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00:00:00It really is the most wonderful time of the year.
00:00:03A time when twinkling Christmas lights fill Britain's villages and towns
00:00:07and carol singers can be heard filling the air with song.
00:00:12Delicious spirits, doesn't it?
00:00:14Today, nuns, coppers, chart toppers and a widow twanky twinkle.
00:00:20It's time for Love You Christmas.
00:00:30Love You Christmas
00:00:59Today is till Christmas.
00:01:01I'm on the mulled wine already and you can feel that festive spirit in the air
00:01:06at our wintry farm this morning.
00:01:08And we've sprinkled in plenty of that festive cheer on today's show.
00:01:13Coming up, a line-up of fun, fabulousness and some familiar faces
00:01:17bringing a higher order to the barn this Christmas.
00:01:21Not one, not two, but three popular favourites.
00:01:24Sister Veronica, Nurse Crane and Miss Higgins on the lives and loves of the gentle folk
00:01:31of Nannata's house this Christmas.
00:01:33And it's Thursday on a Sunday, Inspector Thursday.
00:01:36Roger Allen swaps sleuthing in Oxford for singing in Yorkshire.
00:01:41Someone who always endeavours to put on a good do, our very own Prince Charming.
00:01:46Andy Clark is back with panto tipples, including, would you believe, a widow twanky twinkler
00:01:52and a whoops, there go my bloomers.
00:01:55From Irving Berlin to George Gershwin changing gear, he's performed them all.
00:02:01Tom Chambers pays tribute to the Hollywood greats.
00:02:04And proof that beauty, brains and a fabulous fringe can indeed come in one glorious four-legged package.
00:02:12Bringing a touch of the highlands to Manor Farm this Christmas are glorious highland cows.
00:02:23Off the house.
00:02:26And it looks like Christmas has started already here in the barn.
00:02:30Welcome, my party guests already tucking in.
00:02:32Call the Midwives, Georgie Glenn, Linda Bassett and Rebecca Gethings,
00:02:36along with Roger Allen and Tom Chambers.
00:02:38What a starry line-up.
00:02:40And I'm now going to ask you questions.
00:02:42You're going to wish you weren't stuffing that into your mouth, Roger,
00:02:44so I'll come to you in a minute.
00:02:46Children, as children.
00:02:47I mean, that's when the Christmas memories start, isn't it?
00:02:50Linda, when you were a child, were you waiting for him to come down the chimney?
00:02:54Oh, well, I grew up in a council flat, and so there wasn't a chimney.
00:02:59There wasn't a fireplace, and I was terribly worried that Father Christmas wouldn't be able to get in.
00:03:06So I took this to my mother, and she explained that he would land the sleigh on top of the flat roof
00:03:12and come down by ladder into the windows, and I was quite happy with that.
00:03:17Rebecca, do you remember Christmas as a kid?
00:03:19Yeah, my dad had a specialist bookshop that was open until the very end of Christmas Eve,
00:03:24so we'd have to wait for him to get home from London to start Christmas.
00:03:28And then he would do that last-minute buying presents on the way home.
00:03:32But when he finally came through the front door that evening, that would be the start, yeah.
00:03:38Now, Christmas gifts, Georgie, I gather you're quite good at Christmas gifts,
00:03:42particularly for the cast of Call the Midwife.
00:03:44I mean, we always give each other something at the end of a series, yes,
00:03:48but I just love making things, and that's all really hard.
00:03:53So you've always been crafty?
00:03:55I've always been crafty, yes.
00:03:56I went to art school when I was younger, and I've always loved making things.
00:03:59Well, you're good to have on any team, aren't you, really?
00:04:01Well, I do love it, and one of my daughters loves it particularly as well,
00:04:05so we often have a project that we do together, as you do with your daughter.
00:04:09Yes.
00:04:09Don't you?
00:04:10I mean, it's a...
00:04:10But part of our Christmas tradition now is hanging Georgie's Christmas decorations she makes for us.
00:04:16Oh, how lovely.
00:04:16And then we come to the cooking.
00:04:18Roger?
00:04:18Yes.
00:04:19Are you the cook or are you the eater?
00:04:22I'm both.
00:04:23Are you?
00:04:24I'm committed to both.
00:04:26No, I'm the cook, so I often do...
00:04:28Well, I always do Christmas dinner, and I do most of the cooking in the house when I'm there.
00:04:33Do you find it therapeutic? Is it a good switch-off? Is that why you like it?
00:04:38Except when I shout and get very Anglo-Saxon.
00:04:40No.
00:04:41Yeah.
00:04:41You're not like Gordon Ramsay, are you, in a kitchen?
00:04:45Well, you know...
00:04:45Occasionally, no.
00:04:48But I do find it very therapeutic. It's when I listen to music as well, and, you know...
00:04:54Tom, cooking!
00:04:55I think that it's something that...
00:04:57Maybe it's something you appreciate as the years go by,
00:05:00that the whole... that there is something really special.
00:05:03If you've got the music and you've got something right,
00:05:05and there's something really, really charming about it.
00:05:08But it should be like that, shouldn't it?
00:05:09The preparation should be the greater pleasure, in a way, rather than just...
00:05:14I always felt, you know, I feel for chefs and cooks that so much work goes in,
00:05:19and then within 15 minutes, if you're lucky, it's gone.
00:05:23And you think, oh, all that work, you know, and it's appreciated,
00:05:25but it's very briefly appreciated.
00:05:28What about panto?
00:05:30Because who's done...
00:05:32Hands up who's done panto?
00:05:34Tom?
00:05:35So, not Georgie and not Rebecca, but you've done...
00:05:38Where was your panto?
00:05:39Only amateur at uni, and I played Dandini.
00:05:43Did you really?
00:05:44You couldn't...
00:05:45With the long boots?
00:05:46Yes, with great pleasure.
00:05:50Roger, I mean, you strike me as a brilliant villain.
00:05:54I mean, there's nothing...
00:05:55No personal reflection there.
00:05:57That's very sweet of you to say that, Alan.
00:06:00No, I've done two pantoes.
00:06:02I did one at Glasgow Sits many, many years ago,
00:06:04and actually quite a few years ago as well.
00:06:08I did one at the Old Vic with Ian McKellen,
00:06:12and it was a big success.
00:06:13We did it the next year as well.
00:06:15Tom, you've done it, yeah?
00:06:17I guess my claim was the fact that it was...
00:06:19Last year of drama school, it was 1998, Basingstoke,
00:06:24and I understudied Keith Cheggwin as buttons.
00:06:28It all started then with understudying Keith Cheggwin.
00:06:31He didn't know the legacy to which he was bequeathing you.
00:06:34Well, I mean...
00:06:35Yes, it was...
00:06:36He just never went off, so I never got to go on,
00:06:40but he was great to watch.
00:06:41Now, Georgie Glenn has never done pantomime.
00:06:43However, Georgie Glenn really should do pantomime,
00:06:47because we know what Georgie Glenn can do
00:06:49when she really lets go.
00:06:50Look.
00:06:53Now for your birth, Georgie Glenn.
00:06:55Georgie Glenn, a.k.a. Miss Higgins, mistress of cubs,
00:07:04should be in pantomime.
00:07:05I'm sorry.
00:07:06Well, you put it to us.
00:07:07It was...
00:07:07We found it on the internet.
00:07:09It was that Dr. Turner that said that, yes.
00:07:12And I shall be having words.
00:07:13You witnessed it.
00:07:14You didn't look too pleased about saying that,
00:07:17and I was thinking, well, where's the festive spirit going from?
00:07:21Much more from my glorious galaxy of guests coming up.
00:07:24Now, talking to our Christmas...
00:07:25I mean, look at this.
00:07:26An amazing spread here.
00:07:28We've bubbles, we've canapes,
00:07:30we've a Yule log and stolen here.
00:07:33Just help yourselves.
00:07:34Still ahead, we're heading back in time
00:07:36to celebrate Christmas the Tudor way.
00:07:39Horticulturist Camilla Bassett-Smith
00:07:41and florist Jonathan Moseley
00:07:43revealed the 16th century festive plant traditions.
00:07:47And he dreamed the impossible dream,
00:07:49and the dream came true.
00:07:50Lee Mead, supported by his gospel choir,
00:07:53a festive treat you won't want to miss.
00:07:56And cute, stylish, good-looking,
00:07:58and very good with their tongues,
00:08:00stepping straight out of a classic Christmas card scene.
00:08:03What can he be talking about?
00:08:05The Highland cows bring their festive magic
00:08:08all the way from Dorset,
00:08:10all the very veal.
00:08:11And I'll be back with these bovine beasties
00:08:14right after this.
00:08:15Sister Veronica, would you mind awfully
00:08:17passing me a festive cannibal slice?
00:08:19Thank you so much.
00:08:21Marvellous. Lovely.
00:08:23Cheers, all. Tuck in.
00:08:24Cheers.
00:08:25I noticed that Roger's been up with the sausages.
00:08:27I have.
00:08:28Mmm.
00:08:30Cheers.
00:08:30As the late, great Perry Como famously sang,
00:08:48it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
00:08:52a day filled with festive spirit,
00:08:55prosperity,
00:08:56and so much anticipation.
00:08:58So much so,
00:08:59I barely got any sleep last night.
00:09:01I'm not ashamed.
00:09:02Coming up,
00:09:03it's the period drama
00:09:04that's become a Christmas TV staple.
00:09:07The lives and loves
00:09:08of a group of nuns and midwives
00:09:10in poverty-stricken poplar.
00:09:12Taking time out for us this Christmas,
00:09:14the cast of Call the Midwife
00:09:16give us a sneak peek
00:09:17into their festive celebrations,
00:09:19past and present.
00:09:21And we've hijinks aplenty
00:09:23at our panto-inspired Christmas party.
00:09:26Andy Clark's serving up
00:09:27thigh-slappingly good cocktails
00:09:29with the finest spirits
00:09:31and more than a measure of mischief.
00:09:34There'll be no booing or hissing in that one.
00:09:37But first,
00:09:38thanks to their starring role
00:09:40in the snowy scenes
00:09:41that adorn our Christmas cards,
00:09:43one of Britain's hardiest native cattle breeds,
00:09:46the Highland Cow,
00:09:47has become synonymous
00:09:49with our festive celebrations.
00:09:51Recognised for its dense,
00:09:52double-layered coat,
00:09:54it's perfectly adapted
00:09:55to enjoy the challenging winters
00:09:58of the Scottish Highlands.
00:09:59But they can also be found
00:10:00far further south,
00:10:01in Dorset, no less,
00:10:03where one farming family
00:10:05offers an up-close-and-personal
00:10:06Highland Cow experience.
00:10:09Here for my very own one-to-one,
00:10:11welcome to Manor Farm,
00:10:12farmer Cameron Farquharson
00:10:14and its cows, Clarissa,
00:10:16Apricot and Moira,
00:10:18and his daughter, Charlotte,
00:10:19and our livestock vet, Thebe.
00:10:22Thebe, good to see you again.
00:10:23See you.
00:10:24Are you au fait
00:10:25with this cattle breed?
00:10:27You presumably don't see
00:10:28a lot of them down south.
00:10:29So down south,
00:10:30you don't see so many,
00:10:31but they are becoming
00:10:32more popular.
00:10:33Especially with people
00:10:34buying smaller plots of land
00:10:35and thinking, you know,
00:10:36they just want one or two
00:10:37native breed cattle.
00:10:38Something that looks good
00:10:39in the field as well.
00:10:41We're finding more and more
00:10:41people buying these.
00:10:43But up north,
00:10:44you can find them a lot more.
00:10:45Yeah.
00:10:45You also find them
00:10:46on a lot of Christmas cards
00:10:46at this time.
00:10:47You do.
00:10:47They are popular.
00:10:48That very famous scene,
00:10:48which I seem to remember
00:10:50is by a man called Farquharson.
00:10:53Is this right?
00:10:53It is.
00:10:54Captain Farquharson.
00:10:55That famous...
00:10:56So here you are,
00:10:57Cameron Farquharson.
00:10:58Any relation?
00:10:59Distant.
00:11:00Very distant.
00:11:00Very distant.
00:11:02We'll take that.
00:11:03So, Cam,
00:11:03what attracted you
00:11:04to Ireland cattle?
00:11:05Living in Dorset.
00:11:06You're a Scot, obviously.
00:11:07Yeah, what attracted us
00:11:08was, well,
00:11:09just look at them.
00:11:10They're magnificent beasts,
00:11:11aren't they?
00:11:11Yeah.
00:11:12They're just magnificent beasts
00:11:13and they're hard.
00:11:14And the kind of farming
00:11:15that we do back in Dorset,
00:11:17we've got a hill farm
00:11:18and a low farm.
00:11:19And we're National Trust
00:11:21tenants on the hill farm.
00:11:22And these guys
00:11:23are just perfect
00:11:24for the outdoors.
00:11:25And they live out
00:11:25all year round.
00:11:27They're low maintenance
00:11:28and high output
00:11:30getting back from them.
00:11:31But it's low maintenance
00:11:32for us,
00:11:33what appealed to us.
00:11:35You know,
00:11:35they're just hard.
00:11:36We obviously feed them
00:11:37haylage and grass,
00:11:38but that's about it.
00:11:39But cattle are bred
00:11:40for beef
00:11:41and for milk.
00:11:42So where does
00:11:43the Highland cow
00:11:44come in in that?
00:11:45For beef.
00:11:46Yeah.
00:11:46Yeah, they're used for beef.
00:11:48I mean,
00:11:48it's a slow-growing animal,
00:11:49so it takes them
00:11:50three to four years
00:11:51before he's mature
00:11:52and ready enough
00:11:53to be butchered,
00:11:54we'll call it.
00:11:55At that point,
00:11:57he's slow-growing,
00:11:58he's taking his time.
00:11:59You don't have
00:11:59a lot of fat in there
00:12:00because you've just mentioned
00:12:02he's got two coats.
00:12:03He's got two coats here.
00:12:04He's got his outer coat
00:12:05and his thermal coat.
00:12:06He doesn't need fat
00:12:07to keep warm
00:12:08for the marbling he has.
00:12:10He's lean meat.
00:12:10It's lean meat
00:12:11and it's good for you.
00:12:12Now, Charlotte,
00:12:13you've got,
00:12:14that's Boyra,
00:12:14you've got a good
00:12:15Scottish name.
00:12:16Yes.
00:12:17Clarissa in the middle.
00:12:19Now,
00:12:19are you fond of them
00:12:20as well, Chuck?
00:12:20You must be.
00:12:21I mean,
00:12:21they're around you all day.
00:12:22I do, yeah.
00:12:23I think you take it
00:12:24for granted a bit
00:12:24but I do love them a lot,
00:12:26yeah.
00:12:27How large,
00:12:28now it's not called a herd,
00:12:29it's called a fold
00:12:30when it's higher than cattle,
00:12:31isn't it?
00:12:32Yes.
00:12:32Is that right?
00:12:33How many in your fold?
00:12:35We have about 80
00:12:37at the minute.
00:12:38Gracious me,
00:12:38a field with 80 in?
00:12:41That's a heck of a handful.
00:12:42You become a good ballet dancer
00:12:43with the horns.
00:12:44Well,
00:12:44this is the thing,
00:12:45you see,
00:12:45most people are terribly,
00:12:47I think from a vet's
00:12:48point of view theme,
00:12:49you're all right with apricot here
00:12:51when she's a youngster
00:12:52but quite dangerous
00:12:53when you keep out of the way.
00:12:55That's the only thing
00:12:55you can do,
00:12:56isn't it?
00:12:56Well,
00:12:57as long as you've got
00:12:58good handling facilities,
00:12:59you can get special crushes
00:13:00made for highland cows
00:13:01where they can put their horns
00:13:02through and hold them
00:13:04securely.
00:13:05And again,
00:13:06highland cows are meant
00:13:07to be extensive breeds
00:13:08so they shouldn't really be
00:13:09all the time
00:13:09in small spaces.
00:13:11They've got room.
00:13:12And normally,
00:13:13farmers who own highland cattle
00:13:15are handling quite well
00:13:16so they are quite safe
00:13:18if you don't know where to stand.
00:13:19When do the horns
00:13:20start growing, Cam?
00:13:21Roughly,
00:13:21when they're between
00:13:2210 and 12 weeks old,
00:13:23so two and a half
00:13:24to three months.
00:13:25So how old is apricot?
00:13:27She's five,
00:13:28five months old
00:13:28so you'll see
00:13:29if you look at her
00:13:29top of her head there,
00:13:30she's got little stumps,
00:13:31little prickets
00:13:31that we call them.
00:13:32They're just starting
00:13:33to come now.
00:13:33Just coming out,
00:13:34there we are.
00:13:34And those horns
00:13:35will grow for the rest
00:13:37of her life.
00:13:38A highland cow
00:13:38can live up to 21
00:13:40to 28 years
00:13:41without any human interference
00:13:43so those horns
00:13:44grow all that time
00:13:45with them.
00:13:46Now, you have this
00:13:47highland cow experience
00:13:49on your farm in Dorset
00:13:50so what happens
00:13:51when people come down
00:13:52what do they do,
00:13:53what do they get?
00:13:53Yeah, so what we do
00:13:54we talk about the cows,
00:13:55what they do,
00:13:56about the farm,
00:13:58you know,
00:13:58we do the conservation grazing
00:13:59and then we go into the field
00:14:01with the cows
00:14:02where they get 90 minutes
00:14:03with the cows
00:14:04where they brush them,
00:14:05stroke them,
00:14:06cuddle them.
00:14:06Dodge the horns.
00:14:07Dodge the horns.
00:14:08Yeah, dodge the horns.
00:14:09But as you can see
00:14:09they're pretty placid
00:14:10and they used to be
00:14:11working with humans.
00:14:13We do a lot with charities too.
00:14:15So from the point of view
00:14:16of looking after the highland cattle
00:14:17a huge, you know,
00:14:19fold of them then.
00:14:21What's your regime?
00:14:23Are they just out the whole time?
00:14:25They're out all year round.
00:14:26We don't bring them in
00:14:27unless they're sick.
00:14:28Obviously if they're sick
00:14:29they come into the barns
00:14:30or they've had a hard calving say
00:14:32and we're not happy
00:14:33they'll come in.
00:14:34But they're out all year round.
00:14:36Like I say,
00:14:36they're on grass,
00:14:37they get fed haylage,
00:14:39they get treats,
00:14:40of course they do.
00:14:40They get a cakes,
00:14:42as in cakes as in pellet
00:14:43and an odd digestive biscuit
00:14:45or a piece of shortbread
00:14:46for these guys.
00:14:48But no,
00:14:49they're out all year round.
00:14:49We don't touch them
00:14:50unless it's for TB testing
00:14:52or give them a wee cuddle.
00:14:54Yeah, wonderful.
00:14:55Charles,
00:14:56we champion young farmers
00:14:58on this,
00:14:59as you've probably noticed,
00:15:00giving a voice to them
00:15:02and saying to them,
00:15:03you know,
00:15:03show us why it's so good.
00:15:04From your point of view,
00:15:06why do you like farming?
00:15:07You don't have to do it.
00:15:08You could say,
00:15:09no, Dad,
00:15:09I'm really not having anything to do with this.
00:15:10I'm going to go and work in the city
00:15:11or whatever.
00:15:12It's just what I know
00:15:13and, you know,
00:15:13a way of life
00:15:14and I've been to a city for a day
00:15:17and I just couldn't think
00:15:18of anything worse,
00:15:19to be honest with you.
00:15:20There's something so relaxing
00:15:21and calming
00:15:22and, you know,
00:15:23you have your really bad times
00:15:24where you do question
00:15:25why you're doing it
00:15:26but then, you know,
00:15:27you have your good days
00:15:28and you realise
00:15:28that's why.
00:15:30Yeah.
00:15:30Thank you very much indeed
00:15:32for bringing them on.
00:15:33Thank you for coming here
00:15:33and giving me the inside story
00:15:35and a very happy Christmas
00:15:36to you all.
00:15:37Merry Christmas.
00:15:38Still to come,
00:15:39they've been raiding
00:15:40the costume cupboard once again.
00:15:42Well,
00:15:42it's Christmas after all,
00:15:44isn't it?
00:15:44Camilla Bassett-Smith
00:15:45and Jonathan Mosley
00:15:46transport us back in time
00:15:48to celebrate
00:15:49the flowers,
00:15:50foliage
00:15:50and festive traditions
00:15:52of the House of Tudor.
00:15:53And she's the friendly face
00:15:55with a reassuring smile.
00:15:57She's also the friendly face
00:15:59with a reassuring smile.
00:16:01She the slightly sterner one.
00:16:03Call the midwives
00:16:04Miss Higgins,
00:16:05Nurse Crane
00:16:06and Sister Veronica
00:16:07take a nostalgic look back
00:16:09at the iconic drama
00:16:10that continues
00:16:11to capture all our hearts.
00:16:13I'll see you with the sister,
00:16:14the midwife
00:16:15and the doctor's receptionist
00:16:16right after this.
00:16:23Welcome back
00:16:33to Love Your Christmas
00:16:34where we're counting down
00:16:35to the big day.
00:16:36Coming up,
00:16:37the young farmers
00:16:38lighting up
00:16:39the rural night sky
00:16:40as we join
00:16:41the annual Christmas
00:16:42trap to run
00:16:42in Wadhurst,
00:16:43East Sussex,
00:16:44a festive spectacle
00:16:46on wheels.
00:16:47Also coming up...
00:16:50Ah, yes.
00:16:52After nine seasons,
00:16:5336 episodes
00:16:55and countless arrests,
00:16:57the beloved
00:16:57British television drama
00:16:59Endeavor
00:16:59came to an end.
00:17:01D.I., Fred Thursday,
00:17:03Roger Allen
00:17:03on swapping
00:17:0450s Oxford
00:17:05for 30s Yorkshire
00:17:07in the movie
00:17:08The Choral.
00:17:09Now,
00:17:10it's the eagerly anticipated
00:17:11festive favourite
00:17:13and one of the most watched
00:17:15and a Titchmarsh favourite too.
00:17:17The award-winning series
00:17:18that follows the lives
00:17:19and loves
00:17:20of a group of midwives
00:17:22and nuns
00:17:22at Nunnata's house
00:17:23dealing with
00:17:24a range of tough issues
00:17:26but always ending
00:17:27on a message of hope.
00:17:30Joan dismissed
00:17:31all her talk
00:17:32of this being
00:17:33her last Christmas
00:17:35and embraced it
00:17:37as one of her happiest
00:17:38and best,
00:17:40observing that the greatest gift
00:17:42we can receive
00:17:43is to be loved
00:17:45and be with others.
00:17:46hand in hand
00:17:49heart to heart
00:17:51year after year
00:17:53until the rocket's sea
00:17:56circling with the moon.
00:17:58Some people get excited
00:18:02about meeting Paddington.
00:18:04I'm very excited
00:18:05because joining me now
00:18:06Sister Veronica,
00:18:07Rebecca Gathings,
00:18:08Nurse Crane,
00:18:09Linda Bassett,
00:18:10and Miss Higgins
00:18:11and I'm a bit scared,
00:18:12Georgie Clare.
00:18:14Welcome all three.
00:18:16There you are.
00:18:16We see you as your character
00:18:17so we know what you like
00:18:18and it's interesting
00:18:19to see you without
00:18:20your wimp, Rebecca.
00:18:21Thank you, yes.
00:18:22In a very sparkly frock.
00:18:23Yes, I've gone subtle.
00:18:25Now you're the relative
00:18:26newcomer.
00:18:27How long have you been
00:18:27in the camp?
00:18:28This is my fourth year.
00:18:29Yeah.
00:18:30So I am a newbie
00:18:31compared to the ladies.
00:18:32Compared to Nurse Crane,
00:18:34Linda,
00:18:34how long have you been in?
00:18:35I've done 12 years
00:18:36so I'm not an original
00:18:37but...
00:18:38But pretty near.
00:18:40Judy probably beat you there,
00:18:42doesn't she?
00:18:42Oh yes, Judy
00:18:43and Jenny
00:18:43and Helen
00:18:44and a whole host of them.
00:18:46Laura, Stephen.
00:18:47I think of you
00:18:48as an original.
00:18:49No, I just feel
00:18:50a bit still a new girl.
00:18:52Do you?
00:18:53It's nice.
00:18:53It keeps you fresh.
00:18:54It keeps you on your toes, really.
00:18:56And Georgie,
00:18:57a mere eight years for you.
00:18:59Eight, yes.
00:18:59Yes, and I do still feel
00:19:00a new girl.
00:19:01It is one of...
00:19:02You're very aware
00:19:03of some people
00:19:04who've been in it
00:19:05from the beginning.
00:19:06But we get so embedded
00:19:08and involved
00:19:09in your characters
00:19:10and you,
00:19:11when you came,
00:19:11Georgie,
00:19:11as me singing,
00:19:12you were very uptight
00:19:13and serious.
00:19:13Do you mean I'm not anymore?
00:19:15Well, I see warmth
00:19:16coming from the surface.
00:19:17It may be electric blanket
00:19:18underneath you.
00:19:19We see you laugh a lot now,
00:19:21which is great.
00:19:22But you clearly make relationships
00:19:24within the cast as well
00:19:25after such a long time.
00:19:26And you two particularly,
00:19:28I think, do quite well.
00:19:30It's great to have
00:19:31that friendship
00:19:32between two older women.
00:19:33It's just really fun.
00:19:35And it's quite rare,
00:19:35isn't it,
00:19:36on time television.
00:19:37On time television.
00:19:37On time television.
00:19:37to have women of our age
00:19:40becoming friends
00:19:41and spending time together.
00:19:43We've got a lovely clip of you here.
00:19:44Let's have a look at you two
00:19:45doing your bit.
00:19:50I hope this is going to fit him.
00:19:52He's a lanky lad, is Harry.
00:19:54And he looked to me
00:19:55like he's still growing.
00:19:57His mother measured him
00:19:58before she left Liverpool
00:19:59to return to Delhi.
00:20:01Victor's estate
00:20:03was demanding her attention.
00:20:09We make an odd little family.
00:20:12But one way or another,
00:20:13we're bound together now.
00:20:17And Harry's coming to me
00:20:18for Christmas.
00:20:23You could smile
00:20:24if you want to, Melissa.
00:20:25It's not.
00:20:30Bittersweet it may be,
00:20:31but you've got a grandson now,
00:20:34and that's a gift.
00:20:41Furthermore,
00:20:42this jumper's going to suit him.
00:20:46You see,
00:20:47I spend most of my time
00:20:48watching this in tears
00:20:49because there's so much
00:20:51goodness in it.
00:20:52And people say,
00:20:53oh, it's soft.
00:20:54It's not.
00:20:54You deal with really hard issues,
00:20:57but in a positive way.
00:20:58And is that how it strikes you,
00:20:59Rebecca?
00:21:00I mean, you know.
00:21:00Yeah.
00:21:01I mean, I think that the
00:21:02moral compass of the show
00:21:04is it's all about the community
00:21:06and people striving
00:21:08in difficult conditions.
00:21:10And yeah, as you say,
00:21:10it's not sugar-coated.
00:21:11There are tough storylines,
00:21:15but there is always hope
00:21:16at the end, for sure.
00:21:17And the thing that always moves me
00:21:19more than anything on television
00:21:20is kindness
00:21:21and thoughtfulness
00:21:22and goodness.
00:21:22And it's so rare, isn't it,
00:21:23in dramas.
00:21:24It's quite rare.
00:21:25It's also gritty and violent
00:21:27and it's something
00:21:27which is why we love it
00:21:29coming to that.
00:21:30I am, however,
00:21:31disappointed in the fact
00:21:32that your perm
00:21:33is not what it was,
00:21:34Linda.
00:21:35It's a glorious perm,
00:21:36but I admire enormously
00:21:37your northern accent,
00:21:38your Yorkshire accent.
00:21:39Good.
00:21:40Well, I did live for
00:21:40eight years in Leeds,
00:21:42so it became real.
00:21:43It rubbed off,
00:21:44but quite different
00:21:46to Lark-Rice to
00:21:47Canglesford
00:21:48and Queenie there.
00:21:49Very much so.
00:21:50It was West Country.
00:21:51But it seems to be
00:21:52these sort of slightly
00:21:53matriarchal roles
00:21:54that you take on.
00:21:55Yes.
00:21:56Well, that's one of the joys
00:21:58of being in
00:21:58Call the Midwife
00:21:59is all the women,
00:22:02you know,
00:22:02to have so many women
00:22:03of many ages
00:22:05and types
00:22:05in one show,
00:22:07again,
00:22:08is still quite rare
00:22:09and it's just fun
00:22:11and interesting
00:22:13because all the stories
00:22:15are so interesting
00:22:16and being female-led,
00:22:18you know,
00:22:19it's a feminist show.
00:22:20And they develop,
00:22:21yeah,
00:22:21but not in that
00:22:21tub-thumping way
00:22:22which we turn off then.
00:22:23No, not at all tub-thumping
00:22:24and not pigeon-holed either.
00:22:25No.
00:22:25They're all individual,
00:22:27aren't they?
00:22:27And do you find
00:22:28your characters developing
00:22:29in ways that you
00:22:30didn't necessarily foresee?
00:22:31Yes, definitely.
00:22:32But, I mean,
00:22:33you know,
00:22:34because in,
00:22:34I think it's episode one
00:22:35this year,
00:22:36we have a feminism
00:22:38hits popular
00:22:40and, of course,
00:22:43I was around
00:22:44at that time.
00:22:46Well, yes.
00:22:47Begging your pardon,
00:22:48Rebecca.
00:22:49We were,
00:22:49weren't we?
00:22:50It's my childhood.
00:22:51I was probably 49,
00:22:53so 50s, 60s.
00:22:54It develops with you.
00:22:56But, you know,
00:22:56in 71,
00:22:58I was 21,
00:22:58so I'm,
00:22:59you know,
00:23:00I was well into it.
00:23:02Georgie,
00:23:02you started life
00:23:03as a graphic designer.
00:23:04I did.
00:23:05So you're quite late
00:23:06to acting
00:23:06and encouraged
00:23:07Wait For It
00:23:08by Alan Rickman.
00:23:09Well, no,
00:23:10I've got to correct this.
00:23:11He didn't encourage me.
00:23:13He just,
00:23:14I met him once
00:23:15and it was at
00:23:16Crestor's Theatre
00:23:17in Ealing,
00:23:18amateur theatre,
00:23:19and he'd come to review
00:23:21a play at the end
00:23:22to sort of do
00:23:23an audience question
00:23:24and answer.
00:23:25And he was talking
00:23:27about the fact
00:23:28he'd been a graphic designer
00:23:29and had become an actor,
00:23:31I think,
00:23:31in his late 20s.
00:23:33And we were talking
00:23:34about graphic design
00:23:35and I was kind of saying,
00:23:36oh, I don't know,
00:23:37and I was thinking
00:23:38I might try
00:23:39for drama school.
00:23:40And he just said then,
00:23:41write the letter tomorrow.
00:23:43Apply.
00:23:43Sorry, that's encouraging
00:23:45you to take it.
00:23:45Well, no, no, it's not.
00:23:47No, no.
00:23:47You don't need to downplay it.
00:23:49We'll take that as encouraging.
00:23:50It wasn't because you're,
00:23:52it was just,
00:23:53if you don't try,
00:23:54you won't know.
00:23:55Be brave.
00:23:55You know,
00:23:56and if you don't do it,
00:23:57you'll be sitting here
00:23:58in 50 years' time
00:23:59wondering what if.
00:24:00Was it easy to get going
00:24:02or did you fall on your feet
00:24:03straight away
00:24:03or was it the last log?
00:24:04I was very lucky
00:24:05I got into drama school
00:24:06the first time I tried.
00:24:07I think if I hadn't
00:24:08got in that first year,
00:24:10I'd have thought,
00:24:12well, that was a silly idea
00:24:13because I've got no,
00:24:14there's no,
00:24:15any theatricality
00:24:16in our family or anything.
00:24:17Rebecca, what about you?
00:24:19How did you come into acting?
00:24:20I went to drama school as well
00:24:22and it certainly wasn't
00:24:23an overnight,
00:24:25you know,
00:24:25it's a slow bill.
00:24:27It's a marathon,
00:24:28not as quick.
00:24:28Yeah, you'll get
00:24:29Best Newcomer Award
00:24:30after about 30 years,
00:24:31that's usually the way.
00:24:32But you've brought
00:24:32a lovely warmth
00:24:33to your Nancy's role.
00:24:35Let's have a look at you.
00:24:38I take a certain pride
00:24:40in my performance
00:24:41in the ordinary world
00:24:42but when I'm at
00:24:42Ninata's house
00:24:43I often find
00:24:46I'm quite sincere
00:24:48in my contentment.
00:24:50Perhaps it's because
00:24:51I'm with other spinsters
00:24:52or maybe it's simply
00:24:54because I feel at home.
00:25:01We are all spinsters,
00:25:02aren't we?
00:25:05I know I'm the bride
00:25:06of Christ, but
00:25:07it comes to the same thing.
00:25:10I keep putting this thing
00:25:12to the test
00:25:12by asking it
00:25:14if I'll ever get married.
00:25:18It always says
00:25:19no.
00:25:21You skin, sister.
00:25:34I'll slice.
00:25:41Something about a wimple
00:25:42which just concentrates
00:25:44the audience
00:25:45so much
00:25:46on those features
00:25:48and the way
00:25:49in which it comes
00:25:50across quite frequently
00:25:51whether or not
00:25:52it's sister Monica Joan
00:25:53or you as a youngster.
00:25:55If it's not plain sailing
00:25:56as a nun
00:25:56I am devoted
00:25:57I am dedicated
00:25:58to Christ
00:25:58there we go.
00:25:59It's all the worries
00:26:01and all the pressures
00:26:02that come
00:26:03and doubts
00:26:04even to someone
00:26:05who's taken the vow.
00:26:06They're still human.
00:26:07I mean they've taken
00:26:08their vows
00:26:08and they have a calling
00:26:09but they're not immune
00:26:12to questioning
00:26:13their choices
00:26:13for sure.
00:26:14And there's quite a bit
00:26:15of drama
00:26:16because you're going
00:26:17to Hong Kong
00:26:18or some of you
00:26:19are going to Hong Kong.
00:26:20How was Hong Kong?
00:26:21It was amazing.
00:26:23It was beautiful yeah.
00:26:24We had a really
00:26:25beautiful time.
00:26:26Such a privilege
00:26:26to be there.
00:26:27I gather it was
00:26:28rather hot here Joy
00:26:29you stayed behind
00:26:30filming in June and July.
00:26:32Yes.
00:26:33As hot here
00:26:34as it was in Hong Kong
00:26:35I think it was.
00:26:36I'm not quite sure
00:26:37if it was as humid
00:26:38but no it was
00:26:39very hot.
00:26:40It prepared us well
00:26:41didn't it
00:26:41because we had
00:26:42a very hot week
00:26:43before we went
00:26:43and it was quite helpful.
00:26:46You were a graphic designer.
00:26:48I'm told that you
00:26:49would have been
00:26:50a naturalist Linda
00:26:51had you not.
00:26:52Well that would have
00:26:53been my other life
00:26:54yes.
00:26:54The other dream?
00:26:55The other dream?
00:26:56The other dream
00:26:57yes.
00:26:58But that's something
00:27:01I can do
00:27:02you know
00:27:03in my spare time
00:27:04when I get it.
00:27:05I've got a small wood
00:27:06which I take care of.
00:27:09I've got a small wood.
00:27:10I did a film
00:27:12that unexpectedly
00:27:14it was only a tiny part
00:27:16but unexpectedly
00:27:17it went on for
00:27:18a fortnight
00:27:19when it should have
00:27:19only been a week.
00:27:20So this film
00:27:21you've been Julia Roberts'
00:27:23mother in Mary Riley
00:27:24you've been
00:27:25Nico Kidman's cook
00:27:26in The Hours.
00:27:28Yep.
00:27:29So it was one of those two
00:27:30was it?
00:27:30It was The Hours.
00:27:31Right.
00:27:32It went on for
00:27:32I got a fortnight's work
00:27:34instead of a week's work
00:27:36and so
00:27:37it was really
00:27:38unearned money
00:27:39in my view
00:27:41so I thought
00:27:42what can I do
00:27:43with this money
00:27:43and I've been
00:27:45going past
00:27:46the sign
00:27:46saying woodlands
00:27:47for sale
00:27:48for years
00:27:50practically
00:27:50on my train
00:27:51journey into London
00:27:52and I thought
00:27:54I'm going to do it
00:27:54I'm going to do it
00:27:55I'm going to do it
00:27:55and I did.
00:27:56Let's just briefly
00:27:57talk about
00:27:57people you've worked with
00:27:58that you've loved working with
00:27:59I love a little bit
00:28:00of name dropping.
00:28:01Oh oh
00:28:02so do I.
00:28:03Well I worked a couple of times
00:28:05with Armando Iannucci
00:28:06who is brilliant
00:28:07who Roger is
00:28:08Yeah Roger Allen
00:28:09as well
00:28:09Ricky Gervais was interesting
00:28:12Right of course yes
00:28:13I worked with him a couple of times
00:28:14Georgie
00:28:15thrills
00:28:17Well it's
00:28:18I've worked
00:28:18I've had the good fortune
00:28:20to work with Judi Dench
00:28:21a few times
00:28:22and she
00:28:22it's always lovely
00:28:23working with her
00:28:24and everybody around her
00:28:25is lovely
00:28:26Wicked sense of humour
00:28:27Yeah
00:28:27Been lovely to have
00:28:28all three of you there
00:28:29Thanks for sharing
00:28:30your call
00:28:31the midwife memories
00:28:31and we look forward
00:28:32to two o'clock
00:28:33he says Christmas Day
00:28:34and Boxing Day
00:28:35Yes
00:28:35Fabulous
00:28:36in the words of Craig
00:28:37Love to see you
00:28:39You'll stay with us
00:28:40for a glass of two o'clock
00:28:40Of course
00:28:41That's your only reward
00:28:42Now then
00:28:44Centuries ago
00:28:45artists like
00:28:46Gainsborough
00:28:47Constable
00:28:48Turner
00:28:49captured the drama
00:28:50the beauty
00:28:51and the scale
00:28:51of the British landscape
00:28:53with oils
00:28:53and watercolour
00:28:55Well today
00:28:56the subjects remain
00:28:57every bit as beautiful
00:28:59if you know where to look
00:29:00as they were
00:29:00300 years ago
00:29:01but the mediums
00:29:02are a lot more high tech
00:29:03thanks to cameras
00:29:04and smartphones
00:29:05It's time to see
00:29:07some of those now
00:29:07in your contribution
00:29:09to the programme
00:29:09with Walk on the Wild Side
00:29:11Your dose of nature
00:29:15sorted
00:29:15Walk on the Wild Side
00:29:17on Love Your Weekend
00:29:19sponsored by WWF
00:29:21We'll see you next time
00:29:22on the Wild Side
00:29:22on the Wild Side
00:29:23¶¶
00:29:53¶¶
00:30:23¶¶
00:30:52As the late, great satirist and poet Dorothy Parker said,
00:30:55creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.
00:30:59Hmm, think on that one.
00:31:01I can testify to both of those with your weekly constitutional snaps.
00:31:04Please do keep them coming.
00:31:06Coming up...
00:31:07Top hat white tie and tails, and that's just when he's doing the school run.
00:31:11Tom Chambers putting his best foot forward once more as he takes to the stage with a revival of a TV classic.
00:31:17And Yule Logs kissing balls and a peacock centrepiece.
00:31:22Mind boggles.
00:31:23Time travelling to the court of Henry VIII.
00:31:26Camilla Bassett-Smith and Jonathan Mosley pay homage to the festival floral traditions of the Tudors.
00:31:32I'll be back with Camilla and Jonathan and their feasting table,
00:31:36Fit for a king, my liege.
00:31:38Right after this.
00:31:39As Jane Austen wrote in Pride and Prejudice,
00:31:56I sincerely hope your Christmas may abound in the gaieties which the season generally brings.
00:32:03Well, with this man around, there'll be a lot of that.
00:32:06Our mischievous buttons, Andy Clark, serving up panto-inspired cocktails,
00:32:11guaranteed to put a smile on the ugliest of sister's faces.
00:32:15And he can do Shakespeare or panto, sitcom or musical comedy,
00:32:19and has become the discerning woman's crush with that youthful mane of hair
00:32:23and a distinctively silky baritone voice.
00:32:27He seems to enjoy adulation wherever he goes.
00:32:29Enough!
00:32:30From combating crime in Oxford to solving murders in Provence,
00:32:34Roger Allum swaps sleuthing for singing.
00:32:37But first, your voice of nature.
00:32:39And who better to call upon than Lord Grantham himself?
00:32:43Here's Hugh Bonneville.
00:32:44And a visit from St Nicholas by Clement Clarke-Moore.
00:32:49T'was the night before Christmas when all through the house
00:32:59not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
00:33:02The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
00:33:05in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
00:33:09The children were nestled all snug in their beds
00:33:12while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
00:33:15And Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap
00:33:18had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.
00:33:22When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
00:33:27I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
00:33:30Away to the window I flew like a flash,
00:33:32tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
00:33:35The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
00:33:38gave a luster of midday to objects below.
00:33:41When what to my wandering eyes did appear
00:33:44but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
00:33:50With a little old driver so lively and quick
00:33:53I knew in a moment he must be St Nick.
00:33:56More rapid than eagles his courses they came.
00:33:59And he whistled and shouted and called them by name
00:34:02Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen
00:34:05On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen
00:34:08To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall
00:34:12Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all.
00:34:24Ah, thank you Hugh.
00:34:26Those classic, wonderful words
00:34:28capturing the joy and wonderment of Christmas Eve.
00:34:32I still have to read them to my children and grandchildren
00:34:34every Christmas Eve.
00:34:35Now, in what's set to become a new
00:34:38Love Your Weekend tradition
00:34:39following last year's Victorian Christmas Spectacular
00:34:43we're once again exploring
00:34:44the festive horticultural traditions of the past.
00:34:48This year, we're paying homage to the House of Tudor
00:34:51and discovering the floral customs
00:34:53that provided the backdrop for much
00:34:55feasting and revelry at Christmastime
00:34:58and throwing chicken legs over your shoulder
00:35:00when you'd eaten the meat, the bone, yeah anyway.
00:35:02Joining me in the court of King Henry VIII
00:35:05and sparing no expense on hair, make-up and costume
00:35:08welcomed by nobleman, Jonathan Mosley
00:35:11and lady-in-waiting, Camilla Bassett-Smith.
00:35:14My lord.
00:35:15What a sight you are.
00:35:17I mean, that's in a complimentary way.
00:35:18Thank you very much.
00:35:19That's kind of.
00:35:19Very well laced in.
00:35:21Yes, so Tudor times, time of extravagance, I guess.
00:35:25Yes, exactly.
00:35:25Very elaborate costumes.
00:35:27You want to eat a lot in that, could you?
00:35:28I mean, it's a bit...
00:35:29I'll have to let it out later.
00:35:30After supper, undo your stays.
00:35:34Alan, too personal.
00:35:36So, what did they do?
00:35:38What were their traditions?
00:35:39Well, we owe marzipan fruits to the Tudors
00:35:42and marzipan paste in Tudor times
00:35:44was quite a status symbol.
00:35:46So they used to mould the marzipan
00:35:48into little fruit shapes
00:35:49and very often you had a lemon and an orange.
00:35:52Hence the lemon and oranges.
00:35:55And marzipan, it's almonds, isn't it?
00:35:57It is, yes, yes.
00:35:58So all sort of moulded together.
00:35:59I must admit, I'm not the best cook in the world,
00:36:01but, yes, I know how to eat them.
00:36:03And that's the important thing.
00:36:05So citrus did come into this country in Tudor times,
00:36:08but it was really the domain of the rich.
00:36:10And they had lemons.
00:36:11This one is Four Seasons.
00:36:13And also, I wanted to show this one.
00:36:15This is quite unusual.
00:36:16Oh, my goodness.
00:36:18I'd never seen this before.
00:36:19No, what on earth is it?
00:36:21It looks like something you have in Harry Potter.
00:36:22It does.
00:36:23You know the mandrake scene in Harry Potter?
00:36:24I'm sure that was in that great hand.
00:36:26I know, it's quite frightening,
00:36:27but it's known as Buddha's hand and it's really quite an ancient citrus.
00:36:31Now, it's not good for juice,
00:36:32but it's very, very good for zest
00:36:34and also the skin being very good for candid peel at this time of year.
00:36:37Oh, or a little twist in your martini.
00:36:39Yes, but doesn't it look great?
00:36:40And citrus are great at Christmastime to have inside, aren't they?
00:36:43Yeah, yeah.
00:36:43But other fruits that the Tudors had, the medlar.
00:36:48Now, what an unusual-looking fruit this is, isn't it?
00:36:51It was very valuable at Christmastime
00:36:53because it gave sweetness and vitamin C as well,
00:36:55in a time when fruits were quite sparse.
00:36:58Its other name is dog's bottom.
00:37:01Oh.
00:37:02Now, I hate to lower the tone, Alan.
00:37:03Well, I think you just did.
00:37:04I think I did.
00:37:06You can kind of see why.
00:37:07But a very, very unusual fruit.
00:37:09And they eat it...
00:37:10I'm not sure I want to, because I can see why that's called a dog's bottom.
00:37:13Yes, I know.
00:37:14It's quite obvious why, isn't it?
00:37:15But they used to let it blet, didn't they?
00:37:17Which is kind of controlled rotting, if you like.
00:37:21Yeah, it's got to soften the inside.
00:37:23And then the quince, of course.
00:37:24Now, this is a quince and a half, isn't it?
00:37:26I've never grown quince like that.
00:37:27I've never grown quince, either as bright yellow as that
00:37:31or as large as that.
00:37:32It's huge, isn't it?
00:37:32It's a quince and a half.
00:37:33But the aroma's so low, fruity aroma.
00:37:35It really is.
00:37:36And they were so popular in Tudor times
00:37:38and used for marmalade before oranges were.
00:37:40Because there are many more quince around.
00:37:41But moving on to the Yule log.
00:37:43And the Tudors would use oak as a log.
00:37:45And isn't this a gorgeous specimen?
00:37:47Beautiful.
00:37:47With its leaf still on.
00:37:49Now, oak is a very slow-burning wood.
00:37:51And the tradition that the Tudors had
00:37:53would be to light it on Christmas Eve
00:37:55and let it burn for 12 nights until 12th night.
00:37:58And it was thought to be lucky,
00:37:59often doused in ale or salt for prosperity.
00:38:03Oh.
00:38:03We used to put salt on the fire as a kid, I remember.
00:38:06And the flames would turn blue
00:38:08and my mum would say,
00:38:08that's the fairies coming out.
00:38:09Oh, that's really sweet.
00:38:10Of course, memories that are just suddenly awakened.
00:38:12I also read, Camilla, that they also used to dress them,
00:38:15the women used to dress them with wetted ribbons.
00:38:18Really?
00:38:18So the log would continue to burn longer.
00:38:21Oh, that's longer.
00:38:22So it would slow its burning.
00:38:22Was it unlucky then if it went out?
00:38:23Yes, it was.
00:38:24Yes, it was thought to be very unlucky if it did go out.
00:38:26But hopefully it made it through.
00:38:28Embers then used for either keeping in the house
00:38:30to protect from lightning or fire
00:38:32or spread on the ground outside as a fertiliser.
00:38:35And also fed to cattle.
00:38:37They thought it kept the evil spirits from the cattle.
00:38:40So poor old cattle have to have a bit of Yule log.
00:38:42Chew on this.
00:38:43Yes.
00:38:43It's probably not too bad for their digestion.
00:38:46Now, here you've got a little book when I was a kid
00:38:49called The Kissing Bunch by Alison Utley.
00:38:52Is that sort of what that's all about?
00:38:54It sort of is.
00:38:54It's this kissing bough.
00:38:56And we're so used to having Christmas trees
00:38:58as our festive foliage.
00:38:59But this was something that the Tudors did.
00:39:01And I'm going to pop in the centre
00:39:03just the final pièce de résistance.
00:39:05Oh, so that's your ball in the middle is a pear.
00:39:07Yes, if it stays in there.
00:39:09I must admit, doing this in front of Jonathan,
00:39:10who is the expert...
00:39:11Oh, no, I'm not looking, Camilla.
00:39:13I'd like you to get on with that, then, while we're going...
00:39:15OK.
00:39:15I mean, this is a spectacular end, isn't it, really?
00:39:18You've got a mini Yule log there.
00:39:19I've got a little mini Yule log, Alan, yeah,
00:39:21which is sort of a modern-day version.
00:39:23So we think of them now, don't we,
00:39:24covered in chocolate icing and quite sickly things.
00:39:27But the Yule log, I think, is quite a nice thing
00:39:30to make a decoration out of.
00:39:31So a little bit of a tree stump there,
00:39:33just hollow it out, pop some evergreens in there.
00:39:36Pine cones and cinnamon sticks.
00:39:38Cinnamon sticks.
00:39:39And we've got some bay laurel in there,
00:39:41the holly, and, of course, some ivy as well,
00:39:44some juniper.
00:39:45And I was interested, Camilla,
00:39:46when you were talking about the kissing bough there,
00:39:49that kissing happened a lot in Tudor times,
00:39:51and it was a great pastime.
00:39:52It's a shame it's gone on.
00:39:53And apparently every time they used to kiss,
00:39:55they would take one of the berries off the kissing ring.
00:39:58And once all the mistletoe berries had gone,
00:40:00then kissing had to stop.
00:40:02Oh, dear.
00:40:02So here, you're doing this.
00:40:04I'm going to make a little swag, Alan,
00:40:06using evergreens that would have been really familiar
00:40:09to our Tudor forefathers.
00:40:10Yeah.
00:40:11And they absolutely revered evergreens.
00:40:14And I think it's quite interesting
00:40:15how they're still a big, strong part
00:40:17of our Christmas traditions from making swags.
00:40:20Well, it was continuity, wasn't it,
00:40:21going through into the city.
00:40:22It wasn't death.
00:40:24It wasn't the end of everything.
00:40:25It was a green.
00:40:26The evergreens proved it carried on.
00:40:27It was colour.
00:40:28And in those dark days of winter,
00:40:30because Tudor times, they called it the mini ice age
00:40:32because it was so much colder than our winters today.
00:40:36Yeah.
00:40:36And anything that bore fruit or flowers during winter time,
00:40:40it was seen to bring life back.
00:40:42And all that uncertainty that they had in those times,
00:40:45you know, those sort of stormy nights
00:40:47and those dark days and those whistling winds,
00:40:49they thought there was lots of spirits out there
00:40:51and they wanted to ward off the evil spirits.
00:40:54So a little bit of prickly holly or buried holly
00:40:58hung on the door,
00:40:59it was seen to keep any unwanted people away.
00:41:03So look at that.
00:41:03But I love those yellowberries you've got there.
00:41:04Is it back a flower, is it?
00:41:06Absolutely gorgeous.
00:41:07I think it is.
00:41:07Yeah.
00:41:08Yeah, that's quite laden, isn't it, this year?
00:41:09Gorgeous, isn't it?
00:41:10I think the birds prefer the red, don't they?
00:41:12I think the yellow is their least favourite.
00:41:13Well, yeah, it's rather like pyracantha berries,
00:41:16the firethorn.
00:41:17The red ones go first, then the orange ones,
00:41:19then the yellow.
00:41:20It's clearly sort of, literally a pecking order
00:41:22in terms of the speed of which they go.
00:41:24I had to bring that pyracantha indoors ready, Alan.
00:41:27You've got a peacock here.
00:41:28For the peacock, because any great Tudor banquet
00:41:31would be resplendent with a roasted peacock.
00:41:35So this is my floral version,
00:41:36using some gorgeous spruce branches,
00:41:39some good old scotch pine in there,
00:41:41some holly and some box,
00:41:43and of course the ivy.
00:41:45And I was interested to learn
00:41:47that they actually roasted the peacock
00:41:49and redressed it in its full feathers.
00:41:52Feathery, wow.
00:41:53So it was almost like a bit of taxidermy.
00:41:56But I love, you've got this one down here.
00:41:58Let's have a look at this.
00:41:59We haven't seen this yet.
00:41:59She's gorgeous.
00:42:00This is sort of taking inspiration
00:42:00from the Tudor times.
00:42:02Yeah.
00:42:02And it's sort of a bit more of a modern take,
00:42:04but a great table arrangement there
00:42:06with cones and Ilex berry
00:42:08and some pheasant feathers in here.
00:42:10Pheasant feathers.
00:42:12You see, I'm not a pheasant plucker,
00:42:13I'm a pheasant plucker's friend.
00:42:14And I'm only plucking pheasants
00:42:16as a means unto an end.
00:42:17I think I got away with that one.
00:42:20What a wonderful display.
00:42:21I wish I lived in Tudor times now
00:42:23in terms of the floral decoration.
00:42:24A bit chilling, I'm not sure about the hat.
00:42:25No, the personal hygiene would worry me.
00:42:27No.
00:42:27But apart from that,
00:42:28thank you both very much.
00:42:30And a Merry Tudor Christmas to you both.
00:42:33Merry Christmas.
00:42:34Merry Christmas.
00:42:35Merry Christmas.
00:42:40Now, across the series,
00:42:42we've been celebrating our nation's young farmers,
00:42:45those who've chosen to make a living from the land.
00:42:48It's a hard way of life,
00:42:49so thankfully, at this time of year,
00:42:51they get a break from their usual duties
00:42:53to partake in what's become
00:42:55a nationwide countryside tradition,
00:42:58the annual Christmas tractor run,
00:43:01lighting up towns and villages right across the UK,
00:43:04Convoys of brightly lit tractors
00:43:06take part in illuminated parades
00:43:09through rural towns and villages,
00:43:11all in aid of charity.
00:43:13Cain to spread some festive cheer ourselves,
00:43:16we recently joined the Young Farmers of East Sussex
00:43:18on their annual Spectacle on Wheels.
00:43:27My farming journey began actually when I was five years old
00:43:31and it began on this farm right here,
00:43:33the beef farm.
00:43:34My grandmother used to care for one of the owners of the farm
00:43:38and I used to come up here as a wee little nip
00:43:40and used to feed the cows with a bit of silage in my hand
00:43:43and it kind of grew from there,
00:43:45the passion for farming,
00:43:46the passion for the countryside and the wildlife.
00:43:49When I was about 12 years old,
00:43:51I got a job here,
00:43:52which was a weekend job
00:43:53and I'm still here.
00:43:54These are pedigree Sussex cows and they are very docile native breed and they're great mothers.
00:44:01The way that we are farming these cattle is regeneratively.
00:44:05That's why now we're giving them the hay bales just so they don't eat too much of the grass that's here.
00:44:10As soon as you have exposed soil, you then find that your soil starts dying on it because the problem is what we'll find is that next year when it comes into springtime,
00:44:17we might have a reduced amount of grass about.
00:44:19So now we are basically setting up the next part of the paddock.
00:44:24They'll then come over and move into this paddock here.
00:44:27Being a first-generation farmer,
00:44:30I have not got farming in my background, in my blood,
00:44:34so I'm starting ripe and fresh.
00:44:36I'm renting land off of local people and as a young farmer I come in and I say,
00:44:40look, can I maintain the land?
00:44:42Can I put my sheep on there?
00:44:43Yeah, so I started with three ewes about 10 years ago
00:44:47and my future is to keep growing them to hopefully be able to survive.
00:44:51I have gone ahead and got five different ways that I'm getting an income in.
00:45:01I'm also a contract shepherd, I milk for a local farmer,
00:45:03I'm also educating at the local agriculture college.
00:45:07This is the contract shepherding job that I do.
00:45:11So obviously I cannot do this job without my trusty companion chap.
00:45:15He's my sheepdog, my best mate and yeah, he helps me with the sheep.
00:45:21Well, that is it, my jobs are done on the farm for today.
00:45:25Cows are all milked, so I'm now going on the tractor run
00:45:28to spread some Christmas cheer.
00:45:33Now it's coming up to Christmas time,
00:45:34you'll start seeing a lot of tractors on the roads, lit up.
00:45:37Basically that's just farmers all getting together as a community
00:45:40and to just bring kind of the Christmas spirit to the local villages and towns.
00:45:45Grazing money for the charities for the local primary schools around the area.
00:45:49And you'll see us going through the high street, lit up tractors, Christmas themed.
00:45:54There will be a tractor towing a sleigh with Santa on
00:45:58and you have Christmas trees on them, you have blow up things on them.
00:46:01It's honestly fantastic and it seriously does make everyone so happy for Christmas.
00:46:05And does it put a smile on your face, what the farmers are doing?
00:46:08Yeah, it's trying to be doing.
00:46:09That's what we want to hear, you heard it here.
00:46:11They're coming back!
00:46:11There you go.
00:46:12So boys, you had fun on the tractor run this evening?
00:46:17Yeah, 100%.
00:46:18It's nice to see everybody out on the side of the roads waving and everything else.
00:46:22It's been fantastic.
00:46:23The key thing about it is small farmers and family farms are the backbone of the countryside
00:46:29and by doing this fun, festive little kind of tractor run, it's showing the community that we are the farmers
00:46:37and it's also educating them to know that their food comes from us British farmers.
00:46:43Farming is a very lonesome industry and it's a very lonesome job.
00:46:47We've got three or four farmers that are around us that we might not see them for a month, two months kind of thing.
00:46:52It just brings us as a community all together and I guarantee you'll probably sit there
00:46:57and you'll hear us talking about sheep and cows and what Joe Gloves did down the road and this, that and the other.
00:47:01But that's just farmers and it definitely is just a way that us lot can get together and just have a laugh,
00:47:07put our feet up and relax a bit and then wake up the next morning and start it all over again.
00:47:13Us guys wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.
00:47:15Exactly that.
00:47:16Yes, Merry, Merry Christmas to you all.
00:47:18And a Happy New Year.
00:47:22Thanks to all involved there. What larks, eh?
00:47:27And we wish a Merry Christmas to everyone in our noble farming community
00:47:32and look forward to continuing our celebration of the newest generation of farmers on the show next year.
00:47:38Coming up, whether his rich vowels are wryly guiding morse in endeavour
00:47:43or flailing from one disaster to another as MP Peter Mannion in the thick of it,
00:47:48his voice conveys wisdom and gravitas.
00:47:51Roger Allum on the heart-soaring period drama from the pen of Alan Bennett, the choral.
00:47:58And he swept the public off their feet when he won that glitter ball back in 2008
00:48:03and he's been sweeping them off their feet ever since.
00:48:05Tom Chambers bringing the old razzle-dazzle to the barn this Christmas.
00:48:09And he's in a new play too.
00:48:11I'll be chatting with Tom right after this.
00:48:14Welcome back to Love Your Christmas.
00:48:29Coming up, he was the original Javert in Claude-Michel Schoenberg's Les Misérables.
00:48:35Roger Allum returning to his musical roots.
00:48:38And putting the booze into our panto-inspired Christmas party.
00:48:42Andy Clarke here with some wickedly good cocktails that'll have all your guests cheering for an encore.
00:48:48But first, my next guest career has featured a number of crazy twists of fate
00:48:52as well as some fantastic roles from Sam Strachan in Oldby City to Inspector Sullivan in Father Brown.
00:48:58But it was his strictly win back in 2008 that marked the beginning of a career
00:49:03that's seen him waltzing off with roles like these.
00:49:07Dr.
00:49:10While we're sequence.
00:49:12Before all we get it,
00:49:14we'll be there with our cats.
00:49:16We'll see the one inside.
00:49:18Let's see the one inside.
00:49:19Let's see the dance.
00:49:20Living of a light Christmas
00:49:35With every Christmas God I write
00:49:41May your days be merry and bright
00:49:48He's coming to town
00:49:52You better not cry
00:49:55You better not cry
00:49:56I'm telling you why
00:49:57You better not cry
00:49:59He's coming to town
00:50:00He's a big bad man
00:50:01With a long white beard
00:50:02He's coming to town
00:50:05Ending there on a show-stopping Charleston
00:50:11with Ota Mabuse.
00:50:12That was fast.
00:50:14That must have been a Bill Deamer choreography
00:50:16because Bill tends to do the Charleston
00:50:18He didn't top up with you.
00:50:20Ota and I did that
00:50:21and it was actually
00:50:22Yes, we didn't get to do the Charleston
00:50:24when I was on in 08
00:50:26So it was such a pleasure
00:50:27to be able to come back in
00:50:28I think it was 2014, 2015
00:50:29when we did that
00:50:30and saw Ota recently
00:50:32and she was very complimentary
00:50:33saying, yes, we did it together
00:50:35and now I know exactly how
00:50:37that it's rehearse, rehearse,
00:50:38practice, practice, drill it in, drill it in.
00:50:40But you know, you did do that
00:50:43rehearse, rehearse, practice, practice, drill it in
00:50:45We've got to see you on Strictly
00:50:46because you won it in 2008
00:50:48and this is why.
00:50:51They'd never believe it
00:51:09They'd never believe it
00:51:13If my friend could see me
00:51:18Do you know, it's probably because I'm old-fashioned,
00:51:30but when you see a good white tie-and-tails routine,
00:51:33particularly on Strictly,
00:51:34that for me, you think, yes, that's delightful
00:51:36and that was delightful.
00:51:38It won it for you, really, didn't it?
00:51:39Yes, I mean, it absolutely did.
00:51:41I mean, it's remarkable.
00:51:43I don't really remember a thing
00:51:44because you're in fight-or-flight mode
00:51:45and it's only when you watch it back
00:51:46you think it was someone else
00:51:47and then you can't believe it was actually you
00:51:50and all that stuff
00:51:51but it's all thanks to Strictly
00:51:52that I've managed to get
00:51:53all those other musical theatre jobs.
00:51:55But also, you rehearsed and rehearsed
00:51:57and rehearsed one particular routine.
00:52:00Tell me the story of this.
00:52:01Is it true you were offered a place
00:52:02in the Royal Variety Show
00:52:04and you said, I've got a routine I want to do,
00:52:05I'll get it ready
00:52:06and it took you so long to get it ready.
00:52:09You tell the story.
00:52:10Well, yes, my agent actually fired me
00:52:12for not doing Bob the Builder
00:52:14the arena tour
00:52:14and so I was without an agent
00:52:16having left drama school two years previously
00:52:18and I thought, how do I get a new agent?
00:52:19You turned down Bob the Builder on tour.
00:52:21The arena tour.
00:52:22Yeah.
00:52:22So I'd be driving a vehicle
00:52:23and I thought, this isn't really acting,
00:52:24this is kind of driving a vehicle
00:52:25through any mesh
00:52:26and so, can I wait for a proper acting job?
00:52:28She said, no,
00:52:29because they work on commission,
00:52:30I've got to let you go.
00:52:31How do I get a new agent?
00:52:32I know, I'll write a letter
00:52:33to the Royal Variety Show.
00:52:35Please come and do a tap dance
00:52:37on the Royal Variety Show.
00:52:38It was a tap drum kit
00:52:40in a horseshoe shape
00:52:41like from a damsel in distress.
00:52:43Fred Astaire did it.
00:52:44So it's the famous Fred Astaire routine?
00:52:46Yes.
00:52:47Yeah.
00:52:47And I went through the VHS
00:52:49on pause frame by frame.
00:52:50I wrote the letter.
00:52:51They said, great idea.
00:52:51Get it ready.
00:52:52And I knew it
00:52:53like nine months in advance.
00:52:55So I built the floor,
00:52:56put up the mirrors
00:52:58and got two second hand drum kits.
00:53:00Went through a VHS
00:53:01on pause frame by frame
00:53:02to get exactly what Fred Astaire was doing.
00:53:05Got it ready.
00:53:06Three weeks before,
00:53:07said, right,
00:53:08can I come and show you?
00:53:09And they said, no,
00:53:10we're full up now.
00:53:11We've got Mime Artist,
00:53:11Jugglers, Singers.
00:53:12We don't need you anymore.
00:53:13So I did all that work.
00:53:15I phoned my old school
00:53:16and said, can I just come
00:53:17and film it in the holidays
00:53:18on the school stage?
00:53:20And then I sent out 1,000 copies.
00:53:23400 to America,
00:53:24600 to the UK
00:53:25because that's the days
00:53:26when you sent out DVDs.
00:53:27It landed on the desk
00:53:28at Holby City.
00:53:30And in those days
00:53:32when they were the real thing
00:53:33rather than just digital,
00:53:34every three months
00:53:35they'd get through a pile
00:53:36that got to mine.
00:53:37Black and white,
00:53:37tap dance,
00:53:38no dialogue whatsoever.
00:53:39They were looking for
00:53:40an American doctor
00:53:40for two episodes
00:53:41and they thought,
00:53:42oh, Fred Astaire
00:53:43here was American.
00:53:44That guy must be American.
00:53:45That's how I got the audition.
00:53:47So you got rolling
00:53:48in Holby
00:53:50through tap dancing.
00:53:51Yes.
00:53:51We need to see this routine.
00:53:53It's a famous routine
00:53:54for the pros there.
00:53:55It is.
00:53:55I have to see you doing it.
00:53:56I'd have given you
00:54:17a job on anything.
00:54:19It's making me sweat
00:54:20just watching that.
00:54:21I've not seen that before.
00:54:22How long did it tell you
00:54:24to perfect it?
00:54:24About 5,000 hours
00:54:26pretty much
00:54:27because I was making the floor
00:54:28and putting everything together
00:54:30and it was insanity
00:54:32or I don't know what it was.
00:54:34I think it was my last ditch attempt
00:54:35because then I actually
00:54:36went into a fire station
00:54:37in London in Clapham
00:54:39to sign up to be a fireman
00:54:40and that's when I got a call
00:54:42saying you've actually
00:54:44got an audition for Holby City.
00:54:46Firefighting's loss
00:54:47is our game.
00:54:49So loving the sideboards
00:54:51because you've just come
00:54:52from a tour
00:54:53playing Inspector Morse
00:54:56in The House of Ghosts.
00:54:57Yes.
00:54:58Intimidating?
00:54:59Oh my word.
00:55:00I mean when the script came up
00:55:02it's actually written
00:55:03by Al McCullen
00:55:04one of the original TV writers
00:55:05from Morse.
00:55:07So it's a bit like you are
00:55:08if you're going to see it
00:55:10in a theatre
00:55:10it's like watching an episode
00:55:12of Morse being filmed
00:55:13live on stage
00:55:14in some ways
00:55:15because it's all happening
00:55:17in real time
00:55:17and the lovely
00:55:19wonderful John Thor
00:55:20you only have to close your eyes
00:55:21and you can see him there
00:55:22like a postage stamp
00:55:23and he's so iconic
00:55:25he's such a national treasure
00:55:26and he really is
00:55:29like a member of the audience
00:55:30and he was so un-policeman-like
00:55:32I actually have to go on stage
00:55:33into a state of utter relaxation.
00:55:35He was very grumpy though.
00:55:37Really curmudgeonly sort of guy.
00:55:39Do you enjoy that?
00:55:40Because you're generally playing
00:55:41quite bright and lively
00:55:42I mean even Sullivan
00:55:43has his moments
00:55:44of being bright and lively
00:55:44but Inspector Morse
00:55:45just really
00:55:46he's fed up with life.
00:55:49Yes.
00:55:50I think it's that
00:55:50getting that kind of sarcasm
00:55:52and the kind of
00:55:52the wry smile
00:55:53of the Lewis
00:55:54the relationship
00:55:56between Morse and Lewis
00:55:58for me is also
00:55:59personally wonderful
00:55:59because in 2009
00:56:01I did
00:56:01I played a horrible
00:56:03horrible
00:56:04headmaster on Waterloo Road
00:56:06and I had to
00:56:07really tell off this pupil
00:56:09and bang on the desk
00:56:10because he was being
00:56:11a naughty boy
00:56:11and that's Tatchie Newell
00:56:1217 years later
00:56:14he's now playing Lewis
00:56:15and we have
00:56:16such great chemistry
00:56:18he's such a lovely guy
00:56:20but it's going down well
00:56:21you're having a break
00:56:22for Christmas
00:56:22sending you back
00:56:23doing this again
00:56:23yeah so we
00:56:24we are starting
00:56:25on the 6th of Jan
00:56:26and we go up
00:56:26until the 18th of April
00:56:28all around the country
00:56:29and it is pure
00:56:31and utter joy
00:56:32delightful
00:56:33we can still see you
00:56:35right now
00:56:36doing Inspector Sullivan
00:56:37shall we see you
00:56:39get married
00:56:39to Mrs Divine
00:56:41here we are
00:56:42in the name of the Father
00:56:51the Son
00:56:54and the Holy Ghost
00:56:56Amen
00:57:02I also promise
00:57:17we will stay
00:57:19in Kembleford
00:57:20if you'd like to
00:57:23yes I would
00:57:31thank you very much
00:57:31thank you very much
00:57:31thank you very much
00:57:38thank you very much
00:57:40Father Brown
00:57:49there you are
00:57:50watching over you
00:57:51because you
00:57:52you were there
00:57:53at the beginning
00:57:53then you went away
00:57:54a bit
00:57:55and now you've come back
00:57:56yes I
00:57:57I went up
00:57:58when I joined
00:57:59I thought hang on a minute
00:58:00all I do is get it wrong
00:58:02if I arrest anyone
00:58:03if you see me driving
00:58:04someone in the back of a car
00:58:05you know they're innocent
00:58:06and so I'm the foil
00:58:08I'm the stooge
00:58:08and now I say
00:58:09I've got too much energy
00:58:10for this
00:58:10I need to be jumping
00:58:11out of windows
00:58:12and things like that
00:58:13and then as soon as I left
00:58:14I wrote every year
00:58:15for seven years
00:58:16because I realised
00:58:17what a gorgeous job it was
00:58:19please can I come back
00:58:20because it's one in one out
00:58:21when the new guy goes
00:58:22can I come back
00:58:23and so I'm very lucky
00:58:24to be back
00:58:24it's such a lovely group of people
00:58:26the stories
00:58:27it's now becoming
00:58:28quite a guilty pleasure
00:58:30for a younger audience
00:58:33as well as
00:58:33may let's say
00:58:34a lovely
00:58:35wonderful mature audience
00:58:36yes
00:58:37do you find yourself
00:58:38when you're in a straight play
00:58:39longing to do a musical again
00:58:40and when you're in a musical
00:58:41longing to do a straight play again
00:58:42is it the usual dichotomy
00:58:43gosh there's a certain amount
00:58:45of relief
00:58:46but then
00:58:47I mean theatre really
00:58:48is like going to the gym
00:58:49it's a gymnasium
00:58:50craft for actors
00:58:51because the audience
00:58:52end up conducting
00:58:53they end up being
00:58:55the conductors
00:58:56of the piece
00:58:57because we learn it
00:58:58but then
00:58:59when something happens
00:59:01you're in the moment
00:59:02and you do something
00:59:03a reaction
00:59:04and the audience
00:59:05just like
00:59:05and you can hear
00:59:06that ah
00:59:07they want to come in
00:59:08for that
00:59:08and they want to enjoy
00:59:09that moment
00:59:10so tomorrow night
00:59:11I'm going to leave it
00:59:11a little bit
00:59:12let them in
00:59:12it's amazing
00:59:14it's such an incredible dynamic
00:59:16because the audience
00:59:18tell you how much
00:59:19you need to push
00:59:20or pull
00:59:20in terms of like
00:59:21bigger, smaller
00:59:22it's really remarkable
00:59:24but with television
00:59:25yeah it's wonderful
00:59:26to be able to
00:59:26really really
00:59:27think and feel
00:59:29of telling a moment
00:59:30in a variety of places
00:59:31if you're lucky enough to
00:59:32I always just feel
00:59:33very grateful to be working
00:59:34so I'll pretty much
00:59:35take anything
00:59:36thank you
00:59:37he'll take anything
00:59:39I'll take
00:59:39well within reason
00:59:41but yes
00:59:42well we enjoy
00:59:42what you've taken so far
00:59:44so just keep it up
00:59:44thanks Tom
00:59:46festive icon now
00:59:48the cheerful image
00:59:49of a red-breasted
00:59:51robin perched
00:59:52in the middle
00:59:52of a snowy winter scene
00:59:54probably on the gardener's
00:59:55spade handle
00:59:55is a popular theme
00:59:57on many a Christmas card
00:59:58well if you're looking
00:59:59at more cultural references
01:00:01relating to this
01:00:02popular garden visitor
01:00:03I may know
01:00:04just the lady
01:00:05here's Leslie Joseph's
01:00:07festive tale
01:00:07of erythacus rubecula
01:00:09the robin
01:00:10take it away Leslie
01:00:12thank you Alan
01:00:13how lovely to see
01:00:15dear Roger Allum
01:00:16on the show
01:00:16I so admired
01:00:18his mercutio
01:00:18in Romeo and Juliet
01:00:20please do pass on
01:00:21my best
01:00:22now to something else
01:00:24that always puts on
01:00:25a splendid performance
01:00:26your friend and mine
01:00:28the robin
01:00:29yes dear viewer
01:00:30in this month
01:00:32of roaring fires
01:00:33hot chocolates
01:00:33presents and tinsel
01:00:35who could forget
01:00:36our most Christmassy
01:00:37resident
01:00:37oh robin
01:00:39you are simply
01:00:41too gorgeous
01:00:42with its plumped up
01:00:44red breast
01:00:44and sweet song
01:00:45this tiny garden visitor
01:00:48is a true
01:00:49festive favourite
01:00:50a competitive
01:00:52little fellow
01:00:53male robins
01:00:54often have sing-offs
01:00:55where they duet
01:00:56loudly with each other
01:00:57think ball and bow
01:00:59with feathers
01:01:00have you ever heard
01:01:01a robin sing
01:01:02bring him home
01:01:04no me neither
01:01:06did you know
01:01:09in the 17th century
01:01:10it was popular
01:01:11to give familiar birds
01:01:13human names
01:01:14like
01:01:14Jenny Wren
01:01:15Jackdaw
01:01:16and Tom Tit
01:01:17over time
01:01:18robin red breast
01:01:20became robin
01:01:21I knew a robin once
01:01:24wonderful biceps
01:01:25Leslie
01:01:27moving swiftly on
01:01:29but I now leave you
01:01:32with some words
01:01:33from the classic
01:01:34mother goose rhyme
01:01:35t'was once upon a time
01:01:37when Jenny Wren
01:01:38was young
01:01:39so taintily she danced
01:01:42and so prettily she sung
01:01:44robin red breast
01:01:45lost his heart
01:01:47for he was
01:01:48a gallant bird
01:01:50oh robin
01:01:51you old romantic
01:01:53and on that note
01:01:55it's just time
01:01:56to wish you all
01:01:57a very
01:01:58merry Christmas
01:02:00merry Christmas
01:02:02one
01:02:03and all
01:02:04thanks Leslie
01:02:07and a very happy
01:02:08Christmas to you
01:02:08just stay away
01:02:10from the mistletoe
01:02:11panto tipples
01:02:13are on their way
01:02:14Buttons himself
01:02:15Andy Clark's here
01:02:16with the cocktails
01:02:17that aren't
01:02:18wishy-washy
01:02:19and he's the man
01:02:20who launched
01:02:21a thousand memes
01:02:22as the beleaguered Tory MP
01:02:23in the thick of it
01:02:24and starred in the original production
01:02:26of Les Miserables
01:02:27Roger Allum
01:02:27on making
01:02:28not so sweet music
01:02:29in the Alan Bennett
01:02:31scripted film
01:02:32The Choral
01:02:32I'll be back with Roger
01:02:34and the panto tipples
01:02:36right after this
01:02:38welcome back to Love Your Christmas
01:02:53coming up
01:02:54from a sipping beauty
01:02:55to a whoops
01:02:56there go my bloomers
01:02:57the pantomime
01:02:58comes to Manor Farm
01:02:59Andy Clark
01:03:00otherwise known as Buttons
01:03:02with the festive cocktails
01:03:03inspired by our best loved
01:03:05panto characters
01:03:06he wanted to play
01:03:08Widow Twankey
01:03:08but our costume department
01:03:09had been run ragged
01:03:10today as it is
01:03:11now Sunday afternoons
01:03:12this time of year
01:03:13can be long chilly
01:03:14expanses of grey
01:03:16more grey
01:03:17and a bit more grey
01:03:18after that
01:03:19the roast beef
01:03:20and Yorkshire puds
01:03:21are lying heavily
01:03:22but it's too cold
01:03:23for a walk around the block
01:03:25to aid the digestion
01:03:26so what could be better
01:03:27than cuddling up
01:03:28on a sofa
01:03:29watching your favourite drama
01:03:31and it doesn't get better
01:03:32than this one
01:03:33two years in uniform
01:03:35before being transferred
01:03:36to CID
01:03:37Morse sir
01:03:38good man
01:03:38the truth of it is
01:03:40he lacks experience
01:03:41I'm bringing him on
01:03:42keep your head down
01:03:44and your nose clean
01:03:44concentrate on your police squad
01:03:46learn your trade
01:03:47the world
01:03:48will be watched
01:03:51a body's been found
01:03:55looks like murder
01:03:56there's wickedness
01:03:57in this morse
01:03:58a killing
01:03:59just for the sheer hell of it
01:04:01he's left us a message
01:04:02it's been staring us
01:04:03in the face all along
01:04:04solve the puzzle
01:04:06saves the child
01:04:07you do seem
01:04:08an unlikely policeman
01:04:09jack of all trades
01:04:10not every question
01:04:12gets an answer
01:04:13it's not enough
01:04:14sometimes it has to be
01:04:15officer down
01:04:16Morse
01:04:17that is a very cynical attitude
01:04:18and one I advise you
01:04:19to shake up sooner
01:04:20rather than later
01:04:21I'm a good detective
01:04:23and a poor policeman
01:04:24no one can teach you
01:04:25the first
01:04:25when they talk about
01:04:28a prequel
01:04:28sometimes my heart sinks
01:04:30because you think
01:04:31oh they're trying to
01:04:32milk more out of this
01:04:33than was actually
01:04:34but my goodness me
01:04:35Endeavor was well up to the mark
01:04:38what was your thought
01:04:39Roger when you were offered it
01:04:40I mean did you think
01:04:41oh right or what
01:04:43no I was very pleased
01:04:44because I'd
01:04:45you know I'd read the script
01:04:46I loved the character
01:04:47basically
01:04:49who
01:04:50very much
01:04:52sort of
01:04:52comes from
01:04:53that generation
01:04:54of my
01:04:55real family
01:04:57and
01:04:59you know
01:05:00my heart sank
01:05:01when they asked
01:05:02to do it for three years
01:05:04I thought
01:05:04oh I can't
01:05:05three years
01:05:06I can't do that
01:05:07so I agreed to do two
01:05:09and then very cunningly
01:05:12and correctly
01:05:13I think
01:05:13after that
01:05:14they
01:05:15never said
01:05:16again
01:05:17right
01:05:17can you sign up
01:05:18it just got renewed
01:05:20year by year
01:05:21actors
01:05:23a lot of actors
01:05:24don't like being stuck
01:05:25the prospect of something
01:05:26you know
01:05:26when you don't know
01:05:27but what a double act
01:05:29you and Sean Evans there
01:05:30it was
01:05:31it's always wonderful
01:05:32watching television
01:05:33where you can see
01:05:34the characters
01:05:35thinking
01:05:36and the chemistry
01:05:38between people
01:05:39really shows
01:05:40and it shows
01:05:41between you two
01:05:42I'm so glad
01:05:44to hear you say that
01:05:44because we worked
01:05:45very very hard
01:05:46on it
01:05:47you know
01:05:47and we questioned
01:05:48everything
01:05:49you know
01:05:49I can't imagine
01:05:50being as
01:05:51working as closely
01:05:53with another actor
01:05:54ever again
01:05:55over such a long
01:05:56period of time
01:05:57and Anton as well
01:05:59you know
01:05:59who I'd known
01:06:00for years
01:06:01it's versatility
01:06:02with you
01:06:03it seems to me
01:06:04we'll talk about
01:06:05musicals
01:06:06we'll talk about
01:06:06Les Mis
01:06:07in a minute
01:06:08but a film
01:06:09that's just come out
01:06:11Alan Bennett
01:06:12great playwright
01:06:13Nick Heitner
01:06:14great director
01:06:15called The Choral
01:06:17about a choral society
01:06:18up in Yorkshire
01:06:20about to do
01:06:21the dream of Gerontius
01:06:22during the war
01:06:23let's just have a clip
01:06:24to put us in the mood
01:06:25for The Choral
01:06:26you've been dealt
01:06:28some rough cards
01:06:29this gentleman
01:06:36wants to know
01:06:36if any of you
01:06:37can sing
01:06:38limb lost
01:06:41not to mention
01:06:41the things you've seen
01:06:42a man should hear
01:06:48a little music
01:06:49every day of his life
01:06:51so worldly cares
01:06:52may not obliterate
01:06:53the beautiful
01:06:55in the human soul
01:06:57oh that is nice
01:07:00who said it?
01:07:01Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
01:07:03for God's sake
01:07:04man
01:07:04lower your voice
01:07:05you get to sing in it
01:07:09I mean you get to sing
01:07:10the title role of Gerontius
01:07:11now we know you can sing
01:07:13but what was it like?
01:07:14yes I don't really get to sing the title
01:07:16I mean I get to try and sing it
01:07:18and indeed when I was sent the script
01:07:20I thought wow
01:07:21this is a tenor
01:07:23I can't
01:07:23I'm not a tenor
01:07:24I'm a baritone
01:07:25and I can't do that
01:07:27and then it was explained to me
01:07:28that all the
01:07:29all the sort of
01:07:31serious solo stuff
01:07:33would be dubbed over
01:07:35what we did
01:07:36so
01:07:36I just had
01:07:37you know
01:07:38when we were filming it
01:07:39I just had to sing
01:07:40badly
01:07:41which was very easy to do
01:07:43when I was trying to sing tenor
01:07:44you know
01:07:45far too high
01:07:46to be gay
01:07:47great working with Alan Bennett script
01:07:49I presume
01:07:49oh wonderful
01:07:50it was a wonderful script
01:07:51there were lots again
01:07:52old friends
01:07:53in it
01:07:54who you know
01:07:55we all sort of
01:07:56swirl around
01:07:57when you're of a certain generation
01:07:58you kind of swirl around
01:07:59and pick up with each other
01:08:01you know
01:08:02a few years down the line
01:08:03and a wonderful bunch of young actors in it as well
01:08:07really really talented and lovely
01:08:09my first encounter with you
01:08:12the first time I became really conscious of Roger Allen as an actor
01:08:16was Roger Allen as a singer
01:08:17because it was in Les Mis
01:08:19you were the very first Javert
01:08:21what is it's 40th anniversary now
01:08:25and let's have a reminder
01:08:27not that we need a reminder
01:08:28this is the 25th anniversary concert of Les Miserables
01:08:33the time
01:08:35is now
01:08:36the day
01:08:37is now
01:08:38one day more
01:08:41one day more
01:08:43to revolution
01:08:44we'll nip it in the bun
01:08:47we'll be ready for these schoolboys
01:08:50they will wet themselves with love
01:08:52one day more
01:08:54one day more
01:08:54one day more
01:08:54one day more
01:08:55one day more
01:08:56one day more
01:08:56one day more
01:08:57one day more
01:08:58they're a little tip
01:08:59they're a little touch
01:09:00lots of them have gone
01:09:02now it's 40 years
01:09:16and it's so well established
01:09:18and it's such a part of the canon now
01:09:20of musical theatre
01:09:20but it wasn't necessarily so
01:09:23when it opened in the Barbican
01:09:24was it all those years ago?
01:09:25no not at all
01:09:26I mean it was quite a lot longer as well
01:09:29but no it wasn't
01:09:32and it got very mixed reviews really
01:09:35but the audiences always loved it
01:09:38always
01:09:39did you enjoy the role?
01:09:40I mean you were the villain of the piece
01:09:41in the way in which it was staged
01:09:42they always say the villain's far more funny
01:09:44you've played Abanaza in Panto
01:09:46we talked about that
01:09:47but Javert, great role to play
01:09:49oh a wonderful role
01:09:50and I'd seen the film with Charles Lawton
01:09:54in which I thought he was just fantastic
01:09:56yes it's a great role
01:09:58and they are interesting
01:10:00because he's not just sort of
01:10:01he's not just evil
01:10:03he isn't evil
01:10:04he doesn't think he's evil
01:10:05he's trying very very hard not to be evil
01:10:09and to be good and live a morally good life
01:10:13and becomes obsessed with catching Valjean
01:10:17who he thinks is a criminal
01:10:19who's got away with it
01:10:20the variety of roles is astonishing
01:10:23you played Gordon Rees
01:10:25who was Mrs Thatcher
01:10:27Lady Thatcher's advisor
01:10:29and here you are working with Meryl Streep
01:10:32in The Iron Lady
01:10:34no matter how I've tried
01:10:37and I have tried
01:10:38to fit in
01:10:40I know I will never be truly one of them
01:10:42if I may say so
01:10:44I think that's your trump card
01:10:46you're flying in the face
01:10:47of everything the Tories have been thus far
01:10:49it's really terribly exciting
01:10:52one simply has to maximise your appeal
01:10:56bring out all your qualities
01:10:59and make you look and sound
01:11:02like the leader that you could be
01:11:03you've got it in you to go the whole distance
01:11:06absolutely
01:11:06what?
01:11:09Prime Minister?
01:11:10Prime Minister?
01:11:10oh no
01:11:13oh no
01:11:15no no
01:11:17in Britain
01:11:18there will be no female prime minister
01:11:21here
01:11:22not in my lifetime
01:11:24no
01:11:25she is amazing at inhabiting a character
01:11:29isn't she Meryl Streep
01:11:30I mean just to start
01:11:31the mannerisms
01:11:32the voice
01:11:33she just was
01:11:35Margaret Thatcher
01:11:35yeah
01:11:35and she was a real
01:11:37she was a real proper actor as well
01:11:39there was no grandiosity about her
01:11:43you know
01:11:44she
01:11:45she didn't have to
01:11:47although we all work in different ways
01:11:50but she really didn't have to
01:11:51stay as Margaret Thatcher all the time
01:11:54you know
01:11:55when you're hanging around on set
01:11:57and also she did a thing which
01:11:59for some of her status
01:12:01is just great
01:12:02you know when we do reverse shots
01:12:04yeah
01:12:04of a scene
01:12:05and the only way they could get my eyeline right
01:12:08was by going right down on the floor
01:12:11so she got by the camera right down on the floor
01:12:14kind of like that
01:12:16as Margaret Thatcher
01:12:18it was great
01:12:19because normally they'd send her
01:12:21an extra
01:12:22yeah absolutely
01:12:22she wanted to do it
01:12:24she was lovely
01:12:24lovely
01:12:25from your point of view
01:12:27I mean you work with so many greats
01:12:28but you particularly worked recently
01:12:31with Ian McKellen
01:12:33in that glorious two-hander
01:12:35which you've now made a film of
01:12:36yes we've just
01:12:37we finished it a few weeks ago
01:12:39and it was
01:12:41again absolutely lovely
01:12:43because
01:12:44the script was excellent
01:12:46it had expanded the play
01:12:47so there were more characters in it
01:12:49so it's no longer
01:12:50just a two-hander
01:12:51this is Frank and Percy
01:12:52Frank and Percy
01:12:53yes
01:12:53and we obviously had a fair amount of knowledge
01:13:00of the lines and stuff like that
01:13:01because you'd done the play
01:13:02yeah
01:13:02and for the first time in my life
01:13:07it filmed very near to where I live
01:13:10it was just great
01:13:11and a starry cast
01:13:13yes
01:13:14yes
01:13:14loads of gorgeous people in it
01:13:17Joanna Lumley was in it
01:13:18and Sian Phillips
01:13:19and Stephen Fry
01:13:20and
01:13:21shooty Gatwa
01:13:22so Nighthoods and Damehoods are go-go
01:13:24oh yes
01:13:24yes
01:13:25yes
01:13:25you're not at all snooty about the acting profession
01:13:29which you're like
01:13:29you've done panto and loved it
01:13:31again with Ian McKellen
01:13:32yes
01:13:32yes
01:13:33that was my second panto
01:13:35I did a first
01:13:36I did a first panto many years before
01:13:38at Glasgow Citizens Theatre
01:13:40in about 1980
01:13:42I was another villain
01:13:44it was
01:13:44my homage to Terry Thomas
01:13:47as the wicked sheriff of Nottingham
01:13:49Gary Oldman was in it
01:13:51as Daniel the Dog
01:13:52excuse me
01:13:54Sir Gary Oldman
01:13:55called Daniel the Dog
01:13:57Daniel the Dog
01:13:58he
01:13:58he
01:13:58barked and pointed at the song sheet
01:14:02with a stick
01:14:03Robbie Coltrane was Little John
01:14:06the script was by the great John Byrne
01:14:10the artist who
01:14:11who was also a writer
01:14:13that was great fun
01:14:15and then
01:14:15and then the one with Ian
01:14:16I loved it
01:14:17it was lovely working with Ian
01:14:19we shared a dressing room
01:14:20and he had
01:14:21he had
01:14:22all the space in it
01:14:23there was a long long line of
01:14:25costumes and wigs
01:14:27and
01:14:27all his different makeup
01:14:29and jewels
01:14:30and outfits
01:14:31and stuff like that
01:14:32and I was right down in the corner
01:14:33you know
01:14:34but
01:14:35we had such a laugh doing it
01:14:37and
01:14:37honestly
01:14:38when we did the curtain call
01:14:39the old Vic
01:14:42shook
01:14:43I don't think
01:14:44I've ever experienced
01:14:46curtain calls like that
01:14:47they just had a ball
01:14:48lovely to talk to you Roger
01:14:50very nice to talk to you
01:14:51you'll join us for a glass
01:14:52of some very strange cocktails
01:14:54with very weird names
01:14:55now before we indulge ourselves
01:14:58in today's panto inspired
01:14:59best of British
01:15:00it's time
01:15:00to indulge ourselves
01:15:01in a different way
01:15:02in today's
01:15:03ode to joy
01:15:04music
01:15:21music
01:15:25music
01:15:29music
01:17:02That was the glorious Hebrides, courtesy of These Wild Adventures, set to the Pagint Suite by Edvard Grieg.
01:17:10Coming up, we're simply having a wonderful Christmas time. It'll be even more so after today's Best in British, from a whoops, there go my bloomers, thank you Victoria Wood, to Beanstalk Booster.
01:17:22Andy Clark's getting in the panto spirit with the Party Cocktail Creations that have already got our guests rocking around the Christmas tree. I'll be back with Andy and my Christmas party guests, if they're in any way capable of speaking, after this.
01:17:36Georgie, do mind the baubles.
01:17:40Welcome back to Love Your Christmas.
01:17:54Yes, still to come, taking time out from his panto Sleeping Beauty in Tunbridge Wells and performing just for us today, Lee Mead, supported by a gospel choir, treats us to a festive ditty. And I do like a festive ditty.
01:18:06Best of British time now, and a pantomime special. And when our resident mixologist caught wind that there was dressing up a plenty going on in today's show, he wasn't going to miss out on the action for Love Nor Money.
01:18:19Oh, yes, he was.
01:18:21Oh, no, he wasn't.
01:18:23Get on the line, won't you? Serving up an array of theatrical name cocktails. Welcome. Manor Farm's very own Buttons, Mr. Andy Clark.
01:18:32Well, hello. How are we doing? All right? Good.
01:18:36Even better in a minute, I think.
01:18:37Good, good. Well, it is panto season and we've got some outrageously theatrical cocktails to celebrate that.
01:18:44So we're going to start here with this cocktail. Get that one in your head. And I'm calling this, oh, no, it isn't.
01:18:50And the reason why, because when I say to you, there's alcohol in this cocktail, you've got to go, oh, no, there isn't.
01:18:56You got it right. Brilliant. So this is a non-alcoholic cocktail. And the base of this is Clearer Twist French Pink Tonic.
01:19:04It's made with hibiscus, raspberry and rose. And also it's made with a high alkaline water content, which has a natural sweetness, so you don't put artificial sugars in there.
01:19:13So we've got that with a dash of spiced blackberry vinegar. If you're not using alcohol in a non-alcoholic cocktail, using a vinegar, a flavoured vinegar is a really good way to get some zing.
01:19:24And this is from Hampshire and it's spiced blackberry. So try that. And it's pink all the way. And you've got it. It's like a little snow globe.
01:19:30Can you see? A little snow scene with a Christmas tree in it.
01:19:32Yeah, how'd you get that? How'd you get that?
01:19:34There was so much there, I can't remember a thing that's in it there.
01:19:37If you want to, you can put more of the vinegar in there if you want a really zingy cocktail.
01:19:41And some chips. And some chips.
01:19:43Why'd you put enough vinegar in?
01:19:45You could dip some fish in it.
01:19:46You're very quiet down this end. Did we like that one, Linda?
01:19:48Delicious.
01:19:49Yes, I think it's quite complex for a non-alcoholic drink.
01:19:53Well, it's because it's got all that alkaline in it, isn't it?
01:19:55It's reminded me of kombucha that's like vinegar-y.
01:19:58Ooh.
01:19:59That natural, almost sour zing in there.
01:20:00Yeah, yeah.
01:20:01Absolutely.
01:20:02Wonderful, right.
01:20:03Onto the second one.
01:20:04Look at this.
01:20:05Something a little bit more devilish now.
01:20:06This is what I'm putting my sipping beauty.
01:20:08The idea that when sleeping beauty awakes from her slumber, she'd want something nice and luxurious.
01:20:13This is made with Devon Cove hazelnut liqueur and Devon Cove vodka.
01:20:18Ooh.
01:20:19It's a potato vodka, which is a smooth vodka.
01:20:21I've put cream and chocolate bitters in there.
01:20:23See what you think.
01:20:24Ooh, Miss Higgins, you're going to love this.
01:20:27It looks like a pudding.
01:20:28It's a homemade cream liqueur, basically.
01:20:31Do you get that natural hint of hazelnut?
01:20:33Roger, was that a wince?
01:20:35Or a...
01:20:36Kind of a wince, yeah.
01:20:37Too sickly for you.
01:20:38A bit...
01:20:39Yes, it was the creaminess that they offered.
01:20:41Mmm.
01:20:42I'll have it.
01:20:43I don't like that.
01:20:44I'm putting it.
01:20:45I'd want a spoon, actually.
01:20:46Yeah.
01:20:47Linda?
01:20:48I loved it.
01:20:49Mmm.
01:20:50No.
01:20:51No.
01:20:52Oh, it's not your thing.
01:20:53Oh, so you and Roger are too sickly.
01:20:54Is it the potato?
01:20:55Is it the potato?
01:20:56No.
01:20:57I like the alcohol.
01:20:58You like the alcohol level?
01:20:59In it, yeah.
01:21:00Good.
01:21:01You've got to actually make these quite boozy because otherwise it just becomes like a melted ice cream or something.
01:21:05Yeah.
01:21:06So you need to make sure that you've got some actual neat vodka in there as well as the liqueur.
01:21:10But if you're not a sweet fan or a nut fan, you might not like it.
01:21:13It's very deceiving because it looks...
01:21:16Yeah.
01:21:17It tastes completely different to how it looks.
01:21:18It looks like it's going to be something just smooth and gentle.
01:21:21Yeah.
01:21:22Like a Bailey's, perhaps, but actually it's a killer.
01:21:25It's got poke.
01:21:26It's got poke.
01:21:27Right.
01:21:28Okay.
01:21:29So we have two main ingredients here.
01:21:31Dutch Barn Vodka from North Yorkshire.
01:21:32It is their Sour Cherry Vodka, which is beautiful.
01:21:34So we have two main ingredients here.
01:21:36And then to go with that, we have Old Pulteney.
01:21:3912-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whiskey.
01:21:40Ooh.
01:21:41Absolutely.
01:21:42And that's what we've got here.
01:21:43What we've got here, if you shake your little bauble, shake your bauble.
01:21:44Go shake it.
01:21:45Inside there is some lovely edible glitter.
01:21:46Some drinkable glitter from Enchanted Drinks.
01:21:47Look at it.
01:21:48Look.
01:21:49I'm looking.
01:21:50I'm looking.
01:21:51So we have two main ingredients here.
01:21:52Dutch Barn Vodka from North Yorkshire.
01:21:54It is their Sour Cherry Vodka, which is beautiful.
01:21:59Really, really lovely ingredient.
01:22:01And then to go with that, we have Old Pulteney, 12-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whiskey.
01:22:07Ooh.
01:22:08Absolutely.
01:22:09And that's from Wick in Caithness.
01:22:11So try this.
01:22:12Vodka and whiskey mixed together?
01:22:14Absolutely.
01:22:15So it's almost like my take on a bit of a... Widow Twanky's take on an old-fashioned.
01:22:20Wow.
01:22:21I think she'd quite like a strong drink, right?
01:22:22Oh, that is true.
01:22:23Just don't put a match near your mouth.
01:22:25Yeah.
01:22:26Wow.
01:22:27You could embalm someone in that.
01:22:28Delicious.
01:22:29You're glad you're sitting down, Linda.
01:22:30That's right.
01:22:31I'm glad I'm sitting on a low chair.
01:22:32Go on, Roger.
01:22:33You're speaking to someone.
01:22:34I spent quite a long time in Panto sharing a dressing room with Ian McKellen, who was playing
01:22:42Widow Twanky.
01:22:43In a sense, I was within touching distance of his extraordinary twanking.
01:22:48We will be after this.
01:22:51Yes.
01:22:52That is powerful.
01:22:54It is...
01:22:55Do we like...
01:22:56We all think it's powerful just too strong.
01:22:58It is too strong.
01:22:59It is too strong for George.
01:23:00It's very warming, though.
01:23:01Warming.
01:23:02Yeah.
01:23:03Too strong, but it's very...
01:23:04It's like a spell.
01:23:05It's like looking into a spell.
01:23:07It is extraordinary.
01:23:08Yeah.
01:23:09Yes, you could scry at that.
01:23:10I mean, dangerous.
01:23:11Deadly.
01:23:12It's a Harry Potter.
01:23:13What about the next one, then?
01:23:14The next one we have called...
01:23:15Whoops, there go my bloomers.
01:23:17Because if you put mead and rum in a mulled cocktail, then quite frankly you'll probably
01:23:22lose an item of clothing at some point.
01:23:24But if you're with Widow Twanky, she'll launder them for you anyway.
01:23:26Ooh.
01:23:27This is...
01:23:28The base of this is Moon Honey Mulled Mead from Devon.
01:23:31Father and Son team making different meads, which is a fermented honey drink.
01:23:36They've steeped it with star anise, cinnamon and cloves.
01:23:40I've heated it up and then added Sly Dog Spiced Rum from Dorset.
01:23:45It's a Caribbean blend which comes to Dorset.
01:23:47They put fruits and spices in there and that is the result.
01:23:52And it should be served nice and hot.
01:23:54It feels quite medicinal.
01:23:55Is that a good thing, Georgie, or not?
01:23:58It could be very comforting if you were feeling a bit poorly.
01:24:01If it was really cold.
01:24:02Yes, I think it's quite cold in here.
01:24:04Imagine it piping hot.
01:24:05Yeah.
01:24:06It's really Christmassy.
01:24:07I can imagine.
01:24:08Tom, do you like it?
01:24:09Mmm.
01:24:10Mmm.
01:24:11Mmm.
01:24:12Yeah.
01:24:13Okay, you've got one chance to...
01:24:15Okay.
01:24:16Well, my last cocktail here is my Beanstalk Booster.
01:24:19Right.
01:24:20So, a nod to Jack and the Beanstalk.
01:24:22This is made using Nadar Gin from Angus in Scotland.
01:24:25Nadar means nature in Gaelic.
01:24:27And the base of this gin is broad bean.
01:24:30You can basically make a gin out of broad beans.
01:24:33It's a climate-positive gin.
01:24:35I have put it with apple juice that I have mulled myself today.
01:24:39And then chilled down and then put with ice.
01:24:41That's really nice.
01:24:42And the great thing about this is the beans take on nitrogen from the air
01:24:45and then enrich the soil.
01:24:46So, it's actually a climate-positive gin.
01:24:49And, yeah.
01:24:50And I've got some...
01:24:51I think I've got half the garden of Manna Farm in there.
01:24:53It's because I've put some pea shoots on the top.
01:24:56Yeah.
01:24:57Another legume.
01:24:58Ooh.
01:24:59I feel like being healthy at the same time.
01:25:00Mmm.
01:25:01Cloudy apple juice.
01:25:02Get your greens.
01:25:03That would be a really nice spring time drink.
01:25:04It's kind of fresh.
01:25:05It's fresh.
01:25:06It is fresh.
01:25:07You could actually serve that warm if you wanted.
01:25:09Yeah.
01:25:10I love the gin is so smooth.
01:25:11And I think you rarely see spirits made with something like broad beans.
01:25:15And I thought that was a really, really interesting gin and I would definitely have that.
01:25:19Some would say there's a very good reason why.
01:25:21However, that is very nice.
01:25:23Good.
01:25:24I don't think I'd ever had expected to talk about nitrifying bacteria during the course
01:25:29of a dinner session.
01:25:30But it's very true.
01:25:31They have nodules on the roots.
01:25:32They do indeed.
01:25:33Do they?
01:25:34Wow.
01:25:35Voting.
01:25:36Do we like that one?
01:25:37I do like that one.
01:25:38I like this one and I like that one.
01:25:40And that one.
01:25:41And the non-alcoholic.
01:25:42Yeah.
01:25:43But those two are too strong for me.
01:25:44Right.
01:25:45Linda?
01:25:46Favourite was the non-alcoholic, which I didn't expect, but that's my favourite.
01:25:49I like this one.
01:25:50Good.
01:25:51And this is delicious.
01:25:52It is.
01:25:53Rebecca?
01:25:54I think there's a time and a place for all of them.
01:25:56I agree.
01:25:57But I would say this one is a little on the strong side, right?
01:26:00But I would, you know, I'd make use.
01:26:02Roger.
01:26:03I think the non-alcoholic one and the really strong one.
01:26:07Yeah.
01:26:08Oh, really?
01:26:09Yeah, I'm with you.
01:26:10If you wanted a hit.
01:26:11Yeah.
01:26:12How about mixing together?
01:26:13You could combine the two.
01:26:14Exactly.
01:26:15That's actually not a bad idea.
01:26:16In fact.
01:26:17Shall we give it a go?
01:26:18Go on.
01:26:19Give it a go.
01:26:20He's so much braver than I ever am with.
01:26:21Oh, look.
01:26:22Now that looks great.
01:26:23Oh, look.
01:26:24Now we get the movement of it, don't we?
01:26:25I'm going to try it too.
01:26:26Chin chin.
01:26:27You're right.
01:26:28This is a Harry Potter potion.
01:26:29Oh, smell it, isn't it?
01:26:30With the rosemary.
01:26:31Put it in the book.
01:26:32Put it in the book.
01:26:33Yeah.
01:26:34Next book.
01:26:35Oh, that's the one.
01:26:36Add it to the book.
01:26:37That's gorgeous, isn't it?
01:26:38Have you done it?
01:26:39Yes.
01:26:40We've never done this before.
01:26:41Mixing the two.
01:26:42And egging the two.
01:26:43I'm going to take the one.
01:26:44Yes.
01:26:45Now at this top.
01:26:47That looks really good.
01:26:48Oh, no.
01:26:49That's it for this week's chemistry lesson.
01:26:53What a time we've had.
01:26:55Thanks to all my guests.
01:26:56To Roger, to Tom, Linda, Georgie, Rebecca.
01:26:58Georgie, Rebecca and, of course, to Andy,
01:27:00who's doing his best to make it impossible for us all to stand up.
01:27:03We're all being very self-controlled and being very careful,
01:27:06but they are... That mixture is quite delicious.
01:27:08We'll be back on New Year's Day
01:27:10when I'll be joined by Bonnie Langford
01:27:12and Rab C. Nesbitt himself, actor and comedian, Gregor Fisher.
01:27:16Up next, Fletcher's Family Farm.
01:27:18And this isn't a good act, I can actually still say that after sampling these.
01:27:21And you can also catch them for a special Christmas edition
01:27:23on the 28th of December.
01:27:25But we'll leave you now with a real festive treat,
01:27:28performing In My Arms for Christmas with the West End Gospel Choir.
01:27:32It's Lee Mead.
01:27:33From all of us, pick a glass, any glass,
01:27:36Happy Christmas!
01:27:38Happy Christmas!
01:27:39Happy Christmas!
01:27:47How many more sleeps till Christmas?
01:27:51How many more days till you're by my side?
01:27:54I'm tired of silent nights and I can't face a cold, lonely old time.
01:28:02Bells me ring out and choir sing.
01:28:06Without you they don't mean a thing.
01:28:09I'd walk a thousand miles just to catch another one of your smiles.
01:28:14I don't need any snow or holly, you can keep everything that's jolly cause the only thing I need
01:28:25Is you in my arms.
01:28:26You in my arms, you in my arms for Christmas.
01:28:29Yeah, yeah.
01:28:32You in my arms for Christmas.
01:28:37Yeah, yeah.
01:28:39When life gets tough, and nights are rough, and life seems all it's seen.
01:28:48Through it all will always be you and me.
01:28:55You're in my arms for Christmas.
01:28:59You in my arms for Christmas.
01:29:10Yeah, yeah.
01:29:12Yeah, yeah.
01:29:14You in my arms for Christmas.
01:29:16You in my arms for Christmas
01:29:20Oh, oh, oh
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