Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh S07E31

Terra.Anatolia

Watch Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh S07E31 - Terra.Anatolia on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00:00And welcome back to this chap here. Titch, our guide dong in training. I think you're doing so well. You deserve one of those. There you go. Here we go. And sit again. Sit. Well done. Not so Titchy now though, is he?

00:00:15Yeah, training's going well. They tell me you're doing really quite well. In a world where everything is new and exciting, his report card is a glowing one. Deserves another tidbit. He's described as biddable, fun and good company. I'd go along with that. There we are. Shall we sit again then? Sit.

00:00:29Sit. Goodbye. Isn't it wonderful? He's the ideal guest this Sunday morning. You all set? It's time for Love Your Weekend. Walk on. Off we go.

00:00:59For much of Britain, November represents the height of autumn.

00:01:18The stag rots in full flow. Forests sing with seasonal colour and toasty fires burn in country pubs. It's also a month of mystery. We're never quite sure what weather could be coming our way.

00:01:31But it's this mystery that adds to the British countryside experience. And we're here in the heart of Hampshire, ready to face whatever weather's thrown our way this morning here at Manor Farm.

00:01:42Braving the elements today, he's the leading man who's leading the way in popular drama. Swapping Downton Abbey for our own country pile, Robert Bathurst makes his Manor Farm debut. Let's hope he doesn't get cold feet.

00:01:55And she's the bake-off queen, famed for her bright and eye-catching attire. Dame Prue Leith on her continuing zest for life and serving up yet more tasty treats in her Cotswold kitchen.

00:02:07And en garde. We're marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth in true Love Your Weekend style.

00:02:14The Regency-era gentleman's sport of fencing. You don't get this on the other side. And if you're looking to be kinder to the wildlife in your garden, look no further than this dynamic duo.

00:02:27Garden designer Chris Hull and carpenter Rob Bent join forces to create a haven for nature as winter sets in.

00:02:35And they're the adorable border collies who store all our hearts. We catch up with Shepherdess Susie Parrish as Mole, Flick and Sid continue their training to become fully-fledged sheepdogs.

00:02:47As Marilyn Monroe famously said, we are all of the stars and we deserve to twinkle.

00:02:58Well, twinkling this Sunday morning here in the barn, please welcome Prue Leith and Robert Bathurst.

00:03:03Lovely to be with both of you. And it's always nice to find something guests have in common.

00:03:08And with you two, it's African roots.

00:03:11Were you born in Africa?

00:03:12I was born in what was the Gold Coast. And then ten days after I was born, it became Ghana.

00:03:17And because my father, actually, he was born in South Africa. So as a result, I would have been Ghanaian if I was born ten days later.

00:03:23It's intriguing when people say, oh, you're from X. And, you know, simply, oh, you're from Yorkshire.

00:03:29And I say, well, no, actually, I'm of Yorkshire. And it seems as though, not from anything other than, it's so much a part of me.

00:03:37It's more than a from. It's a part of you. It's an of, regardless of where it is.

00:03:41If your upbringing was something that, if you're very sensitive, I think, to feelings and sense of place, I think it stays with you, don't you?

00:03:52I do.

00:03:52So I would say I was more of Ireland. I mean, we left Africa when I was two and I spent until I was ten in Ireland.

00:03:58So I feel more of Ireland.

00:04:02How long were you there for?

00:04:03I was there until I was ten. I spent six years there. I mean, quite formative years, really.

00:04:06Well, they are. Those early years always. Right up to 20, I think. That is so rich. Everything's going in, isn't it?

00:04:13But the lovely thing about having you two is two country people, because you both live in the countryside.

00:04:18Prue, you're in Cotswolds.

00:04:20Absolutely. And I would not like to live anywhere else now. I love it. I absolutely love it.

00:04:26I've lived in the Cotswolds 50 years now, and people keep saying to me, you must hate it now.

00:04:31It's just full of all these poshows. Well, actually, no.

00:04:35The truth is that all the little small farms in the Cotswolds wouldn't survive if they didn't have rich people to buy their honey or their organic whatever it is.

00:04:47And most of the Cotswolds are still, you know, small farmers, small businesses, nice villages where they say hello to you.

00:04:57And, you know, it's just a lovely place, and it's very villagey.

00:05:02And a lot of the people, the names that go there, they're only there at weekends anyway, aren't they?

00:05:06Yeah, exactly.

00:05:07Money to Friday.

00:05:08They're no problem in this, and they spend their money there.

00:05:12Robert, you're in Sussex.

00:05:13I live in, yeah, I was 25 years or so in East Sussex.

00:05:16I have a great attachment to the Cotswolds.

00:05:18I used to spend a lot of time with my aunt and uncle who farmed in one of those sort of slightly rougher, I mean, it was a proper smelly farm.

00:05:26Yes, proper farm.

00:05:27And so I had a, I spent many, many happy times in the Cotswolds.

00:05:31But happily living in Sussex.

00:05:33In Sussex, yeah, absolutely.

00:05:33No, it's very clay, it's East Sussex, which is clay, and West Sussex is very snotty for people in East Sussex, because it's not feudal.

00:05:41And I like it, because it's not feudal, and I like it, because it's more small holdings.

00:05:45And it's very wooded, and the ground is not good ground.

00:05:49So the great estates don't like to farm, hadn't traditionally liked to farm.

00:05:56You sound to me like a gardener.

00:05:57I mean, are you a gardener?

00:05:58I'm a, I come to it.

00:06:01I come to vegetable gardening.

00:06:03Absolutely.

00:06:03I've had a, I mean, quite recently, but I, yes, my wife, Victoria, she's a very good gardener

00:06:11and she knows her stuff and she's, but I've been, I've had quite a, quite a...

00:06:19You're getting there.

00:06:20I'm getting there, yes.

00:06:21But Robert, if you're growing vegetables, what do you do with all the produce that hits you in the summer?

00:06:28There's all these bloody tomatoes and all these piles of spinach.

00:06:32Yes.

00:06:33I mean, honestly, I've, I've spent years growing and processing.

00:06:38And what you do is you find yourself at midnight, you're freezing spinach and it fills the freezer

00:06:45and then you've got far too much of it and you end up making room in the freezer next year

00:06:51for more spinach and putting that lot on the compost heap.

00:06:53And, you know, honestly, I'm for, you know, the supermarket has perfectly good packets of

00:07:01the amount of veg that I want rather than a mountain on Monday and nothing on Tuesday.

00:07:06If only we could edit that out.

00:07:11Prue me, it's famous cook.

00:07:12Why bother growing it?

00:07:13It's in the supermarket.

00:07:15It is important, it is important not to go away in August.

00:07:17Oh, it is.

00:07:18Yes, it will be, this will be.

00:07:19Oh, exactly.

00:07:20It's a tyranny.

00:07:22It is.

00:07:23That kind of gardening is a tyranny, whether, whether it's pleasure gardening.

00:07:26I've just been to Ireland, which is a joke because I went as a, as a judge for an Irish

00:07:32TV, best, best TV gardens in America.

00:07:37Fortunately, there was Carol Klein and a few, Dermot, you know, some people who know about

00:07:41gardening with, who were the real judges.

00:07:44But I was so enchanted because they, it rained so much there that they can grow herbaceous

00:07:51borders, which are just magnificent.

00:07:54And I thought, what am I doing trying to be all correct and not have too much water in

00:07:59my garden so I won't have an herbaceous border, I just have grass, you know, grass gardens

00:08:05and dry gardens.

00:08:06I came back and I thought, the hell with all that, I'm going to have a herbaceous border.

00:08:09I've got to have flowers.

00:08:11I've got to grow flowers.

00:08:13Well, you've clearly both got roots.

00:08:14I mean, you know in the Cotswolds, you in Sussex, but you both, over the years, you've

00:08:19been able to almost choose where you live by sampling everything because touring, a big part

00:08:23of both your lives, particularly in the early days of the Cambridge Footlights, I suspect

00:08:27there with you, Robert, touring all over the place.

00:08:30Well, I've toured a lot also in theatre going around and I've travelled around quite a bit,

00:08:35not for work.

00:08:36Best audiences, where are they?

00:08:38That's interesting.

00:08:39I mean, very often the worst audiences can sometimes be on a Friday night when everyone's

00:08:43too tired.

00:08:43I sometimes think that in theatre, there should be, after five minutes of the show starting,

00:08:48there should be ten minutes where people just arrange props and walk around with nothing

00:08:52going on so that people can have their zis and then, you know, wake up and start again.

00:09:00Do you know, it's funny, I was at the opera a couple of weeks ago and it is that first

00:09:03ten minutes in the first half and you're aware you've missed something.

00:09:06Oh, did I?

00:09:07I don't remember them actually closing but they obviously did, you know, through you've

00:09:11toured as well, I mean, sort of a one-woman show, that kind of thing.

00:09:14Yes, but not with the big theatre, not with the play, but I've done a one-woman show all

00:09:21over the place.

00:09:21Do you like it?

00:09:22Do you enjoy that?

00:09:22I absolutely love it and what I like best about touring in England rather than in America

00:09:27is that you can actually see the country in a way that in America you absolutely can't

00:09:34because you have to get in an aeroplane and you spend all your time in an airport.

00:09:38Are there disasters on tour, Robert?

00:09:41Well, there can be disasters every day but yes, I mean, you can't, sometimes you go down

00:09:47better than others.

00:09:47There was one bit when we were students and we were booked to do the University College

00:09:52London Summer Ball, which meant going to, at midnight, going to Gower Street to the University

00:09:59College there and we came down from Cambridge in our dinner jackets because that's what you

00:10:02wear for a ball.

00:10:03This was 1977 and certain sort of things in the zeitgeist hadn't quite reached Cambridge

00:10:09yet in terms of the scene.

00:10:11What you wore for a party.

00:10:12Not what you wore for a ball.

00:10:13And so we arrived and everybody was in jeans and stuff like that so the ties came off and

00:10:17then we saw the poster which said the fabulous poodles, which are a rock group, Ronnie Golden's

00:10:23rock group, and the Cambridge footlights and the jam.

00:10:27I wish I'd kept the poster but anyway, so the poodles were late, we were meant to be on at midnight

00:10:31and we went on until two in the morning at the point when the jam was supposed to be on.

00:10:36And you can imagine the disappointment of the audience when, instead of seeing Paul Weller

00:10:43and his gang, we came on and we lasted five minutes I think, probably.

00:10:47Well you booed off.

00:10:49No, booed off.

00:10:50We booed off and hurled off.

00:10:51I mean, Jim Alville, he got very pugnacious and started saying, if you don't stop throwing

00:10:57that stuff, we got hurled off, quite rightly.

00:11:02Much more from Prue and Robert to come.

00:11:04Now do help yourselves to anything here.

00:11:07There's all kinds of fantasies, including the fondant fantasy, one of our favourites.

00:11:12Still to come, showing us how to serve the perfect draught pints at home.

00:11:17Beer sommelier, Marvarene Coal, with the best British beer and cider kegs, perfect for the forthcoming party season.

00:11:24And I'm reunited with my four-legged namesake, Titch, our guide dog puppy, who returns to Manor Farm for a cuddle and a catch-up.

00:11:33I'll be back with Titch and tales from the training room right after this.

00:11:37With December just around the corner, there's a certain allure to the British countryside in the winter months,

00:11:57with literacy lovers flocking to the Pennine Moors to evoke the mood of Wuthering Heights,

00:12:03while the country's coastline is especially dramatic and enchanting on a stormy day.

00:12:08Equally enchanting is Prue Leith, talking food, friendship and fun, and finding fame once more on the fashion catwalk.

00:12:16And Mr Darcy, eat your heart out, we're duelling, Jane Austen style.

00:12:21Regency fencing comes to Manor Farm, the original way to sort out a gentleman's dispute.

00:12:28But before all of that, it's time for a Manor Farm reunion.

00:12:31It's been over six months since the nation's favourite guide dog in training paid us a visit.

00:12:37And it's fair to say his life has been full of adventure.

00:12:41Not only has he said farewell to his puppy raisers, he's moved in with new foster parents and started big school.

00:12:48Midway through his early formal training to become a working guide dog,

00:12:53he returns to us today to show us how he's already developed on his journey alongside trainer Jackie Kent.

00:13:01Welcome to you both. Welcome, Titch. Lovely to see you again.

00:13:04Now, there's a calm face, if ever I saw one.

00:13:07Hello, old Bean. Lovely to see you again.

00:13:09Are you all right?

00:13:10You're doing so well. He is, isn't he, Jackie?

00:13:12He is. Yes, he is. He's doing very well with his training.

00:13:15So, tell us what he's been through, briefly, and then what he's doing now, what the change is.

00:13:21He left his puppy raisers, as you said, and he's moved in with his fosterers.

00:13:25He's settled in really well with his fosterers, and he's started his formal training with myself.

00:13:33He's now just about starting week eight of his formal training.

00:13:36And how long does it last?

00:13:37The early start of the training is 16 weeks, and then he'll have another 10 weeks advanced training with a guide dog mobility specialist.

00:13:45And that's the point where he will be matched with a potential guide dog owner, and the guide dog mobility specialist is the person who will train him with his guide dog owner.

00:13:55Gosh, well, here we have the harnesses here and everything now.

00:13:58This is his training harness. So, the training harness is brown.

00:14:01When he's working with a guide dog owner, he'll have a white one.

00:14:04So, that's just to show that he's a dog in training at the moment.

00:14:07So, now he's with you doing training. He's got to get used to being out on his own, but still so many distractions.

00:14:14He's still a youngster. Remind us how old he is now.

00:14:16He's 16 months, so still quite young in dog terminology, but he's doing well with his training.

00:14:25When we start them off, we start in our indoor training rooms, so we can lessen the amount of distractions in the environment,

00:14:31teach him all the behaviours that he needs to know, and then gradually start working on outdoor environments with more distractions.

00:14:38How old will he be when he's actually assigned to somebody permanently?

00:14:42You know, you've passed every test. Here you are. You are now a guide dog. What age will he be then?

00:14:46As long as everything goes to plan, he should be training with a guide dog owner in the middle of March.

00:14:51Gosh, not far away at all.

00:14:52Not far away at all. So, he'll move on to his advanced training in the middle of January and then on to a guide dog owner in March.

00:15:00So, it's roughly when they're around about two years old then that they go?

00:15:02Approximately, yeah.

00:15:03Yeah, again, they're all different.

00:15:05There are so many smells here for him, aren't there?

00:15:08Yeah, good point.

00:15:09Well, look, we're going to let you show us, you know, part of his training.

00:15:12He's keen to do something.

00:15:13He's keen to do something.

00:15:14Yeah.

00:15:15He's such a beautiful shape, not overfed. I mean, the great problem with labs is they eat anything and everything.

00:15:19Yeah.

00:15:20I know, as a lab owner, you know, former lab owner.

00:15:22It's very easy for them to become overweight.

00:15:24He's got those lovely snake hips.

00:15:26We manage our dog's diets very carefully. We weigh out their food in the morning and that's what I've got in my treat pouch is actually his daily allowance of food so that we're not overfeeding by adding a lot of treats in.

00:15:37Yeah.

00:15:37But we use food in our training all the time. It's all very reward-based, food-based training.

00:15:43Fine. Okay, go and start at the other end. Does he put his, you put his harness on him first?

00:15:48Yeah, we're going to put his harness on.

00:15:49Right, show us how you do that. Do you want me to hold anything?

00:15:51I think I'm okay. Thank you very much.

00:15:54So we started this with just the body piece, just the brown leather piece, but he now has got the handle on.

00:16:02Good boy. Come on.

00:16:02I was very impressed early on where he sat at my command, which makes me feel very special.

00:16:08But what the dogs are trained to do is to put their own heads into the harness, so when I hold it out, he pops his head straight in.

00:16:16Well done, we've had a crowd of you. Then I can just very gently pop it on, clip it up, and we're good to go.

00:16:23Right, off you go.

00:16:25So we'll show you what we're doing here.

00:16:27This is one of our training platforms, and he, as you can see, has been trained to stand on it.

00:16:34So what's the purpose of the platform then, Jackie? Why has he got to stand on that?

00:16:37The platform is something we use a lot in training to give the dogs a destination when we're working inside our training rooms.

00:16:44It's very difficult for a dog to just walk straight towards a wall at the end of the room.

00:16:47So by giving him a platform to aim for, he knows where he's going.

00:16:51And then I can use two platforms, as we've got here, to teach him just to give a little bit of pull into the harness.

00:16:58So we want the dogs to pull a little bit into the handle so that you can follow where they're going,

00:17:03but not too much that it gives you a sore shoulder.

00:17:05Yes.

00:17:05But the setup we've got here is moving on a step from that.

00:17:08So this is introducing obstacles and going around obstacles.

00:17:12So he now needs to go around this obstacle, but giving enough space on the right-hand side for me to go through without knocking my right shoulder.

00:17:20Right. He's literally guiding you around this.

00:17:23He's literally guiding me around, and obviously all dogs will go around obstacles themselves.

00:17:27What he's got to learn is to allow that extra space for me to fit through with him alongside him.

00:17:33Let's see if he's learned to do that yet.

00:17:34See if he's learned it.

00:17:35I'm very nervous about me. I feel very proprietorial.

00:17:40Go on.

00:17:42Good boy.

00:17:43Oh, well wide. Well done.

00:17:47And straight onto that.

00:17:48Good boy.

00:17:49Oh, well done, Titch. Gosh.

00:17:50Good.

00:17:51And then I'll just turn him around and come back.

00:17:53Yeah.

00:17:54Okay.

00:17:55Come.

00:17:56Good lad.

00:17:59Good boy.

00:18:00Good.

00:18:03Forward.

00:18:04Good.

00:18:05Of course, he's all right that time.

00:18:06He can go nearer to it because you're on his other side.

00:18:08That's right.

00:18:09When the obstacle's on the left-hand side, he can go a little bit closer to it.

00:18:12Yeah.

00:18:12Because he doesn't need to leave room for me.

00:18:14But you'll see from that, he's also learned to respond to a forward cue.

00:18:19So he knows when to set off.

00:18:20So it's always going to be my responsibility to tell him when to move off.

00:18:25He doesn't make that decision himself, including when we're crossing roads.

00:18:28That will always be the responsibility of the handler.

00:18:30Yeah.

00:18:31And there's a limit, presumably, as to how long these training episodes can take.

00:18:35Because they must get bored, tired, exhausted, whatever.

00:18:38So lots of short bursts.

00:18:40Lots of short sessions in the early days when they're learning all the new stuff and everything's new.

00:18:46When they get more used to it and it becomes a lot more second nature, that's when we start putting everything together out in the streets and doing training walks.

00:18:55And those walks can be up to 45 minutes long.

00:18:57Gosh.

00:18:57Well, come and have a short one and come and sit back down.

00:19:00There you are.

00:19:01Well done, Titch.

00:19:02You did really well there.

00:19:03We're so impressed because I said to Jackie before, if you have to do it again, we'll just do it, you know, until you get it right and you got it right straight away.

00:19:11So from your point of view, is he a joy to work with?

00:19:13He's lovely to work with.

00:19:15I really, really enjoy working with him.

00:19:17He's just such a lovely dog to have around.

00:19:20He's so affectionate, but he's not demanding.

00:19:23He enjoys what he's doing.

00:19:25He's engaged.

00:19:26You know, we just have great fun when we're out and people love to see him out and about and keep telling me how handsome he is.

00:19:33Don't let it go to your head.

00:19:35So how long do you have him for now before you have to hand him on?

00:19:38So I've got him for about another eight weeks.

00:19:40Yeah.

00:19:40Then I will hand him on to his guide dog mobility specialist and they will have him for 10 weeks and match him with his guide dog owner.

00:19:47Right.

00:19:48Well, we want to keep up with you.

00:19:49So do keep it.

00:19:49Now, pay attention.

00:19:51Keep in touch, won't you, eh?

00:19:53Oh, boy.

00:19:54Yeah.

00:19:55He's special.

00:19:56Thank you, Jackie.

00:19:57Thank you very much.

00:19:58And thank you, Titch.

00:19:59Good boy.

00:19:59Special days, aren't they?

00:20:01Still to come, answering the call of nature, garden designer Chris Hull and carpenter Rob Bent joined forces to make life a little easier for the wildlife in our gardens this winter and create a beautiful space for us to enjoy, too.

00:20:13And she's the make-off queen, known for her easy to follow, tried and tested and mouth-watering recipes.

00:20:20But what's her own secret ingredient?

00:20:22Apparently, a nightly tipple and careering around on a Harley Davidson.

00:20:26Questions will be asked and I'll be asking those questions and more, believe me, right after this.

00:20:32Prue, I'm on me way.

00:20:33Welcome back to Love Your Weekend.

00:20:48Coming up, Leslie Joseph goes wild about badgers.

00:20:52Things get wild in today's Best of British and we go wild about your pictures in today's Walk on the Wild Side.

00:20:59Also coming up, a man who's a perennial face on our screens, Robert Bathurst enters the world of phone hacking in ITV's latest shocking drama, The Hack.

00:21:10But first, to a lady who really is the icing on the cake, entertaining millions of Bake Off fans with her witty critiques, honest feedback and mischievous sense of humour.

00:21:22Just ask Danny Dyer.

00:21:24I had a child very young, we had a little flat and I tried to build a wardrobe, so I'd done it all, but I built myself into the wardrobe so I couldn't get out.

00:21:32I had to punch the back of it to get out. It was a disaster. My missus still mocks me to this day.

00:21:38And how often does she bring it up?

00:21:40Quite often. Only when we've got camping.

00:21:42Danny, you've got to bite the bullet, you've got to put it on fast and then it stops instantly.

00:21:48If you do it slow, it makes it worse.

00:21:50Paul, you are so unkind.

00:21:54It's all right, Paul, don't worry, mate. I'll remember that.

00:21:58Danny dies, sporting his rival's moustache there.

00:22:02You get on, it seems, very well with Paul.

00:22:04I love him to do it. He is lovely.

00:22:07I've stopped enjoying his company now because we did a show together, the Gardner's World Live show in Birmingham, which is coupled with the Good Food Show.

00:22:15We were opening it together and he introduced me as his father. So I've not really liked him very much ever since then.

00:22:22Well, he does, he does like to tease you. I mean, he always talks to me as if I'm a very old lady, you know.

00:22:30Oh, I am a very old lady. But he says, are you all right, dearie?

00:22:35Cheeky monkey.

00:22:37Cheeky, yeah.

00:22:38You took over from Mary, who has dearly loved it, but you've now been doing it for eight years.

00:22:42Nine years, yeah.

00:22:43Nine, wow.

00:22:44I've actually done it, not that we're competitive, of course.

00:22:48No.

00:22:49But I've actually done it one year longer than Mary did.

00:22:51Ooh.

00:22:52Mary, if you've done it one year longer than...

00:22:55Well, I know both of you well, so it's very lovely.

00:22:57I adore her.

00:22:58But Mary has a great time for you. There is a mutual admiration there. You're respectful of her.

00:23:01She's a great woman.

00:23:03Yeah.

00:23:04You know, my husband always says, I don't bake very much. People think I must be a fantastic baker, because I judge baking. But what I am is a good set of taste buds.

00:23:12I mean, you know, I judged the great British menu for many, many years.

00:23:16Yeah.

00:23:17And, of course, I had a cookery school, so I was always judging food. So that's why I'm there. But not for my baking skills. I mean, I can make a good cake, but I'm not a great baker.

00:23:27Anyway, we don't bake... I don't make cake at home, because both John and I are too fat, so we don't have cake.

00:23:35And every now and again, he'll say... In fact, he says it quite often. He says, you know, people say to him, you must have wonderful cake at home. He says, you know, I live in a cake-free zone, and I should have married Mary Berry.

00:23:50And he said it enough times for Mary to get quite sick of it.

00:23:55Or quite worried. When you... I watch you going around all these things, and there's a lot to taste. Tasting all that, I mean, when it comes to lunchtime when you're doing bake-off, presumably you just don't want to touch anything.

00:24:06You've eaten quite a lot all the way around.

00:24:09Well, the trick is to... If you think that a teaspoon, you can get a bit of the cake crumb, a bit of the icing, and a bit of the filling, all on one teaspoon.

00:24:20So if you're disciplined, you could judge that cake with one teaspoon. The trick is to try not to have a second.

00:24:26And if you watch us, Paul never, ever has a second bite. He always judges on one bite.

00:24:33I can't resist it, especially at the beginning, in the morning, when I'm really hungry.

00:24:38So I go in. But you know what? I'm of the generation who counts calories.

00:24:43All my... Anybody of my age knows how many calories there are in almost anything.

00:24:49So mentally, I count the calories. And you know you're not supposed to eat. Women shouldn't have more than 2,000 a day.

00:24:55So I know that if I'm disciplined about what I eat, and I don't have breakfast, and I don't have lunch, I just eat cake, basically.

00:25:07I might have eaten 1,500 calories by the end of the day. But then I think that leaves me 500 for supper.

00:25:14So I'll have a couple of glasses of wine. So basically, when I'm on bake-off, I live on cake and wine. It's a very nice diet.

00:25:22Well, if ever Paul drops out, and you want another presenter who can't bake, I'll come and join in and settle for that kind of diet.

00:25:29The other programme we know you for now is on a Saturday, which is Privilead's Cotswold Kitchen.

00:25:35And this comes from your own home. Let's have a look at you in action with your husband, John.

00:25:39We start by chopping some onion. How's your onion chopping getting on, John?

00:25:45Erm, it's not. Would you like a little practice? I know this is your speciality.

00:25:50Like that. Right.

00:25:56That's right.

00:26:00This is nothing like the way you do it.

00:26:05I don't think you're going to get a lease certificate for perfect onion chopping, but you're on the way.

00:26:11Could I have a sticker?

00:26:12No, not yet.

00:26:14The chopped onion goes into the pan with some oil. You just need to soften the onions rather than brown them.

00:26:21Let's see if you can do the chef's shake.

00:26:25That's right, yeah. The trick is always to have it at that angle and then, yeah. That's right.

00:26:37Back on the heater, in between shakes.

00:26:41John has become the Johnny Craddock, really, of the Prue-Leath world.

00:26:45In fact, for those of you who do not remember Fanny Craddock.

00:26:48Well, I don't think we have quite that vibe, but I am slightly regretting bringing him into the show, you know, because he has become so popular and people absolutely love him.

00:27:01And the other day I'm in the co-op with him and we're shopping and the woman at the checkout says, you're John Playfair, you're off the telly, you're the Prue-Leath's Cotswold kitchen.

00:27:13She said, I love you. In fact, I'm in love with you. And she's absolutely at him like this.

00:27:18And there am I, packing the bags. Not a glance my way, Alan. Not a glance my way.

00:27:25I think this is a mistake.

00:27:27He says that quite soon it will be John Playfair's Cotswold kitchen.

00:27:32And I'll be lucky if I get a walk on pub.

00:27:35But he has got, what surprised me, you know, your look now has become famous because you love bright colours, which my wife thinks is wonderful.

00:27:42She gets fed up with seeing everybody in black coats on the station platform, you know.

00:27:46And here you are, slice of sunshine coming into our Sunday morning.

00:27:50But this is not you, apparently.

00:27:53Well, John is the one who buys all my clothes. I mean...

00:27:57You see, this is role reversal. Generally speaking, the woman, now, generally, buys clothes for the man.

00:28:04But this is total role reversal. The man is buying your clothes.

00:28:07He loves shopping. I hate shopping.

00:28:09Do you?

00:28:10I hate shopping and I never have to do it. I mean, what...

00:28:14Especially I hate clothes shopping because, you know, I just don't know how to manage it.

00:28:19But he loves it and he's very good at it.

00:28:21He'll look in a shop and he...

00:28:23If you want a shirt and you want a pink one, he won't look at anything else.

00:28:29He'll just look at the shirts and he'll stand at the door and if he can see there's no pink one, he won't walk in the shop.

00:28:34Whereas, of course, I would wander in and start getting distracted and think I might have that and then I'd get tired and want a cup of coffee.

00:28:40You've become a catwalk model all through meeting somebody on a train.

00:28:45Somebody called Omi. Now, tell me about this.

00:28:49Well, I travel up and down to London a lot and I found myself sitting opposite this chap, Omi, on the train.

00:28:59And he turned out to be an absolutely fascinating Korean guy who's...

00:29:05And his husband or boyfriend is called Vin and they turn out to be fashion designers.

00:29:12But what they do is that what they're obsessed with is sustainability.

00:29:16So they do these catwalks, always advertising sustainable fabrics and how you can...

00:29:21Because the fashion trade is absolutely disgraceful at wasting water and, you know, using too much carbon and so on.

00:29:29And so he said, would you walk in my fashion show?

00:29:32And I thought, well, I've never done that and I usually like doing things I've never done.

00:29:36So I said yes.

00:29:37And the first one, I wore a dress that was made out of willow bark from the Sandringham estate

00:29:44because he has a...they have a partnership with the king about...because obviously he wants to promote sustainability.

00:29:51And then the next time he said, well, I'd do it again.

00:29:56And I love doing it. I'm not very good at it.

00:29:58You know, these long-legged models go so fast, I can't keep up with them.

00:30:03But anyway, I...I trail along behind them.

00:30:06And the second time they said, will you do it again?

00:30:10And I said, well, I haven't got time to have a fitting.

00:30:14So they said, don't worry, we've got your measurements.

00:30:15Just turn up on the day and we'll put you in it.

00:30:18When I turned up, they had this latex black tube which took two men to pull it onto me.

00:30:27It was a sort of bondage gear with two slits and thongs, red thongs on the red, on the black leather.

00:30:37It was like a black...it wasn't leather, it was latex.

00:30:39Black latex.

00:30:40And I strutted down and they made me up with very goth, gothic makeup.

00:30:45And no...I had no glasses but spiky hair.

00:30:48I looked really fearsome and terrifying.

00:30:50And I marched down.

00:30:52Do you know, I'm such a show-off.

00:30:54I so loved it.

00:30:56Loved it.

00:30:57And last time I did, I had a dress made out of recycled RAF parachute silk, red.

00:31:05Yeah.

00:31:06And it just was so wonderful.

00:31:08But that is such an image.

00:31:10I mean, the luminous, glorious dress.

00:31:13And it was just...I just sailed along.

00:31:15It was fantastic.

00:31:16But there is one thing you got wrong about modelling and I have to tell you this.

00:31:20Go on.

00:31:21I was so glad you got this wrong.

00:31:22Because you smile when you're walking down the catwalk.

00:31:25I've never seen...models are always amazed because they walk down looking so fed up.

00:31:28I know, I can't do that.

00:31:29I cannot do that.

00:31:30Yeah.

00:31:31It's a cross look, you know, because it's just so funny.

00:31:33And anyhow, it's all the whole thing so joyous.

00:31:36So, you know, so I don't...they don't want me to smile.

00:31:40I'm there for the amusement value.

00:31:42Yeah.

00:31:43What's the reaction of the other models to you when you're coming along?

00:31:46Well, they're absolutely wonderful.

00:31:47They're all, you know, because what they're doing is...it's a charity

00:31:51and they're doing it to prevent sustainability.

00:31:53All these professional models are giving their time for free.

00:31:56They say, give up a day of their lives, really,

00:31:58because you rehearse all morning.

00:32:00And they're such great girls.

00:32:02They're just amazing.

00:32:03It seems to me that you are always looking for the next thing

00:32:07that you've never done before but that you're happy to do now.

00:32:10And have you really got a Harley-Davidson motorbike?

00:32:12No, it's John's. It's not mine.

00:32:14But are you a pillion rider?

00:32:15I'm a pillion rider.

00:32:16And it's so comfy and it's a trike.

00:32:19It's got three wheels.

00:32:20Yeah.

00:32:21And his children call it his mobility scooter,

00:32:23which is probably a bit politically incorrect.

00:32:26But you sit in this leather seat and it sort of hugs your bum

00:32:32and it's comfy and it's safe.

00:32:35And you don't have any of that awful thing of a motorbike.

00:32:37Leaning to one side.

00:32:38Leaning to one side.

00:32:39You have to lean to...

00:32:40Well, I've got this vision now of Prue Leith in a rubber bondage suit

00:32:46on the back of a Harley-Davidson.

00:32:48So if you see somebody of that description going down your local road,

00:32:51you know who it is.

00:32:52Thank you, Prue.

00:32:53Thanks, Alan.

00:32:54Thanks, Alan.

00:32:55Always lovely to talk to you.

00:32:57Photos, snapshots, stills, whatever you call them,

00:33:01pictures are worth a thousand words.

00:33:03And if that's the case, we have a good few for you right now.

00:33:06It's time for Walk on the Wild Side.

00:33:09Your dose of nature, sorted.

00:33:12Walk on the Wild Side on Love Your Weekend.

00:33:15Sponsored by WWF.

00:33:36Slash on the Wild Side.

00:34:49Oh, a great photographer's strings never go out of tune.

00:34:53Every one of your pictures tells its own story.

00:34:56Just wonderful. Do please keep sending them in.

00:34:58Still ahead, he raised more than a few eyebrows

00:35:01when he did the dirty on poor old Lady Edith,

00:35:03and he wasn't much better in Cold Feet.

00:35:06Poor Karen.

00:35:07Robert Bathurst on leading the way in popular drama,

00:35:10and he's not finished yet.

00:35:11And when the garden looks like a lost cause,

00:35:14it's time to call in the big boys.

00:35:16Chris Hull and Rob Bent unite to create show-stopping interests

00:35:20in your garden this winter,

00:35:22packed with colour and welcoming to wildlife.

00:35:25I'll be back with Chris and Rob

00:35:26and their nature-friendly transformation right after this.

00:35:29Welcome back to Love Your Weekend.

00:35:44Coming up, do you know your appel from your advance,

00:35:48your cool from your coupé?

00:35:50The Manor Farm barn opens its impressive doors

00:35:53as we celebrate the art of Regency fencing the Jane Austen way.

00:35:58And roll out the barrel, well, barrels to be precise,

00:36:01beer expert Marvarene Cole

00:36:03has the draft beer and cider cakes

00:36:05you can pour yourself, pints straight from the barrel.

00:36:09Before that, it's time for your voice of nature.

00:36:12Here's Ben Miller

00:36:13and Something Told the Wild Geese

00:36:16by Rachel Field.

00:36:26Something told the wild geese

00:36:28it was time to go.

00:36:31Though the fields lay golden,

00:36:33something whispered

00:36:34snow.

00:36:37Leaves were green and stirring,

00:36:39berries

00:36:40lustre-glossed,

00:36:41but beneath warm feathers

00:36:44something cautioned

00:36:46frost.

00:36:48All the sagging orchards

00:36:49steamed with amber spice,

00:36:53but each wild breast stiffened

00:36:55at remembered ice.

00:36:58Something told the wild geese

00:37:00it was time to fly.

00:37:03Summer sun was on their wings,

00:37:06winter in their cry.

00:37:11Oh, thank you, Ben.

00:37:17Wonderful.

00:37:18What a description of migrating geese

00:37:20before the harshness of winter's arrival.

00:37:22There's something so special

00:37:24about seeing their formations

00:37:25skimming through the sky

00:37:27in those great skeins.

00:37:30Now, it's fair to say

00:37:31the garden can be lacking

00:37:33in joie de vie in winter

00:37:35with a grey and uninspiring outlook,

00:37:38but if you're willing

00:37:39to brave the cold,

00:37:41then getting outside

00:37:42and adding the right plants

00:37:43and features

00:37:44can have a huge impact,

00:37:46making your garden

00:37:47not only inviting for you,

00:37:49but a haven for wildlife too.

00:37:51Here to help us add

00:37:52some much-needed colour

00:37:54and life

00:37:55into our winter borders

00:37:56while also supporting

00:37:58nature around us,

00:37:59welcome back.

00:38:00Garden designer,

00:38:01Chris Hull,

00:38:02with an absolute...

00:38:03This is not dull, is it?

00:38:04No.

00:38:05It's wonderfully bright and cheery.

00:38:06It is.

00:38:07Just showing that

00:38:07if you choose the right things,

00:38:08it can be.

00:38:09Definitely.

00:38:10I think people get

00:38:11a bit worried about winter

00:38:12because they think

00:38:12the garden switches off

00:38:13and it's all going to be

00:38:14cut back and bare borders,

00:38:16but clearly,

00:38:17it doesn't need to be

00:38:18if you put the right things in.

00:38:19The right things.

00:38:20Looking at some evergreens,

00:38:21I mean, I do love pines.

00:38:22Exactly.

00:38:23And not all of them

00:38:24are socking great Scots pines,

00:38:26are there some smaller ones as well?

00:38:27There are.

00:38:27You can get some dwarfing varieties.

00:38:29That one is going to be a big one,

00:38:30but you can get a dwarf variety of that.

00:38:32Yeah.

00:38:32So this is which one?

00:38:33So this is pines sylvestrous.

00:38:34It's Scots pine.

00:38:35Scots pine.

00:38:35Yeah, yeah.

00:38:36But it's got that brilliant

00:38:38sort of lime zingy foliage,

00:38:39isn't it?

00:38:40Yes, sort of yellowy tinge to it.

00:38:42I do like that.

00:38:43I do.

00:38:43It's all about contrast for me

00:38:44in winter.

00:38:45Yeah.

00:38:45Because it's quite bleak

00:38:46and grey outside,

00:38:47and it's about getting

00:38:48those really poppy contrasting colors.

00:38:49Vibrant.

00:38:50Just because it's always,

00:38:51the light intensity's low,

00:38:53isn't it?

00:38:53Yeah.

00:38:53You need stuff to sing out even more.

00:38:55You've got some here.

00:38:56I mean,

00:38:56you've got eucalyptus.

00:38:58Dangerous as a tree

00:38:59because it's so rampant,

00:39:00but stooled,

00:39:02cut down,

00:39:03Exactly.

00:39:03It can just come up

00:39:05with this fresh young foliage.

00:39:06You know,

00:39:06and then new foliage

00:39:07is so much nicer,

00:39:08isn't it?

00:39:08As far as you get

00:39:08the little rings.

00:39:09So that looks really great,

00:39:10and it's just a different color

00:39:11to add into the mix,

00:39:12that really silvery gray.

00:39:13Yeah.

00:39:14And then some winter garden favorites

00:39:15are the cornice

00:39:16and the Himalayan birch,

00:39:18this one is,

00:39:19but the white color.

00:39:20So I really love pairing cornice

00:39:22against this white bark

00:39:23with both the red

00:39:24and the sort of zingy yellowy orange.

00:39:26Aren't they fab in winter?

00:39:27They're brilliant.

00:39:27That's it.

00:39:28So it's all about the stems here.

00:39:29Yeah.

00:39:30And then in other parts

00:39:31of this display,

00:39:32you know,

00:39:32it's more about the foliage.

00:39:33So obviously here,

00:39:35we've got a grass,

00:39:35which has been left,

00:39:37left to stand tall,

00:39:38and it just looks so good

00:39:39with the frost on.

00:39:39This is miscanthus grass.

00:39:41So great all year round

00:39:42and through the winter.

00:39:43And again,

00:39:44for wildlife insects in there,

00:39:46birds picking off the seeds,

00:39:47it's just a multi-purpose plant.

00:39:49They do.

00:39:49Absolutely.

00:39:50And then we've got things like this,

00:39:51obelia,

00:39:51which I love the colors on it,

00:39:52but even the flowers

00:39:54still hanging on.

00:39:55Flowers still trying to come.

00:39:55But it burnishes,

00:39:56doesn't it,

00:39:57with the cold weather?

00:39:58It does.

00:39:58Yeah.

00:39:58Buffed up.

00:39:59And then in terms of wildlife even,

00:40:01we've got a little hedgehog house

00:40:02tucked in down there.

00:40:03Yeah.

00:40:04So it's just a little haven.

00:40:05If you put it in the right place,

00:40:06nestled in amongst plants,

00:40:07some leaves in there,

00:40:09I reckon they'll go.

00:40:09Lovely foliage here

00:40:10from this maronia.

00:40:11I know.

00:40:12So this one's called Soft Caress,

00:40:13which it's probably

00:40:14one of the only Mahonias

00:40:15that you could caress.

00:40:16Yeah,

00:40:16you go into a normal Mahonias

00:40:17and you're like,

00:40:18ah,

00:40:18but this is,

00:40:19it is Soft Caress.

00:40:20It is.

00:40:21It's really lovely.

00:40:22No forms at all.

00:40:22And the good thing with these

00:40:23is you can put them

00:40:24against things

00:40:25like this beautiful water feature

00:40:26and you get that contrast

00:40:27with the really soft foliage.

00:40:29And then we've got

00:40:29some other winter favorites

00:40:30in there,

00:40:31the Calicarpa.

00:40:32Do you like it?

00:40:33Some people love or hate it.

00:40:33Do you know,

00:40:34I've never really been able

00:40:35to get on with it

00:40:35because it's such

00:40:36an artificial color.

00:40:37People sort of think,

00:40:38oh,

00:40:38well,

00:40:38that can't be real.

00:40:39Calicarpa,

00:40:40the beautyberry.

00:40:40I mean,

00:40:41but it's for me,

00:40:42I'm not a real fan of purple.

00:40:44I always struggle with purple,

00:40:45but I love the skimmier

00:40:47with the buds

00:40:47that are rosy red.

00:40:48Yeah,

00:40:49they're beautiful.

00:40:49And you've got

00:40:50a little hellebore down there

00:40:51as well.

00:40:51Hellebore,

00:40:52ferns,

00:40:52another dwarf conifer

00:40:54in there.

00:40:54So it's good

00:40:55to have a mix

00:40:56of evergreens,

00:40:57non-evergreens,

00:40:58and you can play

00:40:58with,

00:40:58you know,

00:40:59bark,

00:40:59berries,

00:41:00foliage,

00:41:01and just get quite creative.

00:41:01You can even do a corner

00:41:02or a corner of your patio,

00:41:04your terrace

00:41:04that's got things

00:41:05in which are just for winter.

00:41:06You can move the pots around.

00:41:07Exactly.

00:41:07Something you can see

00:41:08from the inside

00:41:09so you don't have to go outside.

00:41:10Yeah,

00:41:10this is all container grown.

00:41:11It shows you can grow.

00:41:12And I love the fact

00:41:13that,

00:41:14because in winter,

00:41:15the ones that are solar powered

00:41:16stop,

00:41:16don't they?

00:41:17They do.

00:41:17You've got this panel

00:41:18which fuels it

00:41:20and it's got batteries

00:41:21at the back.

00:41:22You can charge it up.

00:41:23So yeah,

00:41:23even in winter,

00:41:24you keep the water moving,

00:41:25stops your pond

00:41:26freezing over so quickly

00:41:27or going a bit stagnant.

00:41:29So it's especially good

00:41:30if you do have some plants

00:41:31in there as well.

00:41:32You know,

00:41:33and it's still great

00:41:33for wildlife.

00:41:34I've got one of these

00:41:34at home

00:41:35and all the birds,

00:41:35they sit around the edge

00:41:36and peck in there.

00:41:38And what I've found

00:41:38in some ways

00:41:39is that the bees come.

00:41:40It's a shallow dish of water.

00:41:42Bees all the way

00:41:42around the edge,

00:41:43honeybees,

00:41:44and then going off

00:41:44back to the house

00:41:45and using the water.

00:41:47Now,

00:41:47I'm not an enormous fan

00:41:50of trachealuspermum.

00:41:51Oh.

00:41:51The star jasmine.

00:41:52Well,

00:41:52I don't know why.

00:41:53It all seems to be

00:41:54a bit scrappy sometimes,

00:41:55but wow.

00:41:56I mean,

00:41:56it's a statement,

00:41:57isn't it?

00:41:58Yeah.

00:41:59So this has grown

00:41:59onto a panel,

00:42:01which is really great.

00:42:01Great against a boundary

00:42:02or a wall

00:42:03and it's just such

00:42:04a dark colour.

00:42:05When I was talking

00:42:05about contrast,

00:42:06you know,

00:42:06this is it.

00:42:07If you have something

00:42:07like this cornice,

00:42:09you know,

00:42:09in front of that,

00:42:10it's beautiful,

00:42:11isn't it?

00:42:11And it's good cover

00:42:12as well for birds

00:42:13and for insects.

00:42:13You've got a little

00:42:14bug hotel in there.

00:42:15Yeah.

00:42:16It's really sweet.

00:42:17And then we've got

00:42:17a birdhouse

00:42:18over here as well.

00:42:20A little nesting spot

00:42:21for them.

00:42:21Yeah.

00:42:22And the great

00:42:22comes on the smoke bush,

00:42:23the catinus.

00:42:24It's just vivid.

00:42:26It's beautiful.

00:42:26Scarlet, isn't it?

00:42:27Especially when you

00:42:27get the light

00:42:28coming through it.

00:42:28It really sort of

00:42:29illuminates it,

00:42:30doesn't it?

00:42:30And then you obviously

00:42:31get the flower heads

00:42:32that sit on it

00:42:33just going into winter

00:42:34as well,

00:42:35until they all blow off

00:42:35and cover your driveway.

00:42:36Well, smoke.

00:42:37Exactly.

00:42:39So you've got,

00:42:40you see,

00:42:41topiary in winter

00:42:41for me,

00:42:42I love clipped yew

00:42:43in either orbs

00:42:44like that one

00:42:45or pyramids

00:42:46or cones

00:42:47or whatever.

00:42:48Especially if you

00:42:48have them like that

00:42:49and you're lucky enough

00:42:50to get a bit of snow

00:42:50and it sits on the top

00:42:52like a little hat.

00:42:53I love that.

00:42:54So that's really good

00:42:54to give you a bit

00:42:55of structure,

00:42:56especially if you

00:42:56contrast it against

00:42:57something a little bit

00:42:58more textural

00:42:59like the Mahonia.

00:43:00So it's always good

00:43:01about having the contrast

00:43:02between the two.

00:43:03You can't go wrong there.

00:43:04And fruit

00:43:05important for birds.

00:43:07Exactly.

00:43:07Great for us to look at

00:43:08because it looks beautiful

00:43:09but brilliant for wildlife,

00:43:11isn't it?

00:43:11I mean,

00:43:12it's stunning,

00:43:13especially because

00:43:13it gets bigger and bigger

00:43:14and they'll hang out

00:43:15over your other planting.

00:43:17So great at the back

00:43:18of a border

00:43:18or in the middle

00:43:19of a very deep border

00:43:19and then you could

00:43:20underplant it as well.

00:43:21So as well as food,

00:43:22we need to think about

00:43:23water for the birds as well

00:43:24and keeping it clean and fresh.

00:43:25We do, exactly.

00:43:26So,

00:43:27and this is the sort of thing

00:43:27that, you know,

00:43:28this will freeze over in winter

00:43:29but it is good

00:43:30to keep that topped up.

00:43:32Now,

00:43:32a log pile.

00:43:33Something so simple

00:43:34but I love it in a garden.

00:43:36It looks good in a winter garden

00:43:37because it gives you

00:43:38that structure

00:43:38all year round

00:43:39and especially

00:43:40if you do what I've done here

00:43:41and you tuck some plants

00:43:43in behind

00:43:43that will spill out over

00:43:44like the ferns,

00:43:45the skimmia.

00:43:46Just adds a bit more interest

00:43:47but I can imagine

00:43:48some little frogs

00:43:49hiding in there.

00:43:50There'll be frogs,

00:43:51there'll be insects.

00:43:52Again,

00:43:52the birds will feed them.

00:43:52They would on all the invertebrates.

00:43:54We do also have

00:43:55over at the front there

00:43:56a little frog house.

00:43:57That's one that you can buy

00:44:00near your pond

00:44:01or somewhere

00:44:02in a damp border

00:44:03and you know

00:44:03that they're just going

00:44:04to hide out underneath it.

00:44:05It's lovely to show.

00:44:06There's a time of year

00:44:07when everybody thinks

00:44:08oh, that's it,

00:44:08it's done.

00:44:09I'm going indoors

00:44:10until Easter now.

00:44:11Well, don't.

00:44:12Plant up

00:44:13some of Chris's recommendations

00:44:14and you'll have a garden

00:44:16that really is worth

00:44:17going out into

00:44:18even if it's not quite

00:44:19sunbathing weather.

00:44:21Yeah.

00:44:21Thanks, Chris.

00:44:22Now, one addition

00:44:23to the garden

00:44:24that's guaranteed

00:44:24to create interest

00:44:26this winter

00:44:26is a bird table

00:44:27offering not only

00:44:29the opportunity

00:44:29for bird watching

00:44:30it provides wild birds

00:44:32with essential extra energy

00:44:34during challenging seasons

00:44:36like winter

00:44:37when the crab apple fruits

00:44:38have all faded.

00:44:39So why not make your own?

00:44:41Time now

00:44:41to check in

00:44:42on a man

00:44:43who knows a thing or two

00:44:44about creating habitats

00:44:45for birds

00:44:46our chicken coop supremo

00:44:48carpenter Rob Bent.

00:44:50Well, we need the rain

00:44:56in the countryside

00:44:56it's just started to tip

00:44:58so we're under

00:44:59a lovely canopy

00:45:00that Rob always brings

00:45:01with him

00:45:01because you see

00:45:02he's clever like that

00:45:03he knows it's always

00:45:04going to rain

00:45:04I'm going to stay dry

00:45:06in your t-shirt

00:45:07me and my tweed

00:45:08with a multi-storey

00:45:10bird table

00:45:11and this is no ordinary

00:45:12bird table

00:45:13it's a high rise one.

00:45:15Solid, sturdy

00:45:16and lots of space

00:45:18for the birds to eat.

00:45:20So you've built

00:45:21your main frame

00:45:22of, again

00:45:23it's protected timber

00:45:24it's treated timber

00:45:25So all of this

00:45:26is treated timber

00:45:26and what I did

00:45:27is I made the most

00:45:29of what we had

00:45:29so you remember

00:45:30we built the chicken coop

00:45:31a little while ago

00:45:33Do I remember

00:45:33the chicken coop?

00:45:34The epic chicken coop

00:45:36went on and on

00:45:37Yeah

00:45:37Well, all of this

00:45:39is all leftover material

00:45:40from building that

00:45:41so instead of

00:45:42spending money

00:45:43and getting additional materials

00:45:44kind of use

00:45:45what you have

00:45:45So you've got

00:45:46a really steady

00:45:47cross of legs down here

00:45:48Yep

00:45:49Now this is vital

00:45:51bits of

00:45:51what I would have called

00:45:522x1 in the old days

00:45:53in old money

00:45:54underneath

00:45:55Yeah, exactly right

00:45:55To keep the bottom off

00:45:57and stop it rotting

00:45:58Yeah, exactly

00:45:58so that keeps it away

00:46:00from the damp

00:46:00and then once these

00:46:01actually go themselves

00:46:02and rot away

00:46:03all you need to do

00:46:04is replace them

00:46:04Replace them

00:46:05and not the base itself

00:46:06Exactly

00:46:06Now this is rather clever

00:46:07I said, oh look

00:46:08what he's done

00:46:08he's cut a square hole

00:46:09dropped it down

00:46:11and then I saw

00:46:12it's actually

00:46:13two pieces

00:46:14can you see that

00:46:16two pieces there

00:46:17that are joined in the

00:46:18so you've glued them

00:46:19in the middle

00:46:19and fitted them

00:46:20either side of that

00:46:22Yeah, so I've glued

00:46:24and I've pocket screwed

00:46:25from underneath

00:46:25so it's a good joint

00:46:27nice and solid

00:46:28and then supported it

00:46:29with more timber

00:46:31underneath here

00:46:32On the underside

00:46:33So that is

00:46:34a really sturdy thing

00:46:35however

00:46:35it seems to lack

00:46:37anything to keep

00:46:38the rain off the birds

00:46:39Well, funny you mention that

00:46:41Here's one

00:46:44I made earlier

00:46:45Look at that

00:46:46Now let's just have a look

00:46:47at the underside

00:46:48Look at that

00:46:48You see the lovely thing

00:46:49about your stuff

00:46:50is it's so blooming solid

00:46:52so you've got

00:46:53a little tiny bit in there

00:46:54let in

00:46:54those two

00:46:55strengtheners there

00:46:57Yeah, and it's all glued

00:46:58all pinned up

00:46:59and everything is treated timber

00:47:01Yeah

00:47:01So that sits in the middle there

00:47:02And that just slots

00:47:03right there

00:47:04and then I just get my pin gun

00:47:06Watch out there Alan

00:47:07I don't want to

00:47:08I don't want to hit you

00:47:09back in the way

00:47:10and then

00:47:10there we go

00:47:12one there on that side

00:47:14one there on the other

00:47:15What did we do without those?

00:47:17We had hammer and nail

00:47:18and that's it

00:47:19Nice and in place

00:47:20Now you've got no rims

00:47:21on the edge here

00:47:21so the seed's going to

00:47:22fall off a bit

00:47:23does that matter?

00:47:23No, no, no

00:47:24that should be alright

00:47:25It's got the ground feeders as well

00:47:27Yeah, exactly that

00:47:27and with this

00:47:30I kind of don't want to leave

00:47:31any sides on this

00:47:32because then if water

00:47:33manages to pool inside here

00:47:35then that'll start

00:47:36eating away at the timber

00:47:37You thought that one through

00:47:38didn't you?

00:47:38Think of everything

00:47:39Thanks ever so much

00:47:41Rob, there's a lot of time

00:47:42gone into this

00:47:43and we just come and say

00:47:43have you got on?

00:47:44Oh, there we are

00:47:45Yeah

00:47:46But we can see now

00:47:48how it's built

00:47:48and how sturdy it is

00:47:49and the birds here at Manor Farm

00:47:51are going to really enjoy that

00:47:52as the weather gets colder and colder

00:47:53Yeah, and I hope they do

00:47:54They will

00:47:55We'll give it a good scrub

00:47:56between feeds

00:47:56so it's nice and healthy for them

00:47:58and on a day like this

00:48:00it's quite good

00:48:01to be underneath this roof

00:48:02Definitely

00:48:03Thanks Rob

00:48:04Now the last time

00:48:11we caught up with

00:48:12Hampshire-based shepherdess

00:48:13Susie Parrish

00:48:14was back in May

00:48:16when she brought in

00:48:17her three

00:48:1711-week-old

00:48:19Vordacoli pups

00:48:20It's safe to say

00:48:21they won our hearts

00:48:23so we couldn't resist

00:48:24an invite

00:48:25to see how Mole

00:48:26Flick and Sid

00:48:27were progressing

00:48:28six months on

00:48:29just as they began

00:48:31their sheepdog training

00:48:32in earnest

00:48:33Hi, I'm Susie Parrish

00:48:44and I'm a shepherdess

00:48:45and these are my pups

00:48:48they're my next generation

00:48:49of sheepdogs

00:48:50there's my two older collies

00:48:52coming to six years old now

00:48:53so it's time to get

00:48:54the next generation

00:48:55up and running

00:48:56So these are the three pups

00:49:00that I've kept

00:49:01from the litter of six

00:49:02we've got Sid

00:49:03who's the boy

00:49:04and then Flick

00:49:05and Mole

00:49:07So today I'm going to be

00:49:09training the puppies

00:49:10individually

00:49:11if I took them out

00:49:12all three together

00:49:13it would be absolute carnage

00:49:14All three pups

00:49:15have got such different

00:49:16personalities

00:49:17so Flick is really

00:49:18sort of a buzzy

00:49:20really alert

00:49:21looking at everything

00:49:22all the time

00:49:23and keen to go

00:49:24and Sid is a big buffoon

00:49:27he's quite often

00:49:28the one that's asleep

00:49:29and he lollops along

00:49:31he's going to be

00:49:31quite a big dog

00:49:32and he's just sort of

00:49:33growing into himself

00:49:34and then Mole

00:49:36is really sort of

00:49:36switched on

00:49:37she's almost like

00:49:38the teenager

00:49:39that's actually

00:49:3915 going on 30

00:49:41she's really relaxed

00:49:43about everything

00:49:43doesn't get too excited

00:49:45concentrates on the job

00:49:46in hand

00:49:47they're six months old now

00:49:49and this is the

00:49:50fifth or sixth time

00:49:51they've been around sheep

00:49:52so it's really early days

00:49:53and the first pup

00:49:55I'm going to train

00:49:55is Sid

00:49:56leave it

00:50:03leave it

00:50:04leave it

00:50:05leave it

00:50:06so when you're

00:50:06training young dogs

00:50:07things go wrong

00:50:08but I don't want

00:50:09to tell him off

00:50:10too much

00:50:11because he doesn't know

00:50:12what he's doing yet

00:50:13and I don't want

00:50:15to put him off

00:50:16working the sheep

00:50:17but it's important

00:50:18just to stay calm

00:50:20not get angry

00:50:21with the dog

00:50:22and just get him

00:50:23back on track

00:50:24working the sheep

00:50:25again

00:50:25come by

00:50:27so I'm just trying

00:50:29to teach Sid

00:50:30his voice commands

00:50:31so come by

00:50:33for clockwise

00:50:34wee

00:50:36and then away

00:50:37for anti-clockwise

00:50:38Sid

00:50:40so that was a bit

00:50:44hectic

00:50:45but the main thing

00:50:47is he's really keen

00:50:48to work the sheep

00:50:49next I'm going

00:50:51to get Flick

00:50:52she's ready to go

00:50:54it's really important

00:50:56to have a very good

00:50:57bond with your dog

00:50:58and that trust

00:50:59is a two-way thing

00:51:00between the dog

00:51:01and the trainer

00:51:02and when you send

00:51:03that dog over a hill

00:51:04and it can't see a sheep

00:51:05it's trusting you

00:51:07that there are sheep

00:51:08out there

00:51:09and it'll go and find them

00:51:10and bring them back to you

00:51:11come by

00:51:13it's a tester now

00:51:14because they're running

00:51:15away

00:51:15come by

00:51:16come by

00:51:18so that's really good

00:51:20because the sheep

00:51:21are running away

00:51:22yet she's given them

00:51:23enough space

00:51:24and is now

00:51:25ah ah ah

00:51:26she's left two

00:51:27behind there

00:51:28that's really good though

00:51:30Mole's first training

00:51:34session was accidental

00:51:36she can only have been

00:51:37eight or nine weeks old

00:51:38because I had

00:51:39all the pups with me

00:51:40and she just left

00:51:41the rest of the pups

00:51:42came in under the fence

00:51:44and started just

00:51:45naturally flanking

00:51:46left and right

00:51:47behind the sheep

00:51:48with the other two

00:51:49older dogs

00:51:49and I knew then

00:51:51that I had something special

00:51:52so that's the command

00:51:56for away to me

00:51:57which is anti-clockwise

00:51:58and that's my

00:52:03come by command

00:52:04so clockwise

00:52:04around the sheep

00:52:05steady

00:52:06and walk on

00:52:08she's really

00:52:12my favourite one

00:52:14probably you can tell

00:52:15I shouldn't have favourites

00:52:17and I just think

00:52:18she's the

00:52:18where she's a lot

00:52:20calmer than the others

00:52:20she picks up the commands

00:52:22a lot quicker

00:52:22I'm sure Mole is going

00:52:25to make a really good

00:52:25working dog

00:52:26I can tell that already

00:52:27but my dream would be

00:52:29that I could work her

00:52:30and do some competitions

00:52:32ideally I'd love

00:52:34to work a brace

00:52:35which is two dogs

00:52:36at once

00:52:36and if I could work

00:52:38Mole and my older dog

00:52:40Sis

00:52:40that would be a real dream

00:52:41but it's very few dogs

00:52:43that can work together

00:52:44like that

00:52:44and it's going to be

00:52:45a lot of hard work

00:52:46thanks Susie

00:52:48you've got your hands full

00:52:49there goodness me

00:52:50so good to see

00:52:51all three thriving

00:52:53isn't it

00:52:53coming up

00:52:54the man who cornered

00:52:55the market

00:52:56in upper crust types

00:52:57but don't make the mistake

00:52:58of stereotyping him

00:53:00he's full of surprises

00:53:02Robert Bathurst

00:53:03on bringing to life

00:53:04some of our most popular

00:53:05TV and film characters

00:53:07and celebrating

00:53:08Jane Austen's birthday

00:53:10with some seriously

00:53:11fancy footwork

00:53:12Regency fencing

00:53:13the ultimate

00:53:14in 19th century

00:53:16gentleman's sport

00:53:17we'll be ready

00:53:18to riposte

00:53:20right after this

00:53:21short break

00:53:22foiled again

00:53:23sorry

00:53:24welcome back to

00:53:40love your weekend

00:53:40coming up

00:53:41pouring pub quality

00:53:43pints

00:53:43in the comfort

00:53:44of your own home

00:53:45Marvelline Cole

00:53:46has the beer

00:53:47and cider

00:53:48on tap

00:53:48in today's

00:53:49best of British

00:53:50mini keg

00:53:51masterclass

00:53:52can't wait

00:53:53now

00:53:54this year

00:53:55marks the 250th anniversary

00:53:57of Jane Austen's birth

00:53:58an event that's

00:53:59prompted ongoing

00:54:01celebrations

00:54:01of her enduring legacy

00:54:03here at Manor Farm

00:54:04we like to do our bit too

00:54:06so today

00:54:07our attention turns

00:54:08to the lives

00:54:09of Regency gentlemen

00:54:11such as Mr Darcy

00:54:12and Mr Wickham

00:54:14for whom proficiency

00:54:15in fencing

00:54:16was considered

00:54:17an essential aspect

00:54:19of their education

00:54:20transporting us

00:54:21back in time

00:54:22it's the Bath

00:54:23Sword Club

00:54:24salute please

00:54:28en garde

00:54:32are you ready

00:54:34thanks

00:54:36for joining us

00:54:38for now

00:54:40in

00:54:41to

00:54:42to

00:54:44to

00:54:45to

00:54:46to

00:54:47to

00:54:48to

00:54:49to

00:54:50here

00:54:53to

00:54:54to

00:54:56to

00:54:57to

00:54:58to

00:55:01to

00:55:03I'm hooked.

00:55:22That was an exciting term, Andy.

00:55:24Thank you for doing your bit there.

00:55:26I was a bit scared during that, Andy.

00:55:29It was amazing.

00:55:30What surprised me, Tim, was it's far more powerful

00:55:33pointy. I was expecting

00:55:34all this kind of Errol Flynn

00:55:36slashing, and it's really

00:55:38quite... Yeah, we're dealing

00:55:40with the point weapons here, Alan. So the idea

00:55:42is to get the point of the weapon

00:55:44onto your opponent's target.

00:55:46The slashing one is the sabre

00:55:48where we score with the edge as well

00:55:50as the point. So there's cuts as well as

00:55:52thrust. Now, this was a vital part

00:55:55of a man's literary armoury

00:55:57in Registair. They used to

00:55:58go abroad, apparently, Andy, then,

00:56:00and learn out of fences.

00:56:02So was it a sort of showy thing to do?

00:56:04Oh, yes. I mean, back in the

00:56:06recent time, it would have been what

00:56:08gentlemen would have learnt

00:56:10the art of fencing

00:56:11as a status position.

00:56:14Yeah. And, yeah,

00:56:16it would have been taught by

00:56:17fencing masters from abroad who would have come over

00:56:20to England and

00:56:21taught nobility on the art of fencing.

00:56:24But the duelling, though,

00:56:26was illegal, wasn't it? You weren't

00:56:28meant... Because they were always done early in the morning,

00:56:30sort of privately somewhere.

00:56:31Yeah, yeah, it was illegal

00:56:34and it was discouraged

00:56:36in Bath as well.

00:56:37It didn't really set the tone for

00:56:39what they were trying to create in Bath.

00:56:41So, I mean,

00:56:43why did they bother them to learn it if they weren't

00:56:45going to use it?

00:56:46I think it was a...

00:56:48It was so you could say that you were

00:56:50competent in the art of swordsmanship.

00:56:52It was just a boast.

00:56:53There may have been a possibility that you would use it, yeah.

00:56:55You've got tips on them, then,

00:56:57so that, I mean, that's not sharp...

00:56:59Oh, it's a sprung...

00:57:00Yes.

00:57:01You can detect a hit, then, can you say that?

00:57:03That's right, that's right.

00:57:04It's part of the scoring equipment, yeah.

00:57:06So, when you are fencing in sport,

00:57:08it's Olympic sport now,

00:57:09what do you have to do?

00:57:12Where are you allowed to hit?

00:57:14Anywhere on the human frame?

00:57:16Well, these two, Arthur and Paul,

00:57:19it's the whole body.

00:57:20Oh, right.

00:57:21Head, toe.

00:57:22And that's with the foil?

00:57:23That's with the epee.

00:57:24The epee.

00:57:25I've got to get my terminology right.

00:57:27You're giving me one to...

00:57:28So, this is an epee.

00:57:29That's right, yeah.

00:57:30With a bent handle.

00:57:32The guard covered your hand.

00:57:34Yeah.

00:57:34Whereas that's the foil.

00:57:35That one wouldn't.

00:57:36Yeah.

00:57:37That's the foil.

00:57:38But they're about the same length.

00:57:39They are the same length, yeah.

00:57:41It's wonderfully wieldy,

00:57:42and I love the fact that that bends,

00:57:44because it's sort of...

00:57:45So, that fits into your hand.

00:57:47There, yeah.

00:57:48Superb.

00:57:49And this business up here,

00:57:51is this part of your balance?

00:57:53Yes.

00:57:53So, it comes straight into an old fling.

00:57:55I do imagine going for the lung.

00:57:58Yeah.

00:57:58The hand goes out.

00:57:59Yeah.

00:58:00Try not to hit me yet.

00:58:01Yeah.

00:58:02And go.

00:58:02Oh, right.

00:58:03And that hand comes down.

00:58:04Oh, right.

00:58:05So, I'm up there and I'm doing that.

00:58:07Exactly.

00:58:08I think I've got this.

00:58:09Yeah.

00:58:10Trouble is, I've got to...

00:58:11You've done this before.

00:58:12No, but then I haven't, actually.

00:58:13So, what would you do if I'm coming at you like that now?

00:58:16I'll take a parry.

00:58:17Yeah.

00:58:18Which would mean it would be my right of way.

00:58:20Oh.

00:58:21Your right of way.

00:58:21My right of way.

00:58:23And I would hopefully then time my riposte to land onto you.

00:58:28Ah, so you'd knock it out of the way and then very quickly go in.

00:58:31Yeah, but if you wanted to avoid, hold on to that, if you wanted to avoid that, you would

00:58:36pretend to hit him there.

00:58:37Yeah.

00:58:37As he comes across, you'd come around there.

00:58:39Ooh.

00:58:40And presumably there's a great pride in it being an Olympic sport, isn't there?

00:58:43There's a great elegance to it, really, I think.

00:58:45Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:58:47And you've got the sort of Regency outfit on.

00:58:50Yes, I've been running classes for the Jane Austen Festival for the last three years.

00:58:55Yeah.

00:58:56So, the participants turn up in full costume, so I thought I'd better do my bit as well.

00:59:01Do your bit.

00:59:02It was wonderful to watch and terribly elegant.

00:59:05I think I could probably get you used to it.

00:59:07I'll put that down.

00:59:08I'm not safe with it, really.

00:59:09That's yours.

00:59:10Thank you to Tim, to Andrew and the team from the Bath Sword Club.

00:59:15Oh, enjoy that.

00:59:16Time to head down that garden path once more.

00:59:19Today, a staple in our British countryside with their striped faces, short, powerful legs

00:59:24and sharp claws.

00:59:25Here's Leslie Joseph and her tale about the badger.

00:59:29Well, Alan, you do know how to liven up a Sunday morning.

00:59:34Handsome fencers in tight white breeches before noon, I say.

00:59:39But now we swap swords for snouts as we venture into the undergrowth in search of my next guest.

00:59:47Bring your wellies, dear viewers.

00:59:49There's more mud here than a Cotswold spa day.

00:59:52While most of us are reaching for a hot cuppa and a thick jumper,

00:59:56there's one creature out here rummaging around as if it owns the place.

01:00:00The irresistibly mischievous European badger.

01:00:04Yes, Britain's most recognisable monochrome mammal.

01:00:08And my favourite stripy nocturnal rascal.

01:00:12Now I know what you're thinking.

01:00:14Aren't badgers shy, mysterious, rarely seen?

01:00:17Oh yes, mysterious indeed.

01:00:20Shy?

01:00:21I'm not so sure.

01:00:22These delightful diggers have more personality than a pantocast

01:00:26and more underground property than a London developer.

01:00:29But you have to stay up late to catch them.

01:00:32Like teenagers raiding the fridge after midnight, they live for the nightlife.

01:00:37Think of them as the original club kids of the countryside.

01:00:41Black and white outfits, glowing eyes, mysterious habits.

01:00:45Probably listening to 80s disco under those hedgerows.

01:00:49And here's a tender side you might not know.

01:00:52Badgers love to cuddle.

01:00:54Truly, they sleep in little heaps in their sets,

01:00:58often snoozing in groups for warmth.

01:01:00And if that doesn't melt your heart, I don't know what will.

01:01:04Oh, there's something rather charming about them, isn't there?

01:01:07Those twinkly eyes, that endearing waddle

01:01:10that makes them look like they've had one too many brandies.

01:01:12Under that monochrome makeover beats a gentle, playful heart.

01:01:17Bit like you, Alan, after a sherry.

01:01:20Anyway, where are those fences?

01:01:22Cooey!

01:01:23I'm on my way!

01:01:26Thanks, Leslie.

01:01:28Gosh.

01:01:29And did you know, badgers are extremely tiny housekeepers,

01:01:32changing their bedding daily.

01:01:34Bet they don't do the ironing though, do they?

01:01:36But they do take great pride in their appearance,

01:01:39grooming themselves and each other.

01:01:41A generous-spirited lot.

01:01:43Coming up.

01:01:44Showcasing the latest drinks trend in today's best of British,

01:01:48fresh pub-style pints, any time you like.

01:01:52Beer sommelier, Marvarene Cole,

01:01:54with her pick of the market-leading mini kegs,

01:01:57serving beer and cider on tap.

01:02:00And he was killed off in the first episode of Red Dwarf.

01:02:04Killed off in the first episode of Hornblower.

01:02:07Many would have crumbled, but not this man, Robert Bathurst,

01:02:11on everything from sci-fi to sitcom, historical to hysterical.

01:02:16Secrets of an on-screen chameleon, the Bathurst way.

01:02:19Coming up, right after this.

01:02:33Welcome back to Love Your Weekend.

01:02:35Still ahead.

01:02:36Taking self-service to the next level, pour your own pints.

01:02:40Marvarene Cole introduces us to the world of keg beers and ciders.

01:02:44Now, it's not uncommon for actors to appear

01:02:47in a number of popular television programmes.

01:02:49In fact, it's probably a national acting requirement

01:02:52to appear in two or more.

01:02:54But my next guest has exceeded all requirements,

01:02:57starring in a whole host of popular dramas over the years,

01:03:01not least this one.

01:03:03Have you got a moment?

01:03:05Well, let's get down to it, shall we?

01:03:07I am going to say a few words.

01:03:09Oh, God, must you?

01:03:10Yes.

01:03:11No.

01:03:12Yes.

01:03:13What's happened?

01:03:14Yes.

01:03:15I don't know.

01:03:16No.

01:03:17I can't keep up.

01:03:18Please, just pick one.

01:03:19Okay.

01:03:20What?

01:03:21Yes!

01:03:22No.

01:03:23Are you missing the point?

01:03:24Who are you?

01:03:25Funky chicken.

01:03:26That makes no sense.

01:03:27Sorry?

01:03:28You will be.

01:03:29It's all over the place.

01:03:30Nothing is going on.

01:03:31Yeah, we did five years.

01:03:32We did the pilot 30 years ago next year, in 1996,

01:03:37and then from 1997 to five years,

01:03:39and then after a 13-year gap,

01:03:41it came back for another four series.

01:03:43It was a slow burner originally, wasn't it, Robert?

01:03:45It was a non-burner.

01:03:47It was quite extraordinary.

01:03:48I mean, we did the pilot, and ITV didn't rate it.

01:03:52It went out delayed at sort of 11 o'clock at night,

01:03:56and I opened the papers.

01:03:57I thought, who's writing about it?

01:03:59Nobody was writing about it.

01:04:00And then it got put in for an award, and it got the gold award at the Montra TV Festival,

01:04:06and then ITV decided it was really rather good.

01:04:09They might put it on a bit earlier, when people were up.

01:04:12They gave it a series, but it very nearly went away without anybody noticing it.

01:04:17There is a characteristic.

01:04:19I mean, you are a great, accomplished, and versatile actor,

01:04:22but I always feel that running through you,

01:04:24there's a kind of thread of natural diffidence

01:04:27in a lot of the characters that you play.

01:04:30There's a sort of hesitancy, which seems to almost be your stock in trade.

01:04:35I mean, is that conscious, or is it just you, or what?

01:04:39It's a lie.

01:04:41You're not at all diffident.

01:04:42No, I mean, it's hopefully precise.

01:04:46But diffidence, yes, I would say it's certainly not diffidence

01:04:51in terms of what I care about it and my approach to it.

01:04:56But, yeah, I mean, that's for others to perceive,

01:05:01rather than for me to feel.

01:05:02Well, it is, but I always think, also, it must be rather fun for you,

01:05:05because you are not, but playing characters that haven't got much backbone.

01:05:10Now, I'm thinking of one in particular,

01:05:12and it's one which was very much to the fore,

01:05:14because, frankly, Robert, you let down Lady Edith.

01:05:17Sir Anthony Strall, I mean, look at this, honestly.

01:05:20Sir Anthony Strall here, meeting his match with Maggie Smith.

01:05:23This is very good of you.

01:05:26Oh, nonsense, you were on the way.

01:05:28I do wish you'd let me sit in the front.

01:05:30No, no, I prefer it.

01:05:31I've ridden in the front seat many times.

01:05:33Aren't you a wild thing?

01:05:35Oh, it's quite safe.

01:05:36There's never been a safer method of travel.

01:05:38Or a faster one.

01:05:40Edith's a speed fiend.

01:05:42She likes to go at a terrific lick.

01:05:44Do you think you'll be able to keep up with her?

01:05:46I'll try.

01:05:47What's this place like?

01:05:49Erry Home, is it?

01:05:51Do you know it?

01:05:52Well, a little.

01:05:53My late husband kept the shooting there,

01:05:54and we'd sometimes had luncheon in the house.

01:05:57Is it nice?

01:05:59Nice enough.

01:06:00As a retreat from the world.

01:06:02I wouldn't have thought it suited to much else.

01:06:08The queen of the acerbic one-liners,

01:06:10the late Maggie Smith there.

01:06:12I mean, it seems like playing a verbal game of tennis,

01:06:14doesn't it, really, with her when...

01:06:16I mean, she...

01:06:17She was that character, wasn't she?

01:06:19I mean, that was Maggie Smith, in a way.

01:06:20Well, she's really good.

01:06:21I mean, really sharp.

01:06:22And everybody says,

01:06:24oh, she's so tough, or whatever.

01:06:27But she's right.

01:06:28I mean, she's right.

01:06:29She knew her stuff.

01:06:30I met her a few times as herself, which...

01:06:32Delightful person.

01:06:33Yes.

01:06:34Absolutely delightful.

01:06:35But when she envelopes, embodies a character like that,

01:06:39I mean, you play against it as your peril, don't you, really?

01:06:42Well, you have to...

01:06:43Yeah.

01:06:44I mean, you have to not worry about that.

01:06:46Yeah.

01:06:47Just get on with it.

01:06:48But that sort of carapace that she put on with her characters.

01:06:52But she's an actor, you know.

01:06:53Yeah.

01:06:54All actors are sort of...

01:06:55They're grafters, you know.

01:06:56Yes, but you can't be surprised when we believe you

01:06:58in the character you're playing, you see.

01:07:01Can't you?

01:07:02Yeah.

01:07:03I really enjoyed being with her, and it was really good.

01:07:05And playing with Laura Carmichael, too.

01:07:07She's excellent.

01:07:08Really good.

01:07:09Yeah.

01:07:10Had a lovely touch to it.

01:07:11And the fact that old Anthony Strallon ditched her at the altar

01:07:14meant that Laura could go off and do all sorts of things

01:07:16for another four or five series.

01:07:18Yeah.

01:07:19What was the reaction of the congregation in the church, then,

01:07:21when you ditched her?

01:07:22Well, all the actors...

01:07:23I mean, they had nothing to do, but they passed the time

01:07:27by when I had to walk down the aisle, having done the deed,

01:07:32and walked out in shame.

01:07:34Jim Carter led the booing.

01:07:36The whole congregation.

01:07:38And the sort of low rumble of boo.

01:07:41Serve your right.

01:07:43Yeah, quite, exactly.

01:07:44But we'd invested a lot in you, you know.

01:07:46I know.

01:07:47Well, yeah.

01:07:48Yeah.

01:07:49Going to something completely different and something true

01:07:51to life, The Hack, which we've seen you in recently,

01:07:55playing a character who really did exist, Max Clifford,

01:07:59an interesting man in The Hack.

01:08:01Hmm.

01:08:02They've redacted everything.

01:08:03In particular, anything which might identify the News of the World

01:08:04journalists who might have commissioned the hacking.

01:08:05I'm going back to court.

01:08:06We'll get more.

01:08:07Question, when they disclosed Gordon Taylor's paperwork,

01:08:08did they redact anything?

01:08:09No.

01:08:10Why start now?

01:08:11Because it implicates them.

01:08:12So did Gordon Taylor.

01:08:13They're working out.

01:08:14Have to make themselves impenetrable.

01:08:15They're watching us.

01:08:16You do know what you're taking on.

01:08:17Do you know who you're talking to?

01:08:18I believe Rebecca Brooks is your friend.

01:08:19Didn't you help her when she was accused of assault?

01:08:21I help her, but not in that case.

01:08:22I have my loyalties, and I have beliefs.

01:08:23I mean, I know Andy Coates that.

01:08:24What have you done?

01:08:25Why do you personally do not do anything?

01:08:26Why don't you do anything?

01:08:27No.

01:08:28Why not do it?

01:08:29Why do you do that now?

01:08:30Why do you do you do that?

01:08:31So did Gordon Taylor.

01:08:32They're working out.

01:08:33Have to make themselves impenetrable.

01:08:34They're watching us.

01:08:35You do know what you're taking on.

01:08:36Do you know who you're talking to?

01:08:39I believe Rebecca Brooks is your friend.

01:08:41Didn't you help her when she was accused of assault?

01:08:43I help her, but not in that case.

01:08:45I have my loyalties, and I have beliefs.

01:08:50I mean, I know Andy Coulson, him sitting next to the Prime Minister.

01:08:55That's wrong in every way.

01:08:57All the same.

01:08:58I spent my entire life inside that machine.

01:09:01I know what their guns smell like.

01:09:04You.

01:09:06Playing Max Clifford in that. Did you ever meet him?

01:09:09Never, luckily.

01:09:10I mean, that was about the whole hacking and what he knew about the organisation,

01:09:16one of the organisations of many who were doing the hacking.

01:09:20And also what he was prepared to do to what he took in order not to blow the gaff on it.

01:09:26What did you make of him having played him?

01:09:29Well, I mean, we found out all sorts of things subsequently,

01:09:32and that's what he went to prison for, and that was nothing to do with in this show.

01:09:37He had a very efficient way of getting a story into a newspaper,

01:09:41which involved victimising the person who needed the publicity.

01:09:45It was called the Max Clifford two-step.

01:09:47So emails get stolen, ha-ha, you supply them, and somebody else produces them.

01:09:53Therefore, you've got to go on shows like, you know, chat shows and things like that to clear your name.

01:09:58It was a very clever way of, and he did it very successfully.

01:10:03I did interview him once.

01:10:04Did you?

01:10:05Right.

01:10:05And what did he exude?

01:10:09You can say that now.

01:10:11Menace.

01:10:12Menace, yes.

01:10:13He traded in menace, absolutely.

01:10:15I mean, character assassination was his trade.

01:10:17Yes, yeah.

01:10:19Oof, on to brighter things.

01:10:21Let's have gone to Dad's Army.

01:10:23That was a lovely segue.

01:10:24Because, did you notice, that was almost effortless.

01:10:27And so, from Max Clifford to Dad's Army.

01:10:29Who do you think of killing Max Clifford?

01:10:31They found some scripts of tapes that had been lost.

01:10:34Yeah.

01:10:35And when I was talking about diffidence earlier, you see,

01:10:37maybe this character was at the back of my mind,

01:10:39because in the lost tapes, when they were recreated,

01:10:42you played Sergeant Wilson.

01:10:45No, we need someone with integrity.

01:10:47Well, there's always Godfrey.

01:10:48He's as honest as the day is long.

01:10:49Ah.

01:10:50But could he lead men?

01:10:51No, not from the front, sir.

01:10:52No, he'd never keep up with it.

01:10:54Then there's the bladder trouble, of course.

01:10:57Yes.

01:10:58Well, at least we'd always know where to find him, wouldn't we, sir?

01:11:01Ah.

01:11:03That's the man for our money.

01:11:04Fraser.

01:11:05Oh, no, no, no, sir.

01:11:06Not Fraser.

01:11:06No, no.

01:11:07If there's ever any trouble, any grumbling,

01:11:09it always comes from him.

01:11:10Well, might it not be a case of the poacher turned gamekeeper, eh?

01:11:14He was a jack-tar, wasn't he?

01:11:16I believe he was, sir, yes.

01:11:17One thing you can say about the boys in Bloom,

01:11:19they stand fast in the face of the enemy.

01:11:21Yes, well, there's nowhere to run to on a boat, is there, sir?

01:11:25They were so finely crafted, those scripts.

01:11:28I remember talking about things I've done.

01:11:30I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about you.

01:11:31I did go when I was a student at Kew Gardens.

01:11:34I went to a recording of a dad's army at Shepherd's Bush.

01:11:39Wonderful to be there, and they all came on

01:11:40and were introduced to the audience.

01:11:41And the atmosphere in the studio was superb,

01:11:44and you recreate that exact atmosphere there.

01:11:48But John LeMessur, a fascinating character.

01:11:50We'll talk about him as a man in a minute

01:11:52with another series that you did.

01:11:54But playing someone who's played a role

01:11:56and trying to do it justice in something that was so popular,

01:11:59it must have been a bit of a challenge.

01:12:00Well, it was, absolutely.

01:12:01I mean, the reason for doing it

01:12:03was that these videotapes had been wiped.

01:12:06They put panorama over on them on something like that

01:12:08in the late 60s,

01:12:09because they know and assume they were going to be repeated.

01:12:12So they were just big chunks of videotape.

01:12:15So, yeah, that was the only reason for doing it.

01:12:17There was no point in doing shows

01:12:19that were already available with the real people doing it.

01:12:23And it was done in the spirit of we were understudies.

01:12:25I mean, we're never going to say we are them

01:12:27or we are better than them

01:12:28or we are in any way a match for them.

01:12:30We are going to just present these scripts in film form,

01:12:33which is not available any more.

01:12:35So that was playing Sergeant Wilson

01:12:36as played by John LeMessurier.

01:12:38Here you are playing John LeMessurier in Hattie.

01:12:52So there's never a dull moment with Hattie.

01:12:55No, there isn't, really.

01:12:57I would, though, I would like to say

01:13:01that I'm eternally grateful

01:13:04for the way she runs the home,

01:13:07looks after the children,

01:13:10looks after me.

01:13:13Home comes first, I think I'm right in saying.

01:13:19But for someone who's so very busy all the time

01:13:23and so very much in the public eye all the time,

01:13:27to do these things is very difficult

01:13:30and a jolly neat trick.

01:13:36Thank you, John LeMessurier.

01:13:39APPLAUSE

01:13:40With Ruth Jones there in Hattie,

01:13:53that scene perfectly summing up

01:13:55the unusual relationship they had,

01:13:58a menage a trois, in effect,

01:13:59at one particular time.

01:14:01But it's actually quite a...

01:14:02It's a terribly emotive and affecting story,

01:14:07the marriage that they had.

01:14:09And the word urbane could have been invented,

01:14:11couldn't it, for John LeMessurier?

01:14:13I mean, but playing somebody as themselves,

01:14:16there's a responsibility there on an actor's part.

01:14:18Huge responsibility,

01:14:18because in any sort of biopic,

01:14:21you're dealing with a perception of the truth.

01:14:24And the people who were alive at the time

01:14:26might have seen that totally differently.

01:14:29The Aidan Turner character,

01:14:30the lover,

01:14:31who had moved into the house

01:14:33and John LeMessurier didn't leave the house,

01:14:35he just moved into the spare room.

01:14:36And it was very affecting.

01:14:38But the son of the John Aidan Turner character

01:14:44was at the BAFTA screening,

01:14:46and he was terribly upset.

01:14:47I mean, he was terribly upset

01:14:47at how his father was portrayed.

01:14:49Now, I mean,

01:14:51how he's portrayed is the license of the show.

01:14:57But how he perceived it was very different.

01:14:59So you are trading on people's perception there.

01:15:03But it's still a story worth telling,

01:15:06because it was an extraordinary story.

01:15:07How did you end up feeling about John LeMessurier?

01:15:10Did you admire him more?

01:15:11Did you sort of understand

01:15:12or understood his foibles more?

01:15:15What's your sort of relationship with him now,

01:15:17having played him both in Dad's Army

01:15:19and as himself?

01:15:20Well, I've always admired him as a performer.

01:15:22I mean, he always turns in a really good one.

01:15:25I mean, I'm all right, Jack,

01:15:26or in anything.

01:15:27There's always...

01:15:28And he was absolutely one of these people

01:15:30who appeared...

01:15:31You mentioned diffidence before.

01:15:32He appeared to be diffidence,

01:15:34but he was rock solid.

01:15:34He knew what he was doing.

01:15:35Yeah.

01:15:36Like a load of those people of that generation,

01:15:38they knew their business really well.

01:15:41But also, he was somebody who was complicated.

01:15:44I mean, I've been playing Geoffrey Bernard

01:15:45in the Coach and Horses pub itself,

01:15:48and John LeMessurier gets mentioned in that.

01:15:50So LeMess used to have Lost Weekends in Soho,

01:15:53and he was a complicated figure.

01:15:55Yeah.

01:15:55You are never far from the stage.

01:15:59You're about to go into the Rivals

01:16:00with Patricia Hodge, the Sheridan play,

01:16:03playing...

01:16:04Playing Anthony Absolute.

01:16:05Ah, yeah.

01:16:07It's set in 1780, I think,

01:16:11and Tom Littler, who runs the Orange Tree Theatre,

01:16:14has set it in the time 1920s.

01:16:16So I'm looking forward to seeing how that works.

01:16:17Now, the Orange Tree is hugely intimate.

01:16:19I mean, that's really close playing.

01:16:21It's very...

01:16:21It's in the round, it's intimate,

01:16:23and he does classics with big casts.

01:16:26I don't know how he does it.

01:16:27And then we're going on tour after that.

01:16:28We're going to Cambridge and Bath.

01:16:30Because you started in Cambridge Footlights,

01:16:32with the likes of Frye, Laurie, and Emma Thompson.

01:16:34You know what I mean?

01:16:34Yeah, yeah.

01:16:34Astonishing start to it.

01:16:37Yes.

01:16:38I mean, I knew I didn't want to carry on doing a review.

01:16:39I knew I wanted to do what I'm doing at the moment,

01:16:41which is, you know, plays and everything like that.

01:16:43So comedy review.

01:16:45But we did get fantastic opportunities doing the show

01:16:49and taking it around the world and so forth

01:16:52and doing televisions.

01:16:53It's a good start, and it's not yet finished.

01:16:56Who knows?

01:16:57It's very nice of you to say,

01:16:58will you mind saying my name is Bathurst?

01:17:01Because you've got no problems with me from Yorkshire.

01:17:03There's no way I'm ever going to say Bathurst.

01:17:04You're quite safe.

01:17:06Thank you, Robert.

01:17:06Thanks, Alan.

01:17:08Now then, a chance to soak up some stunning scenery

01:17:11set to some equally stunning music.

01:17:13It's time for today's Ode to Joy.

01:17:15Ode to Joy.

01:17:18MUSIC PLAYS

01:22:05A little starter, might be salmon on some rye bread, a little bit of basil, olive oil, just something to get the party started.

01:22:13So this is a small beer brew company.

01:22:15Absolutely. So they're in Bermondsey.

01:22:18They're very much about a sustainability and a social cause.

01:22:22So they're London's first B Corps certified brewery.

01:22:27So they're very proud of that.

01:22:29Like that one.

01:22:29It's joyous. Absolutely.

01:22:30Next up.

01:22:31Next we are going to Carvella Lager.

01:22:36We are going to Ripon in North Yorkshire.

01:22:39What a lovely county.

01:22:41This is divine.

01:22:43Pop your nose in there.

01:22:44That's quite different, isn't it?

01:22:46Again, there is a beautiful aroma.

01:22:49This is a pilsner made by the Hamilton Brewery.

01:22:53That's gorgeous.

01:22:54It is delicious. It's so creamy.

01:22:56Yes, it is.

01:22:56Have a taste and see whether you get that creamy.

01:22:58The other is, the first one, and it's soft and nice one, it's sharp, because the first one was quite sharp.

01:23:03This is rounder, but not too sweet.

01:23:07It's a lovely, rich flavour.

01:23:09It is delicious, isn't it?

01:23:11It's brilliant that a British brewery is making this traditional European beer style.

01:23:17Robert, how does that compare for you with the first one?

01:23:20Well, it is. You're absolutely right. It's smoother.

01:23:22Yeah.

01:23:22I'm really not a beer aficionated, but I have been to Czeski Krumlov in the Czech Republic, where they make a lot of the pilsners.

01:23:29Oh, fabulous.

01:23:29But it is, yes, it is. It's less sharp.

01:23:34I absolutely adore a good pilsner with pork belly.

01:23:38The creaminess in this beer then will really cut through the fattiness that you get from the pork belly, and it's my favourite match.

01:23:46So, Prue, first one or second one? Your preference there.

01:23:50Do you know, I think if I was having it with food, I'd have the second one.

01:23:53Yeah.

01:23:53But if I was just wanting a beer...

01:23:55Oh, the first one.

01:23:56Yeah.

01:23:57With that chance. Great.

01:23:57Well, two out of two so far, Marvalline.

01:24:01Wonderful. Let's move on then to...

01:24:03This is the Scarecrow Ruby Ale by Vale Brewery.

01:24:08So, you can see that lovely ruby-ish colour in the beer as well.

01:24:12Lots of crystal malt in here, which adds a little bit of a sweetness.

01:24:16So, when you pop your nose in, you might get almost a caramelly aroma to it, which is contributed to by the malts.

01:24:27Gosh.

01:24:27Mmm. That's quite distinct there.

01:24:29Mmm. What do you think of the bitterness level on this one?

01:24:33It's not too much. I like that.

01:24:36It's gentle, isn't it?

01:24:37It's a bit plummy, actually.

01:24:38It's got a nose like sweet sherry on it.

01:24:40Yes, yeah.

01:24:42Does that one appeal to you?

01:24:43Oh.

01:24:44I wouldn't drink much of it, I don't think.

01:24:46Yeah, it's not a sort of thirst quencher, is it?

01:24:49It's a sipper, I think.

01:24:50It's a sipper, and it's also great to go with maybe hot dogs or burgers, you know, to offer...

01:24:56It needs a rich meat, really, doesn't it?

01:24:58Yeah, it needs a rich meat, really.

01:24:59It has to accompany something.

01:25:01Yeah.

01:25:01So, this is 4.5%, so again, a nice session-y, not too bad, a couple of those, and you won't feel like you're...

01:25:08A couple of those, and you won't feel anything.

01:25:10A couple more, you won't feel like.

01:25:12Oh, we're on to cider now.

01:25:13Alan, you're so naughty.

01:25:15I'm sorry.

01:25:16A little bit, though.

01:25:17So, water if you want, and also a little bit of crackers, because we're going to a sweeter taste here,

01:25:23so you do want to kind of delineate between the beer and the cider.

01:25:26So, on to cider.

01:25:27We are to the Orchards of Crediton in Devon now, Sanford Orchards.

01:25:33All of the apple varieties that they choose from, over 200 varieties, come from within a 30-mile radius of their presses, which is incredible.

01:25:43Oh.

01:25:44Oh, Alan, you're in love.

01:25:45That's lovely.

01:25:46It's very, very appealing.

01:25:49Unlike many ciders, it leaves the enamel on your teeth.

01:25:51And there's also the most beautiful colour.

01:25:56It is divine, isn't it?

01:25:57It's amber, isn't it?

01:25:58The reason it's called Devon Red as well, it's a kind of a nod to the soil that the cider apples are grown on on the farms nearby.

01:26:08That's a real hit.

01:26:09And actually, Barney Butterfield.

01:26:13Giveover.

01:26:13That's his name.

01:26:14It's a great name, isn't it?

01:26:15I don't believe it.

01:26:16It sounds like a film of Cilicia's.

01:26:17Barney Butterfield and Bathurst.

01:26:19Don't you think?

01:26:20It could be.

01:26:21It's going to business.

01:26:23Barney really prides himself on saying that, you know, that it is really important to get the apples from the local area.

01:26:32And he actually suggests a creamy mussels dish, Prue.

01:26:36I don't know if you would advocate for this.

01:26:38Lots of double cream.

01:26:40And lots of beautiful live mussels.

01:26:43And he says that makes a delicious dish with lots of Devon Red in it as well.

01:26:47I think that gets thumbs up from all of us, isn't it?

01:26:49That's absolutely delicious.

01:26:50Last one then, Marvarene.

01:26:52That's a slightly cloudy man.

01:26:53The last one.

01:26:53Now be careful, everyone.

01:26:55Because this does jump up a little bit in the strength.

01:26:59So this is Black Fox from Dunketons.

01:27:01They started out in Herefordshire.

01:27:03And their presses are in...

01:27:04I was cleansing my palate before I tackle the other one.

01:27:06You sort of...

01:27:07It's a good job.

01:27:08I like the way you're following the rules.

01:27:10I'm following the rules.

01:27:11I'm doing some tells.

01:27:1114 varieties of apples in Dunketons Black Fox.

01:27:17I've got to read you some of these names.

01:27:19Brown Snout, Fox Whelp, Kingston Black and Dabinette are some of the apples in here.

01:27:26My friend Jane, who is a pommelier, I hope.

01:27:30I've got to find Jane in trouble.

01:27:31She said these two are magnificent choices.

01:27:34So I feel vindicated.

01:27:35This is quite delicious.

01:27:37But I wouldn't imagine that it was going to be as strong as you're telling me it is.

01:27:41Because it's got lots of complexity to it.

01:27:45Absolutely.

01:27:46And I think there's a little earthiness to this, as well as the sweetness.

01:27:49Very distinct from the Samford orchards that this Devon read.

01:27:53And in terms of what it could go with, they suggest a nice ploughman's lunch.

01:28:00Oh, yes.

01:28:01Or a hearty beef stew.

01:28:02Or a pork pie.

01:28:04Isn't it interesting?

01:28:05Everything goes with a pork pie.

01:28:08It does indeed.

01:28:09For me, it does.

01:28:10That's it for today's show.

01:28:12This is a sophisticated palate, you see.

01:28:14Thanks to all my guests, to Prue, saying pork pie in front of Prue Leaf, Robert and, of course, Marbury.

01:28:20Join me next week for some more countryside capers.

01:28:23But until then, in the words of the late, great cinematic movie producer, Sam Goldwyn,

01:28:29from success you get a lot of things, but not that great inside thing that love brings you.

01:28:37Or a nice glass of cider.

01:28:39Cheers, all.

01:28:40Cheers.

01:28:41Cheers.

01:28:42Cheers.

01:28:43Cheers.

01:28:44Cheers.

01:28:45Cheers.

01:28:46Cheers.

01:28:47Cheers.

01:28:48Cheers.

01:28:49Cheers.

01:28:50Cheers.

01:28:51Cheers.

01:28:52Cheers.

01:28:53Cheers.

01:28:54Cheers.

01:28:55Cheers.

01:28:56Cheers.

01:28:57Cheers.

01:28:58Cheers.

01:28:59Cheers.

01:29:00Cheers.

01:29:01Cheers.

01:29:02Cheers.

01:29:03Cheers.

01:29:04Amen.

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