Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh S07E33

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Watch Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh S07E33 - Horizon.Cast on Dailymotion

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00:00:00Threw up the sash, the moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

00:00:05Gave a lustre of midday to objects below

00:00:08When what to my wandering eyes did appear

00:00:11But a miniature sleigh and ate tiny reindeer

00:00:16A visit from St Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore

00:00:19The perfect Christmas poem

00:00:21Isn't that right, Satu?

00:00:23Too busy eating.

00:00:24Well, we're honored you've found time to come anyway

00:00:26Even if you're starving.

00:00:27Do you find us okay?

00:00:29Yes, and it's a pretty straightforward journey isn't it

00:00:31From the North Pole to Hampshire

00:00:33It's not?

00:00:34Oh well, you know best

00:00:36You're also very hungry

00:00:38It's time for Love Your Weekend

00:00:59The first Sunday of December

00:01:17Time for the Christmas lights

00:01:19There we are

00:01:20The month that signals the start of winter

00:01:23Snow falls sometimes

00:01:25Wildfowl fill the waterways

00:01:27And the light sits low

00:01:29Creating those multi-hued sunsets over frosty hills, farmland and mountains

00:01:34It's a festive month too

00:01:36It's a festive month too

00:01:37When twinkling Christmas lights like ours fill Britain's villages and towns

00:01:41And we're feeling festive on the show today

00:01:43Coming up, a woman who really is a sport

00:01:46From saddling up to galloping over the airwaves

00:01:49To taking on those traitors

00:01:51She's done it all

00:01:52Claire Balding

00:01:53Currently making waves in literary circles

00:01:56Here with her latest page turner

00:01:58Just in time for Christmas

00:02:00And from Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof

00:02:03To Horace van der Gelder in the London revival of Hello Dolly

00:02:06Andy Nyman's back on the West End stage

00:02:09This time in the revival of Mel Brooks' The Producers

00:02:12Leslie Joseph channels her inner Meryl Streep

00:02:15As she goes out of Africa on a safari with a difference

00:02:19And wreath making made simple with his seasonal seven

00:02:23Florist Simon Lycett with the key ingredients

00:02:26To make your own piece of festive magic for the front door

00:02:30And looking back on a busy year capturing the royal family at home and abroad

00:02:34Photographer Chris Jackson escapes the press pack

00:02:37To share his personal favourite images of royalty

00:02:46We have the tree, the tinsel and we have the tipples

00:02:49Let's get the party started

00:02:51Welcome Claire Balding and Mr Producer himself

00:02:54Star of The Producers

00:02:57Fresh from the West End stage

00:02:59Andy Nyman, welcome to you both

00:03:01Hi, good morning

00:03:02Good morning

00:03:04You can tell now, we've gone into Christmas mode already

00:03:06I know

00:03:07Not too early for you

00:03:08I mean, do you indulge yourself at Christmas, Andy?

00:03:11Can you do that?

00:03:12I love it, I love it

00:03:13I get the double whammy

00:03:14I've got Chanukah as well

00:03:15Yeah

00:03:16Bit of Christmas

00:03:17Bit of Christmas

00:03:18Didn't have a tree when we were growing up

00:03:19So could not wait when I'd moved away to have a tree

00:03:23So yeah, I love it already

00:03:25The Chanukah candles, Christmas, Christmas lunch

00:03:27It's great

00:03:28Claire, are you the same?

00:03:29Or is there a bit of humbug attached?

00:03:30Not at all

00:03:31Oh no, I love it

00:03:32I love it

00:03:33I ordered this thing the other day

00:03:34It's so tacky

00:03:35It's a Santa Claus that climbs up like a metal rope

00:03:39Thrilled with it

00:03:40And in the garden I put a big blow-up penguin

00:03:43Because obviously that's very Christmassy

00:03:45Is the Santa climbing an indoor thing or an outdoor?

00:03:48It's an indoor thing

00:03:49Right

00:03:50Oh my god, it was £15

00:03:51Best £15.99 ever spent

00:03:53It's fabulous

00:03:54And it plays almost like a cowboy music

00:03:57Because, you know

00:03:58Is it the one that does it when you're speaking?

00:04:00When it hears a noise?

00:04:01No, no, no

00:04:02You've got to turn it on

00:04:03No, is there one when you speak?

00:04:05I think so

00:04:06I don't think I'm

00:04:07Yeah, you'd be pulling the batteries out of that 35 seconds

00:04:09I might

00:04:10The only trouble is the cats are very

00:04:12Well, one of them is very scared of the Father Christmas

00:04:14Oh

00:04:15Yes

00:04:16With my grandchildren it's the elf on the shelf

00:04:18Oh

00:04:19That moves around

00:04:20There's an elf and overnight

00:04:22He or she, not gender specific

00:04:24They come down in the morning and the elf has moved

00:04:27It's quite amazing

00:04:29Wow

00:04:30We're all looking thinking

00:04:31Where's the elf gone?

00:04:32Oh, it's up there, you know

00:04:33Oh, it's quite fun, isn't it?

00:04:35Yeah, it's lovely

00:04:36And I quite like the Norad Santa Tracker

00:04:38Oh, it's fantastic

00:04:39Love that

00:04:40Love that

00:04:41Yeah, fantastic

00:04:42And accurate

00:04:43Very

00:04:44It wasn't when they first brought it out

00:04:45Now it's full zone

00:04:46No, but now

00:04:47So it's very good for world geography

00:04:48Yes

00:04:49There you go

00:04:50And time zones

00:04:51Yeah

00:04:52Super important

00:04:53Love all that

00:04:54Love the food too

00:04:55Particularly Brussels sprouts

00:04:56I'm a big fan of Brussels sprouts

00:04:57Oh, yeah

00:04:58The thing about Brussels sprouts

00:04:59You love them or loathe them

00:05:00Yes

00:05:01I love them, my daughter loves them

00:05:02And my granddaughter loves them

00:05:03And we sort of fight the rest of the family

00:05:04Yes, we are having sprouts

00:05:06See, this is probably the programme to embarrass myself on

00:05:09By declaring

00:05:10It was only about ten years ago

00:05:12I first saw how Brussels sprouts grew

00:05:14I had no idea that's what it was like

00:05:18When I first saw it

00:05:19I thought it was something from space

00:05:21I could not believe it

00:05:23There have been gardening programmes on television for many years now

00:05:26You have no excuse for not knowing what

00:05:28I am so

00:05:29Alan

00:05:30Mayor Culper

00:05:31I am so sorry

00:05:32You know that carrots and potatoes both come out the ground

00:05:34No they don't

00:05:35They don't

00:05:36They do

00:05:37Yes, I've seen them

00:05:38Lots about parsnips

00:05:39That will blow your mind

00:05:40Look, two masters of their craft here

00:05:44You, Claire

00:05:45And Andy as well

00:05:46Inspirations

00:05:47People

00:05:48Your heroes

00:05:49When you were

00:05:50You know, not when you were growing up

00:05:51But when you've been doing your job

00:05:52Who do you regard as your hero?

00:05:53Well Terry Wogan was a

00:05:55I mean watching him

00:05:56And the way he was

00:05:57Off camera

00:05:58Off mic as well

00:06:00I think there is a lot

00:06:01And we've talked about this

00:06:02And I, you know

00:06:03I hold Alan in huge regard

00:06:05But not just

00:06:06However

00:06:07What you are on screen

00:06:08But I think there's a code of behaviour

00:06:09A standard of behaviour

00:06:10And I do think that's important

00:06:12So if studio managers

00:06:13Floor managers like you

00:06:14You're in

00:06:15And so I will always ask the floor manager

00:06:17Is someone so good to work with?

00:06:19And then you get your proper answer

00:06:21Yeah, yeah

00:06:22So Terry, what about you Andy?

00:06:24Heroes in theatre?

00:06:25Well, the big thing for me

00:06:27When I was a boy

00:06:29I sort of knew I wanted to act

00:06:31And then I went to see Jules at the pictures

00:06:33And saw Richard Dreyfuss on screen

00:06:36And that was

00:06:37That really brought home for me

00:06:38How important representation is

00:06:39Because there I was

00:06:40Little curly haired Jewish kid wearing glasses

00:06:42And there he came onto the screen

00:06:44Little curly haired Jewish guy with glasses

00:06:46And I thought

00:06:47You don't have to look like

00:06:49Steve McQueen

00:06:50Or Robert Redford

00:06:51You don't have to be a god to do that

00:06:53You can look kind of normal

00:06:54And so that was an epiphany for me

00:06:56And that really stayed with me actually

00:06:59And always has

00:07:00So then I've had many people

00:07:02That I sort of look at their careers

00:07:04And think, oh my goodness

00:07:05You know, you'd love to be like that

00:07:06But that's always been a thing for me

00:07:09Have you ever met any of your heroes?

00:07:11I've met quite a lot of them

00:07:12Yeah

00:07:13And none have ever disappointed

00:07:14Including yourself

00:07:15Well that's relief

00:07:16Oh stop it

00:07:17No that's, I mean it's such a relief

00:07:18Because that thing about

00:07:19When you do

00:07:20Always, you've always admired somebody

00:07:22And you know we're lucky enough

00:07:23We get to meet a lot of people

00:07:24Very, very few of them to be fair

00:07:26Let you down

00:07:27But when they do, oh

00:07:28The disappointment

00:07:29Yeah

00:07:30But when they're great

00:07:31And when they're even better

00:07:32Than you expect them to be

00:07:33Helen Mirren, right

00:07:34Is somebody I have had the pleasure of meeting

00:07:36My god she's knockout

00:07:37And so much fun and so naughty

00:07:39Yeah

00:07:40And I love that

00:07:41You get like Celia Imry

00:07:42Who I did Traces with

00:07:43Celia's someone who probably shouldn't eat Brussels sprouts

00:07:46She doesn't eat them

00:07:47She doesn't eat them

00:07:48She's terrific fun

00:07:49And again it's got that naughty side to her

00:07:51That is, it makes it so much more enjoyable

00:07:53Yeah

00:07:54Now you, I know, Claire

00:07:56Have acting aspirations

00:07:58The reason I know you have acting aspirations

00:08:01Is from this particular clip

00:08:03I'm going to show you now

00:08:04This is Claire Balding

00:08:05Acting

00:08:10Joe Calzani

00:08:12Joe Calzani

00:08:13What's happening?

00:08:14Hello Joe

00:08:15Hey, how you doing?

00:08:16What say you and I engage in some sexual sparring?

00:08:20Ding ding

00:08:21Round one

00:08:22Bash

00:08:23Bash

00:08:24Boom

00:08:25Bash

00:08:26Bang

00:08:27Boom

00:08:28Oh my

00:08:29So, so sorry

00:08:30Miss Balding

00:08:31So sorry

00:08:32Sorry

00:08:33What an I'm weird

00:08:34Oh

00:08:35It's impossible to be carried around famous people

00:08:37I know

00:08:38I know

00:08:39I just got my mum in Claire Balding's face

00:08:40Could we keep that quiet?

00:08:42I was expecting

00:08:43I was expecting rather more than that

00:08:45I was hoping for something sort of Stanislavski-esque

00:08:49Sorry, yeah

00:08:50It was just a bum

00:08:51I didn't have any dialogue there

00:08:52It's harder with that dialogue there

00:08:53I would agree

00:08:54And I'm

00:08:55Thank you

00:08:56Here's the truth

00:08:57Very truthful

00:08:58Cold stare

00:08:59Yes

00:09:00That's what I worked on

00:09:01Yeah

00:09:02And a good fringe bounce as well

00:09:03Well there's always the good fringe bounce

00:09:05I can provide that any time

00:09:07Any time it's needed

00:09:09I have a few times appeared as versions of myself

00:09:13Because it's never quite you is it?

00:09:15It's, oh I remember working with Victoria Wood once and doing a bit in one of her sketches

00:09:19And she wrote me a very sweet note afterwards and said

00:09:21Thank you for coming on

00:09:22Because it's like playing you but not

00:09:25Really?

00:09:26And it is there

00:09:27It's just that little bit

00:09:28Yes

00:09:29Extra I suppose

00:09:30But you've done quite a bit of it

00:09:31I remember you in W1A

00:09:32I enjoyed playing

00:09:33Coming up and down an escalator

00:09:35Well and my father said to me

00:09:37You were so horrid to that boy in reception

00:09:39And I said Dad I was acting

00:09:40No but you were really not very nice to me

00:09:42Dad seriously I was acting

00:09:44I had dialogue and everything in that

00:09:47That's quite a compliment though

00:09:49I got name checked in it

00:09:50But that was it

00:09:51Yes

00:09:52Were you put up for Brisbane's Tastiest Village?

00:09:54Brisbane's Tastiest Village

00:09:55But haven't we both been offered that show actually?

00:09:57In real life

00:09:59No you were were you?

00:10:01No I wasn't

00:10:03Fine okay

00:10:04Well much more from Claire and Andy

00:10:06Coming up a little bit later on

00:10:07Regulars to the show will know

00:10:09This is the moment we invite our guests to partake of a cornucopia of delicacies

00:10:14We have cucumber sandwiches

00:10:16We have you know probably the first mince pies you're going to see

00:10:19And some Christmas cake and all sorts that do tuck in

00:10:21Fondant fancies a go-go here

00:10:23Still ahead

00:10:24Impressing your guests with the newest wines on the market

00:10:27Wine expert Tony Oshoba has her festive hit list of the latest releases to try this Christmas

00:10:33Which will clearly go down well with these mince pies

00:10:36There's even a new fizz would you believe

00:10:38And bringing their reindeer farm to Munna Farm

00:10:41I'll be meeting the Cotswolds couple who've created a winter wonderland

00:10:45Where it's Christmas all year round

00:10:47Wrap up warm gang

00:10:48We're journeying north

00:10:50Well not quite north just over there actually in Paddock 2

00:10:54But it's north

00:10:56It's going to be brilliant

00:10:58Fondant fancy anybody?

00:10:59Or a grape?

00:11:00A grape?

00:11:01A grape, have a grape

00:11:02Cheese and grapes

00:11:03Cheese and grapes

00:11:04Lovely

00:11:05I'm grabbing a grape

00:11:06Can I eat the fig?

00:11:07Of course you can eat the fig

00:11:08Of course you can eat the fig

00:11:23From idyllic woodlands to coastal villages to chocolate box cottages nestled deep in hillsides

00:11:30And secret hideaways

00:11:31Oh the romance of the British countryside

00:11:34Coming up with a career that spanned a slew of shrewdly inhabited parts

00:11:39In Hollywood films

00:11:40Wicked

00:11:41Peaky Blinders

00:11:42On the box

00:11:43And on stage

00:11:44Too numerous to mention

00:11:45Andy Nyman

00:11:46Back on the boards

00:11:47This time in the revival of Mel Brooks' outrageously funny The Producers

00:11:53Now surely there is no better way to signal the arrival of Christmas in our homes

00:11:59Than by hanging a wreath on the front door

00:12:02The tradition began in Northern Europe in the 16th century would you believe

00:12:06When locals would prune their evergreen trees to create early incarnations of the Christmas tree

00:12:11They'd then weave the offcuts into wreaths

00:12:15An early form of German recycling

00:12:17Well keen to embrace that no waste philosophy today

00:12:20Here to show us how to create a Christmas wreath using just seven seasonal pieces of winter foliage

00:12:26Welcome back

00:12:27Florist extraordinaire Simon Lycett weaving away

00:12:31Weaving away I am

00:12:32I'm struggling and wrestling with the dogwood

00:12:36As you do

00:12:37It's a gorgeous colour isn't it

00:12:38Yeah it's a lovely colour

00:12:39Of course it's quite flexible at this time here

00:12:41It's what you need

00:12:43To make a Christmas wreath you need a base of some sort

00:12:47Yeah

00:12:48It can sometimes be a wire coat hanger from the dry cleaners

00:12:50What works really well and is super sustainable

00:12:53Is something like this

00:12:54Which is just to use some twigs that you've pruned

00:12:57That have got nice sap supplety to them

00:12:59And then just create yourself a wreath like this

00:13:02You see just like

00:13:03He does that and says

00:13:04And there you are

00:13:05Ladies and gentlemen

00:13:06It's done with the base of a wreath

00:13:07Oh wait

00:13:08You're blooming

00:13:09Actually it wouldn't with you

00:13:10It would be half an hour and you're done

00:13:11The rest of us it would be a couple of hours

00:13:12But it does look good doesn't it

00:13:13It's a gorgeous thing

00:13:15I mean even if you don't want to put many more decorations on it

00:13:18You've started off with a really pretty base

00:13:20Yeah

00:13:21The secret for this one though

00:13:22Is to make sure you use nice supple branches

00:13:25With some sap still in them

00:13:27So that they're lovely and bendy

00:13:28Otherwise they'll crack and break when you're bending them

00:13:30Yeah exactly

00:13:31And if you want to just anchor it occasionally with a bit of twine

00:13:34That's also fine

00:13:35Right you've got another one here then

00:13:37This is more

00:13:38This is your luxy high-end wreath

00:13:40This is how we make all our wreaths at Lysart Towers

00:13:43And it gives you a gorgeous base

00:13:46Because it's a wireframe that you can buy from your local florists

00:13:50And then it's using some sphagnum moss

00:13:53Which I know is a bit controversial

00:13:55It is isn't it

00:13:57It's always difficult this one

00:13:58Because you know sphagnum moss is from moorland

00:14:00And you know we're trying to conserve our moorland

00:14:02So

00:14:03It's sold a lot of garden centres sell it in bags to line hanging baskets and things

00:14:08Yeah

00:14:09If your lawn's like mine you can probably rake

00:14:11Well actually

00:14:12Your lawn won't be anything like mine

00:14:13No it is

00:14:14You see I'm organic so I have lots of moss in my lawn

00:14:15So if you get your wiretooth rake out

00:14:17And pull the moss out of your lawn

00:14:19Just as easy to use that isn't it really

00:14:20Yes it is

00:14:21And it's really

00:14:22You're doing the lawn a favour as well

00:14:23Yes

00:14:24So we're going to bind it all over

00:14:26And then we end up with one like this

00:14:29Right

00:14:30You can reuse this year after year because you can soak it again

00:14:32Exactly

00:14:33Yes

00:14:34So once you've done it you are being sustainable by just making sure you're using the same

00:14:37stuff

00:14:38You're being sustainable for a good two or three years before it becomes a bit brittle

00:14:41Yeah

00:14:42And then it can be composted again so it's a good complete circle to create a gorgeous circle

00:14:48So if you've got one that you did last year soak it well

00:14:50Yes

00:14:51Before you put it together

00:14:52Exactly

00:14:53And this becomes our lovely base for adding all our gorgeous foliage

00:14:56Right well you'll be back a little bit later now that we've done the bottom half

00:14:59He'll be back later with the top shows the full-blown Christmas wreath

00:15:08Now the Cotswolds may not be the first place you'd expect to find a herd of reindeer

00:15:13But thanks to one couple's love of the festive season

00:15:16That's exactly what you'll discover on their farm in Sirencester

00:15:19Building on their already successful Christmas tree business

00:15:23They've been rearing reindeer for over 15 years and now have one of the largest permanent herds in the UK

00:15:29With the worldwide reindeer population at risk due to global warming

00:15:33Farms like theirs go some way to protecting and preserving the species

00:15:38Well taking a break from their busiest time of year

00:15:41Welcome Andrew Woodward and Clare Ward

00:15:43Ably assisted by Anne holding on to one or two

00:15:47And just a few of their herd of reindeer

00:15:50Lovely to see you again

00:15:51You were on the programme a few years ago

00:15:52It's nice to see the herd is still going strong

00:15:55How old is your oldest reindeer now then Andrew?

00:15:58You'll remember Satu came to see you a few years ago

00:16:02Yes I do

00:16:03And she is now 22 and a half years old

00:16:05Which is a ripe old age for a reindeer

00:16:07Is it so how long can they live?

00:16:09Erm, we don't know

00:16:11We're off the chart now

00:16:13Well let me know

00:16:1522 and a half

00:16:16Now I notice the antlers here

00:16:17Satu's antlers are quite felty

00:16:19Whereas the other reindeer's antlers

00:16:21They're quite naked and quite sharp

00:16:23And I'm rather worried about you dodging out the way

00:16:26Yeah, well having reindeer and particularly feeding them

00:16:30Is always a bit of a contact sport

00:16:32It's just something that you have to accept as part of the job

00:16:35You learn to duck quite readily

00:16:36Yeah, or get your face out of the way

00:16:38No, when it comes to antlers, male and female Clare

00:16:41They both have antlers

00:16:43They both have antlers

00:16:44The males will lose them every year

00:16:47Yeah

00:16:48So the males will lose them around Christmas time

00:16:50Yeah

00:16:51The females if they're not pregnant as January

00:16:54Erm, and if they are pregnant they hang on till May

00:16:57Because they always carve in May

00:16:59The first week of May

00:17:00Now this is rather upsetting

00:17:01Because Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

00:17:03Who's out at Christmas then

00:17:04It's probably Rudolfina

00:17:05Yes

00:17:06So the females will have them at Christmas time

00:17:08Which is why these are females here

00:17:09Yes

00:17:10But the males lose them that quickly

00:17:12Yes, because as soon as they're after the rut

00:17:14Which is the mating season

00:17:15Yeah, in autumn

00:17:16Their testosterone drops

00:17:18And that is the trigger to lose their antlers

00:17:20Right, oh dear

00:17:21Yeah

00:17:22The ignominy of it all

00:17:23Now we've talked about the grown up mums here

00:17:25What about these two here?

00:17:27Right, this is Chunky

00:17:29Now she's eight years old

00:17:31Chunky and she's only got one antler

00:17:33Yeah, well she's just lost it

00:17:34So because she's had a calf

00:17:37Yeah

00:17:38She now doesn't need them

00:17:39So she's lost it

00:17:40It's already starting to grow

00:17:41Because it's like a cartoon bump

00:17:43So they grow quite quickly

00:17:44Yeah, up to an inch a day

00:17:46Wow

00:17:47I know, it's incredible

00:17:48And this is little May

00:17:49Who was born on 1st of May

00:17:51Goodness me

00:17:52Now look at her

00:17:53She's just got two single ones

00:17:54I know

00:17:55They've become more elaborate as they age

00:17:56Yes

00:17:57Yeah

00:17:58I mean that's a glorious set there

00:17:59Yeah

00:18:00Isn't it?

00:18:01Our males antlers are as big as me

00:18:03So I can stand in the middle of them

00:18:05So

00:18:06So how do you go about acquiring reindeer?

00:18:08They're not in the shops

00:18:09No, no, no

00:18:10Well, we bought our first reindeer in this country

00:18:15Yeah

00:18:16But when we wanted to get some more

00:18:19We actually investigated and went up to the reindeer farm up north

00:18:23Which is right at the top of Finland

00:18:26And we actually bought 10 calves from Nassami

00:18:29Because they love their animals

00:18:30Getting them home must have been quite interesting

00:18:32Yes it was

00:18:33Getting them home was fun

00:18:34How did you do it?

00:18:35How did you do it?

00:18:363,000 miles door to door

00:18:37We jumped in our Land Rover and trailer and drove

00:18:40Are you serious?

00:18:41Obviously

00:18:42Yeah

00:18:43We cleared it with Defra

00:18:44And they said yeah, go do it

00:18:46And so we drove 400 miles north of the Arctic Circle in December

00:18:51Yeah

00:18:52One of the dumbest things I have ever done

00:18:54But you know

00:18:55It was quite spectacular

00:18:56It was

00:18:57Yeah

00:18:58Yeah

00:18:59It was

00:19:00You know

00:19:01The care of the animals made it a real serious journey

00:19:03The last 1,000 miles was on ice

00:19:05Oh

00:19:06But

00:19:07You know

00:19:10If you're kitted out for it

00:19:11Yeah

00:19:12You've still got the ice tyres

00:19:13So

00:19:14And we brought back 12 lovely reindeer calves

00:19:17Reindeer calves

00:19:18Of which Chunky was one of them

00:19:20Yeah

00:19:21And the rest we bred at home

00:19:22It must be wonderful for kids to come and actually see reindeer

00:19:25Yes

00:19:26Yeah

00:19:27It's lovely to see their faces

00:19:28It's lovely to see the wonder of people seeing something that they wouldn't normally see

00:19:35And let's not overlook the fact that the reindeer love it

00:19:38Yeah

00:19:39They do

00:19:40Are they so sure?

00:19:41Are they turning up with treats?

00:19:42Oh yeah

00:19:43Reindeer are like the most shallow humans you could ever wish to meet

00:19:46While ever you've got something that they want

00:19:49Then you're number one priority

00:19:52I'm afraid as soon as you don't have that

00:19:54You're not even worth looking at

00:19:55It's been lovely to meet you again chaps

00:19:57Sorry ladies

00:20:00Thank you both very much indeed

00:20:02I mean it's just

00:20:03It really wouldn't be Christmas without seeing reindeer

00:20:05They're such noble beasts aren't they

00:20:07When they stand there with their heads up like that

00:20:08Yeah

00:20:09I do think they're special

00:20:10They're wonderful animals yeah

00:20:11Bless you

00:20:12Andrew, Claire

00:20:13And thank you very much indeed for holding on to that one over there

00:20:15Mischief, Chunky, Satu and May

00:20:18Thank you very much and a very Merry Christmas to you

00:20:21Merry Christmas to you too

00:20:22Merry Christmas

00:20:23Still to come opening up is archives

00:20:25To celebrate life with the royal family

00:20:27Photographer Chris Jackson shares the stories behind his most newsworthy images from the royal beat

00:20:32And it's the Laugh Out Loud musical with the original Broadway production winning a record breaking 12 Tony Awards

00:20:40And this revival proves why

00:20:42Andy Nyman taking on the role of the beleaguered antihero Max Bialystok in Mel Brooks' hoot of a production The Producers

00:20:50I'll be back with Andy for a hoot of a chat right after this

00:20:55Welcome back to Love Your Weekend

00:21:10Tis the season to be jolly

00:21:12And he always is

00:21:1312 months of the year in fact

00:21:15Simon likes it here

00:21:16With the decorations that really do embody the spirit of Christmas

00:21:19Leslie Joseph

00:21:20Hanging out with the big boys

00:21:22And not for the first time

00:21:23And getting the party started in style

00:21:25Wine expert Tony Asoba

00:21:27Has you covered with the finest new British wines

00:21:30To try this festive season

00:21:32Now as the late great James Stewart said

00:21:35The great thing about the movies is you're giving people little tiny pieces of time that they never forget

00:21:41Which brings me on to this Mel Brooks classic

00:21:44A scheming producer and his mousy accountant in a cinematic triumph

00:21:49Which has now been turned into a West End masterpiece

00:21:52And if you go and see this you'll be in for a moment you will never forget

00:22:02To see this you Dan

00:22:13One year or two

00:22:15Until three presidents

00:22:16V1

00:22:19wiring

00:22:25Jisney

00:22:28Hyer

00:22:29The Producers is on at the Garrick Theatre in London.

00:22:39I went last week and I wept with laughter.

00:22:44And the man who is at the heart of it all, Andy Nyman,

00:22:47barely a moment off stage.

00:22:49I know.

00:22:50I just, I don't know how you have the energy to get through it.

00:22:55Packed audience, stunning ovations.

00:22:57I saw it years ago on Broadway.

00:22:58And then in London again when I came back here.

00:23:00But this, it's even, I don't know, even funnier than it ever was.

00:23:04It's funny, isn't it?

00:23:04Because I too saw it then.

00:23:06It was one of the first shows we took our kids to on Broadway.

00:23:09So they'd have been seven and ten, I think.

00:23:12And it was incredible.

00:23:14It was this giant spectacle.

00:23:16And what's amazing is here we are 26 years later.

00:23:21And this is the first time Mel Brooks has allowed a new version of it.

00:23:25The show's not been rewritten, but it's been redesigned and it's really stripped back

00:23:30and gone back to the sort of dirty truth of what the film is.

00:23:35And because the world has changed around Mel Brooks' amazing writing,

00:23:41it feels so new, essential, outrageous.

00:23:47It is outrageous.

00:23:48Because when you saw it, it was always, I mean, to do a song, this is about a musical

00:23:53which they discover, these two, or one producer who inveigles another accountant to become a producer.

00:23:58They've discovered, or the accountant discovers, that if you put on a flop,

00:24:02you can make far more money by keeping your investment than if you put on a hit.

00:24:05So they try and find a script, which is a guaranteed flop, and they put it on,

00:24:09and it's an outrageously amazing hit, with songs like Springtime for Hitler and Germany,

00:24:15Winter for Poland and France.

00:24:17It was pretty outrageous.

00:24:18Nowadays, with the sensitivities around nowadays...

00:24:21Well, that's what's amazing, isn't it?

00:24:22That's why you're in the audience going, gosh, we are laughing at this,

00:24:27but somehow it's essential to do that.

00:24:30It really is, and that's Mel Brooks' genius, is that he uses satire as a weapon in the best way,

00:24:37because underneath it, he's also incredibly kind,

00:24:41because for all of the fun it pokes at everybody within the show,

00:24:47there's a real sweetness there that's about this friendship between two men.

00:24:51But you feel in the first two or three minutes, five minutes,

00:24:55this sense of, oh, can we laugh at that?

00:25:01And then within about 15 minutes, you realise, for the audience,

00:25:06all bets are off, and it's just gales of laughter and joy.

00:25:12It is a very, very joyous show.

00:25:15The music is so fun.

00:25:16And it's humanity poking fun at itself, really, isn't it?

00:25:18It really, really is, yeah, yeah.

00:25:21Yeah, how on earth do you stay fresh?

00:25:25I mean, you're doing, how many performances a week?

00:25:27Eight, eight shows a week.

00:25:28Eight shows a week, and you are never off, it's energetic.

00:25:32This is what, I'm surprised that you can sit here without being asleep.

00:25:35I really am.

00:25:36What's your secret?

00:25:37How do you do it?

00:25:38I take care of myself, is the first thing.

00:25:41And I eat well, and I exercise, but the biggest thing is,

00:25:45and it sounds schmaltzy to say it, I just adore what I do.

00:25:49I've always loved it.

00:25:50I love the lifestyle of it.

00:25:52I love every aspect, both the highs and the lows, of being an actor.

00:26:00And because I do lots of other things, I write and direct and stuff as well,

00:26:03just being in show business, I really love it.

00:26:05I've never taken it for granted.

00:26:07It started its life at the Mania Chocolate Factory, as did a completely different musical,

00:26:13whereas The Producers' is all about humour and hilarity.

00:26:17Poignancy, heart and love are at the core of Fiddler on the Roof.

00:26:21To live from Fiddler on the Roof.

00:26:41That was a production.

00:26:42You did that performance in Covent Garden.

00:26:43It wasn't the one actually in the shop.

00:26:44Yeah, that was at West End Live.

00:26:46In front of 25,000 people there.

00:26:49Again, heavily based on the Jewish tradition, that one there.

00:26:53I have to tell you, and I haven't told you before,

00:26:55Alice and I came and saw Fiddler at,

00:26:58I'd been in it as an amateur years and years ago,

00:27:00and seen one or two other productions.

00:27:01We came and saw it at the Mania Chocolate Factory

00:27:03and decided that we would see no other production.

00:27:05We're never going to it again.

00:27:06Oh, thank you.

00:27:06Because it was just the definitive.

00:27:10Quite a small theatre.

00:27:12You felt included.

00:27:12You were within the village of Aletevka.

00:27:15And your performance as the father,

00:27:16because we were so close,

00:27:18which is not always comfortable in theatre,

00:27:20but in Fiddler on the Roof,

00:27:22oh my goodness me, you felt drawn in.

00:27:24Terribly, terribly moving.

00:27:26I mean, I can't hear Sunrise, Sunset without weeping.

00:27:28Yeah, of course.

00:27:29And from your point of view, being Jewish,

00:27:31I mean, the humour of Jewishness in the producers,

00:27:34but there, the poignancy and tragedy of the Jewish faith

00:27:39and those pogroms that were going on in Russia then,

00:27:41I mean, a completely different part of you to draw on us.

00:27:45It really was.

00:27:46And it was, look, it's an honour to have done it.

00:27:49It's the first time in my career where I was cast in a role

00:27:53before a director or anyone else was on board.

00:27:56And so when they said,

00:27:58oh, I think Sir Trevor Nunn is going to direct it,

00:28:00I'd be like, oh, gosh, OK.

00:28:03So Trevor and I got together and he said to me,

00:28:07you know, what do you think this show is?

00:28:11And it was very important to me,

00:28:13firstly, that I felt that I could honour my grandparents,

00:28:17my great-grandparents,

00:28:18because this is fundamentally their story.

00:28:22But the play that was then written around that,

00:28:25you know, is so honest about marriage,

00:28:28about parenthood,

00:28:31about people, immigrant families living under stress,

00:28:37with threat of having to leave.

00:28:39And it was very important to me that,

00:28:40I think one of the things which is so lovely to hear

00:28:43that made it so truthful for you and so resonant,

00:28:46is that you just tell the truth of those people

00:28:50and then the Jewishness,

00:28:51that's just, it's in the fabric of what it is.

00:28:54You don't have to make it about that.

00:28:56Well, it worked, I can tell you.

00:28:57It's lovely.

00:28:58What intriguing, which I didn't know about you,

00:29:00was this fascination with ghost stories,

00:29:03the paranormal,

00:29:04and you've written this, like, ghost stories,

00:29:06which have been in...

00:29:07Shall I have a peep?

00:29:08Let's have a look.

00:29:08Oh, yes.

00:29:09Here's a bit of ghost stories.

00:29:10You OK?

00:29:16Yeah.

00:29:21OK.

00:29:24So,

00:29:25who else is up here with us in the upstairs room?

00:29:31No one, it's just us.

00:29:32No, sorry, in the top bedroom.

00:29:34My brother's old room.

00:29:35Right, your brother, so is he still living at home?

00:29:37What, Mr Perfect?

00:29:37No, he's 25 and married, he's got a flat.

00:29:42There's no one here, it's just us.

00:29:47Sorry, I was just up there.

00:29:47There's nobody here, I'm telling you, there's nobody here.

00:29:49Do you want to go look?

00:30:04No.

00:30:05Fine, then.

00:30:07The Stillness Day.

00:30:10See, adding to the horror of it all.

00:30:12What is it about the horror genre that detracts you so much?

00:30:14I mean, it's all about, you know, suggestion, really, isn't it?

00:30:20Jeremy Dyson and I wrote the play and directed the play

00:30:24and I starred as Goodman in it and then we did the same on film.

00:30:27We met when we were 15 at a Jewish summer camp and decided,

00:30:31because generally you get sent to those things to try and find a wife.

00:30:36That's what your parents hope for.

00:30:38I found Jeremy.

00:30:39But it was also at the same time as the video nasty boom happened in the 80s,

00:30:45which I was obsessed with.

00:30:47Still am.

00:30:47So Jeremy and I, in later years, decided we wanted to write together.

00:30:54And there's something so fascinating about ghost stories

00:30:59and particularly within the history of Britain and how it sits.

00:31:03And here we are in this lovely, cosy, you know, cottage out in the countryside

00:31:08and there is something unquestionably unnerving about the silence, the emptiness.

00:31:19And there's a city boy.

00:31:22It's lovely.

00:31:23It is lovely.

00:31:24But it is also the world of M.R. James and Christmas ghost stories.

00:31:31Well, diversity is clearly the key in your life, the variety of things you do,

00:31:36including Wicked.

00:31:39Elphaba.

00:31:41Elphaba Throck.

00:31:44This is my younger sister, Nessa Rose.

00:31:46As you can see, she's a perfectly acceptable colour.

00:31:51Stop making a spectacle of yourself.

00:31:55I was trying to be nice.

00:31:56You're so nice and good and correct.

00:31:57Did I do something bad?

00:31:58No.

00:31:59How did that come across?

00:32:00I don't see colours.

00:32:02My precious little girl.

00:32:04Father.

00:32:06A parting gift.

00:32:15Mother's jeweled shoes.

00:32:17So they can all see how beautiful you are right down to your toes.

00:32:25Thank you so much.

00:32:26I love them.

00:32:28Let me put them with your boxes.

00:32:30Of course.

00:32:30Suitably suited and booted, they're incredible costumes and sets.

00:32:37I mean, like being in your own fairy tale.

00:32:39In all my years, I have never been involved with anything of that scale.

00:32:43I've done big things, but that is like nothing else.

00:32:46That set was extraordinary.

00:32:49Is that intimidating rather than helpful to an actor?

00:32:52I don't find it intimidating because I just sort of roll with it and think, wow.

00:32:55I mean, when you first walk on, you realise, holy cow, this is something.

00:33:01But ultimately, it's just the same thing.

00:33:02You've just got to do the work.

00:33:03Do your bit.

00:33:04But honestly, Alan, it was mind-blowing, let alone the talent of the cast who were just fabulous.

00:33:11But then it also boils down to the truth of the script that is a father who loves one daughter and not the other.

00:33:16It's heartbreaking.

00:33:18You know, and to see that play, I think that's one of the reasons it touched so many people.

00:33:22You know, the songs are brilliant.

00:33:24The truth of the story is brilliant.

00:33:26And to have done it as two films just means it opens out and can breathe.

00:33:30Thank you for so much pleasure over the years.

00:33:32It's nice of you to get the chance to say.

00:33:33It's so lovely.

00:33:34Thank you so much.

00:33:35We'll see you again in whatever you do.

00:33:37Thank you, Andy.

00:33:38Now, the natural world in close at night may unnerve Andy, but we tend to love it.

00:33:43We're turning our attention to the wonderful vistas that you've been capturing.

00:33:47It's time for Walk on the Wild Side.

00:33:51Your dose of nature, sorted.

00:33:54Walk on the Wild Side on Love Your Weekend.

00:33:57Sponsored by WWF.

00:33:59Sponsored by WWF.

00:34:29Sponsored by WWF.

00:35:29Oh, thank you for those wonderfully diverse pictures that reflect the very best of the British countryside. Please do keep sending them in. We do love them.

00:35:37Coming up, it was the exclusive they all wanted, but which we got. And for a mission of such importance, we needed a special reporter, someone with a natural affinity for wildlife, fearless in the field and donning the flak jacket once again.

00:35:52Leslie Joseph heads off on safari to celebrate Christmas with some of her wilder friends. What? No, begins.

00:36:01And speaking of flamboyant characters, he's making an impact before we've even made it through the front door.

00:36:07Florist Simon Lighthouse is getting creative with Christmas wreaths. The bigger, the better, it seems.

00:36:12I'll see you with Simon and his seasonal blooms right after this.

00:36:16Welcome back to Love Your Weekend on this rather damp Sunday morning.

00:36:34Coming up, with Christmas just weeks away, she's bringing out the good stuff early.

00:36:39Tony Osoba back in the barn with her pick of the best new British wines to try on the big day.

00:36:46Leslie Joseph's donning her binoculars as we let her loose on safari.

00:36:50And it's the ultimate game of deceit and betrayal.

00:36:53Yes, the fingerless gloves are on.

00:36:56And let the mind games begin.

00:36:58Celebrity traitor star Claire Balding talks traitors and faithfuls and being banished by her fellow players.

00:37:05As she says, she was glad not to be murdered.

00:37:08Every cloud, eh?

00:37:09Before that, it's time for your voice of nature.

00:37:12Here's Amanda Redman and the Snow Fairy by Claude Mackay.

00:37:20Throughout the afternoon, I watched them there, snow fairies falling, falling from the sky, whirling fantastic in the misty air, contending fierce for space supremacy.

00:37:38And they flew down a mightier force at night, as though in heaven there was revolt and riot.

00:37:45And they, frail things, had taken panic flight down to the calm earth, seeking peace and quiet.

00:37:53I went to bed and rose early dawn, to see them huddled together in a heap.

00:38:00Each merged into the other upon the lawn, worn out by the sharp struggle, fast asleep.

00:38:07The sun shone brightly on them half the day.

00:38:11By night, they stealthily had stolen away.

00:38:15Ah, thank you, Amanda.

00:38:25The fairy in our Christmassy programme.

00:38:27Time now to pick up where we left off in our wreath-making masterclass from our festive florist, Simon Lycett.

00:38:34So we've tackled the bases and now on to the exciting part, the decoration.

00:38:38So we're doing two.

00:38:38We're doing a rustic wreath.

00:38:40We are.

00:38:40Using all the goodies you get from the garden.

00:38:42Yeah, just nip out there, snip everything off.

00:38:45So you've got on there, you've got ivy.

00:38:47So that's my base.

00:38:48There's our dogwood base.

00:38:50And then I'm just taking little handfuls of whatever's around and about.

00:38:54I love all the different conifers, the evergreens.

00:38:57You really want to choose something that's not going to wilt if you're hanging it inside.

00:39:01Outside, you've got a bit more leeway because the moisture in the air will sustain things.

00:39:05It's cooler.

00:39:06Yeah.

00:39:06So we continue on around and then we end up with one that looks like that.

00:39:11This fabulous large leaf eucalyptus.

00:39:13It's gorgeous, isn't it?

00:39:14Isn't it gorgeous?

00:39:14And smells wonderful.

00:39:15Yeah.

00:39:16So now we've got our base.

00:39:18I've again raided the garden for things.

00:39:20You know, I'm lucky in London the hydrangeas really aren't affected by the cold, wet weather.

00:39:25And so I've got these lovely stems which I've just mounted onto a stub wire.

00:39:28Yeah.

00:39:29That's neat.

00:39:29So it's much more pliable.

00:39:31You can stick it in with that.

00:39:32It just means that you can secure anything and you push the wire in at the front, it comes

00:39:37back on the base.

00:39:38Yeah.

00:39:39And then you just push it back in on itself which stops it being a nasty scratchy thing

00:39:43on your door.

00:39:44On your paintwork.

00:39:45Yes, exactly.

00:39:46It anchors it as well.

00:39:47Exactly.

00:39:47I love these sort of, when you get this bi-coloured effect on these hydrangeas.

00:39:51I mean, it's wonderful, isn't it?

00:39:52The pink and the green, the sort of colder weather seems to burnish them, doesn't it?

00:39:56And it doesn't matter how hard you wish it or try it, you can't influence it.

00:40:01It's purely nature doing its thing.

00:40:03You get what you give them.

00:40:04Yes.

00:40:05Rose hips.

00:40:06And lovely to put things like rose hips in because they add some colour, they're totally

00:40:10organic and sustainable.

00:40:12I mean, they also feed the birds.

00:40:14Yeah.

00:40:14Which is wonderful.

00:40:15And you can find all sorts of berries, whatever is in the garden, do some foraging and find

00:40:20some lovely things.

00:40:21There's a bit of bartering with neighbours as to what they've got.

00:40:23So you're doing that all the way around?

00:40:25You can either go all the way around or you can choose to just do smaller areas of it.

00:40:30It really depends.

00:40:31You'll be amazed how many materials it uses.

00:40:33It eats stuff.

00:40:34Yeah.

00:40:35So it's really a case of pacing your design.

00:40:38We're talking about seven though, and you have only got seven.

00:40:40And then, oh, is this the pièce de résistance?

00:40:42And then my little finish.

00:40:43I've never seen a bow as big as that.

00:40:44I made a bow out of some trails of ivy.

00:40:47Yeah.

00:40:47And I thought I would just whack that in at the bottom there, you see.

00:40:52Yeah.

00:40:52And again, I'm just securing it using my stub wire.

00:40:57And the stub wires you can get from your local flash shop.

00:41:02Oh, that's these, isn't it?

00:41:03Yeah.

00:41:03The things here.

00:41:04The joy of them is that it does mean you can secure things relatively easily.

00:41:09You just attach your bow in at the base.

00:41:14Just give it a good, secure wire.

00:41:19You know, you can take your time at home.

00:41:21You just set yourself an evening or an afternoon to do this.

00:41:24It's a really lovely thing to do.

00:41:25Perhaps with a friend.

00:41:27Yeah.

00:41:27A couple of you having a little go at it.

00:41:29And then at the very end, you've got your hook.

00:41:33I know this is where my duty comes in now.

00:41:35To hang it on.

00:41:36I'm nervous now.

00:41:36It doesn't fall apart.

00:41:38Right, there's my hook.

00:41:39Go around the front.

00:41:40And you can see it in all its glory.

00:41:42If that goes in there.

00:41:45There we are.

00:41:47Isn't that amazing?

00:41:48Beautiful.

00:41:50Lovely.

00:41:50A rustic wreath.

00:41:51Yes.

00:41:51Now, you're talking about a look.

00:41:52It's just falling over a hay bale.

00:41:54You're talking about a luxe version as well.

00:41:58So, when you left me with my mossy base.

00:42:01Yep.

00:42:01I then bound some of this lovely blue pine on.

00:42:04Now, if you're buying one of these non-drop trees,

00:42:07you often need to trim a few branches from the bottom.

00:42:09These are perfect to use.

00:42:11And you can see how there was my base.

00:42:13Yeah.

00:42:13And I've bound it all over with the lovely blue pine,

00:42:16which is non-drop and smells yummy.

00:42:19And then I end up with one like this.

00:42:22I've just been adding in.

00:42:23Twigs with lichen on here.

00:42:25Aren't they just joyous?

00:42:26It's a blue spruce, this, isn't it, actually?

00:42:28Yeah.

00:42:28And look at this lichen twig.

00:42:30So, this comes down from Scotland for me, from suppliers.

00:42:33Yeah.

00:42:33And it is just...

00:42:35It's the biggest treat for us to get hold of.

00:42:37I love it.

00:42:38And these long pine cones.

00:42:39And then pine cones again, mounted on the stub wire.

00:42:42And it's a bit hard on the hands, mounting the cones initially.

00:42:46But each year, when you've finished with your wreath,

00:42:48you can undo them, remove them, store them with them on their wires.

00:42:52Dry.

00:42:53Dry, somewhere dry, and preferably vermin-free,

00:42:57so that when you go back to the box next year,

00:42:59they're still intact and already wired and good to go.

00:43:03The mice haven't been in there.

00:43:04And I thread them in, so I go in from the front,

00:43:07just sort of lifting up some of the pine,

00:43:10so that they don't sit on top, they sort of nestle inside.

00:43:13Yeah, and they're sticking out of it.

00:43:14And then on the reverse, my wire gets pushed in again so I'm not scratchy on the paintwork.

00:43:20You've then got walnuts.

00:43:22Yes, these I love.

00:43:24They're a bit fiddly, and we do use the glue gun just to anchor them.

00:43:27But again, they'll last for years if you keep them somewhere free from vermin.

00:43:31And these I thread in at the front and the back.

00:43:37I mean, you can use chestnuts, baubles, there's all sorts of things.

00:43:40You can just do a little cluster of them, join together, twisty twisty,

00:43:46snip them off, bend it on itself so that you're adding in a big handful of them on one wire.

00:43:56And then you've got succulents, you've got echeverias.

00:43:59Aren't they a lovely, gorgeous, glaucus grey with the pine colour?

00:44:03You see, so this is just a rosette whipped off, as you can see.

00:44:07And when you do that to an echeveria, it will then often, from the stalk that's left,

00:44:12it'll sprout and give you more of these rosettes, wonderfully succulent.

00:44:16And then some little sticks of cinnamon which smell divine.

00:44:19Gorgeous, don't they?

00:44:20And you can buy decorative cinnamon that isn't for eating, so just be aware.

00:44:25Oh, right.

00:44:26Yes, it's normally less expensive, longer sticks, but you shouldn't use it in your mulled wine.

00:44:31Right.

00:44:31And then there's a finale.

00:44:33Yeah.

00:44:33A beautiful bow.

00:44:35Now, this, don't you love it?

00:44:36You sound like a store at Christmas, don't you?

00:44:38And the assistants have been doing this since September.

00:44:41And you watch the deafness of which they turn it around and tell you when you think,

00:44:44I wish I could do that.

00:44:45And you know when they get on, they're never going to bother to do it on the Christmas present,

00:44:48because they've been doing it all day in the shop.

00:44:49They just don't want to do it at home.

00:44:52But I'm sure you do, Simon.

00:44:54I generally do have a door wreath, and I normally, because I'm a bit of a control freak,

00:44:59I normally give door wreaths to all my neighbours so that I know they've got a nice one.

00:45:04Don't lower the tone of the area with something nasty.

00:45:07I'm very good.

00:45:08Right.

00:45:09Give that a little trim off, and then just anchor it with a wire.

00:45:16Yeah.

00:45:17And then pop that in, just as a little finale.

00:45:26And there we are.

00:45:27Look at that.

00:45:27Go on, then.

00:45:28Got to be done, hasn't it?

00:45:30Isn't that wonderful?

00:45:32Would you look at that?

00:45:33Created, before your very eyes, a luxurious, along with the rustic, door wreath.

00:45:40Pay your money.

00:45:40Take your choice.

00:45:41Simon, you're a star as ever.

00:45:43Thank you very much, indeed.

00:45:44Merry Christmas.

00:45:45And you.

00:45:45Now, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas here at Love Your Weekend without a visit to one of the UK's wildlife parks and zoos to see how the animals in their care get to celebrate the season like the rest of us.

00:46:02This year, the honour goes to Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire, home to more than 75 species of exotic and endangered animals.

00:46:11Our resident natural history guru willingly took up the challenge.

00:46:16Well, she still had all the gear and the gap in her panto schedule, so it was a no-brainer, really.

00:46:21Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the world premiere of Lesley Joseph in A Very Safari Christmas.

00:46:28Where is he?

00:46:44I've been walking for miles.

00:46:46And there he is, Bob, the ranger.

00:46:51Hello, Bob.

00:46:52Hi.

00:46:53Safari time.

00:46:54Let's go.

00:46:54Let's go for it.

00:46:55Bob and I are taking Christmas presents for the lions, and I've got meat and partridge in here, and I'm going to not stay and see them eat it.

00:47:12I'm going to get back in the Land Rover.

00:47:18Are we actually going to be this close?

00:47:20So it might be worth actually putting the window up?

00:47:23Oh, it's terrifying.

00:47:28Oh, my God, it's huge.

00:47:30It's really weird.

00:47:30If part of you wants to open the door, almost to stroke them, it's a weird sort of primeval feeling that...

00:47:38So you want to do it, but you don't really want to do it, do you?

00:47:42One just went over to another one, and they have a really loud growl.

00:47:46It's just a warning growl, you know, it's just siblings having a bit of a rivalry.

00:47:51I've never been this close to something so dangerous.

00:47:55Any closer?

00:47:57No closer.

00:47:58No closer.

00:47:59But you're always safe with the ranger, Bob.

00:48:01Oh, my God.

00:48:02So how many in the Pride, and how many acres do they have here?

00:48:06So there's eight in the Pride here, and they roam in 34 acres, which is huge.

00:48:13So the lion's ripped the Christmas presents.

00:48:16It's just a little bit of mental stimulation.

00:48:18Kojo, he's weighing it at 350 kilos.

00:48:21It really is the most peculiar feeling.

00:48:26It's scary, and wonderful, and awesome.

00:48:39Right, I'm going to open my eyes.

00:48:41Where are we?

00:48:42Okay, well, you can pan around here.

00:48:44Goodness, giraffes, they're beautiful.

00:48:47So what you're going to do is grab a bit of button that's question.

00:48:50They'll love that.

00:48:51I've never seen such a long tongue in my life.

00:48:55I'll tell you what.

00:48:58There you go.

00:49:00And then Freya's coming across.

00:49:03Come on, Freya.

00:49:04Freya?

00:49:05Right, Kimmy, you've had enough.

00:49:07Bob, they're eating our wreath.

00:49:09Oh, no, they've turned it over.

00:49:12So we're obviously quite high up to feed them.

00:49:14How tall do they actually get?

00:49:16So probably around 14 plus feet.

00:49:18It's interesting, the barrels are there.

00:49:20But they can't just get their food.

00:49:22They've got to find food.

00:49:23So it's a bit like living in the wild.

00:49:25It's not just presented on a plate.

00:49:27They're all surrounding me now, fighting over the wreath.

00:49:31So I'm sitting here in the meerkat enclosure, stuffing this straw with live crickets and mealworm, and this is going to be their Christmas present.

00:49:48So shall we put them down and go now?

00:49:50Okay, go and open the door.

00:49:52Don't call at my arm.

00:49:53Do not.

00:49:54Shh.

00:49:56Come on.

00:49:57What's this?

00:49:58Oh, they're adorable.

00:49:59Come on.

00:49:59Up you come.

00:50:00Up you come.

00:50:01Up you come.

00:50:01Here, here.

00:50:02Come on.

00:50:03Oh, look.

00:50:05No, no.

00:50:05Don't put the live ones on me.

00:50:07They are absolutely adorable.

00:50:09This one's trying to dig into my coat.

00:50:13Oh, surrounded by meerkats.

00:50:16Oh, they're so...

00:50:17I thought they were much bigger than this.

00:50:19So where are meerkats from?

00:50:20So these generally originate from Southern Africa.

00:50:23And do they like it over here in the cold?

00:50:25Oh, yeah, they're fine because we have heated compartments.

00:50:28So they all look now, they're sunbathing, look.

00:50:33They're on sentry duty.

00:50:35Oh, are they?

00:50:36No, look, it's gone.

00:50:37It's gone.

00:50:38I'm now in the monkey enclosure, so I'm going to put this carrot nose on one of these mashed

00:50:45potato snowmen, and then we're going to feed them.

00:50:47What sort of monkeys are these?

00:50:49So these are your barbary apes, the barbary macaques.

00:50:51And do they exist in a family?

00:50:53Yeah, there is.

00:50:54So we've got five family groups here, and obviously the boss, his name is Belinga, he's 22.

00:50:59It was his family came down first, and then if there's anything left, the next family

00:51:04in the rankings comes down, and that's how it works.

00:51:06He's eating everything.

00:51:08He's not leaving anything.

00:51:09Oh, my God, they've taken the whole snowman.

00:51:12Oh, they really must think Christmas is here.

00:51:14I have had the best Christmas present ever.

00:51:19Happy Christmas to all of you.

00:51:21Oh, thanks, Leslie, and everyone at Woban Safari Park for putting up with her.

00:51:27No, she's no bother, really.

00:51:28Coming up, keen to branch out from the Blue Moon this Christmas, look no further.

00:51:33Tony Osoba's here with a wine list packed with new whites, reds, and rosés to uncork

00:51:39on the big day.

00:51:40And he's the man with the Access All Areas Pass to the royal family.

00:51:44We go behind the lens with the royal photographer, Chris Jackson, to discover the stories behind

00:51:49the most iconic images of 2025.

00:51:53Join with Chris and his remarkable royal archive right after this.

00:51:57Welcome back to Love Your Weekend, this chilly Sunday morning.

00:52:13Coming up, she's the first lady of Wimbledon and former flat jockey with an impressive pedigree.

00:52:18Claire Balding on why she enjoys the sporting life.

00:52:21Oh, she's got a new book, too.

00:52:23But first, my next guest is someone who's truly witnessed history up close, documenting

00:52:28unforgettable moments and intimate scenes featuring the royal family that have appeared in news

00:52:34outlets worldwide.

00:52:36A trusted royal photographer, he offers a unique perspective on what's been another eventful

00:52:42year for the family, both at home and abroad.

00:52:45Here with his personal standout images of recent years, and to share special memories of Christmas's

00:52:51past with the Windsors, welcome, Chris Jackson.

00:52:54Chris, lovely to see you, and what a display of your work.

00:52:57Well, I'm very lucky to be surrounded by my pictures, thank you.

00:53:01How long have you been a trusted royal photographer?

00:53:03Well, I've been doing the job, I suppose, for over 20 years now, coming up to 23 years with

00:53:08Getty Images, so I'm knocking on a little bit, but it's fantastic.

00:53:12I'm so lucky to do this job.

00:53:14It's a huge privilege, really, to kind of have a front row seat to some of these incredible

00:53:17historic moments.

00:53:18What was it like when you were first introduced to this circle?

00:53:22I mean, they would have to get to know you, you know, you would have to get to know them.

00:53:25It must have been quite daunting at the very beginning.

00:53:27I think it really is an organic process.

00:53:30These things take a lot of time over the years.

00:53:32You get to know everyone within that kind of circle, and you build up those relationships

00:53:36over time.

00:53:37And I think, you know, I've been lucky enough to travel all around the world with the royal

00:53:41family, with the king and the queen.

00:53:42And it's time, really, that kind of helps you in this role and helps you sort of build

00:53:48up a knowledge of the nuances and the way that things work.

00:53:50And for them to build up trust in you, because they're going to be very guarded if they think

00:53:54what's he going to show.

00:53:55So there's obviously an understanding between the photographer and the subject as to when

00:54:01you can take a photograph, and when you didn't there, you know, and you get to know those,

00:54:07presumably.

00:54:07Yeah, I think that's really important.

00:54:09Of course, taking the photo is an important part of the job, but like you say, not taking

00:54:13the photo can be, you know, you have to be sensitive to these moments.

00:54:16We're surrounded by some special photographs here.

00:54:20The one behind me is, I mean, now if that isn't an inside photograph, there is no such thing

00:54:25behind the newly crowned king and queen on the day they came onto the balcony at Buckingham

00:54:32Palace.

00:54:32I mean, that was an incredible moment.

00:54:34I've been lucky enough to photograph the king and the queen for the last 20 years and to

00:54:37be there for that moment.

00:54:38And I will never forget the kind of the cheers of the crowd.

00:54:42And I was really conscious of not getting in the picture of some of my colleagues on the

00:54:46Queen Victoria Memorial.

00:54:47Yes, I was ducking down and trying to get the picture, but not appear.

00:54:51Yeah, there's a danger of you photobombing their pictures.

00:54:54Exactly, exactly.

00:54:55But, you know, and there's another great moment, actually, when the red arrows kind of whizz

00:54:58overhead.

00:54:59So that was a slightly lower perspective.

00:55:01But, you know, it was a huge privilege to be there.

00:55:04And I suppose that's the epitome of front row seats.

00:55:07There are obvious posed moments here.

00:55:09You know, the balcony at Buckingham Palace, here we are looking at the other way, looking back

00:55:12into it.

00:55:13The photograph there of the king and queen, which looks glorious.

00:55:16But then the candid ones, where they're doing something and totally in the moment and in

00:55:21the zone, and you're snapping them.

00:55:23And that's lovely.

00:55:24I mean, Prince William down here.

00:55:26I think that's one of the most wonderful things about photographing the royal family,

00:55:29is you can't necessarily control what's going on in front of you.

00:55:32And for me, I love that, because, of course, controlling a portrait is one thing, and that's

00:55:37lovely.

00:55:38But that anticipation of not knowing what you're going to get next, this picture of Prince

00:55:42Louis and George, of course, and Charlotte on the balcony.

00:55:45I just love not knowing that that moment's going to happen, and then capturing it and

00:55:49seeing it on the back of the camera.

00:55:50Do you work on a very fast one of those?

00:55:53So you've got lots going on within the space of a second.

00:55:56There's several shots in there.

00:55:58Yeah.

00:55:58We work with the benefits of digital cameras that we have these days, but it's almost like

00:56:02sketching out a picture.

00:56:03So you have the benefit of taking lots of pictures if you need to, but it's very much

00:56:07choosing that moment and kind of sketching that particular moment out.

00:56:11And, you know, this is a particularly lovely moment where Louis is waving to the crowd,

00:56:15the crowd's cheering, he's waving, they're cheering, and just capturing all the expressions

00:56:20of the royals around the family around him was lovely.

00:56:23So, yeah, it does benefit you having that ability to take a good few photos quickly.

00:56:28There's one here which is particularly lovely, and that is the king looking up and laughing

00:56:32at the rain.

00:56:32Now, I've been with him when it started to rain, and everybody else says, oh, dear,

00:56:37it's raining, and he just looks up and says, it's a blessing.

00:56:38You know, and that, for me, sums up the king, he's a good gardener, you see, and he knows

00:56:44that we need rain or things won't grow.

00:56:46Yeah, that was in Jersey, and, you know, rain can be an absolute curse for a photographer

00:56:51with all your equipment, but at the same time, you know that if a storm's coming, and I saw

00:56:56that one coming across the bay, big black clouds, and it was, I mean, the raindrops were

00:57:01huge, but it was a lovely moment because that moment, it started tipping it down all the kind

00:57:06of Cub Scouts and Beavers, poor kids, were kind of traipsing past, absolutely safe, but

00:57:12that moment it started, the king looked up to the heavens, and it was, it was that exact

00:57:16moment then, so, you know, you've got to be ready for those.

00:57:20Yeah, you also have a very close understanding and knowledge of what Robert Aardman, famous

00:57:26because lots of people call soft power, you see the effect that the arrival of the king,

00:57:31the queen, the prince and princess of Wales, princess royal, and Tim Lawrence, you see

00:57:36the reaction of people when they go into a room or they go to an occasion. Spreading stardust

00:57:43in a way, it lifts people's lives, and I think sometimes it's really underestimated what good

00:57:48they can do just by making people feel special.

00:57:52I think that's spot on, and seeing the reaction that the royal family have around the world,

00:57:56seeing the crowds on a walkabout, seeing the excitement that people have. I remember the

00:58:01the king's first visit as king to Germany, and seeing the crowds gathered in the square

00:58:06in Hamburg, you know, everyone wanted to meet him.

00:58:09And you're following through the generations, I mean, over your shoulder there, the late

00:58:12queen, with her soldiers trooping past. Intriguing to, from your point of view, to be really on

00:58:19site at the moment of transition, where everybody was rather nervous, wondering how it would happen,

00:58:24and it seemed to happen almost completely seamlessly. It just moved from Elizabeth II

00:58:29to King Charles III. I think everybody was relieved that that was the case. But to be

00:58:35there at that moment, I think also must have been special.

00:58:39Yeah, I mean, to a photograph of Queen Elizabeth was a huge privilege, and I'll never forget.

00:58:43I mean, it's a cliche, but the presence she had is absolutely iconic, and I'm so lucky that

00:58:50had the opportunity. But the moment of her passing, I was in Windsor, and I will never

00:58:55forget, you know, the announcement being made, and everyone looking at their phones, and looking

00:58:59up at the Round Tower, that iconic part of the place that she lived for so many years,

00:59:04an incredible rainbow developing at that exact moment. And it did, it just felt like an incredibly

00:59:09powerful moment. And, you know, I'll never forget the week following, and the journey that

00:59:15her body made as it came down from Scotland, and all the ceremony, and the emotion, and

00:59:19even, you know, feeling a little bit of it myself, having photographed her for so long.

00:59:23Yes, you see, that must happen to you as well. When you're in work mode, when you're doing

00:59:28all of these, but at the same time, there must be moments where they really do catch you unawares

00:59:35and raise your emotions. Does that happen as well? I know you've got to control it, but

00:59:39you must nevertheless find that there are.

00:59:41Yeah, I mean, a mix of emotions. The great thing about photographing the royal family is

00:59:46the happy moment, so you get to capture, and that's, again, I've used it a lot, but a huge

00:59:51privilege, you know, photographing the Princess of Wales with her children, babies at the Lindo

00:59:56Wing, a day of celebration for the whole country and the whole world, and to be right at the

01:00:02forefront of that, you know, I'll never take that for granted. And then, obviously, more

01:00:06poignant moments, more sombre moments, funerals. The Duke of Edmund's funeral, for example,

01:00:11during COVID, with that kind of pared-down ceremony, and I was right, so powerful. And I was right

01:00:19next to the door as the coffin came out, and I just never forget being aware that I was

01:00:24there, and it felt like, because there was so few people, it just felt so powerful.

01:00:32There are so many. Do we get a chance to see them in a book? Are they only going to be in

01:00:35one place? Well, thanks for asking. I do have a book coming out in March in 2026 called Modern

01:00:41Majesty, and it's, you know, I absolutely, it's my fourth book, and I love doing books,

01:00:46because it's an opportunity to talk about some of the stories behind the pictures.

01:00:50With the transition from Elizabeth II to King Charles III, have you felt a change in mood,

01:00:55a different kind of mood? Does it feel different to you now as a royal photographer than the way

01:00:59it felt with the late Queen? Well, of course, you know, there's been challenges in recent years.

01:01:04Um, wellness challenges, and I think that sort of transition was, was a challenging period,

01:01:10but seeing how the King and Princess Catherine have bounced back from those incredibly difficult

01:01:17times has been incredible. And I mean, even keeping up with the King today is, is very hard work. He's,

01:01:23um, he's, he's working left, right and centre with so many different engagements. And I don't know,

01:01:27he keeps it all in his head. No, I don't know. I don't know. And Christmas, a special time for the

01:01:32royals, it means you've got to be there and give your Christmas up a bit. Exactly, exactly. It's a

01:01:38very special time for the royal family. And there's a number of different events around Christmas,

01:01:42which, you know, I remember from past years, and it, you know, it's all about coming together,

01:01:46all about giving back. And I suppose, you know, the Queen's, um, event at Clarence House with Helen

01:01:52Douglas and Roald Dahl, marvellous children's, uh, charity is always a fantastic one to photograph,

01:01:58and very poignant. But, but, you know, it's, it's amazing what happens around this period for the

01:02:03royal family. Thanks very much indeed, Chris. I look forward to the book. Thank you. I appreciate it.

01:02:08Now, the thing I like about Leslie Joseph is her joie de vie, her raison d'être, her ooh la la,

01:02:14and any other French expressions you'd like to pin on her. Today, she's out doing even herself. First,

01:02:19we saw her on safari with a whole host of animals. Now she's returned to her horticultural roots,

01:02:25showing off her knowledge of mistletoe. A wonderful and whimsical good morning to you,

01:02:31Alan. Today, we go down the garden path to meet an evergreen so popular, Sir Cliff even sang a song

01:02:39about it. Christmas time, mistletoe and wine. Now that's what I call an evergreen. Step forward,

01:02:50the magnificent mistletoe. The humble mistletoe, or viscum album, to its scientific friends,

01:02:58is a semi-parasitic evergreen, smothered in translucent white berries that decorates our

01:03:04landscape from winter to spring. Oh, mistletoe, if you weren't highly poisonous, I could just kiss you.

01:03:13Mistletoe is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. Oh,

01:03:20how fancy. Berries are naturally spread from one tree to another by birds, especially thrushes and

01:03:28blackcaps, who just can't help themselves. When a bird discards the seed, the gluey pulp around the seed

01:03:35hardens and firmly attaches the seed to a tree branch. As the new mistletoe plant grows, the roots

01:03:44penetrate the bark and start to take water and nutrients from the tree. In Greek mythology, local

01:03:51heroes were granted passage to the underworld with mistletoe, and during the Middle Ages, mistletoe was

01:03:58associated with fertility and vitality. Nowadays, it's known for puckering up after a couple of mulled wines.

01:04:07Oh, I adore the evolution of seasonal sophistication. That's it for this week, darling viewers,

01:04:15and we'll be down the garden path again soon. Until then, may you have a sensational Sunday.

01:04:22Over to you, Alan. Well, we like to keep her busy. Thank you, Leslie. A fun fact, the name mistletoe

01:04:29actually comes from the Anglo-Saxon words for dung twig, because birds spread the seeds, having eaten

01:04:36the berries, in their droppings. I just dropped that one in, rather like a bird. Coming up, she's first out

01:04:43the paddock and always finishing first with a stellar career in broadcasting. And when she isn't plotting in

01:04:48the traitor's castle, Clare Balding is busy penning her very first adult novel, which she says she owes

01:04:54all to the late Dame Gillie Cooper. I'll see you with the ever faithful Clare Balding right after this.

01:05:02There'll be no traitors here, Clare.

01:05:18Welcome back to Love Your Weekend. Still ahead, a Pinot Noir with notes of cola and a cheeky new

01:05:24Chardonnay. Why is it? Wine's always known as cheeky. Wine connoisseur Tony Osoba brings new life

01:05:30into your Christmas wine list in today's Best of British. Now, it's the series that's had the nation

01:05:36hooked, and it's never been more dramatic thanks to its first ever spin-off series, packed with the

01:05:42celebrity cast who haven't held back in delivering jaw-dropping twists, furious wars of words and

01:05:49ruthless gameplay. And with suspicions rising, strategies starting to unravel and meltdowns

01:05:56becoming more frequent, I'm surprised my next guest is still smiling. Cue the evidence.

01:06:01You have received the most votes. You are banished from the castle.

01:06:06Before you leave us, please reveal, are you a faithful or are you a traitor?

01:06:13I came in with only one strategy, which was to be nice to absolutely everyone,

01:06:17and I have had the best time, and I love all of you.

01:06:30I am, and I have been from the start, a faithful.

01:06:36What did that moment feel like when you start, the lovely pauses there where everybody's

01:06:46wondering, is she, isn't she, is she a traitor, is she faithful? I mean, you must have thought,

01:06:50am I going to shock them or will they know?

01:06:52I was quite emotional, to be honest, because it came as such a shock.

01:06:56Yeah.

01:06:57I hadn't seen that coming at all.

01:06:59What, that they'd think you were a traitor?

01:07:00Yeah, and it sort of came out of nowhere, and I regret not, I regret being a bit polite.

01:07:05I was a bit polite at the round table, and I shouldn't have been, I should have defended myself

01:07:11more robustly.

01:07:12But it's such a hard, like you want to be forward enough, not too forward, loud enough, not too loud.

01:07:20I think pitching how you play yourself, as it were, for everybody there, was the hardest thing to do, must have been.

01:07:28Yeah, but I think I wasn't ruthless enough. Funnily enough, my nickname for Ruth was Ruthless,

01:07:35because she was, I mean, she was much, and if she could have, if we could have stuck together for

01:07:40longer, she'd have really gone for it, and I'd have been right there with her. But I wasn't,

01:07:45I suddenly was on my own, I'm like, oh, and everyone's suspicious of you, which isn't a nice feeling, Alan.

01:07:51But hey, look, I'm still here, it's all right. I'm friends with a lot of them, it's fine. I've survived.

01:07:59It had the nation gripped. I mean, 11 million watching the last show. But it struck me that

01:08:04all of you on there, I've seen some comments since from people who came out, whether they were traitors

01:08:09or whether they were faithfuls, I don't know that I should have done that. It was very exposing,

01:08:14it was very revealing. It was very intense. Did you know it would be that intense and that

01:08:18the feeling when you went in? No, I thought we'd have a jolly week away,

01:08:22or a couple of weeks away, Alan. I thought it'd be really fun. I thought we'd get to hang out

01:08:25with each other and make friends. No, I didn't realise. But I love the game and I love the show,

01:08:30and that's why I wanted to do it. And there were some terrific people with whom I made proper

01:08:36friendships and had really good chats with people. And it's just that feeling when something

01:08:41suddenly is turned against you. I think there are lots of layers to it, and I genuinely think there's

01:08:46quite a lot going on that is reflected in real life. Like, it's not just a game on the telly.

01:08:52So I think it's interesting that, you know, the levels with which people approach it, but also

01:08:59what you reflect on and how you come out of it and what's important. Like, I think it's really

01:09:06important to stick up for people if they're not, if something's being said that isn't fair or isn't.

01:09:12And I understand. I do understand the concept of the game, and I do understand that, you know,

01:09:16I'm not an idiot. I'm not completely naive, but I'm really pleased that Ruth and I particularly

01:09:22bonded, and I felt very, you know, we were a team together. And if that team had been able to

01:09:29get bigger, I think we'd have had more of an impact. But we've stayed in touch. Charlotte,

01:09:33I adore. Celia Imri, obviously, is just terrific. It's just such a shame about her flatulence.

01:09:38I know. But there we are. You just, I think, Celia, Celia, you're such a fine actress,

01:09:42and you know darn well that in your times obituary, they're going to mention you

01:09:46breaking wind on traces. But the lovely thing about Celia, and I think probably...

01:09:51She probably doesn't care. Do you know, exactly. And I think what we've all learned,

01:09:54and maybe, you know, something I did need to learn is, you can't take yourself too seriously.

01:09:59Honestly, you can't, Alan. Would you advise other presenters to do it?

01:10:02Oh God, I mean, it's an amazing experience. And you know, I'm a great believer in finding things

01:10:07to be able to talk to every generation about. And sport is really good for that. Animals are

01:10:11really good for that. I watch Love Island so that I can talk to teenagers. Now I don't have to watch

01:10:16Love Island anymore because I've done celebrity traitors, and I can talk to them about that.

01:10:20And they have strong views, and that's really interesting. So no, I mean, gosh,

01:10:25it's a lovely experience. It's an amazing thing to be in that castle. You know, it's pretty iconic.

01:10:31Did you guess any of the traitors? Yes. Did you? Who did you guess?

01:10:34Well, Alan. Yeah. Really early on. Yeah.

01:10:37Because I just thought, opportunity. He was with Paloma, therefore. Not that he would,

01:10:42but just from a... So why did he get away with it? Because, listen,

01:10:46the greatest shield of all, Alan? Humour. It is the greatest shield of all. He could... I mean,

01:10:52he's great company, and I thought he and Cat, I thought, played that role so well.

01:10:57Whatever else it was, it was a hugely social and sociable experience. You've since gone from that,

01:11:02well, he'd done it before, but the thing you're talking about now is solitude, because writing is

01:11:08a solitary occupation. First novel, Pastures New. We've read your memoirs, great fun, very enjoyable

01:11:14about growing up with all kinds of animals. Horses, particularly. But here, I always...

01:11:19I don't know, when I look at my office, you look at it, you think, but there's nothing there

01:11:22except my imagination in that inch of paper. Did you enjoy the fiction, the fact that it was made

01:11:28up doing that? I did. And you and I have talked about writing, because obviously you write fictions

01:11:34as well. When you create those characters, you really get to like them. I wanted to write characters

01:11:40that were warm and friendly and full of love, and I wanted to write about kindness. And actually,

01:11:47even more, I guess, in having done celebrity traces, and as you say, so much of that, your

01:11:52trust in people is undermined because you're forced to be suspicious. In this book, I wanted the heart of

01:11:58it to be about trust and love, and particularly reflecting rural friendship and how much people

01:12:05go out of their way to help each other in a practical sense. I wanted to write about farming

01:12:10and the difficulty of farming, the reality of farming. This is about a woman who is gifted a

01:12:14farm in Wales, and she doesn't know who to buy or anything. She goes out there. Total life-changing

01:12:18experience. And it's about her getting to know who she is, really, and taking on responsibility,

01:12:24which is something she has always avoided and eschewed, and thought that success was a life without

01:12:30responsibility. But if you make that decision, there's quite a lot else that you can't do if

01:12:34you don't take responsibility. So it's about Alex and how she changes, but it's about that friendship

01:12:40network, and it's also about who she falls in love with. One of the hardest things, it seems to me,

01:12:46certainly I find it hard, is writing evil and badness authentically. It's, I think, quite difficult,

01:12:52because it can very easily become pantomimic. Did you find, because it's not within your character,

01:12:58that doing the nasty bits of work was actually harder to write than the nice ones, or was it

01:13:03rather fun being nasty? It was quite fun creating Leighton, who's a really nasty character. And there's

01:13:10something that he does with his physical presence that is very overpowering, and I know that to be

01:13:17true. And my editor said when I first, you know, wrote it, said, oh, do you think you've overdone this

01:13:24a bit? And then actually, various things happened with various men in the public eye.

01:13:30And she went, oh, no, you haven't overdone it. You're kind of ahead of the curve.

01:13:35It's like, yeah. So that wasn't difficult to create him, and I needed someone upon whom,

01:13:43you know, who creates a threat, actually. Yeah. And you want your readers to be

01:13:47surprising and elegant. And you want to surprise yourself, I think, when you're writing. And if it's all

01:13:50going too small, it's a lot of spattery in the works, it's going fast. But there's great humour

01:13:55in some of that. I mean, you know, I love sending up a character who's based, you know, loosely on

01:14:01maybe a few people I know. So there's elements of maybe three or four different people. And then put

01:14:05it in the mix, exaggerate it a bit, and this cake rises of a character who's completely their own

01:14:11person. Yeah. So that's been really joyful to us. So the first of many then now, presumably,

01:14:16this is it. It's definitely, it definitely needs a sequel. And encouraged by Julie Cooper. Yes. To

01:14:21write fiction. As you were as well. Absolutely. What an amazing positive force she was. I mean,

01:14:26what a brilliant person, you know, really encouraging and such an energetic life force as well. You know,

01:14:32whenever she loved to go to the races, and whenever I saw her at the races, she was just so full of,

01:14:37you know, energy. I loved her. But you see, when you talk about your career, it is astonishing,

01:14:42isn't it? You know, you, you, you're a great rider, you and you managed to make that transition from,

01:14:46from sport into commentary, which you're adept at, you know, with 2012 Olympics, particularly the sort

01:14:53of a high spot. And there's clearly a chance to continue the enjoyment, not just from a spectatorial

01:15:00point of view, but from helping other people to understand it. And clearly, that is a life force

01:15:04for you, whether it's horse racing, or tennis, because Wimbledon was not easy to take over from

01:15:08lovely Sue Barker. Oh, gosh, but Sue was so supportive. And that really mattered. That really

01:15:12helped. And I think using that example, I have made sure I've tried to be really supportive

01:15:21to anyone coming up into the, into the industry. And there's so many women now working within

01:15:27sports commentary and reporting and presenting from when I started when I was literally about five.

01:15:32And it's really, really encouraging to see that. And I love that, obviously, the coverage of women's

01:15:37sport has improved so much, and there's so much more of it. What a year for women's team sport,

01:15:43with obviously both the Red Roses winning the Rugby Union World Cup, and the Lionesses winning the Euros

01:15:47again, and all of that. And to go as an experience live, it's such a lovely atmosphere.

01:15:52Oh, and the sound of the crowds, at all, which is wonderful.

01:15:55I love the variety of what I do. I really enjoy being able to do different things for different

01:16:00broadcasters, with different production companies, on subjects that stimulate me, that I want to know

01:16:06about. So whether it's, you know, rivers, or presenting crafts, dogs, or whether it's...

01:16:10Or doing ramblings, which I've done with you, the radio program, which is a wonderful walk.

01:16:14We walked together on Tennis and Down, on the Isle of Wight.

01:16:16Yeah, we did. It was lovely.

01:16:17And Winter Olympics I've got next year, so that'll be fun in Italy.

01:16:20Oh, I see. You get all the plum jobs.

01:16:22You also become a national treasure, and if you want proof of the fact that you've become a national treasure...

01:16:26Absolutely not.

01:16:26No, no, no, don't deny it. Look at this. This is what happens in Bake Off.

01:16:29When you become a national treasure.

01:16:37So, Greg, tell us all about Claire Balding.

01:16:42So, this is my doppelganger. She's been made out of two different biscuits.

01:16:46I think you should send it to her.

01:16:47I think she might call the police.

01:16:50It's a very nice biscuit.

01:16:52I think you've done a great job with the flavour.

01:16:54More importantly, it's baked well.

01:16:55Thanks.

01:16:56Thanks very much, Greg.

01:16:56Thank you. Thanks a lot.

01:16:58If Claire Balding is watching, I'm sorry about that.

01:17:03Well, you may deny me a national treasure, but you're certainly a national biscuit.

01:17:07I am a biscuit.

01:17:08You ever think you'd be turned into a biscuit on me, John?

01:17:09No, and I love Greg, and we've always had this joke that we look like we could be brother and sister,

01:17:14which I find quite flattering. I'm thrilled for that.

01:17:17He's such a lovely guy, and he's, yeah, I think he's...

01:17:22I'm very thrilled that he thought I was worthy of a biscuit.

01:17:24You'll stay for a tipple or two.

01:17:25I'd love to.

01:17:26You don't have to mix anything.

01:17:27We do it all for you.

01:17:29And before the tipples, time to de-stress your Sunday even more in today's Ode to Joy.

01:17:43You'll stay for aaan.

01:17:48The Ello Lumpaga

01:17:49you'll stay 성공.

01:17:50The open slack as you will be and everybody can flip your surely.

01:17:53I love the pressure obviously of expert-free odysассaic value.

01:17:56Then, let us see if you could ask for attention to what is behind you.

01:17:57Friends are free or be able to fix anything like that.

01:18:00He'll be able to see the best thing.

01:18:01So it's tricky.

01:19:32A violin sonata by Beethoven.

01:19:34Lovely images.

01:19:35Coming up, standing by to uncork the British wine classics of the future.

01:19:40Wine expert Tony Osoba with the latest new wines to hit the market.

01:19:45My guests seem keen to give them a try already.

01:19:48I'll be back with Tony, Andy and Claire right after this.

01:19:51Welcome back to Love Your Weekend.

01:20:06Now Christmas is a time for celebrating cherished customs, particularly when it comes to the festive food and drink we enjoy.

01:20:13But maybe this is the year to branch out a little.

01:20:16As the reputation of British wines continues to improve, there's an emerging array of options to explore, some of which may well become established Christmas favourites in the years to come.

01:20:26Here to reveal her pick of the newest wines on the market, worthy of a place on the festive table.

01:20:32Welcome back, wine expert Tony Osoba.

01:20:35So, worthy of a place in the pantheon of our favourite Christmas winestay.

01:20:39Yes, that's right.

01:20:40And thank you so much for having me.

01:20:41We've got an array of festive drinks today, perfect for the Christmas season.

01:20:45So, first up, we've got a sparkling jasmine tea from Sight Show.

01:20:49Oh!

01:20:50To have a taste.

01:20:50Jasmine tea?

01:20:51Yes, this is an alcohol-free option as well.

01:20:54Oh, it smells lovely.

01:20:55Oh, it smells like tea, doesn't it?

01:20:56That smells like a jasmine candle, really.

01:20:59Yeah, it does.

01:20:59That is really nice.

01:21:00It's nice, isn't it?

01:21:01So, it's really fragrant.

01:21:02You'll definitely get notes of jasmine because it's a jasmine tea, but you'll also get notes of apple, lychee and a bit of vanilla as well.

01:21:09Oh, I like it.

01:21:09So, when you have your fizz on Christmas morning, you know, and that means I'm tipsy by 12, this drink to my head, I can have this instead.

01:21:17Yeah, it's guilt-free and it's great for the tea lovers and the bubbly lovers.

01:21:21Both of those drinks in one delicious drink here.

01:21:23So, where's it from, this one?

01:21:24So, this one is from Shropshire.

01:21:26So, Chinese tea leaves but made with Shropshire spring water in Shropshire.

01:21:30So, they carbonate it and add a little bit of grape juice for a bit of sweetness.

01:21:33I really like that.

01:21:33It's really lovely.

01:21:34Andy, you approve?

01:21:36I think that's absolutely lovely.

01:21:37I'm not really much of a drinker and that is delicious.

01:21:41Yeah, and I think it stands up really well alongside like a champagne in its own right because it's so complex and refreshing as well.

01:21:47It's lovely.

01:21:48So, next up, we have a Chardonnay.

01:21:51So, this is the Roman Road Chardonnay by Simpsons.

01:21:54And I know a lot of people say that they don't like Chardonnays, but I feel as though this one really challenges that idea.

01:22:00So, have a taste and see what you think.

01:22:01Do you think it's Chardonnay they don't like, Tony?

01:22:03Or over-oaked Chardonnay?

01:22:05That's such a difference.

01:22:06I don't mind it.

01:22:06It's not over-oaked.

01:22:08Exactly.

01:22:08So, this is really slightly oaked and it's more similar to a Chablis in Staurwad than like a Californian heavily oaked Chardonnay.

01:22:15Oh, that is nice.

01:22:16So, it's really nice, isn't it?

01:22:17You'll get notes of orange peel, of honeysuckle.

01:22:20Booty.

01:22:20Yeah.

01:22:20A little bit of butterscotch as well, perhaps.

01:22:23I can't lie.

01:22:24If you dig deeper, you might find it.

01:22:28I'm definitely thinking butterscotch now.

01:22:30I like the idea of thinking butterscotch.

01:22:31But this one's great for a roast dinner.

01:22:34So, this will go really nicely with your roast potatoes and your Yorkshire pudding as well.

01:22:38Because it will really balance out the flavours in a really lovely way.

01:22:41So, I love this one.

01:22:42Great for your Christmas dinner.

01:22:43So, from where?

01:22:44This one is from Canterbury.

01:22:46So, it's from Kent.

01:22:47And it's actually made with soils that are similar to the Champagne region.

01:22:51So, really similar to a Chablis in Staurwad or a white Burgundy.

01:22:54We do seem to be able to make the French cross, don't we?

01:22:57If I'm able to make really good wine.

01:23:00Definitely rivaling.

01:23:01In blind tastings, they win prizes.

01:23:03That's got a delicacy to it, doesn't it?

01:23:05I like it.

01:23:06I think that this often happens with wine.

01:23:08The more sips you have, the better it gets.

01:23:11Oh, I really like that.

01:23:12Two out of two so far, too.

01:23:14Lovely.

01:23:15All right.

01:23:15So, next up, we have a sparkling rosé from Greyfriars.

01:23:20Oh, great.

01:23:21So, it is quite a pale rosé, but it still gives you all the notes that you'd get from a nice, crisp and dry rosé.

01:23:27Looks lovely, doesn't it?

01:23:28It does.

01:23:29In a coupe.

01:23:29It's glorious, isn't it?

01:23:30The old Champagne glass.

01:23:32Yeah.

01:23:32Which is the way you're meant to serve Champagne, isn't it?

01:23:35So, you can get plenty of bubbles up your nose.

01:23:38Exactly.

01:23:38Oh, that's interesting.

01:23:39It really is.

01:23:40So, you'll get notes of strawberry here, raspberry,

01:23:43a little bit of cranberry as well,

01:23:45which is why I say it pairs really nicely with your turkey and your cranberry sauce.

01:23:48It works really well.

01:23:49I like that.

01:23:50Yeah.

01:23:51It's lovely.

01:23:51It's a hint of butterscotch.

01:23:53I'm kidding.

01:23:54You're kidding.

01:23:57I really like this one because I feel as though people think that rosé is just for the summer months,

01:24:01but this just shows you can have it in the winter months as it'll go really well with your Christmas dinner.

01:24:05So, a challenger there for you.

01:24:07And did you like that one?

01:24:08I do like that.

01:24:09Yeah, yeah, yeah.

01:24:09More or less than the previous one, the Chardonnay.

01:24:12If I'm honest, my favourite so far is the tea.

01:24:14Is the tea.

01:24:15I thought that was really lovely.

01:24:16Yeah, I thought that was lovely too.

01:24:17So, now we're actually moving over to Essex slash Cambridge.

01:24:22So, this one, this is our Pinot Noir.

01:24:25It's made from grapes grown in Essex, but the wine itself is made in a winery in a windmill in Cambridge,

01:24:31which is really interesting.

01:24:33Wow, romantic.

01:24:33Yeah, so this is our Gutter and Stars Pinot Noir.

01:24:36Gutter and Stars.

01:24:37Gutter and Stars.

01:24:38So, yeah, it's a little nod to an Oscar Wilde quote, which is something along the lines of,

01:24:43we're all in the gutter, but some of us are looking to the stars.

01:24:45So, looking beyond hardship is what this one's all about.

01:24:49I like that.

01:24:49But this one has a really unique note that I've never come across in a wine before,

01:24:53and that is a cola soft drink.

01:24:56So, cola.

01:24:56And I think it works really well.

01:24:58See if you can pick that up.

01:25:01I do, actually.

01:25:02I obviously can get a bit of that.

01:25:04Yeah, yeah, definitely.

01:25:05I agree, I can too.

01:25:07Yeah, and it works really well.

01:25:08And it's nicely balanced with, like, cherry, with a bit of raspberry as well,

01:25:12with your darker fruits, but it's still really nice and light and juicy.

01:25:15Sometimes I find Pinot Noirs are too strong on the top.

01:25:17This isn't.

01:25:18It's quite gentle, isn't it?

01:25:18It's so delicate.

01:25:19It's delicious.

01:25:20Yeah.

01:25:20And what's great about this one is you can actually have it chilled.

01:25:23So, if your fridge space is at a premium in the Christmas,

01:25:26in the build-up to Christmas, which it likely is,

01:25:28you just pop it outside on your doorstep for 10 to 15 minutes,

01:25:31and that will chill it down really nicely so you can have it at the perfect temperature.

01:25:35It's really warming.

01:25:36It is.

01:25:36It's lovely.

01:25:36I think this is one of those drinks that I'd sit there, have a glass of it,

01:25:39and suddenly come up with all my best ideas.

01:25:42And I'd be really fascinating and funny.

01:25:44Yeah.

01:25:45See, three sips of that, I'd be asleep.

01:25:47Oh.

01:25:47In the gutter.

01:25:49Yeah, exactly.

01:25:50Looking like a star.

01:25:53Because I'd be fooling myself that I was a star.

01:25:58Do you think the following morning it would be one of those,

01:26:00it seemed such a good idea yesterday.

01:26:02Yes.

01:26:03Yesterday, the cold light of day.

01:26:04They should put that on the label, shouldn't they?

01:26:07Like an index that the hangover it may give you.

01:26:11It'd be great.

01:26:12I would love it.

01:26:12Yeah, yeah.

01:26:13Yeah.

01:26:13But it is quite a nice and light one.

01:26:15Nice to have on a special occasion.

01:26:16Yeah.

01:26:17I love that.

01:26:17Last one.

01:26:18Yes.

01:26:18So finally, we have this fortified wine.

01:26:21So this is from Langhams, and they're based in Dorset,

01:26:24and this is actually a limited edition wine.

01:26:26So sweeter wines are a bit rarer in England,

01:26:29but this is a collaboration between Langhams Wine Estate

01:26:32and Capriolus Gin Distillery,

01:26:34and it is so delicious.

01:26:35This is sweeter.

01:26:36It's fortified, so it's nice and strong.

01:26:39You might get ginger notes.

01:26:40You'll also get orchard fruit notes as well.

01:26:42I was expecting something floral like a Sauternal.

01:26:46Like a dessert wine.

01:26:47Yeah, exactly, but it's not.

01:26:48It's really nice, really complex.

01:26:50It's quite thick as well, isn't it?

01:26:51Yeah, it's quite full-bodied, exactly.

01:26:53You're right.

01:26:54And this is great for the sweet wine lovers,

01:26:55but I think it's also great if you don't like sweet wine

01:26:58because it's really well-balanced with acidity.

01:27:00I wouldn't call that a sweet wine.

01:27:01It's nice, isn't it?

01:27:02Say that again.

01:27:04It's cleared out the average.

01:27:09I've not tasted anything like that before.

01:27:12It's an amazing mixture of citrus and alcohol.

01:27:16Yeah.

01:27:16There's a hint of sherry in there.

01:27:18You might get those notes because it's fortified, yeah,

01:27:20so it is quite strong, but it's delicious.

01:27:22This would be great with your cheeses or great with your dessert as well.

01:27:25That's nice.

01:27:25So, well-deserved.

01:27:26And it's a very nice box.

01:27:28Yes, it is.

01:27:29And the bottle's beautiful as well, yes.

01:27:30Yeah.

01:27:30That's right.

01:27:31Five useful Christmas presents.

01:27:33The funny thing is, I think all three of us were really taken with the tea, the jasmine tea.

01:27:39Yeah, there's definitely something for everyone.

01:27:41But that is very lovely, although probably because I am such a lightweight, I cannot imagine drinking that whole glass of that.

01:27:48Just sip it slowly.

01:27:51Over the course of ten minutes.

01:27:53Yes.

01:27:53Very good.

01:27:54Yeah.

01:27:54I'm going to go back to the rosé because I really liked that and I don't want that sat there.

01:27:59Okay.

01:27:59I don't want it to go to waste.

01:28:01I don't want it to go to waste.

01:28:02I'm going to have them all.

01:28:03It's Christmassy and kind of celebratory and we can toast your success, Alan.

01:28:09Bless you.

01:28:09And your good heart.

01:28:11Thank you so much.

01:28:12Cheers for that.

01:28:13You're 15 quid, it's sad.

01:28:14Thanks.

01:28:14Yeah, about that.

01:28:15Just pay me in one.

01:28:16That's it for today's show.

01:28:19Thanks to all my guests, to Claire, Andy and of course to Tony, providing us with such delightful refreshment.

01:28:25Joining me next week, the rock star turned farmer, Alex James.

01:28:29Corrie's Reverend Billy, actor Daniel Brockelbank.

01:28:32Leslie Joseph will be here and with donkeys and pygmy goats.

01:28:35Of course we do.

01:28:36What's not to love?

01:28:37Up next, Fletcher's Farm.

01:28:39But I'll leave you now with some profound words from Cary Grant.

01:28:42Simplicity, to me, has always been the essence of good taste.

01:28:47Oh, Cary, if only it were that simple.

01:28:49Till the next time.

01:28:50Cheers.

01:28:51Cheers.

01:28:52Cheers, Charlie.

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.

01:29:04Cheers.

01:29:05Cheers.

01:29:06Cheers.

01:29:07Cheers.

01:29:08Cheers.

01:29:09Cheers.

01:29:10Cheers.

01:29:11Cheers.

01:29:12Cheers.

01:29:13Cheers.

01:29:14Cheers.

01:29:15Cheers.

01:29:16Cheers.

01:29:17Cheers.

01:29:18Cheers.

01:29:19Cheers.

01:29:20Cheers.

01:29:21Cheers.

01:29:22Cheers.

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