01:05:48it's part of

01:05:50a new play for today

01:05:51that lovely series

01:05:52we had many many years ago

01:05:53and they suddenly brought them back

01:05:54you and Anita Dobson

01:05:55in this story

01:05:57about older people

01:05:59tell us a bit about the plot

01:06:01well I'm in an older person's

01:06:04sort of home

01:06:05accommodation

01:06:06accommodation

01:06:06and she turns up

01:06:09and we're old flames

01:06:10from way back

01:06:11and she is very disappointed

01:06:13to see me

01:06:13because of the way it ended

01:06:15and it ended in a way

01:06:17that she thought was wrong

01:06:18and in fact it was a mistake

01:06:20and I won't spoil it

01:06:22but it's rather cute

01:06:24and lovely

01:06:24and I did enjoy doing it

01:06:26I'd never worked with Anita

01:06:27but she was fantastic

01:06:29she's a delight

01:06:29she really is

01:06:30she sat where you're sitting

01:06:31several times

01:06:32as an interviewee

01:06:33she's absolutely delightful

01:06:35she is just incredible

01:06:36and play for today

01:06:38kickstarted many people's careers

01:06:40as you probably know

01:06:41including mine in a way

01:06:43because I did a couple

01:06:44and it was at a time

01:06:46when you could go to the BBC

01:06:47and say

01:06:48I've got this idea

01:06:49and they'd say

01:06:50well let's do it

01:06:51and it would be done

01:06:52and it was quality drama

01:06:53yeah but it was done

01:06:55very quickly

01:06:55no one interfering

01:06:57didn't cost much money

01:06:58didn't get paid very much

01:06:59but at least you got something done

01:07:00on the telly

01:07:02and that's I think

01:07:03a very good idea

01:07:04to revive

01:07:05and that's the plan

01:07:07you started in things like that

01:07:09and it's been wonderful

01:07:10watching you develop

01:07:11and seeing you now

01:07:13playing older men

01:07:15near your own age

01:07:17was there a moment

01:07:17when you thought

01:07:18I've moved on

01:07:19I'm not that young bounder anymore

01:07:21just now

01:07:23just now

01:07:23just watching that clip

01:07:25I thought

01:07:26oh it's happened

01:07:27I'm in an old people's accommodation

01:07:29it's finally happened

01:07:31yeah

01:07:32but I'm not

01:07:32I mean so what

01:07:33oh but they are such cracking roles

01:07:35they are

01:07:36and one in particular

01:07:37which must have been really

01:07:39intriguing

01:07:40and in a way hard to play

01:07:42playing your grandfather

01:07:43because most of your family

01:07:44have been in law

01:07:45your father was attorney general

01:07:46and you know

01:07:48great legal roles

01:07:50within government

01:07:51Sir Michael Havers

01:07:52your brother is in that

01:07:54you the actor in the family

01:07:56and then to play this role

01:07:57which is your grandfather

01:07:59in Cruel Love

01:08:00Ruth Ellis

01:08:09the jury has convicted you

01:08:12of murder

01:08:13in my view

01:08:15it was the only verdict possible

01:08:17you will be taken hence

01:08:21to the prison in which

01:08:23you were last confined

01:08:24and from there

01:08:25to a place of execution

01:08:28where you will suffer death

01:08:32by hanging

01:08:33and thereafter

01:08:35your body buried

01:08:36within the precincts

01:08:37of the prison

01:08:38and may the Lord

01:08:40have mercy on your soul

01:08:42Amen

01:08:43Thanks

01:08:55Ruth Ellis

01:09:02the last woman

01:09:03to be hanged in Britain

01:09:04and sentenced to death

01:09:06unwillingly

01:09:07by your grandfather

01:09:09because she would not say

01:09:10she hadn't intended

01:09:12to kill a lover

01:09:13I mean

01:09:14you knew your grandfather

01:09:15I mean what a thing

01:09:16to have to go through

01:09:17I know

01:09:18from Ruth Ellis' point of yours

01:09:19but also from your grandfather's point

01:09:20Indeed

01:09:21and he did speak about it

01:09:22and he was mortified by it

01:09:24and as you know

01:09:25during the trial

01:09:26he kept saying

01:09:27but you didn't intend to kill

01:09:29oh yes I did

01:09:30she said

01:09:31at every turn

01:09:32so there was nothing

01:09:33he could do

01:09:34he sent a letter

01:09:35to the home secretary

01:09:36at the time

01:09:37asking him to

01:09:38spare her

01:09:40commute sentence

01:09:40yes

01:09:41and he refused

01:09:42and

01:09:43he then decided

01:09:46to pay

01:09:47for her son's education

01:09:49which he did

01:09:50Gracious me

01:09:51Yeah

01:09:51Playing your grandfather

01:09:53then in that role

01:09:54was that hard

01:09:54unless it was

01:09:55a facile question

01:09:56but it must have been

01:09:57very hard

01:09:58to do that role

01:09:59actually

01:09:59channeling him in a way

01:10:00I'm glad they asked me

01:10:01and I said

01:10:02no

01:10:02I have one reservation

01:10:04I think I'm a little too young

01:10:05to play him

01:10:06and they said

01:10:06actually you're 10 years old

01:10:07oh dear

01:10:10but it was

01:10:11back to the age thing

01:10:12Nigel

01:10:13yes

01:10:13back to the age thing

01:10:13every word I say

01:10:15is the words that he spoke

01:10:17goodness

01:10:17so I had to get them

01:10:19absolutely dead right

01:10:20but I was

01:10:21I adored my grandfather

01:10:23so it was

01:10:23something for me

01:10:24to do it

01:10:25on a lighter note

01:10:26you're still touring

01:10:27with your one month show

01:10:28I think

01:10:28or are you going to tour

01:10:29again with it

01:10:30I'm going to go out

01:10:31I had such a good time

01:10:32doing it

01:10:32and I realised

01:10:33I couldn't work out

01:10:35why I wanted to do it

01:10:36people had asked me

01:10:37and I kept saying

01:10:38really am I

01:10:39back to the age thing

01:10:40am I

01:10:41I'm too young to do this

01:10:42and then I decided

01:10:44I wasn't

01:10:44but I remember Dawn French

01:10:46who's a great friend of mine

01:10:47she rang me one night

01:10:49I was in a play

01:10:49just about to go on stage

01:10:50and she rang and said

01:10:52I'm just about to go on stage

01:10:53and I'm so nervous

01:10:53I'm doing my one woman show

01:10:55and I don't know why I'm doing it

01:10:56why am I putting myself through this

01:10:58and I said

01:10:59Dawn it's very very simple

01:11:00you're doing it

01:11:01because you have a huge ego

01:11:02and she said

01:11:04oh you're right

01:11:05oh now I understand

01:11:07thank you

01:11:07and I found myself on stage

01:11:10on the first night

01:11:11I was doing this

01:11:11and I said

01:11:13why am I doing this

01:11:14and I realised

01:11:14it was because I have a huge ego

01:11:16well that's

01:11:17Noel Coward

01:11:18when he was once being interviewed

01:11:19the interview said

01:11:20I'm terribly sorry

01:11:21to keep asking you about yourself

01:11:23and Coward said

01:11:23no no it's my favourite subject

01:11:24became mine

01:11:26yes

01:11:27I got Judy Dent

01:11:29to do the introduction

01:11:30and you hear her voice saying

01:11:31ladies and gentlemen

01:11:32here's someone

01:11:33who needs no introduction

01:11:34and then you hear me saying

01:11:36but if I don't need an introduction

01:11:37why are you introducing me

01:11:38she says

01:11:39you're right

01:11:40okay

01:11:40here's Nigel Havers

01:11:41you know

01:11:42and so she kicks me off

01:11:43and I run on stage

01:11:45in slow motion

01:11:46to the music

01:11:47of Chariots of Fire

01:11:48and it sort of kicks off

01:11:49and I had an idea

01:11:52but I didn't have a script

01:11:53it just sort of

01:11:54happens

01:11:55there's enough

01:11:56that you've done

01:11:57Nigel

01:11:58over the years

01:11:58and the variety

01:11:59of it as well

01:11:59from comedy

01:12:00to heavy drama

01:12:01there's another popular drama

01:12:03which you have been in

01:12:04Downton Abbey

01:12:05oh yes

01:12:06now Julian Fellows

01:12:07is a great friend of mine

01:12:08and we were

01:12:09a bunch of actors

01:12:10all growing up together

01:12:11and whenever we went

01:12:12to the pub

01:12:13to have a drink

01:12:13Julian would always sit

01:12:14on the table over there

01:12:15writing

01:12:15I'm writing

01:12:16I'm just doing

01:12:17and writing

01:12:17we thought

01:12:18he's never going to

01:12:19get any job writing

01:12:20he's never going to

01:12:22get anywhere

01:12:22come on Julian

01:12:23you're never going to

01:12:23get anywhere writing

01:12:24so that was

01:12:26and then came Gosford Park

01:12:28and then came the Oscar

01:12:28yeah and then came the Oscar

01:12:29so when he said

01:12:31would you play this part

01:12:32yeah

01:12:32a cad

01:12:33oh that'll be novel

01:12:35that'll be fine

01:12:36I've never done that before

01:12:37here you are then

01:12:39the cad

01:12:40and Downton Abbey

01:12:41well what should we talk about

01:12:43Hatton

01:12:46shall we discuss

01:12:48why you never go there now

01:12:49or La Hale

01:12:51or what about

01:12:53Hepworth House

01:12:54in Groveny Square

01:12:55I spent so many

01:12:56happy evenings there

01:12:57with your father

01:12:58in hot pursuit

01:12:59I see it's time

01:13:04for some honesty

01:13:05a change is as good

01:13:06as a rest

01:13:07I think you know

01:13:10that Hatton's gone

01:13:11so has Lock Earl

01:13:13and Hepworth House

01:13:16has so many mortgages

01:13:18I could only sell it

01:13:21at a loss

01:13:21so my spies

01:13:22tell me

01:13:23so you want Rosamond

01:13:24or rather the fortune

01:13:26of the late

01:13:27Mr Painswick

01:13:28to come to the rescue

01:13:30my feelings

01:13:31for Lady Rosamond

01:13:31are sincere

01:13:32I admire her

01:13:34immensely

01:13:35I do not doubt it

01:13:36my only fear

01:13:37is that you admire

01:13:38her money

01:13:39more

01:13:40Lady Rosamond

01:13:41is too young

01:13:41to be alone

01:13:42and you'll concede

01:13:43and you'll concede

01:13:44that there are many

01:13:45varieties

01:13:46of happy marriage

01:13:48maybe

01:13:49but they are all

01:13:52based on honesty

01:13:53I insist

01:13:55you tell the truth

01:13:57about your circumstances

01:13:58to Rosamond

01:13:59after that

01:14:01it's up to her

01:14:03Dowager

01:14:04Countess Grantham

01:14:05a force to be reckoned

01:14:06with

01:14:07those short

01:14:08sharp put-downs

01:14:08and one-liners

01:14:09Maggie Smith

01:14:10a force to be reckoned

01:14:11but a delight

01:14:12to play opposites

01:14:13I would think

01:14:13I knew her well

01:14:15so I had fun with her

01:14:17you know

01:14:18I saw her not

01:14:18long before she died

01:14:20actually

01:14:20and I said

01:14:21Maggie you're looking

01:14:22wonderful

01:14:22and she said to me

01:14:23you're clutching

01:14:24at straws darling

01:14:25very Maggie

01:14:28she was quite

01:14:29a wonderful person

01:14:30you did get the part

01:14:31in the end

01:14:31I did get the part

01:14:32in the end

01:14:32but a far cry

01:14:33from Panto

01:14:34it's ten years

01:14:36you've been doing

01:14:36the Palladium Panto

01:14:38now

01:14:38with Julian Clary

01:14:39and it is

01:14:40it's hilarious

01:14:42last year

01:14:42I was the poster boy

01:14:43for assisted dying

01:14:44what are you this year?

01:14:50I can't

01:14:51dare tell you

01:14:52what I am this year

01:14:53something to do

01:14:54with the privy

01:14:55yes

01:14:55I'm keeper of the privy

01:14:57actually

01:14:57oh right

01:14:57the purse bit's been dropped

01:14:59just keep the privy

01:15:01I keep the loose clean

01:15:02how much

01:15:05sort of adalibing

01:15:05goes on in the evening

01:15:06well it's funny

01:15:07you should ask that

01:15:08because

01:15:08once you strapped it down

01:15:10we try and keep it

01:15:11because there's so many

01:15:13cues involved

01:15:14but Julian can't

01:15:15obviously resist

01:15:16so it does

01:15:17it does move around

01:15:18especially with me

01:15:19especially with you

01:15:20it's clearly huge fun

01:15:22it is huge fun

01:15:23but I do

01:15:24what a wonderful life

01:15:25I've had the most

01:15:25amazingly good time

01:15:27don't tell everybody

01:15:28no no

01:15:28I've had a very hard

01:15:29difficult life

01:15:30yes

01:15:31well we can tell that

01:15:32from your features

01:15:33just like you

01:15:33Alan

01:15:34yes

01:15:34just like me

01:15:35yes

01:15:36and I'm not giving up

01:15:37the spade either

01:15:38because you never know

01:15:38when you're going to need it again

01:15:39do you

01:15:40and I love a bit of spade work

01:15:41myself

01:15:41good

01:15:42I'm a keen keen gardener

01:15:43I'm glad

01:15:44glad this place is full of them

01:15:46today really

01:15:46you and Tom Allen

01:15:47yeah

01:15:47together

01:15:48lovely to talk to you

01:15:49lovely to talk to you

01:15:50you'll say for a light libation

01:15:51at the end will you

01:15:52have I ever said no

01:15:53no

01:15:54unfortunately not

01:15:55no

01:15:55before

01:15:57it's dreadful

01:15:59brings up the worst in me

01:16:00before the libations

01:16:02time to de-stress your Sunday

01:16:03even more

01:16:04with today's

01:16:05Ode to Joy

01:16:30Ode to Joy

01:17:00Ode to Joy

01:17:30Ode to Joy

01:18:00and set

01:18:01to one of my favourite overtures

01:18:03The Silken Ladder

01:18:04by Rossini

01:18:05come one

01:18:06come all

01:18:07it's the return of the 1970s punch bowl

01:18:09remember them

01:18:10no wonder Tom Sergis

01:18:11already got a cue for me

01:18:13gracious me

01:18:13I'll be back with the other Tom

01:18:15Faye

01:18:15and Nigel

01:18:16to sample his communal cocktails

01:18:18right after this

01:18:19welcome back to Love Your Weekend

01:18:35best of British time

01:18:36and with the Christmas party season in full swing

01:18:38our diaries easily fill up

01:18:40with invites to office do's

01:18:42and festive mingles and jingles

01:18:44and with family and friends

01:18:46but if you're playing host this year

01:18:48perhaps a hassle free approach

01:18:49to bartending is what's called for

01:18:51with the return of the classic

01:18:521970s punch bowl

01:18:55dangerous

01:18:56not only are they cost effective

01:18:58but they also mean you can escape

01:18:59from behind the drinks trolley

01:19:01and enjoy the evening yourself

01:19:02here with his very own

01:19:04batch made cocktails

01:19:05using the finest British spirits

01:19:07welcome back

01:19:08Tom Sergi with an array of goldfish bowls

01:19:11thank you Alan

01:19:11I know

01:19:12look at this

01:19:13I brought them from home

01:19:14it's all mine

01:19:15it's not

01:19:16it's not

01:19:16there's poor fish

01:19:17there's poor fish

01:19:18I know

01:19:19it's an absolute travesty

01:19:20do you know

01:19:21this is one of my favourite segments

01:19:23we've done

01:19:23I think punch is

01:19:24it's exactly the time of year for it

01:19:26we think of punch

01:19:27first and foremost

01:19:27as being this very

01:19:28summery

01:19:29kind of you know

01:19:30Caribbean island

01:19:32kind of influence thing

01:19:33and actually

01:19:33these are incredibly

01:19:35British drinks

01:19:36these were almost

01:19:37definitely invented

01:19:38in India

01:19:39while the Brits were out there

01:19:40in the 1600s

01:19:41and so they have a 400 year history

01:19:43and their arrival in the Caribbean

01:19:45arrives with the Brits

01:19:46and so there's this real

01:19:47kind of British

01:19:48I suppose

01:19:50sort of heritage

01:19:51to these drinks

01:19:51that then transcend

01:19:52and move all over the world

01:19:53and then get these brilliant

01:19:54unique characters

01:19:55from the cultures

01:19:56that they meet along the way

01:19:57so we're going to explore that a bit

01:19:58first off

01:20:00we're going to do something outrageous

01:20:01and I think my favourite of the lot

01:20:03it's a beautiful thing

01:20:04it's the Chatham artillery punch

01:20:07it is this situation

01:20:09I've been to Chatham

01:20:10and let me tell you

01:20:10you can easily get punched

01:20:12there

01:20:12so this is

01:20:14different Chatham

01:20:15so this

01:20:16this comes from Georgia

01:20:17out in America

01:20:18and in 1885

01:20:19Chatham artillery punch

01:20:20was invented

01:20:21it is a combination

01:20:22of cognac

01:20:23very very lovely rum

01:20:26oh

01:20:27bourbon

01:20:28and topped up

01:20:29crucially

01:20:30all that else is in it

01:20:31a bit of lemon juice

01:20:32and sugar

01:20:32topped up with the brilliant

01:20:34Westwell

01:20:35Wiccan Foy

01:20:35English sparkling wine

01:20:36giving it a bit of verve

01:20:38and zest

01:20:39this is delicious

01:20:40isn't it amazing

01:20:40that's all that's in it

01:20:41that's all that's in it

01:20:42very tasty

01:20:42and then what's on top

01:20:44what have we got

01:20:44a little bit of grated nutmeg

01:20:45ah

01:20:46if you want to

01:20:47yeah that's the key thing

01:20:48I just thought that was a bit of hay

01:20:49that's in the ceiling

01:20:50it's really refreshing

01:20:53there's a lot going on

01:20:54isn't there

01:20:55there is a lot going on

01:20:56and it's one

01:20:57it's very complex

01:20:58isn't it

01:20:58but delicious

01:20:59and you would never suspect

01:21:02that it's almost entirely

01:21:03meat spirits

01:21:04and the reason for that

01:21:05is you get this amazing freshness

01:21:06oh I think I would

01:21:07I was going to say

01:21:08I think I'm about to

01:21:09it's a sort of heart starter

01:21:12isn't it

01:21:12yeah

01:21:13full stopper

01:21:14one or the other

01:21:15yes

01:21:15or as my father would call it

01:21:16a phlegm cutter

01:21:17oh and Faye

01:21:21you like this as well

01:21:22I do

01:21:22I think it's really refreshing

01:21:24though as well

01:21:25it's got this tartness

01:21:26this kind of moorish

01:21:27little tartness to it

01:21:28yeah

01:21:28beautiful

01:21:29oh it's gorgeous

01:21:30and as you say

01:21:30once they're in the bowl

01:21:31it's just sort of

01:21:32pour away

01:21:33it's all right

01:21:33isn't it

01:21:34I just

01:21:35yeah it's lovely

01:21:37that one

01:21:37oh this one's warm

01:21:38yeah this one is warm

01:21:40and I thought what we'd do here

01:21:41is we'd do a sort of

01:21:42lovely mould cider

01:21:43and the idea is

01:21:45these are drinks

01:21:45that are there to be

01:21:46served

01:21:46as a sharing drink

01:21:48they're there to be

01:21:49ladled out

01:21:50in kind of generous

01:21:51kind of quantities to people

01:21:52and our mould drinks

01:21:53and our culture of that here

01:21:54at this time of year

01:21:55is amazing

01:21:56so I'm saying

01:21:56people should get into mould

01:21:57earlier in the year

01:21:58don't wait till kind of

01:21:59absolutely Christmas

01:22:00and into New Year

01:22:01get in it now

01:22:01have it

01:22:02it smells delicious

01:22:03this is just lovely

01:22:04so this is Celtic Marshes cider

01:22:07they're a seventh generation

01:22:08Herefordshire cider farm

01:22:10that is all grown on one estate

01:22:12and this is their orange version

01:22:15it's absolutely stunning

01:22:16it's wonderfully gentle

01:22:18yeah

01:22:18but delicious

01:22:20is it just the cider

01:22:21that's it

01:22:21so what I've done

01:22:22I've actually tuned that up

01:22:23very slightly

01:22:24I've thrown a little bit of

01:22:26a ginger vodka in there

01:22:27as well

01:22:28which I think they're quite

01:22:30what I love about mould drinks

01:22:33is you can hide

01:22:34like all good punches

01:22:35you can hide quite a lot of booze

01:22:37in them

01:22:37so it's a bit of a party starter

01:22:38a bit of ginger

01:22:39to go alongside

01:22:40the orange and cinnamon

01:22:42and you like a vodka don't you

01:22:43it's so good

01:22:44that's particularly nice

01:22:45come on

01:22:46yeah

01:22:46very nice things

01:22:48ginger's good for your throat as well

01:22:49so that's a good excuse

01:22:50and you're a singer

01:22:50so you

01:22:51exactly

01:22:51so pop that in as well

01:22:53before you go on

01:22:53yeah

01:22:54a little tipple before you go on

01:22:56now

01:22:57as ever

01:22:58we're going to have

01:22:58a non-alcoholic version

01:23:00of these amazing punches

01:23:01and I'm fascinated

01:23:02I'm fascinated by the non-alcoholic world

01:23:05and we've got

01:23:06what I've done here

01:23:07is I've created

01:23:07layers and layers and layers

01:23:09of lots of different

01:23:09really lovely

01:23:10gently bitter

01:23:11gently vinegar based

01:23:13some of them

01:23:14different non-alcoholic drinks

01:23:15made in England

01:23:16things like Bativo

01:23:17and that sort of thing

01:23:18but I've also

01:23:19layered it very heavily

01:23:21with this

01:23:21this is Three Spirit

01:23:22and it's called

01:23:24Cherry Love Social

01:23:25and it is a mood boosting

01:23:27functional spirit

01:23:28so it's got Damiana

01:23:29which is an aphrodisiac

01:23:30it's got all sorts of

01:23:32kind of different things

01:23:33going on

01:23:34steady

01:23:34I know

01:23:35come on

01:23:36that are meant to

01:23:37sort of give you a sensation

01:23:38it's great

01:23:39no alcohol

01:23:40and maraschinos

01:23:41no alcohol

01:23:43no alcohol at all

01:23:44but in layering it up

01:23:45with lots of different drinks

01:23:46and then topping it

01:23:47with a little bit of ginger beer

01:23:48what it does

01:23:49is it gives you a sensation

01:23:50that should give you

01:23:51a little warmth

01:23:52and a little tension

01:23:52a little texture

01:23:53like an alcoholic drink

01:23:54if you'd said there was something

01:23:55alcoholic in there

01:23:56I would have believed you

01:23:57because it's got a bit of edge

01:23:58to it doesn't it

01:23:59it's not too sickly

01:23:59at the end of the day

01:24:01I have to say

01:24:02it hasn't got any alcohol in it

01:24:05not so interesting

01:24:06it actually tastes a little bit

01:24:09maybe we're just less interesting

01:24:09maybe

01:24:10herby and medicinal

01:24:11yes

01:24:12that definitely is that

01:24:13100%

01:24:14three down

01:24:14two to go

01:24:15now

01:24:16this time of year

01:24:18we get into

01:24:19that funny old season

01:24:20where we start drinking

01:24:21lovely warm drinks

01:24:22but that are sort of

01:24:23filled with milk

01:24:24and eggs

01:24:25and there's this tradition

01:24:26of the eggnog

01:24:27and all these spiced

01:24:29rum based

01:24:29sort of rich drinks

01:24:31and this

01:24:31is a little take on that

01:24:32this

01:24:33is the Black Lines

01:24:34oat nog

01:24:36it is oat milk

01:24:37it is beautiful rum

01:24:39made in Devon

01:24:40cinnamon

01:24:40little bit of spice to it

01:24:42and it is a

01:24:42dairy free

01:24:44egg free

01:24:44alternative

01:24:45oat nog

01:24:46oat nog

01:24:47come on

01:24:48everybody's happy

01:24:49now it doesn't have

01:24:50the sweetness you expect

01:24:52no actually

01:24:53it does look for that

01:24:54yellowy one

01:24:54aren't you

01:24:55yeah

01:24:55avocat

01:24:56avocat

01:24:56oh

01:24:57I quite like it

01:24:58have you got an avocat

01:24:59we like a bit of avocat

01:25:00after this

01:25:01we can have a cup of

01:25:01or we can make a snowball

01:25:02oh I like a snowball

01:25:04yeah

01:25:05that

01:25:05I like it

01:25:06it's good isn't it

01:25:07really nice

01:25:08refreshing

01:25:08yes

01:25:09what's the alcohol

01:25:10so this is Devon based

01:25:11really high quality rum

01:25:13blended with oat

01:25:15you know

01:25:15literally oat milk

01:25:16kind of oat cream

01:25:17and then little bits

01:25:18of different sort of spices

01:25:19cinnamons and a bit of nutmeg

01:25:21layered in

01:25:22I think it's beautiful

01:25:23that's really nice

01:25:24have you added anything to this

01:25:25I've added nothing to this

01:25:27so this is straight out of that bottle

01:25:28literally fed up

01:25:29it's delicious isn't it

01:25:30it's delicious

01:25:30it has a

01:25:31you know because if you start going into

01:25:33creamy drinks which will be nameless

01:25:36they can

01:25:36they're very moorish

01:25:37but they're quite sickly

01:25:38oh I'll say

01:25:38you've had a couple

01:25:39but this isn't

01:25:40it's much more milky

01:25:41than creamy

01:25:42which is good

01:25:42you can have litres and litres of this

01:25:44I would like to

01:25:45have that

01:25:46I actually really like that

01:25:47so then we get to the market garden

01:25:49and Faye likes that one

01:25:50I do

01:25:51I'm so pleased

01:25:51this looks like something

01:25:53you entered into Chelsea once

01:25:54yeah

01:25:55yes I think I've got a gold medal

01:25:57for this one

01:25:57so I've said it before

01:25:59on this show

01:25:59but a garnish should either be there

01:26:01to elevate the flavour of the drink

01:26:02and give it more aroma

01:26:03or it should be sort of threatening you

01:26:04sort of poking you in the eye

01:26:05so feel free to get the bouquet

01:26:08out of the way

01:26:08if you want to

01:26:09but if you are making drinks for pineapples

01:26:11use the leaves

01:26:12for goodness sake

01:26:13that's the point of it

01:26:14oh

01:26:14this is

01:26:15what's happened

01:26:15Alan what's happened

01:26:16oh I'll just have to

01:26:17take a slurp

01:26:19after that creamy one

01:26:20talking of hiding lots of booze

01:26:22in these things

01:26:22these are the best drinks

01:26:24to absolutely fill

01:26:26with beautiful rums

01:26:27this is my take on a classic

01:26:28Jamaican or Barbadian style rum

01:26:30oh that's good

01:26:31this is based on

01:26:33this beautiful

01:26:34two drifters

01:26:34Devon based rum

01:26:35highly highly highly

01:26:37sustainable

01:26:38very very planet friendly rum

01:26:39this is their overproof

01:26:41pineapple

01:26:42so this is a spiced rum

01:26:43and it is

01:26:44instead of being 42%

01:26:45like most rums

01:26:46it is 60%

01:26:47oh jeez

01:26:48now you tell us

01:26:49that explains it a lot

01:26:52it's very much an hour

01:26:54I've got to operate heavy machinery

01:26:55later this evening

01:26:55this is pineapple juice

01:27:00it is orange juice

01:27:01you throw in

01:27:02some sort of lovely

01:27:03allspice

01:27:04bit of nutmeg

01:27:04to give it that lovely

01:27:05kind of spice to it

01:27:06and then crucially

01:27:07what makes these lovely punches

01:27:09sweet and easy drinking

01:27:10is strawberry syrup

01:27:11so you need to get yourself

01:27:12some really sweet

01:27:13strawberry syrup

01:27:14and that's what gives it

01:27:15that amazing uplifting

01:27:17how much of that

01:27:1750% did you put in

01:27:19there's about a bottle

01:27:20and a half in there

01:27:21there's litres of the stuff

01:27:24in there

01:27:24don't worry

01:27:24there's loads of

01:27:25plants this evening

01:27:26but it's got this

01:27:31wonderful funk

01:27:32the two drifters rum

01:27:33as well

01:27:33it's got this lovely

01:27:34herbaceous

01:27:35lovely rolling

01:27:36kind of spice to it

01:27:37it's delicious

01:27:38absolutely

01:27:40astonished

01:27:42there you go

01:27:42come on

01:27:43and you're looking here

01:27:44at four people

01:27:45who are really glad

01:27:46that they didn't have

01:27:46all this

01:27:47before they talked

01:27:48to Kevin

01:27:48so it might have

01:27:50gone a completely

01:27:50different direction

01:27:51imagine the secrets

01:27:52we would have revealed

01:27:52it did

01:27:53dash

01:27:54why did I do it

01:27:54the wrong way round

01:27:55they're the most

01:27:57wonderful punches

01:27:57I've ever had

01:27:58in my night

01:27:59Nigel's

01:27:59correct

01:27:59they really are

01:28:00they are

01:28:01delicious

01:28:01thank you

01:28:02Tom

01:28:02you're a star

01:28:03bless you

01:28:04if only we all have the time

01:28:05and the patience

01:28:05to do what you

01:28:06do

01:28:06hey well look

01:28:07you know

01:28:07it keeps me in a job

01:28:08doesn't it

01:28:08that's alright

01:28:09that's fine

01:28:10that's it for today's show

01:28:13thank goodness

01:28:13you might say

01:28:14thanks to all my guests

01:28:16to Faye

01:28:16Tom

01:28:17Nigel

01:28:17and of course

01:28:18the other Tom

01:28:19joining me next week

01:28:20Claire Balding

01:28:21and the man

01:28:22currently wowing audiences

01:28:23every night

01:28:24in Melbrook's

01:28:25The Producers

01:28:26Andy Nyman

01:28:26and he is wowing

01:28:27I saw it last week

01:28:28tear

01:28:29down each cheek

01:28:31so funny

01:28:31oh we've got reindeer too

01:28:33nearly forgot

01:28:34up next

01:28:34Fletcher's Farm

01:28:35but I'll leave you now

01:28:37with these words

01:28:37from Mae West

01:28:38I'll try anything once

01:28:40twice if I like it

01:28:42three times

01:28:44just to make sure

01:28:45I think she was

01:28:45on to something

01:28:46till the next time

01:28:48from all of us

01:28:48cheers

01:28:49cheers

01:28:50wow

01:28:54Nigel you're absolutely right

01:28:56that is the best punch

01:28:57I have ever had

01:28:59thank you

01:28:59lovely

01:29:05I have ever had

Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh - Season 7 Episode 32

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