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00:03Will, how are the kids feeling?
00:04They can't wait, I bet.
00:07In the repair shop this Christmas, from a poorly reindeer...
00:11He looks like he's going to be trouble, I can see it in his eye.
00:13To a unique book of carols...
00:16This is disintegrating in our hands.
00:18Some challenging festive fixes...
00:21If I've got this even half a millimetre out, the player will feel it.
00:24Even a millimetre?
00:25Oh, even quarter of a millimetre.
00:26Really?
00:27And there are stars shining brightly for good causes.
00:31Look at this.
00:32Dame Helen Mirren visits the barn.
00:35Oh, my goodness.
00:36What an iconic place to find myself.
00:39And Rob Brydon forms a double act...
00:42With beloved author Julia Donaldson.
00:45We would play exciting adventures where one of the zoo animals invaded the barn.
00:51And there's time for the swift half.
00:54Hello, everyone. Welcome to the hammer and spanner.
00:57Before unwrapping the gift...
00:59I want to see the red nose.
01:00That means so much.
01:02Can I peek up under the snow?
01:05No peeking.
01:21We've walked a long way, Julia, across fields, over hedges.
01:26The way you leapt that last hedge, by the way, I thought was very impressive.
01:30First to arrive at the barn, Gruffalo creator Julia Donaldson.
01:35It's the 13th Christmas how books have been turned into animations.
01:39And Rob Brydon has been a key voice in every one.
01:44Look at this.
01:45Look at this.
01:46Look at this.
01:46Hello.
01:46Hello.
01:46Welcome.
01:47Merry Christmas.
01:48Merry Christmas.
01:50Merry Christmas.
01:50Merry Christmas.
01:50We've walked a long way, have you?
01:52Have we?
01:53Oh, yeah.
01:54Do you know what? It's such an honour to have you both here.
01:56We are huge fans of your books.
01:58And me having two children, we read all of them.
02:01Thanks so much.
02:02Now, this looks well-loved, shall we say.
02:07It was my granny's.
02:08And so this was what my sister Mary and I played with when we were little girls.
02:14Sometimes some of the farm animals would escape through a gap in the fields.
02:19And I think we had some zoo animals too.
02:21So sometimes we would play exciting adventures where one of the farm animals joined the zoo
02:27or one of the zoo animals invaded the farm.
02:30Do you think that this helped to encourage you to write those fantastic books?
02:34Yeah, I think it probably was at the root of some of my books.
02:37Books like What the Lady Bird had, which is set on a farm.
02:41And now, this Christmas is the Scarecrow's wedding animation, which Rob has a real star
02:48role.
02:48And that all takes place on a farm.
02:50Now, I play Reginald Rake, the rather caddish Scarecrow that comes in.
02:57Total cad.
02:57Well, all right, I was giving him the benefit of the doubt.
03:00He's an absolute cad who comes in and threatens the happiness of Betty and Harry.
03:07Mwah!
03:08The finest marshmallows.
03:10And make no mistake, no one can toast them like Reginald Rake.
03:16I mean, the first one was the Gruffalo and, yeah, it has become a part of the Christmas
03:22tradition.
03:23Yeah, I've been in all of them.
03:24Rob's so loyal, you know, because even if he's just, what's the smallest?
03:28Well, the cat in Room on the Broom.
03:31All I did was go, and yet I still imbue it with the professionalism and the discipline
03:38that I bring to all my roles.
03:40Rob, what do you love about Julia's characters?
03:43There's a clarity to them.
03:45They connect with you straight away.
03:47The pictures, of course, are Axel's pictures.
03:49Oh, yes, of course.
03:50Well, Axel Scheffler, who's done loads of Julia's illustrations, has such a distinctive
03:56style that pulls you into the story beautifully.
04:00But it all comes down to the imagination, and that sort of ties into this, really.
04:05You know, having a little farm and your zoo animals and things like that.
04:08How vibrant were the colours when you first received it when you were a child?
04:11The roof was this kind of maroony colour.
04:14It wasn't like scarlet or anything.
04:16I've had it on display, and I did get the roof quite crudely.
04:19Oh, I thought you just ripped that off.
04:21It does come off.
04:22Well, the door handles come off here.
04:25It all needs some paint.
04:27Now, Julia, if we can restore this for you, what's the plan for it?
04:31Well, I live quite near a children's hospice called Chestnut Tree House.
04:36I've quite often visited and done little acting out the stories with the children,
04:40and especially with the brothers and sisters of some of the old children.
04:44It's really nice for them to have something to play with.
04:46So I'd like to donate the restored farmhouse,
04:50and especially if there were some extra animals and fences as well.
04:54I think we can manage that.
04:55Well, you know what would be nice?
04:56You could have a little Gruffalo, a snail, a whale.
04:59You could have a highway rat.
05:00It might be a bit difficult there to make them on the right scale, I suppose.
05:05There's nothing that these people...
05:07No, no.
05:07Not him.
05:08But there's nothing these people can't do.
05:11It's been absolutely wonderful to meet you.
05:14Thanks very much.
05:15Bye-bye.
05:15Bye-bye.
05:16Right, back out into the cold.
05:21Aren't they lovely?
05:23And this is absolutely charming.
05:25But it's looking rather tired, isn't it?
05:27These doorknobs, probably not so safe for children to be playing with,
05:30so I might work out some way of opening up the doors.
05:33And maybe some shutters on the window there.
05:35I think I'm going to do a little bit of tidying up and retouching.
05:39Perfect.
05:41The barn's next visitor has already arrived,
05:45taking a much-needed break from his delivery duties.
05:49Wow, look at that.
05:51A reindeer at Christmas.
05:53It is.
05:53Wow.
05:54It's very realistic.
05:56There's a fire service badge on the back here.
05:58What is a reindeer doing with a fire service badge?
06:01I don't know.
06:02Well, I guess we'll find out.
06:05Bringing answers and a second helping of good cheer to the barn...
06:09Hello.
06:10Hello.
06:10...by firefighters Gerry Ascombe and Darren Weston from Leicestershire.
06:15Hi, welcome, and Merry Christmas.
06:17Merry Christmas to you too.
06:19Hi.
06:19Please explain.
06:21So, this is Rudolph.
06:22Of course.
06:24Yeah, yeah.
06:24Rudolph belongs to Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service,
06:26and we use him every Christmas to raise money for local children's charities.
06:31We'll walk round with Rudolph, who's pulling Santa on a sleigh,
06:35supported by a fire engine or two, typically.
06:37And as we walk down the streets,
06:39the residents come out and give us a loose change and donations.
06:42And where does the money go that you raise?
06:44So, every year we raise about £10,000 for local children's charities, typically.
06:49£10,000?
06:50£10,000, yeah.
06:51Wow.
06:51Well done.
06:52Incredible.
06:52Where did this all start?
06:54So, it started in 1949.
06:57They set up the Rudolph Fund, and that reindeer ran right up until 1978,
07:01when it started falling to pieces, and we got this one.
07:04And the then committee approached this firm that did stuff for film sets and said,
07:10could you build us an animated reindeer to replace the one we've got?
07:13And they did.
07:14So, he moves?
07:15He moves, yeah.
07:16He doesn't walk, but he actually...
07:18No way!
07:18He nods his head, does this, blinks his eyes.
07:21People were just amazed, because back in the 70s, that was pretty spectacular.
07:25Now, it's a big part of the Christmas culture in Leicester, really.
07:28But the real problem we've got is Rudolph's looking really tired and old now.
07:32His mouth is supposed to chew, and a lot of them actions aren't working.
07:37His nose lights up as well, but it doesn't.
07:39Oh, really?
07:40Of course, Rudolph's got a red nose.
07:42There's a ball in there, yeah.
07:43So, we need to do some major surgery.
07:45Yeah, but also, his fur's quite matted and dull-looking.
07:49The fur on his ears is different to the fur on his head.
07:52We've got the leather work around his neck.
07:53That would have been bright red and really shiny at one point.
07:56Ah, right, that's interesting.
07:57God, there is quite a list.
07:59There's quite a lot to do.
08:01It would be devastating to think it'd failed on your watch.
08:03It would, yeah, it would.
08:04I think that would be my biggest fear, is that he falls into such bad disrepair
08:08that he's no longer usable, and then, one, we lose tradition.
08:11But, more importantly, all those children that benefited
08:13don't get that money coming into their charities.
08:15We can't let that happen.
08:16Not on your watch.
08:16Not on mine, quite literally.
08:18Well, we'll do the best we can.
08:19Thanks for taking him on.
08:20Yeah, see you soon.
08:23He looks like he's going to be trouble.
08:24I can see it in his eye.
08:26Look, this is going to be a job.
08:28I'm going to go and get some help.
08:30David, Brenton.
08:31Oh, here they are.
08:31Perfect.
08:32Wow.
08:32Can you give us a hand?
08:33Yeah.
08:34Brenton, can you steer?
08:35Yeah, I'll try.
08:36Aim for over there somewhere.
08:37OK, brilliant.
08:38Here we go.
08:39I feel like Rudolf's going to go wherever he wants.
08:41I think so.
08:46Will is setting to work on Julia Donaldson's farmhouse,
08:50and the experts have a clear brief for the tiny characters
08:54who go with it.
08:56But with Rudolf, there are lots of unknowns.
08:59I'm kind of intrigued as to what we're going to find inside here.
09:02What do you think, Berth?
09:03I reckon it's full of mechanical wiggly bits.
09:06Oh, there we go.
09:09Oh, this is...
09:10That's actually illegal, isn't it?
09:11What does that do, though?
09:13Hang on.
09:13What, this one back and forwards?
09:15Oh, that turns it here.
09:16Am I moving?
09:17Oh, hey, look, I'm moving his head.
09:18That turns his head.
09:19There's some wires cut in here,
09:21so that's not a good sign.
09:23A lot of mechanical bits are just worn out.
09:26Let's see if I can get into the head.
09:27Good luck.
09:31Yeah, I don't need you moving around.
09:34It's all very funny.
09:35I've got a feeling
09:36I wouldn't be a very good apprentice for you, Steve.
09:39You drive me mad.
09:40I know, yes, I know.
09:43Well, there's a lot of mechanisms in here as well.
09:45There is a huge amount to get done,
09:47but I'm confident between us,
09:49if we can all pull together,
09:51we'll get it ready for Christmas.
09:52Absolutely.
09:53Brilliant.
09:53Right, let me just see if I can get to these bolts then.
09:57There we go.
09:58That's it.
10:00Have you got it, Steve?
10:01Yes, I have.
10:04Will has made new doorknobs for the toy farmhouse.
10:09Oh, look at that.
10:10It looks like a little toadstool.
10:11And he's been mulling over some replacement shutters.
10:15I've got a couple of different designs I could go for.
10:18One would be a kind of modern, staggered, slattered shutter.
10:23But really, I mean, this is like a simple farmhouse for, like, a child.
10:27It's not overcomplicated.
10:28I'm quite sure I've seen some farmhouses,
10:31some really old ones, with this kind of design here.
10:34I think that's kind of what I'm going to go for.
10:35I just hope that I've got enough space in that very small window frame
10:38to make this look absolutely spot on.
10:47Design ideas are also key to making 3D versions of the characters
10:51who populate the farm.
10:53I'm making a whale, and rather than making it out of silver,
10:58which is what I would normally do,
10:59I'm going to try some polymer clay.
11:02I'm challenging myself using a different material.
11:06Having looked at these lovely children's books,
11:09I can't wait till my grandson is old enough
11:12for me to be able to read these stories to him.
11:21Arriving at the barn with memories of adventures
11:24in a winter wonderland,
11:26Ian and Kate McKenzie and daughter April
11:28from Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland.
11:31Hello.
11:32Hi there.
11:33Hello, folks.
11:33Welcome.
11:34Oh, look at this.
11:36Very nice.
11:37Wow.
11:38Oh.
11:39This is incredible.
11:41It is.
11:42I've had it 60 years,
11:44but it was 40 years old when I got it,
11:46so the sleigh's almost 100 years old.
11:49Wow.
11:50It's called a flexible flower.
11:51This particular one was made in 1928,
11:54and they only made this version for one year,
11:57so it's quite a rare one.
11:58Where did you get it then?
11:591963.
12:00I was 9, 10.
12:02It was a gift from my brother
12:04who got it from a family
12:06who no longer had a use for it.
12:09I was the envy of all the friends
12:11and kids in the street.
12:12I bet.
12:13Did you use it a lot then?
12:14Oh.
12:15That year when you were 9, 10 years old?
12:16Oh, that was the year of the big freeze.
12:18It snowed from just before Christmas
12:21right through January, February.
12:24Three months of snow?
12:25Three months.
12:26And the drifts were like six feet.
12:28Wow.
12:29I just spent every day on the sledge.
12:31You must have some great memories of those times.
12:33Oh, yeah.
12:34The actual main damage at the front,
12:36there was myself and two friends on it,
12:39and there was a big tuft of snow,
12:41which I thought was just a bit of sage grass
12:43covered in snow,
12:45and it turned out it was a large boulder.
12:46Oh, no.
12:48Oh, no.
12:49And the front of the sledge,
12:51this has been straightened out,
12:52but that was, as you can see...
12:53This is all bent here, yeah.
12:54We've had lots of accidents.
12:55This one here,
12:56that was a great repair,
12:58as you can see.
12:59A friend, he was holding us,
13:01and then it snapped.
13:02Is that your handiwork?
13:03That's my handiwork.
13:04Is it?
13:05It's very good.
13:06Done a long time ago.
13:07Kate, what's your earliest memory of the sledge?
13:09We had been going out together for a while,
13:11and he said,
13:12would you like to have a go on a sledge?
13:14And I says, oh, yeah.
13:15And then there was a hill that was nearly vertical.
13:18Oh, no.
13:18I was so frightened.
13:20And this is whilst you were still getting to know each other?
13:22Yes.
13:22I love that.
13:24How long have you both been together for?
13:2550 years.
13:26How many children do you have?
13:28Nine.
13:28They all had their turn on it.
13:30I remember my second child was about three years of age.
13:34She had a little Santa suit on,
13:36and pulling around the street,
13:38all the local kids chasing after us there,
13:40go be Santa.
13:41Aw.
13:42One of my earliest memories would probably be
13:44going to school on it,
13:45and then more recent,
13:47my own children being on it.
13:49They love it, absolutely love it,
13:50and getting pulled along by their granda.
13:5414 grandchildren, do you know?
13:5514 grandchildren.
13:56They all have to have this.
13:58So when did you stop using it then yourself?
14:00Oh, 20 years ago.
14:01I was lying down on my belly.
14:05I had a great time.
14:07If you could have anything you want,
14:09what would this look like?
14:11The way it was the day I got it,
14:13all this paint, paint it over,
14:16you know, make it good looking again.
14:17I can understand I'll never be the way it was,
14:21but it would be nice to see it
14:23gleaming again and looking.
14:25How you remember.
14:26Yeah.
14:26As a nine-year-old kid.
14:29Yeah.
14:30We are going to have so much fun working on this.
14:32Thank you very much.
14:34We'll see you soon. Bye-bye.
14:34Thank you. Bye-bye.
14:39I absolutely love this.
14:41It's amazing, isn't it?
14:41Yeah.
14:42He does want it looking a bit smarter than it currently does.
14:45Let me take this outside.
14:46I'll get it stripped down
14:47and bring the wood back into you.
14:48Lovely.
14:49Okay.
15:02Determined to get Rudolf back to full fitness,
15:05the Barn team has set to work with Gustl.
15:08While Dom strengthens the battered chassis that supports him,
15:13David's mechanical expertise is focused on how best to fix his inner workings.
15:19I'm now having a look at Rudolf's head and neck mechanism.
15:24This is really what gives him his character.
15:27You've got an electric motor and this drives a belt onto a big pulley.
15:32The pulley then drives a shaft which has got cam wheels on.
15:37So the cams, they're basically like little hills and valleys on a disc.
15:41And then you've got this lever.
15:44So as you get a hill comes along, that moves away.
15:47And then when the valley comes along, it moves back again.
15:50And then this particular one, this actually moves his head up and down.
15:55These cams are made out of a type of plastic.
15:58And it looks like they're warped, basically.
16:02Where they run on this little lever, they could slip down the side.
16:07And then that lever could then get jammed.
16:10That would then cause the motor to stall.
16:13So I think basically what I've got to do, take it all to pieces
16:16and then get all of that nice and sturdy, straightened out
16:21so that we can guarantee that he's going to run for many, many years to come.
16:35I'm making a new bridle with reins for Rudolf
16:38and I've chosen this really bright red colour
16:42so that once he's all dressed up, it's really going to stand out.
16:46So I've got a fair amount of sewing to do here,
16:49but once the bridle and the reins are completed,
16:51I can turn my attention to the red collar here that needs some work as well.
17:03Next at the barn, acting royalty.
17:07Academy Award winner, Dame Helen Mirren.
17:11She has a little-known story of resilience from wartime Germany
17:15to put centre stage.
17:18Oh, my goodness!
17:22This is beautiful.
17:25Oh, my God, it's exactly the same as it is on the TV!
17:29What an iconic place to find myself.
17:32Welcome to the bar.
17:33It's sort of a lot of people's dream to be here,
17:36so thank you so much for having me.
17:38How lucky are we?
17:39I know, I know.
17:40But how can we help?
17:42Well, got a big challenge for you.
17:44Interesting.
17:45Well, I work with a residential home called Denville Hall
17:49that specialises in people from the performing arts.
17:52So musicians, actors, directors, producers...
17:58Wow.
17:58..people in front of the camera, people behind the camera.
18:01Brilliant.
18:01So you can imagine the stories that get told,
18:04and that is what I bring to you today
18:06is one of those incredible stories.
18:09OK.
18:09So one of the supporters of Denville Hall
18:11was a man called Martin Landau,
18:13and he was a theatre producer.
18:14He worked in his whole life in the theatre.
18:17But Martin had the most incredible story.
18:20Martin was on a kindertransport.
18:22At the age of 14, children were put on these trains
18:26by their parents to escape the Nazis,
18:28and they came to England.
18:30And obviously, little kid, you can't carry much with you.
18:34No.
18:34But the one thing he wanted to bring with him
18:36was his cello.
18:37He brought it with him.
18:38It must have been as big as he was.
18:40Can you imagine this kid on this train
18:43with a little bag and this huge cello?
18:46It says how much it means to him, doesn't it?
18:47Absolutely.
18:48There's a movie in there, I think.
18:50Absolutely.
18:50I think, you know, the image of that young boy
18:53and the moment of having to say goodbye to his parents.
18:57At that point, not knowing that he would never see them again,
19:00but we know that he would never see them again.
19:02But before he got on the train,
19:04the Nazis who were, you know,
19:07bullying everyone getting on the trains,
19:09broke the cello cruelly, deliberately,
19:12monstrously just broken.
19:14Nonetheless, he held on to his cello and loved it.
19:17And he had it for the rest of his life.
19:19And when Martin died, he left it to Denville Hall.
19:23And that is what I would love you to restore.
19:27So what's the plan, if we're able to get it repaired?
19:29Well, this beautiful instrument hasn't sung for 80 years.
19:33Wow.
19:33So we're really hoping that this Christmas
19:36it will be heard again.
19:37It will be singing to the residents of Denville Hall.
19:41There is no one that doesn't enjoy a good old sing-song
19:44or just quietly sitting in the corner
19:46listening to some beautiful music.
19:48So where is it?
19:49Well, it was a little too big for me to carry.
19:52So if it's OK, I'll have it delivered to you.
19:54Would that be OK?
19:55That sounds perfect.
19:56Thank you so much.
19:58We're all incredibly excited.
20:00You're welcome.
20:01Thank you, everyone.
20:02Bye.
20:03Bye.
20:03Bye.
20:03Bye.
20:04Bye.
20:04Bye.
20:06Oh, it's snowing.
20:07Nope.
20:08Oh.
20:12Ooh.
20:19Will is making quick work of reviving the wooden slats on the old sledge,
20:24but Dom is faced with a trickier task as he starts on the metalwork.
20:30It's not good news, unfortunately.
20:32These two bars that run to the front of the rails,
20:34they are both completely different shapes
20:37and they're supposed to be the same.
20:40I've clamped the two runners together
20:42and even these are completely different shapes.
20:45The ends are way off.
20:47I think all these years of Ian being such a daredevil
20:51have taken their toll on this sledge.
20:53It's bent and twisted things.
20:54I need to straighten everything out
20:56and get it back where it should be
20:57because I've got lots of holes which need to line up.
21:01And at the moment,
21:02this one lines up quite nicely,
21:05but this side
21:07is just so far off.
21:09So I've got some bending to do.
21:12So I'm using the rail that I know is good
21:14and is the right shape
21:16to draw around on the bench
21:17as a reference
21:20as I try and bend
21:21the other rail
21:22to match that line.
21:25So I need to clamp it in the vice,
21:27heat it up
21:27and try and bend
21:28this front section
21:30back round
21:31until it lines up
21:32with that white line.
21:54It's looking pretty good.
21:55Once I've got all these pieces straightened up,
21:58I can start thinking
21:59about stripping this paint.
22:07Work on Rudolph
22:08is also galloping along.
22:10While David coaxes
22:12his warped plastic cams
22:14back to perfect flatness,
22:16Amanda is starting an upgrade
22:18to his tatty old ears.
22:20So I've got two types of fur
22:22that I'm working with here.
22:23This piece of fur
22:24has come off of Rudolph,
22:26but I've also got this lovely new fur,
22:28which is also going to be
22:30a part of his ears.
22:31It's all got to blend through
22:33and look seamless
22:33like he has always had it.
22:36So the first thing I'm going to do
22:37is to decide which piece to use.
22:40This one is original,
22:42so there's a couple of little holes
22:44and things here,
22:44so I don't really want to go for those.
22:46I think it's going to come
22:48from over here.
22:50So I'm going to start drawing
22:51my template onto the back.
22:57I'm working on this part
22:59of the mechanism
22:59that does the chewing motion
23:01of the bottom jaw
23:02like that.
23:04Something like that anyway.
23:07There's a little cam
23:08on this shaft
23:09which runs onto a micro switch
23:12and just turns it off and on.
23:15And that's connected to a light
23:17and that makes Rudolph's nose
23:19glow red in the dark.
23:21So this hasn't been working.
23:23Not only were the wires
23:25not connected to the motor
23:27but also this shaft was bent
23:29so that when this turned round
23:31the jaw went up too high
23:33and would get locked.
23:34So what I've done is
23:35I've straightened that up.
23:37Right, I'm just going to
23:38pop the jaw on
23:41see if it all works.
23:49I think that's a sort of
23:50chewy motion.
23:51I'm just going to
23:52put on the new
23:53micro switch
23:55and make sure
23:57that the light's going to work.
23:59When I was in the fire service
24:00we would have
24:01the children's
24:03Christmas party
24:04and Father Christmas
24:05would come along
24:06but not on a sleigh.
24:09He would come on
24:10an old vintage
24:11fire engine.
24:14Right, that's connected.
24:16Pop these connectors on
24:18and it should all work.
24:28That's working so well.
24:29That's brilliant.
24:33Will has turned his attention
24:35to the handrails
24:36of the old sledge.
24:39One is made out of pine
24:40and one's made out of ash.
24:42Originally this would
24:43all have been ash.
24:44He's done a pretty good job
24:45at replacing it
24:46but it kind of sticks out
24:47like a sore thumb.
24:48Now I thought it would be
24:49really nice to replace
24:50that with ash
24:51because he really wants
24:52this to look
24:53much like it did
24:54when he first got it
24:55as a child.
24:56I've sourced
24:57a new piece of ash here.
24:58It's quite angular
24:59because it's just been cut.
25:00The original has this
25:02slightly rounded off
25:03profile on the top
25:04and I think that
25:05kind of makes it
25:05a lot better
25:06to hold on to.
25:07I'm going to use
25:07my hand plane
25:08to try to recreate
25:09this lovely curved edge
25:11onto that new section there.
25:21I've got all of
25:22the metalwork
25:23for the sledge
25:24stripped down,
25:25straightened,
25:26primed
25:27and ready
25:28for its first coat
25:29of this beautiful
25:31shiny red
25:32and I've managed
25:33to find the original colour,
25:34the very first layer
25:35of paint
25:36on this metalwork
25:36which I've matched.
25:38It's looking good.
25:42Renovation of Julia Donaldson's
25:44toy farmhouse
25:45has passed to Kirsten.
25:47I'm now just starting
25:49to fill any areas of loss.
25:52I'm using a wood filler here.
25:54In a way,
25:55the way that this has been made,
25:57it's quite rustic.
25:58That's quite helpful
26:00because some of the areas
26:02that have been damaged
26:03and broken,
26:04I can fill
26:05and I can leave the filler
26:07with quite a rough finish.
26:16It's taken many talents
26:18rather than hay and carrots
26:20to revive Rudolf
26:22but now he's almost ready
26:24for festive duties.
26:25He's a bit of a lump.
26:27He is a bit of a lump.
26:30Oh, he won't.
26:32Oh, three guys.
26:33Look at them.
26:34Thanks for the help.
26:37He's made it
26:37through the blizzard.
26:38He has.
26:39And...
26:40Oh.
26:41Ta-da!
26:42That's his new neck piece.
26:44Oh, fantastic.
26:45And...
26:49Is that how they work all?
26:50Very, very good.
26:51You've been having
26:51too much fun in the bar,
26:53haven't you?
26:53I know, I know.
26:55How are you guys getting on?
26:56Actually, quite well.
26:57So we can leave you to it
26:58to put it together?
26:59It sounds like it.
27:00That's all yours then.
27:01Thank you very much.
27:02Bye.
27:04OK, shall we try
27:04and get him back on his base?
27:05Yeah, absolutely.
27:08After 46 years
27:10of fundraising
27:10and bringing Christmas magic
27:12to Leicestershire,
27:14Rudolf's joints
27:15were aching and immobile,
27:17his fur matted
27:18and his nose
27:19not even remotely shiny
27:21or red.
27:23He's huge, isn't he?
27:24Absolutely.
27:25Several generations
27:26from the county
27:27are relying on the barn team
27:29to recreate the magic
27:31and get Rudolf slaying again
27:33for good causes.
27:35Look at the smith,
27:36there's loads of them.
27:38Hello.
27:39Darren, hi.
27:39You OK?
27:40Jerry, hi.
27:41Who have you got with us today?
27:43So these are some of the children
27:45that come from Wishes4Kids.
27:47These are the benefits
27:49from some of the charities
27:49that we link up with
27:50and we've brought them down
27:52to see Rudolf today.
27:53Are you all excited
27:54to see what we've been able to do?
27:56Really excited.
27:57Yeah, we're really excited.
28:00Who's more excited?
28:01So I saw him
28:02when he was brand new
28:03and if you've been able
28:05to get him anywhere close
28:06to what he looked like then,
28:07I think that would be fantastic.
28:08Which I will say
28:09is quite a big ask.
28:11I'm so hopeful
28:12that we can get him back
28:13and look in his best.
28:14OK, everyone,
28:15are you ready to see Rudolf?
28:17We're ready.
28:18We're ready.
28:18We're really ready.
28:19Let's do it.
28:26Wow.
28:29Wow.
28:35Ow.
28:37Oh, that's good.
28:38Oh, that's amazing.
28:39Yeah, that's good.
28:40Look at that.
28:41That's taking me right back
28:42to 1979.
28:43I had no idea
28:45it was going to look
28:46so realistic again.
28:48The fur looks great,
28:49doesn't it?
28:50Please feel free.
28:50Come in and have a look.
28:51Can we have this?
28:52Yeah, come around this side.
28:52Let's have a look.
28:53Oh, they've done
28:54on the harness as well yet.
28:55Yeah, I've never seen
28:56them bells shine like that.
28:58So we've repaired
28:59the ears as well.
29:00New ears.
29:01Yes.
29:01Look at those.
29:02Look at the ears.
29:02Really appreciate that.
29:03It's nice to see it.
29:04It looks great.
29:05Amazing job.
29:06Amazing.
29:06This really has been
29:08a huge team effort.
29:10Well, do you know what?
29:11In the fire surface,
29:11we're really used to working
29:12as a team.
29:13So to see that teamwork
29:15replicated with the care
29:16that he's put into Rudolf
29:17is great.
29:18And that will really
29:18resonate through the service,
29:19I think.
29:20Well, you haven't seen
29:20everything yet.
29:21I want to see the red nose.
29:23Should we dim the lights
29:24so you can have a proper look?
29:25didn't it work?
29:31Oh, yes.
29:34Whoa.
29:35That's so cool.
29:37Oh, wow.
29:38Oh, yes.
29:41This is just what he used to do.
29:43I mean, it takes your world
29:44to take it all in,
29:45doesn't it?
29:46We just want to say thank you.
29:47It means a huge amount to us.
29:48Well, it's yours to take away.
29:50Are we okay to drive it?
29:51Absolutely.
29:51Let's give it a go.
29:54We should get the doors.
29:55Yeah.
29:55Okay.
30:17Well, that's a first for us,
30:18isn't it?
30:18Yeah.
30:20I'm not sure the next time
30:21we're going to fix Rudolf.
30:23No.
30:24Hold on.
30:25Who knows what's coming next?
30:35Rudolf's back in action,
30:37but the Christmas creations
30:38for Julia
30:39are still a work in progress.
30:41Well, I'm carving the Gruffalo,
30:43which is one of the most
30:44well-known characters
30:45from Julia's books.
30:47I think he looks quite charming.
30:53And the vandalised cello,
30:54which Dame Helen Mirren
30:56hopes can be played again,
30:58has been delivered.
30:59It's a task for
31:00stringed instrument restorer
31:02Becky Horton.
31:03This is such a gorgeous instrument.
31:06I feel so sad
31:07that it's been brutalised
31:09in this fashion.
31:10It just breaks my heart.
31:12And the fact that Martin
31:14kept it all these years,
31:16it must have been
31:16so special to him
31:17because who keeps a cello
31:19that's in two parts like this?
31:22Already I can hear
31:23the sound post is loose.
31:25There's cracks all over the place.
31:27This is a particularly nasty one
31:28in the ribs.
31:29The most obvious area of damage
31:31is the fact that the neck
31:32is out of the body
31:33of the instrument.
31:34This is never good.
31:36And it's in a real mess.
31:37So I have to work out
31:39a way of putting
31:40everything back where it belongs,
31:42fitting the neck back in
31:43and getting this cello playable again.
31:46The first thing I'm going to have to do though
31:47is remove the front
31:48so I can see what's going on inside.
31:52What I don't want to do
31:53is splinter out any more
31:55of this very dry old front.
31:59Usually you do not want
32:00to hear cracking noises
32:01but when it's glue
32:02it's a different sort of noise
32:04and that's what I'm after.
32:07I can just feel this seam
32:09starting to give now.
32:10So far so good.
32:18Hailing from Sheffield
32:20Andrew and his wife Emily
32:21with a challenge
32:23for Chris Shaw's
32:24bookbinding skills.
32:26Merry Christmas.
32:28Merry Christmas.
32:29What have you brought?
32:31That looks rather well loved.
32:33Certainly is.
32:34That's well used.
32:35It is.
32:36It's a carol book
32:37that's been used
32:38by our family
32:39for over 40 years now.
32:41Wow.
32:42Yeah.
32:42So this book
32:43was originally my granddad's.
32:45He only lived a street away
32:46from where I grew up as well
32:48so we were very close.
32:50He passed this on for me
32:52when I was really learning
32:53how to play
32:54my first organ.
32:57Probably to accompany him singing
32:58but he loved it.
33:01It's full of local Christmas carols
33:05that we play in pubs
33:07in and around the north of Sheffield
33:09all through the Christmas period.
33:12North Sheffield has a 200-year-old tradition
33:15of carols
33:16that are unique to the area
33:17being sung by locals in their pubs.
33:20The gatherings
33:21are known as sings.
33:24Why are they sung in pubs?
33:25That comes back
33:26from the Victorian era
33:27where the carols
33:28were sent to be
33:29too extravagant
33:30to be sung in churches
33:31and people still wanted
33:33somewhere to sing
33:34so they brought their songs
33:36and their carols
33:36into the local pubs.
33:38Wow.
33:38That's where it's evolved?
33:39Yes.
33:40Into a real tradition.
33:42It's a feeling
33:42of community
33:43and family
33:44and belonging
33:45and I wouldn't be anywhere else
33:47on a Sunday in December.
33:48A lot of the Christmas songs
33:50are probably recognised words
33:53but all the villagers
33:54will have adapted
33:56their own tunes
33:57to the songs.
33:58And this book
33:59it's the book
34:00that I've used
34:00for every sing
34:02that I've played for
34:03for 28 years now.
34:05I'm having to run in
34:06from one pub to the next
34:07and it's folded up
34:09in my back pocket
34:09and it's...
34:10You can tell.
34:12It's got knocked off
34:14the organ
34:14while I'm playing
34:15and yeah
34:16it's had a life
34:16of all of its own.
34:17I thought
34:18this is disintegrating
34:19in our hands
34:21and is there any way
34:23that we can restore it
34:25to stop it getting any worse?
34:26Not to be a museum item
34:28and not to collect dust
34:29to be used
34:30this Christmas
34:30and the next
34:3120, 30, 40 years as well.
34:34I'll give it
34:34my best shot.
34:35That would be brilliant.
34:36Thank you so much.
34:37Bye bye.
34:42Well Chris
34:43this is fantastic
34:44is it not?
34:45It's amazing.
34:46Let me know
34:46when it's ready
34:47and I'll come along
34:48for a sing-along.
34:49That's a date.
34:54Brenton
34:55that's amazing.
34:57You've got two snails there.
34:58Yeah I'm just working
34:59on the tail.
35:00Okay.
35:00The tail of the whale
35:01to scale?
35:02Not quite.
35:05I've got this
35:06little tiny snail
35:07and we've got
35:08the big one there
35:09so you can see
35:09what it's meant
35:09to look like.
35:10I absolutely love it.
35:12You're so clever.
35:20Andrew has really
35:22used this book
35:23almost to death.
35:25It's at a point
35:25where the front covers
35:27are at a stage
35:29where they could
35:29totally collapse.
35:31the amazing thing
35:32and hats off to Andrew
35:34he's kept
35:35all the bits
35:36but it is
35:38in a bit of a sorry state.
35:40Pages need to be ironed
35:42it needs to be flattened
35:43and I've got to think
35:44of a cover
35:46for the outside
35:46but the first thing
35:48I need to do
35:48is remove the staples.
35:51They sort of corrode
35:52and eventually
35:53that will eat
35:54through the paper.
35:56Now I can dismantle
35:58the book
35:58and iron these pages
35:59flat.
36:10Crikey.
36:11Do you recognise
36:12any of these?
36:13There are a few
36:14but on the whole
36:15it's a mystery to me.
36:17Oh, I know
36:17Deck the Halls.
36:18How does that go?
36:19Oh, oh, deck.
36:21I'm not going to
36:22start singing.
36:23They've got such
36:23a lovely voice, Will.
36:24Well it's usually
36:25after a few mild wines
36:26that's when I really
36:26kind of get into
36:27the swing of things.
36:28Do you have
36:29a favourite carol?
36:30I do, Will.
36:30I don't know
36:31what it's called
36:31but it goes
36:32a bit like this
36:33and feel free
36:34to join in
36:35if you want.
36:38Clbed
36:49THEY CONFER
36:55Now she has access to the interior of the cello,
36:59Becky can begin repairing the many cracks in its body.
37:04I've heated up my bending iron
37:05and the water bubbling on the top tells me
37:07it's really hot. I'm going to use it to bend this little bit of wood that I'm
37:12going to use as a stud for this big area of cracking on the rib of the cello. I'm
37:17going to get it really wet and I'm going to steam bend this lovely thin bit of
37:21maple. I am feeling pretty anxious about this because it's so important this
37:30doesn't come undone again so that's why everything has to be absolutely right.
37:36I'm going to start gluing now. I'm going to have to throw a whole load of clamps at
37:47this crack and this stud to make sure it all adheres perfectly because I need to
37:52make sure that all of this stud is properly stuck to the rib. It looks a bit
37:58random and haphazard but I hope I've got just enough pressure to hold that crack
38:04shut while it dries. Hopefully this should all line up. With the paintwork
38:11perfected and the runners rejuvenated Dom and Will have joined forces. I love this
38:17teamwork. This is why it's handy to have an extra pair of hands. To reassemble the old
38:21sledge. Great. I think that's the main sort of chassis part of it on and all looking good.
38:28We can tackle the wood now. Yes. Screws down the middle. This is my favourite screwdriver.
38:36How long have you had my screwdriver for? Weeks. Have you? And you haven't even noticed. Well I have.
38:42I've been blaming Steve. What have you got that for? It's just quite nice. It's quite a good one. It
38:46is nice. Because it's mine.
38:48Yeah. Okay. Middle bit in. Looking really good. That adrenaline just steaming down a hill. I'm feeling it. Yeah. I'm
38:56there. I'm there.
38:57Right. What's left to do? We've really just got the steering. The steering. Oh gosh I forgot about the steering.
39:02Not yet. Not yet. We're not quite there.
39:04Yeah. And the all important rope. And then we're done. It's ready to go back to Ian.
39:10The sledge was given to Ian just before the big freeze of 1963. But years of downhill adventuring had left
39:18it dangerously dilapidated.
39:22Right. Pop that on there. Let's get it covered up.
39:25Ian and family, including granddaughters Leah and Bethany, have high hopes of snowy fun for many more years.
39:35Hi everyone. Hello. Hello. Hi folks. How are you? Welcome back. Hello. Hello.
39:40How have you all been feeling? You've been excited about today? I have been very, been very excited. I'm looking
39:45forward to all the months. It's been part of my life for so long.
39:48With kids, with grandkids and I like to see it going on and on.
39:52I'm hoping that we can take you back to being that nine-year-old kid again. Are you ready to
39:55take a look?
39:56More than rather. How about you two? Are you excited?
39:59Okay. Here we go.
40:01I'm ready.
40:15That's where I was.
40:18After three years.
40:21Oh, brilliant.
40:23I'm over the moon.
40:24Just when she was a kid again.
40:26Yeah.
40:28This is great.
40:30Better job than I've done.
40:33It's beautiful. I don't know what I was expecting, but it's beyond what I expected.
40:37I've never seen it like that.
40:38The writing and all, it's lovely.
40:40The fact that they just didn't do it clearly, you know, the eraser, it's brilliant. I'm so pleased.
40:48It just looks beautiful.
40:49But there's no time like the present. Shall we take it outside?
40:51Take it out, sir.
40:57You getting on, Gus?
40:59You're not getting too jealous, are you, Ian?
41:02You're on the back, Ian.
41:03One, two, three.
41:07It works.
41:08That's really good.
41:11Marvelous.
41:12It looks right at home out here, doesn't it?
41:14Yeah.
41:15Perfect.
41:15It's where it belongs.
41:31I'm making Betty the scarecrow, and she's coming along really well.
41:34But it's time now I started putting some little clothes on her.
41:40Reattaching the neck of the cello is a demanding process.
41:45Becky's drafting in Will to play more than just second fiddle.
41:49You're going to have the most important job of operating the clamp.
41:53So I'm going to take it all out, glue it, and then you're going to clamp it.
41:57But it might slide around, all sorts of horrible things can happen.
42:00So if I start being cross with you, just, sorry.
42:03I'll just take it.
42:04I'll just take it.
42:04All right.
42:05If I've got this even half a millimetre out, the player will feel it,
42:08and it will have a bearing on the sound.
42:10Even a millimetre?
42:11Oh, even half a millimetre, even quarter of a millimetre.
42:14Really?
42:14Yeah, yeah.
42:15You grab the clamp and the cork.
42:16Are you ready to do this?
42:17Because this is a one hit only.
42:19We've got one chance to get this perfect.
42:21OK.
42:21Up for it?
42:22Yeah.
42:22Right.
42:23OK.
42:23We ready?
42:24We're ready.
42:26Time is absolutely of the essence,
42:28because this glue is gelling all the time I'm using it,
42:31and I don't want to take any chances of this coming out ever again.
42:36I've never seen you work so quickly.
42:37Oh, you've not seen anything yet.
42:40OK.
42:40OK.
42:41All right.
42:41I'm going to...
42:42No, not yet.
42:43I've got to push this in.
42:45Nope.
42:45Nope.
42:46I'll tell you.
42:47OK, clamp.
42:48Ready?
42:49Yep.
42:51Get that wedge the right way around.
42:54Yep.
42:54Tighten a bit.
42:55Yep.
42:56That's brilliant.
42:56That's a brilliant angle.
42:57There?
42:57Yep.
42:58Bit more, bit more, bit more.
42:59Stop.
43:00Right.
43:01OK.
43:02We're not done yet.
43:03No?
43:04No.
43:04Right.
43:05No.
43:05I've got to check.
43:06Go on.
43:07Right, I just need you to move it a little bit.
43:09Unnip it.
43:09OK.
43:12OK.
43:12And down again.
43:14Tighten?
43:14Yep, tighten.
43:17OK, let me just double-check that.
43:19Oh, God, I'm shaking.
43:21You're doing really well.
43:22Oh!
43:23I'm checking the angle of the neck here.
43:25There's a certain measurement that I'm after, which is 80 mil.
43:27It's slightly higher.
43:30I just don't want to take any chances of this cello having any more problems,
43:33because it's been through enough.
43:36I would like that a bit lower, but I don't think...
43:38I don't think I want to move it.
43:40So, to go lower, would this have to move back out?
43:42I...
43:42No, we can't take it out now.
43:44Can you?
43:45Oh.
43:46What do you want?
43:48Oh.
43:52Unnip it and just move it slightly towards me.
43:55Yeah, just slightly.
43:56Yep.
43:57Yeah, yeah, yeah.
43:58There?
43:58Now, now nip it down.
44:01There?
44:01Yep, nip.
44:02Yep.
44:03OK.
44:04Tension.
44:08Yes, yes, yes, yes.
44:10Yes?
44:10Better?
44:11Yes.
44:11I'm happy.
44:13You OK?
44:14I don't know.
44:15Well done.
44:19Walk away.
44:20Let's walk away.
44:22It's done.
44:22Literally.
44:23Literally just walk away.
44:27The pages of the Carol book have been flattened,
44:31and Chrissie's next task is a spot of invisible mending.
44:35This cover is at the point of complete collapse.
44:39I'm going to remount these onto some blue paper.
44:43But obviously, because of all the years of Andrew handling it,
44:47it's got grubby.
44:48So I've made an initial attempt of grubbing it up.
44:52And because it's in pieces,
44:53it's a bit like fitting the jigsaw puzzle together.
44:56By remounting this, it's going to stabilise it,
45:00and at the same time add strength.
45:02It's going to make it still very flexible.
45:05Just lining up the puzzle, and it fits over very, very nice.
45:11And now I'm going to get it into the press,
45:13and then allow it to dry.
45:22Muscle mess.
45:23Is this the toy you're making, Steve?
45:25It is.
45:26This is Tiddler.
45:27This is the character out of the book.
45:29I can see that.
45:30I'm making a mechanism that when I put the tail inside,
45:35and you move the tail from side to side,
45:37it's going to open and shut the mouth.
45:39Lovely.
45:44There we go.
45:45Now it's Christmas.
45:47OK, maybe I've overdone this a little bit.
45:53With the most stressful part of the cello repair behind her,
45:57Becky's work is nearly done.
46:00The neck is solid,
46:01and the cello's actually sounding really resonant.
46:05I couldn't be happier.
46:06I've never been so nervous in my life with an instrument,
46:09because it was important to Martin,
46:11and it's going to be played in the retirement home.
46:14I think it's going to be beautiful for them,
46:16and I hope they love it as much as I do now,
46:19because I've fallen in love with this instrument.
46:21So all I need to do now
46:23is put the last two strings on,
46:24and then I get to hear it.
46:28This cello was brutally smashed
46:31as its 14-year-old owner, Martin,
46:34fled Hitler's Germany,
46:35and it had remained unplayable ever since.
46:39OK, let's get it covered.
46:40Yeah.
46:44Now Dame Helen Mirren hopes it can be the centrepiece
46:48of Christmas celebrations at the retirement home
46:51to which Martin donated it.
46:56Hello.
46:58Hello.
46:58Hi.
46:59Welcome back.
47:01I presume this is the baby.
47:03It is indeed.
47:04Yes.
47:05Let me introduce you to Becky.
47:06Becky.
47:07Was it a challenge?
47:08It was a challenge, yes.
47:10Yes.
47:10It has tested me.
47:12The love that this instrument carried with it,
47:15I hope, communicated to you.
47:17Very much so.
47:17Because it carried the history of family,
47:19of love, of dreams.
47:21Definitely.
47:22Definitely.
47:22You can feel it in the world.
47:23You can, really.
47:24Yes.
47:25Well, are you ready to take a look?
47:26I am.
47:27I'm so excited.
47:28I can't tell you.
47:29I'm so excited to see it.
47:31Can I peek up under the skirt?
47:34No peeking.
47:34No peeking.
47:36Go on then, Becky.
47:37OK.
47:38Yes.
47:38Are you ready?
47:39I am.
47:49I am.
47:51Hello.
47:53Martin sent his love.
47:56Becky, that's fantastic.
47:58Many, many, many congratulations.
48:02Wondrous.
48:03Absolutely wondrous.
48:05Wow.
48:06I wish I could play.
48:08Would you like to hear it play?
48:09Well, of course I would.
48:11Is that possible?
48:12It is.
48:12We've got a special guest.
48:13Really?
48:14Yes.
48:14Very much so.
48:15We have Raphael Warfish in the barn.
48:19Raphael, would you please come and join us?
48:22Raphael, how very, very nice to meet you.
48:25Thank you so much for coming for us.
48:28You be careful with that.
48:30Yes.
48:30Okay.
49:08Bravo! Bravo, Becky!
49:13What up, Becky? Thank you.
49:16How incredible to hear that. Yes.
49:19Thank you so much, Raphael. That was beautiful.
49:21Great pleasure. Becky, thank you.
49:23Pleasure. Bye-bye. Bye. Bye.
49:25Bye. Bye.
49:28Brilliant.
49:30Brilliant.
49:30Well done. I'm just so pleased.
49:33Yeah.
49:44New covers have made the Carol book more durable,
49:47but Chrissie's repairs also need to look harmonious.
49:51The final thing I need to do to the covers
49:54are to just sort of blend in
49:56and just take the eye away from these creases.
49:58So I'm using a watercolour pencil,
50:01and it's a blue sort of turquoise-y,
50:03but coming around here to where Andrew's handled it,
50:06I'm going to have to mix in a bit of green.
50:11Kirsten has painted the exterior of the toy farmhouse,
50:15but for interior decor, she's turning to paper and paste.
50:20The only wallpapering I've done is in my own house,
50:23so that's quite a number of years ago.
50:25But I do think this will transform the inside of the farmhouse.
50:32If I can just get that in there.
50:34There, that's gone on really nicely.
50:36Now, I'm going to carry on putting the paper on the other walls,
50:40and then it's going to be ready to go back to Julia,
50:44and I hope that this will give the children at the hospice
50:48many hours of play.
50:53Julia's toy farm was faded and fragile,
50:56and its animals long since lost.
51:00Now she plans for a new generation of children at the hospice
51:04to be delighted and inspired by the farm,
51:07and a farmyard full of fantastical creatures.
51:12Hi, Julia.
51:13Hello. Oh, my goodness.
51:16This is the biggest Christmas present ever.
51:20Well, I think it's really lovely
51:22that this is going to go to Chestnut Treehouse.
51:25Yes, it's such a wonderful place.
51:27We'd like to take a look.
51:29I'd love to take a look, yeah.
51:37Oh, so beautiful.
51:41It looks just perfect, because it doesn't look over the top,
51:44it just looks like I remembered.
51:48Animals.
51:49I remember these little sitting-down calves.
51:52Who's outside in the garden?
51:55LAUGHTER
51:55Oh, gosh.
51:57Oh, look, we've got the Gruffalo, of course.
52:01Made by Will.
52:02So clever.
52:03Oh, I think that's brilliant,
52:04because you've got two types of toy.
52:07You know, you've got the farm,
52:08but they could have adventures
52:09with all these characters outside their world.
52:13It really has been a team effort, hasn't it?
52:16So, Steve made Tiddler.
52:18Thank you, Steve.
52:19You're very welcome.
52:20Yeah, Tiddler's gorgeous.
52:21I think when you move the tail,
52:23the mouth opens and closes.
52:24Oh, can I have a go?
52:25Oh, that's wonderful.
52:27That's really good.
52:28Oh, Tiddler.
52:29Hello.
52:30LAUGHTER
52:31Oh, look, he's a baddie.
52:34That's Rob Brydon.
52:35It's Reginald Rape.
52:36Which was made by Kishtons.
52:38He sort of tries to lure Betty away from her true love, Mary.
52:44And they're going to get married, aren't you?
52:46Yes.
52:47LAUGHTER
52:49Oh, lovely.
52:50I think children would enjoy, you know,
52:52they could act that story out, couldn't they?
52:54Yeah, definitely.
52:54Absolutely.
52:55You have brought so much joy and imagination
52:57to so many children's lives,
52:59so it's quite nice for us to give something back to you.
53:02Oh, thank you so much.
53:03And thank you all.
53:05So welcome.
53:07Bye.
53:08Bye.
53:10Oh, she is lovely, isn't she?
53:13This is the magic of children's farm animals and toys
53:16and things like that.
53:17Yeah, exactly.
53:18You can go anywhere.
53:19Well done, everyone.
53:20Good job.
53:29Chrissie's skills have got the carol book almost back on song.
53:34So the moment's come of joining the pages to the cover.
53:39I'm using a linen thread and sewing it as opposed to stapling it
53:42because Andrew's going to use this an awful lot
53:45and I want to be able to provide the book with as much strength
53:49and longevity as possible.
53:52So the final knot that seals and joins the pages together
53:56ends my absolutely joyous repair of the joy of Christmas.
54:06This carol book was given to Andrew by his grandfather
54:09but decades of use at Sheffield's Carol Sings had left it in tatters.
54:17Andrew and Emily are hoping the book can continue playing its part
54:21in keeping a remarkable tradition alive.
54:25Hello, hello.
54:26Hello there.
54:27Hi.
54:27Absolutely fantastic to see you.
54:29How are you both feeling?
54:31Really excited.
54:32Are you?
54:33Yeah.
54:33It's more than the book.
54:34It's the tradition and certainly now not having my grandad
54:38there in the pub with me, his book's always there.
54:42That's really lovely.
54:43Yeah.
54:43Well, are you ready to see what I've managed to do?
54:47Certainly are.
54:56Wow.
55:09Look at the pub.
55:10That's fantastic.
55:11Look at the pub.
55:13Wow.
55:15That's a Christmas present.
55:17Yeah.
55:17Thank you so much.
55:19That's brilliant.
55:20Look.
55:21I can't believe it.
55:24I can't.
55:26And there was whole...
55:28I can't believe it, Chris.
55:30The joy of Christmas.
55:32I know.
55:32It's fantastic.
55:33It's such a beautiful thing.
55:36It'll certainly feel special to stand it on the piano
55:39or the organ for the first time.
55:40It'll feel really nice.
55:42Andrew, how would you feel about doing a sing for us now?
55:46Yeah.
55:48Come on, everybody.
55:50Outside.
55:51Point at your finest, please, landlord.
55:53Oh, coming right up, sir.
55:57Paid in chocolate coins.
55:58Perfect.
56:02Here they come.
56:03Wow.
56:04It's a pub.
56:05Look at that.
56:06Oh, look.
56:06There's a choir.
56:07Oh, is that a bar?
56:09Hello, everyone.
56:09Welcome to the hammer and spanner.
56:11Oh, cheers.
56:13What can I get you?
56:14There you go.
56:15Oh, you pour a decent pint.
56:17The usual.
56:17Oh, yes.
56:18We sing as faithful as in days of old
56:25To celebrate Christmas and bring you good cheer
56:32Glad tidings we bring on Messiah our King
56:38So we wish you a Merry Christmas
56:42We wish you a Merry Christmas
56:44We wish you a Merry Christmas
56:47And a Happy New Year
56:53Woo!
56:54Merry Christmas!
57:01Hello, everyone.
57:02Hello.
57:03I've got a surprise for you.
57:05I've got a surprise for you.
57:56I've got a surprise for you.
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