- 2 days ago
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00:00I've had enough of this no cars please phone Amanda
00:07people just keep parking in our garden and using it as a drive I know in England we don't do that
00:17but this is my lorry oh is it your lorry oh okay you I'll let you park you can park here I'll give
00:26you a permit in the traditional village of Kokini on the Greek island of Corfu we're renovating Ionian
00:42style with the help of our expert builders just a lot huh we're turning this roadside ruin into a
00:52family holiday home so far we've completed the living room children's bedroom kitchen and the
01:06master bedroom now we're transforming the unloved patch of land at the front of the house into a
01:12garden so the garden I think out of everything so far that we've done is going to end up being the
01:18best garden ever and best of all I'm thinking chandeliers in the trees this is Alan and
01:25Stamatis has called in horticultural expert Spiros to help us this is going to be a massive challenge
01:31I feel I hate this garden well I mean we've got two good things shall we start with that we've got an
01:38orange tree and an olive tree I'd love some wild flowers because of like pollination you know who
01:45are you I'm not green-fingered but how hard can it be to put a plant in a soil the gardens I plant
01:55always have a Mediterranean plants or bees and lion flies it's we want no mosquitoes but no not
02:04mosquitoes on this olive tree we were saying we want like round seating like all the way around
02:10yes yes yes that'd be pretty a 4,000 year old olive tree I want to show that up 4,000 no the band told me
02:19it's 4,000 how really how many years is it 200 200 200 how do you know how do you know from the size
02:27I'm this is my job I'm getting a lot of mixed messages about the olive tree so until I get it
02:32carbon dated I'm not going to comment any further it's well old and it's wrinkly and then I've got
02:39this idea to put a shand an outdoor chandelier what is this in the tree can you please explain light
02:45this is a very good idea it is a very good idea no no no no no you have an older olive tree and
02:514,000 years old like a Christmas tree yes I'm telling you people always start like this with
02:58my ideas and then by the end they go oh I see your vision this glamorous makeover doesn't stop in the
03:07garden the exterior of the house needs a facelift too so while the builders make a start re-rendering
03:14the house we need to get the lowdown on what plants can survive a coffee at summer we've come
03:24back to Sara and Kenny's place to meet their gardener Yanis you have an amazing tan Yanis you
03:31have nice color too thanks Yanis transformed an abandoned hillside into a thriving mediterranean
03:41garden just stunning oh my gosh you see look at this I love this garden Alan because it looks very
03:50wild and like it's sort of part of the environment already yeah we try to blend the garden with the
03:57horizon ah fantastic it's all about the senses isn't it it's everywhere you go there's a smell or there's
04:05a gorgeous sight line or something yeah always is something yes the blue ones yes and the gauras
04:13the white and the pink rosemary is here is it true that this rosemary is good for mosquitoes keeping
04:22them aware yes they're keeping away we have a lot of lavender here oh good yes it's very nice a strong
04:27plant Yanis I'm gonna tell you something you know the human eye yeah it can differentiate more
04:34shades of the color green than any other color did you know that fact already yes I knew oh okay
04:40why are we here then come on let's go on with the car as well as low maintenance plants and herbs here
04:48is oregano and the most easier is this one the wild geranium that go nice in the bath oh yeah we'd
04:58like to encourage biodiversity we used to hate bees now we love bees because they are declining you
05:06know exactly and now you know do you remember the day you used to go happy now you're like please come
05:11on in and you're welcome please what are the flies called that just have those silly legs that just do
05:16that I don't know how to say anything I hate yes I understand I understand they're just like there
05:20they're like they can't be bothered and just go around they just annoy you and look scary we're just
05:25done I've just seen a glimpse of the future there's rosemary everywhere a lot of rosemary and the love
05:42rosemary and lavender it's perfect for our garden I think that's all we need to be honest I think
05:47yeah and maybe some agar panthers
05:49it's an early start and while the builders are busy plastering the house I need my caffeine fix
06:12hello hello good morning how are you I need a coffee yes a very strong coffee very strong
06:19I've got a big day oh my god my first coffee of the day I get like butterflies in my stomach for
06:26how sad is that luckily for me the Greeks like it strong too making it with finely ground beans and
06:33served unfiltered for a big caffeine kick thank you very much enjoy your coffee thank you
06:42wow it's definitely an acquired coffee yes it's lovely look at that typical British thing
07:00yay it's definitely not my cup of tea oh it you know I mean whilst Amanda is riding high on her
07:13morning coffee I'm all abuzz as I'm finally putting an end to our garden being a lay-by I have a very
07:21British sensibility I've always wanted to know what's my land what's the road what's the neighbors
07:27get off my land so I've roped in Stamatis and Harris to work out the precise coordinates of our boundary
07:36line so what are we doing here when you buy something here you buy the coordinates given the
07:41numbers of we can write it down yes I need to it's 44 44 0 8 1 6 8 6 8 is that your phone number no okay no
07:53it's just a bit of building site banter so this is the road this is my land correct can we push it a
08:03little bit more get a bit more back no why not because we're not allowed in the UK fences are a big
08:09deal we love for fence now the coordinates have been confirmed we can mark out the boundary line you hold my
08:16pad yeah thank you careful there's all notes on that yeah yeah no no no no no no yo no no no no no no no no no how's
08:27you back yeah between you and me I stole a bit of the road so I feel like I have like got a bit
08:37extra for me money whilst I'm still caffeine fueled I've joined Alan at the
08:47house to build a stone seat around our ancient olive tree it'll be made using
08:57a traditional technique that we've seen all around the island so we've got the
09:01whole team in including expert stonemasons one of the most difficult things is to do this I mean
09:09build bricks is not so difficult special when you because they're square and they're a regular
09:13shape yeah and when you cover them with plaster you know yeah then you don't mind if they're not
09:17perfect straight so this has to be sort of perfectly imperfect yes that's that is the title of your
09:24next book that is amazing I love perfect can I just sit down because that's that was deep
09:29follow this line around to ensure the seating is a perfect circle we've marked a ring around the
09:37tree where the wall will go I'm taking one side and Alan will take the other it's a special way
09:43show that way the trick is to get the stones to slot together just right this is good somatis yeah but
09:50a little bit more this is like nature's jigsaw good you see oh now where's the stone
10:02how neat mine is it's actually quite satisfying trying to find the perfect stone Amanda's definitely
10:18winning this race you know well it's clear isn't it it's one woman here and there's four men over
10:24there I think that says everything see that's nice but would you say that's too big that's the thing with
10:31Alan I know he does need the support especially with big things like this he's contributing he thinks
10:40he's doing a lot to just say well done Alan well done Alan what love do you want a little tea break no
10:48wow I will not relax until this is complete that's a good one okay I now pronounce this olive tree seating open
11:03after an exhausting day we're unwinding in Kalami Bay on the northeast of the island and I've got a little surprise for Alan
11:21how much you like to engage in water sports um I thought we should try a sofa a sofa a sofa has it got a
11:32back that I can put my back on it's got a like a plasma screen everything's on it and you've got one of
11:37those things ladyboys yeah not ladyboy things are looking up okay let's go oh thank you hopefully thank you
12:01welcome thank you okay are you ready yes yes okay let's go
12:17okay I leave you in good hands okay okay hold on tight let's go
12:22go
12:35go
12:37go
12:39go
12:41go
12:43go
12:45go
12:47go
12:49go
12:51go
13:17go
13:19go
13:21go
13:23go
13:25go
13:47go
13:47and I'm on a little research mission.
13:50Bees fascinate me.
13:52It's like they've had some good PR.
13:53They used to ruin a picnic, didn't they?
13:56I've come to the Vasilakis estate
13:59and I'm getting ready for a close encounter
14:01with these master pollinators.
14:03I'm worried about being stung by a bee
14:05and I've even put these on.
14:12Martina's family have been making honey here for 20 years
14:15and George is the beekeeper at the helm.
14:19Where have you been stung?
14:20Here, here, here, here, here.
14:23Is he lying?
14:24No.
14:25Not every day.
14:27Another day here, another day here.
14:30You've been stung everywhere.
14:31Yes, no problem.
14:34They're ahead of us, you can say that.
14:37Bees play a vital role in our ecosystems,
14:40pollinating plants so they reproduce.
14:42The nectar they gather while they do it
14:44gets turned into honey
14:46and every hive can make around 11 kilograms every summer.
14:51These are the beehives, they're home.
14:53Oh, lovely.
14:54Lovely.
14:56So this is where I'm going to die?
14:58No, I want positivity.
15:01This fetching get-up should help make sure I don't get stung.
15:05I want some gloves.
15:07Oh, stupid thing.
15:09It's OK.
15:09Thank you, George.
15:11OK, we're ready?
15:12We're ready.
15:13I don't know how a goldfish feels when it's been caught.
15:17Oh, my goodness, this is so funny.
15:19This is so funny.
15:21Now I'm all covered up,
15:23George lights the smoker,
15:25which should help keep the bees nice and calm.
15:30Try not to be scared.
15:31It's OK, I'm here.
15:33Look how slowly he opened it.
15:35Look at them.
15:36They're cute and small.
15:37All of them ladies.
15:38And is there honey in this honey?
15:40We are putting it out.
15:41Oh, my God.
15:42It has honey.
15:43You see this?
15:44Yes.
15:44This is honey, basically.
15:46Look at those beauties.
15:47Yes.
15:48It's not ready yet.
15:49Look, they like you.
15:52They like you.
15:53They really like you.
15:54I'm not very relaxed.
15:56The eggs and gones are made by the bees.
15:59This is like, for me, like a horror film.
16:01To me, it's like the most beautiful thing ever.
16:04Look at that.
16:04Oh, look at how much honey they have.
16:06That's so much honey.
16:08Oh, get away from me.
16:11I nearly went up my marigold.
16:13Don't move.
16:13Don't move.
16:14Oh, that's good.
16:15Look at how many bees.
16:17At the house, the wall for the olive tree seating is coming along nicely.
16:27And we're getting some deliveries.
16:29What?
16:30That is not a good place to put this gravel.
16:33Stop.
16:34Stop.
16:35It's too close to the wall.
16:37Up, up, up.
16:39At the minute, it looks like a building site.
16:41There's so many things unfinished.
16:44It's hard to see it as a garden.
16:45It just looks like a car park.
16:48We need to do stone, stone to make a path.
16:51To try and make it resemble any form of garden, we need to mark out where the flower beds and pathways go.
16:58The idea I've got in my head is some sort of triangular flower bed.
17:01And I've sort of winding footpath to the house.
17:04And I've roped in Stamatis, Yanis and Nikos to help.
17:08So, I think we'll make the first stone here.
17:10So, should we just put a bit of gravel down here so we can see?
17:17Yeah, yeah, I think that's...
17:18Yeah.
17:22I mean, this is super cheap.
17:25Easy way of making a path.
17:28It's going to look dead posh.
17:30Oh, my God.
17:42Oh, you get away from there.
17:46Ow, you're pinching me.
17:48This is the queen with the green.
17:50Why's she got the green on her?
17:52This is hell.
17:53We are putting her a collar so we can find her easily.
17:56You put a collar on a bee?
17:57Yeah, don't worry.
17:58Oh, it's your hand.
18:00Don't move.
18:00Sorry.
18:03Look at how many.
18:04Oh, wow, there's so many bees.
18:08Oh.
18:09Do you want to hold it?
18:10No, no, no, no, no, no.
18:12Stop telling.
18:13Can you tell George to stop that?
18:15It's terrifying.
18:16Oh, and that goes back on there.
18:17It's like when it's dark inside, okay?
18:21Yeah, no, I'll put the top on.
18:24You survived.
18:25I survived, you know, I haven't been stung.
18:28They liked you a lot.
18:29I've realised with bees,
18:31there's nothing really that much to be scared about,
18:34so I'm going to go and plant some bee-friendly plants
18:37in my garden with my friend Amanda.
18:39That's wonderful.
18:45It's going to stop people parking here.
18:47Yeah.
18:47And actually, this is a Wongus flower bed.
18:50I didn't expect it to be this big.
18:54Once planted, this bed will be a real haven
18:56for bees and other insects, just like Alan wants.
19:00Should we go and have a bird's-eye view up there?
19:03Come up here, Stamatti.
19:06Oh, yeah, see, look.
19:08What do you think Alan's going to say?
19:09Alan is going to love it,
19:10mainly because he wasn't involved in it
19:12and didn't have to do any of the hard work.
19:14LAUGHTER
19:14OK.
19:15Now we've just got to go and buy loads of blinking plants.
19:27As Amanda's worked so hard,
19:30I have a little treat for her.
19:32I know she loves animals,
19:34so we are heading to the beach for a swimming lesson
19:36with some local rescue horses.
19:38You know, we're going to the beach and not Goodwood.
19:43LAUGHTER
19:43Hello.
19:45This is amazing.
19:47I want to look sexy on the horse.
19:50OK, I'll give you the blue one then.
19:52Oh, OK.
19:54Do they like a swim at the end of the day
19:56because it's so hot, or they...?
19:57Yes, yes, they love it.
19:59Especially him.
19:59He can take you to Albania.
20:02Alan, you want...
20:03He needs to find a lover.
20:04Do you have a passport with you?
20:06Yeah, yes, I'm going to go to Albania.
20:08OK, so you're not all the way.
20:09Alan, just take that off.
20:12Oh!
20:12Oh, no!
20:13Oh, my God!
20:14That's a nice stretch.
20:18One, two, three.
20:20Oh, my God.
20:22That was nice, like a pro.
20:23Well done, Alan.
20:24Lovely.
20:26Which way is Albania?
20:27That way.
20:28See you in a bit.
20:29Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
20:32Katarina started looking after rescue horses in 2014
20:35and funds their care
20:37by offering amazing riding experiences.
20:41Oh!
20:43Wow.
20:45Right.
20:46Come on, then.
20:47They feel so safe, don't they, Alan?
20:49Yeah.
20:51I literally feel like I'm in my own movie here.
21:00Do you want to ride with the dog?
21:03Yes.
21:03Oh, Biko!
21:05She's playing with the water.
21:08Why is my horse river dancing?
21:11Do you want to go a little bit deeper?
21:13Oh, yes.
21:17Go away, Muzzy.
21:20We're getting bitten to s***.
21:21Oh, my God.
21:27Thank you so much.
21:28Can't get it bitten.
21:29We need to go.
21:31Let's say thank you.
21:31Thank you so much.
21:33That was absolutely magical.
21:34Oh, my gosh.
21:35We're going to run because of the mozzie.
21:37Oh, my God.
21:38I've never seen them.
21:38That was literally traumatic.
21:39They are literally everywhere.
21:41S***.
21:42I'm buzzing around me.
21:44Is that a car?
21:46Whose car is that?
21:46I don't care.
21:47Let's just get in it.
21:49Get it.
21:49Move over.
21:50Oh, my God.
21:53Kill them.
21:54Kill them.
21:54Kill them.
21:54Today is the day when we get to plant our garden with all of our bee-friendly plants.
22:13And our gardener, Spiros, is here to help.
22:17First planting the big ones.
22:19The big ones first.
22:20Big ones, please.
22:21Oh, look.
22:21There's a bee already come to see us.
22:23Do you know a bee has its sex organs on the end of its foot?
22:26Did you know that?
22:27No way.
22:29To attract our pollinators, we're planting agapanthus around our olive tree.
22:35What happened?
22:35Where's the hole gone?
22:37It's here.
22:37Is that the actress to the bishop?
22:39Oh, please.
22:41And to give this bed some structure, larger Eliagnes e Bengii are planted,
22:46with herbs all around that we can use in the kitchen.
22:50Do you ever talk to the plants, Spiros?
22:52Yes.
22:52Do you sing to it?
22:53Yes?
22:54What do you say?
22:55Do you sing?
22:56They do.
22:56I understand you.
22:57I love them.
22:59You say, I love them.
23:00Yes.
23:01Yes.
23:01Oh, that's so sweet.
23:03I cultivate plants for 35 years, 40 years now.
23:09Oh, I love you.
23:12I hope you enjoy going in the hole.
23:18Could we get a job with you, Spiros?
23:20What do you think?
23:20Yes.
23:22I feel like you've said yes, but your heart's not in it.
23:25I thought that was the same thing, Alan.
23:31That's it.
23:32I love you, too.
23:33I love you.
23:35I love you.
23:37It looks completely different now.
23:39Good job.
23:40Did you say good job?
23:41Good job, yes.
23:42Oh, thank you.
23:44One of the best things about this house is how close we are to the sea.
23:58So we're heading five minutes down the road to San Stephanos for a cuppa on the beach.
24:05Oh, that's really nice of you.
24:09Superstar.
24:10Do you know, it feels more exotic when it's in a clear glass.
24:15Yes.
24:15Doesn't it?
24:17No milk.
24:17You don't really have much dairy.
24:19I don't like dairy.
24:20So do you think you're more like your mum or your dad?
24:22I feel like I'm getting like my dad as I'm getting older.
24:24My dad was a bit of an enigma growing up.
24:27On a Friday night, our house used to be like a monastery.
24:31Can you believe that?
24:32Because my dad was grumpy.
24:35Shut up.
24:36Don't slam that door.
24:37Or we'd sit there and have the telly turned down.
24:40But of course, I realise now because he had a big match.
24:43Match on the Saturday.
24:44On the Saturday.
24:45And, you know, I'm like that before a big show.
24:50Yeah.
24:50You know, my friends say, you're coming out, it's a Friday night.
24:52And I'm like, no, no, no.
24:53Because if I do go out, I'm thinking and I'm irritable and I'm trying to think.
24:58And I thought, oh, I get it now, Dad.
25:00Because when they were doing great, my dad would get massive cheers.
25:04But if they lost, everyone's booing your dad.
25:08Being a manager of a football club and being a stand-up comedian, you are on your own.
25:12And also, what's the difference between going up the football tunnel and walking onto a stage?
25:17Everyone's judging you.
25:19Everyone wants to be entertained.
25:20If you don't deliver it, you get booze.
25:23It's exactly the same.
25:24It's exactly the same.
25:25But I get it now.
25:26And I said, I mean, I don't totally get my dad, but I get that side of it.
25:29Is there a trait in your mum that you feel like, oh, I've got that from her, or...?
25:37I call my children the wrong names.
25:39Oh, yeah.
25:40Every day.
25:41Oh, my mum does that.
25:41I call Lexi, Holly, Holly, Lexi.
25:43But it's just started happening.
25:44No, but it's never gone to pets.
25:45Oh, I've done pets.
25:46I've been called Big Puss.
25:47I've been called Big Puss by my mum.
25:49Big Puss.
25:50Big Puss.
25:51I know.
25:51I mean, I get it.
25:52A man's name, but Big Puss, a cat that has been dead for over 25 years.
25:57I know.
25:59Back at the house, it's the final push to get the front garden finished.
26:07The fence has gone up.
26:09And more shrubs have been planted to give some privacy.
26:13Now it's down to us to add some final details.
26:16You grab the cushions, love.
26:18Please use the stepping stones.
26:19Please use the stepping stones.
26:20But this is a cute idea.
26:24You can always tell a top-quality chandelier by its weight.
26:28But there's no electricity, so how are they going to shine?
26:34Look inside there.
26:36They are solar-panelled, state-of-the-art.
26:39See how far you can get it up.
26:41What about this bit there?
26:42Yes, Alan, that's perfect.
26:43Is that nice?
26:43Oh, I actually can't quite believe that this car park is now a Mediterranean garden.
27:10And it's so Mediterranean with all the plants and the herbs.
27:13But also, it's got the social side.
27:15You can sit almost anywhere and have a cup.
27:17Anywhere for a gin and tonic.
27:17Gin and tonic, cup of tea, whatever.
27:19And I've seen loads of little butterflies and bees.
27:22They've already...
27:23Oh, that's good to know.
27:25That's good to know.
27:26Yeah.
27:26And we've got a little bit of England in the garden, haven't we?
27:29What?
27:30The boundary.
27:31Oh!
27:32We have.
27:33I like a picket fence.
27:35This is mine.
27:37It feels like a film set to me.
27:39I know.
27:40And the centrepiece being that gorgeous tree.
27:42The tree with the chandeliers.
27:44Yeah.
27:45Which look nicer than you thought.
27:48Do you know what?
27:48I will give you that.
27:49OK, good.
27:49They look nicer than I thought they would.
27:52Yes.
27:53It's so lovely.
27:54It's just unbelievable.
27:56Next time...
28:01I'm having a round bath.
28:02It's AI.
28:03That is not AI.
28:05I embrace new technology to design my bath.
28:07Can't wait to see it.
28:09It's got a lovely bottom.
28:11We try to tackle ancient mythology.
28:14Let's hope the gods are smiling down on some of your design choices.
28:18And Alan has another shot at the Corfu dating game.
28:22Good job we're not playing strip pool, are we?
28:24Look.
28:26Good job.
28:32Famous names with the soundtrack to their desert island.
28:35Listen now on BBC Sounds.
28:38And the class of 2026 in the boardroom for the new series of The Apprentice.
28:42Press red to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
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