- 10 hours ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Go on, what's the best thing about those Spanish costas?
00:04I like getting the sand in between my toes.
00:06The great shops.
00:07Atmosphere.
00:08Sea.
00:09You hate the sea.
00:10Shut up.
00:11But one thing we could all agree on, with over 300 days of that glorious sunshine a year,
00:17it sure beats the cold and grey of the old UK.
00:21Ah, this is a lie.
00:23Living that dream can be blooming hard graft.
00:26Misting.
00:27My lad, you're right.
00:28Stress level.
00:29Through the roof.
00:31But at the end of the working day.
00:33Girl power.
00:34Girl power, come on Sam.
00:36Forward.
00:36Booyah.
00:37The quality of life on the costas.
00:42Is priceless.
00:43Cheers.
00:45Peace and love.
00:46Cheers.
00:47That's why there will always be.
00:49Start again, she's waffling.
00:50Oh, Kerry.
00:51A lot cheaper than England.
00:53Everybody's in that friendly zone.
00:54This is heaven.
00:56Bargain-loving Brits in the sun.
00:58Yeah!
01:00Today on the costas.
01:02It's been great.
01:03How you been here?
01:03A big day out for holiday rep Trisha and DJ Chris.
01:07The biggest fancy dress party in Europe.
01:10It's absolutely brilliant.
01:12A big problem at Jack's Remembrance Day event.
01:15Why is it not connecting?
01:17It's not connecting at all.
01:19And we rewind to when there was a big racket for ex-soldier, Diane.
01:25It's terrible.
01:26This is going Jim and I'll end like that.
01:28I love it.
01:35Hiya, Liz.
01:36Just a quickie darling.
01:37Well, I had a cancellation this morning.
01:39So, I phoned a couple off the reserve list.
01:43And they're...
01:46Well, you talk to the dog.
01:48Don't take no notice of me.
01:49You just pack the dog and talk to the dog.
01:51In Abinida Polaris, 20 minutes drive down the coast from Marbella...
01:55Let me know when you're finished.
01:57I'm in no rush.
01:58No, it's...
01:59I've not got a lot to do today.
02:00It's no problem.
02:01Retired ex-pat Jack is trying to set up for an important annual tradition.
02:06So, I phoned that couple, Pete and...
02:09Will you leave the dog alone, woman?
02:11But Liz, whose bar is hosting tonight's Poppy Appeal event,
02:15is marching to a different beat.
02:17That's Liz, the owner, who is walking down the street
02:21and whenever she sees a dog, the dog takes priorities.
02:25So, I'm trying to talk to her on the phone about tonight
02:27and she's packing the dog and doing silly voices to the dog.
02:31Talks to the night babies.
02:32Oh, don't be mad, Jack.
02:33There's a good bone.
02:35We have the Poppy banners.
02:38Seem to go on forever, these.
02:39But these are the Air Raid Warden's hats
02:42for the people who sit there and look silly while they're singing.
02:47Tonight, Jack's hosting a wartime sing-along
02:49to raise voices and funds for the Poppy Appeal
02:52in honour of Remembrance Day.
02:55This is the highlight of some of the old people's year
02:57because they get the chance to sing songs
02:59that they don't get a chance to sing.
03:01So, Liz will come in and do all the decorating of the bar
03:05for tonight so it creates a bit of an atmosphere.
03:08Because if we don't have an atmosphere, we don't have anything.
03:10Good point.
03:12Time to get organising the 45-seat table plan
03:15with military precision.
03:16Bob and Sharon, Pauline and Priya.
03:20I can probably put them together.
03:23Oh, no, Pauline's the one that wants to be with them.
03:26One of the difficulties in doing the table plan is...
03:29A lot of the people are...
03:30Let me be careful how I put this.
03:31A lot of the people that are coming tonight are old.
03:34So, the two high tables, I need to make sure that I put people on there
03:38who are physically able to climb up into the chairs and down again.
03:42So, I've got to find a table with young people.
03:45Young people being under 60.
03:48I'm an optimist.
03:51Meanwhile, bar owner Liz has arrived to take charge of the decor
03:55for tonight's sing-song.
03:57I'll not stick to the aluminium.
04:01So, I'll need to try and see if I can tie it somewhere.
04:04It's a good thing for the ex-pats, especially the retired people, you know.
04:08It's good for them, really.
04:10And they enjoy singing the songs.
04:13It's good for their morale, do you know what I mean?
04:15No, it's not sticking.
04:20With a large British ex-pat community,
04:23Remembrance Day is a huge event here on the Costas.
04:34I've not put on a uniform, not defended the country.
04:37And the people that look after that need to be looked after.
04:41Oh!
04:42That's why it's important.
04:46Oh, God.
04:47I'll need to get pinned.
04:48I don't think this is going to work.
04:51That's not going to work. Sorry.
04:53I mean, the motto is less we forget, but I think a lot of people are forgetting now.
04:57We're just doing the microphone check for this evening to make sure that it's working okay.
05:01But technology and me are not very good friends.
05:04There's a lot of ex-soldiers who've been injured in all the different conflicts,
05:08and they rely on the Legion for support.
05:10Just switch it on, I'll switch it off.
05:11One, two, one, two, one, two, yeah.
05:14We're okay, it's working.
05:16So, yeah, it's important to raise the money.
05:18It really is, Jack.
05:19You two need to pay attention!
05:23Old man down.
05:25Another man down.
05:31Well, I've got some pictures on here. We can sit down and have a look at these.
05:34Well, that'd be a good idea. That'll give us some inspiration.
05:37I hope it does.
05:39See what still fits us as well.
05:41Oh, yeah.
05:43Let's have a look.
05:45Preparations are underway for a very different type of parade.
05:50Oh, that's me and my dad.
05:51Yeah.
05:52He was a clown and then I was supposed to be Madame Butterfly.
05:56And then we had our little fishy head and piggy head.
05:59Yeah, you were pig head and I was fish head.
06:01Yeah.
06:02Very fetching.
06:04Every year, Bedidorm hosts the biggest fancy dress party in Europe,
06:07and holiday rep Tricia is a regular.
06:11The atmosphere is electric. It really is. It's a great day.
06:14So, we look forward to it, because we have an excuse just to party.
06:19That won't fit me now.
06:21And for the past six years, she's been dressing to impress with husband Chris.
06:26This year, we don't know what we're going as, as we've put on a little bit of weight.
06:32So, we need to find something that's going to fit us out of all the different costumes that we've got.
06:37Which means going into our lock-up and getting all the cases out that they're in.
06:42It's like an Aladdin's cave.
06:44The pair have quite the treasure trove.
06:47What's in that blue bat? Oh!
06:48Oh!
06:49But there's a weighty issue.
06:51This won't fit you any more, but this used to look great on him.
06:55Look at this.
06:58Look at that.
07:04Some great stuff is this.
07:07Oh, it doesn't fit me any more, I'm afraid.
07:09It's me.
07:09Well, you could wear it.
07:10But I've been going since I arrived, really, for nearly 21 years.
07:15A lot of time goes into thinking about what we can wear.
07:18This is what I call my Binderella dress.
07:22There you go.
07:23It was actually supposed to be a wedding dress that we were going to wear.
07:28It changed my mind.
07:30We've been...
07:30Beauty and the Beast, was it?
07:32No, not Beauty and the Beast, no.
07:34It was Prince Chaumain and Binderella.
07:39That's what we called ourselves.
07:41Oh!
07:42Can Can!
07:44Do you know, I've learnt this out so many times.
07:46I've never had a chance to wear it myself yet.
07:52That would actually fit.
07:53Would it fit you, that one?
07:54No.
07:58Oh, yeah, you and Dad were going to dress up last year.
08:00Steampunk, you remember?
08:01Oh, yeah.
08:01With the goggles and the top hats.
08:03Oh, yeah.
08:04We haven't got all the top hats and stuff now.
08:06No.
08:07Ooh!
08:08Could do a skate of convict, do you think that would fit you?
08:10The couple are due in downtown Benidorm.
08:12Ha-ha!
08:14You going to be an admiral?
08:15To meet up with friends and watch the parade in just a couple of hours.
08:18Ooh, pirate.
08:20What about a pirate?
08:22Oh, do you prefer that one?
08:25It's a bit tight, this one.
08:26It's not going to fasten.
08:27Oh, well, then you can be Prince Charming.
08:29Prince Charming.
08:31Perfect.
08:31Chris, you shall go to the ball.
08:38Coming up.
08:39These are balloons for 42 people.
08:40Imagine if there would have been 100 people.
08:42Retired couple Diane and Jim have their hands full.
08:45This is phase one of the gala dinner night operation.
08:48I see when it gets pretty big now.
08:51And a cavalcade of costumes as Trisha and Chris join the Big Bang.
08:55There's a peacock coming down the road.
09:04There's a peacock coming down the road.
09:10Never going to be used again.
09:12You can't throw it away.
09:13In Benidorm.
09:15I can.
09:16Diane Finlay Craig is giving husband Jim his marching orders.
09:20This gazebo was here.
09:21He fixed all this.
09:22He built me this.
09:24Bless him.
09:25He's going to paint it and stain it at some stage.
09:28The problem is it keeps going AWOL.
09:30So this is the swimming pool.
09:32It's a massive swimming pool.
09:34It fits that whole area apparently.
09:36I wouldn't know because this is all I've seen of it.
09:38Oh Jim will get round to it Diane.
09:40And today we're going back to the time this retired couple had a lot on their plate.
09:45I've never worked so hard in my life since retiring.
09:48I keep volunteering for things.
09:50I think that's my problem.
09:52They're both volunteers for a local group that serves hot food to homeless people in Benidorm.
09:58What we're doing today is we're cooking for the homeless that aren't in the shelter that live on the streets
10:03in Benidorm.
10:04Every week the couple offer up 20 to 30 meals from their mobile mess and today Diane's deploying a taste
10:11of blighty.
10:12We're making shepherd's pie because the first time that we cooked for them we made shepherd's pie and they loved
10:16it.
10:17In Northern Ireland when I was grown up.
10:19I was brought up on this type of food.
10:23Potatoes, vegetables and a meat base.
10:25Puts hairs on your chest.
10:26Well not yours Diane.
10:29This pair plan their cooking like a military operation because well they were both in the military.
10:35So we met actually through the army and then the first night that we met he asked me for my
10:42number.
10:42I give him a totally different number.
10:44Top secret operational info eh Jim.
10:47I went away on exercise for two weeks and when I came back from exercise went to the same place
10:50with my friends.
10:52And he turned up and excuse me and that was it.
10:55I haven't got rid of him since.
10:57And that was 1994.
10:58It was yeah.
11:0027 glorious years.
11:01Oh sweet.
11:03And even in retirement this pair have no desire to be confined to barracks.
11:08I mean I could be like anyone else on my day off and go and do a ladies at lunch.
11:13But actually I quite enjoy this.
11:15Their faces when you turn up with their dinners actually the payment in itself.
11:19You know they're very glad to see you.
11:23I enjoy doing the charity work.
11:25It keeps me occupied.
11:27It keeps me busy.
11:28And it actually means you don't have to concentrate in the garden.
11:32Not today soldier.
11:34It's time to deploy Operation Shepherd's Pie.
11:3825 dinners are ready for parade with time and sauce to spare.
11:43You know I can make that empty spag bowl for me tonight.
11:46There's carrots and peas in it.
11:48And potatoes.
11:50It's got a wee bit of potato.
11:52Yeah.
11:52Once I put some red wine and not cinnamon and nothing.
11:54Now people know why I don't eat your pasta.
11:59I don't blame you Diane.
12:01Good job you're in the kitchen today.
12:04Next stop the streets of Benidorm.
12:06Their mission.
12:06A 25 dinner drop.
12:17Totally weird.
12:19Never seen anything like it.
12:20I think the Spanish don't like to waste anything.
12:22So they've got an old set of traffic lights.
12:23Didn't know what to do with them.
12:24Sort of just plunked them there.
12:27350 miles down the coast.
12:29Fundraiser Jack Watson is also out on manoeuvres.
12:33They do that quite a lot.
12:34They do random things in Spanish.
12:36Which is quite nice.
12:38Because you never know what you're going to see next out of you.
12:40For Remembrance Day Jack's organised the wartime singalong event inspired by his late dad.
12:46My dad served in World War II and thank God he came back.
12:50I was talking to a woman yesterday at the remembering service.
12:53And she was born in 1942.
12:57But when she was born, her dad had died.
13:00So she never met her dad.
13:02He was killed in action.
13:03So it's something I feel strongly about.
13:07Most money we'll raise will be out of the raffle.
13:10People donate prizes.
13:12Thankfully, I've got the best raffle ticket seller in the world.
13:16My wife, she manages to sell raffle tickets like nobody else.
13:21With just hours to go, Jack still needs to collect a raffle prize donated by someone who also has a
13:27very poignant reason for helping out.
13:30Hello Kelly.
13:31Hi. I'm Jack.
13:33Nice to meet you.
13:34Nice to meet you.
13:34RAF veteran Kelly has lived in Spain for the past five years.
13:38I would say I joined up in 2003.
13:42I ended up being a critical care nurse, part of the critical care air support team.
13:48So we'd fly all around the world picking up servicemen that were injured.
13:53And then unfortunately, I actually got injured bringing someone back from Afghanistan in an ambulance.
13:59Ultimately, it led to me being medically discharged in 2019.
14:05But on the positive note, I ended up finding out I was pregnant during that time.
14:09So life led me in a different direction.
14:11Direction.
14:12Yeah.
14:12And then through that, I did recovery services through the British Legion.
14:17Which is why I became heavily involved with the British Legion.
14:20I admire people who look after other people.
14:25I don't have the patience for that, to be honest.
14:28So when people do it, I want to help.
14:31This was me when I joined up.
14:35This is through basic training, where we actually did all our rifle training.
14:39You did do rifle training with us?
14:41We do, yeah.
14:42But it would be a very bad day if us nurses had to use our pistols.
14:46It would have been a very, very bad day.
14:48Yeah.
14:49The Royal British Legion supported me when I was at a low ebb.
14:53I'd just moved to Spain, first time mother.
14:56And so, now out here, I volunteer for the Royal British Legion as a caseworker.
15:01And it means that I can give something back to them.
15:04So, for tonight's event, I would like to give you this RAF cookbook.
15:09It's the RAF 100, celebrating 100 years of the RAF.
15:13This is lovely, Kelly.
15:15Lots of different recipes, so hopefully someone will be able to use it.
15:19I'm really pleased with this.
15:20We'll make a lovely prize for somebody tonight.
15:22Oh, lovely.
15:24Let's hope tonight's fundraising sing-along also goes by the book.
15:28Thank you so much, and good luck tonight.
15:30Thank you, God.
15:31Yeah.
15:31I appreciate it.
15:32Kelly's played her part.
15:34It's over to you, Jack, to get donations in the ranks.
15:38It's always nice to actually talk to people who've served.
15:41So, yeah, it's important.
15:43We literally raise as much money as we can for the poppy appeal.
15:58It's Benidorm's big fiesta day.
16:01Got the bear legs.
16:02So where's the clown legs?
16:04And holiday rep, Tricia, and DJ husband, Chris.
16:07We've got the zebra.
16:08Have been struggling to find a costume that fits for today's fancy dress festivities.
16:14Yeah, it looks like it's Binderella.
16:16Because we don't know where our clowns have gone.
16:19The fancy dress street party is a Benidorm expat tradition.
16:23Right, everything's backing.
16:24We've got only an hour to get ready, so we need to get cracking.
16:27The parade takes place each year, straight after a more traditional Spanish celebration
16:31known as the fiestas, translation, the parties.
16:34When the fiestas are finished, the day after, there's a big party in Benidorm,
16:39which was started by a man called Pedro.
16:42And they said, well, why don't we go a step further?
16:44And we're all dressed up in fancy dress.
16:45There were only about eight of them to begin with.
16:48And for momentum, 27 years later, there's 30,000 people come to Benidorm.
16:52For the fancy dress.
16:54And this year, Trish has chosen to go with her version of Cinderella.
16:58Oh, you definitely have to have a tiara.
17:00Definitely, definitely have to have a tiara.
17:02Yes, Binderella definitely needs a tiara.
17:05And they get to work at once a year.
17:08Hmm.
17:08What do you think?
17:09Very regal.
17:10Let's put some lippy on.
17:12We do have these couple's costumes, him and hers,
17:16like the Prince Charming and Binderella we've got today.
17:20And we did the same with the Cloud outfit and the Viking outfit a few years ago.
17:25Are you ready yet, love?
17:26Yes.
17:27Got to go soon.
17:28I'm ready now.
17:29Here we go, Prince Charming at the ready.
17:31I could compare it to a Mardi Gras.
17:34Right, have you got everything together?
17:36You are ready to go?
17:37I'm tickety boom and ready to go.
17:40The atmosphere is so electric.
17:41It's fun, fun, fun all the way.
17:44Looking fantastic, my love.
17:45You look beautiful.
17:46I like your hair.
17:47They'll be nice.
17:47Oh, thank you.
17:48Right, let's go.
17:50With the Fiesta Parade due to commence in just over an hour,
17:53they'd better get their skates on.
17:55Thank you, my Prince Charming.
17:58Get in the car.
18:01I hope I'm driving this dress.
18:03Otherwise, you'll have to find a pumpkin and some mice.
18:08This is fun.
18:10Off to the ball.
18:11Off to the ball we go.
18:14There we go.
18:17It's a 35-minute drive from their home to the party resort at Benidorm.
18:24Benidorm, we're coming to get you.
18:25Better watch out.
18:27Prince Charming and Binderella.
18:39All right, let's get this party started.
18:42You ready, my darling?
18:43Yeah.
18:45Right, over there, down that way.
18:49Around 30,000 partygoers are expected to flock to the streets today.
18:55I see where's it gets pretty big now.
19:02Everyone's just trying to spot the best costume.
19:06There's a peacock coming down the road.
19:09That's one of the best ones I've seen so far.
19:11It's absolutely fabulous.
19:14Everyone starts coming in and he's all dressed up
19:16and it all slowly builds up into one great big massive art.
19:20Yeah.
19:20It's fantastic.
19:21It's spectacular.
19:21Great place to be.
19:23It's Benidorm for a party.
19:25Party Central 24-7.
19:27But always on this day every year, it becomes the biggest fancy dress party in Europe.
19:32It's absolutely brilliant.
19:33But it's a bittersweet experience for Tricia.
19:36Her first fancy dress parade without her dad, who recently passed away.
19:41Last year we couldn't come because my dad broke his leg.
19:43But the time before that, we did bring him.
19:45And he was dressed as a voodoo man.
19:47And he was in a wheelchair, which was quite good because we were pushing around.
19:51And then the time before that, he was a clown.
19:53He was a clown, yeah.
19:54So we had some good times with him.
19:56He looks to go and get a beer.
19:58Yeah.
19:58We'll get one in a bit.
19:59We'll wait for the parade, aren't we?
20:01So, we'll be here in a minute.
20:03We should be, but it's not.
20:04With the parade nowhere in sight, the couple's fancy dress efforts may be in vain.
20:09Well, that's the opposite way.
20:11They're coming a different way.
20:22Benidorm will forever mean fancy dress festivities for Tricia and Chris.
20:26But what do other Brits most associate with the place?
20:31When I think of Benidorm, I think of Party City.
20:35Cheap food, cheap drink and no inhibitions.
20:39Well, you know what they say, Steve.
20:40What happens in Benny stays in Benny.
20:43The weather.
20:44The weather.
20:45Benidorm is amazing.
20:47The beaches are so clean.
20:49It's always sunny.
20:51The food, the shops and the people.
20:54Everybody's just out to just have a good time and enjoy themselves really, aren't they?
20:58Yeah, like us.
21:00Yeah.
21:01When we think of Benidorm, we think of happy times.
21:04Me too.
21:05Yes, me too.
21:13Hello.
21:14Hello.
21:14And on the streets of Benidorm, ex-army husband and wife, Jim and Diane are out in the field.
21:20It does feel very rewarding.
21:23It makes me smile.
21:25It makes me smile when other people smile.
21:27The pair are delivering 25 home-cooked meals to local homeless people.
21:32Me too.
21:33Two.
21:34Perfecto.
21:36Two desserts.
21:38There you go, love.
21:39And being ex-military, they've planned it with plenty of time to spare.
21:44You have to have a chat with them all because you can't just go, here's your dinner and run.
21:50Can I leave this for Gerry?
21:51Okay.
21:52It's just food, love.
21:53I'll give him a ring and let him know to see her.
21:54Okay.
21:57The estimate if you go round and you get everybody first sweep, it is two hours.
22:02But there's no time limit as far as I'm concerned.
22:05If it takes me to six o'clock to get everybody that I need to get the food, they will
22:08get the food.
22:10I did come here to retire in the sunshine, but I actually quite enjoy being busy.
22:18That's it.
22:19That's the last one.
22:19We're done.
22:21Last one, see if they delivered.
22:23Mission accomplished.
22:24Well done, chaps.
22:25So, good day.
22:29But there's no R&R for these two.
22:31As well as slaving at the hub, they've been organising a very special event.
22:35They're celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion.
22:40And as both have served in the forces, it's close to their hearts.
22:45Everybody, I think, has somebody in their family that World War I and World War II touched.
22:49And that's who I like to honour and the people that we've lost through the years.
22:55You know, a little bit of my time to someone else can go a long way.
23:01So, you know, I quite happily give up my time to help others less fortunate than me.
23:11But I do get a bit emotional when it comes to that sort of thing, so I do apologise.
23:16James is very army, very, very army.
23:19If James could go back into the army tomorrow, he'd be away.
23:21I would.
23:22Yeah.
23:23So we would.
23:24The pair are plotting a formal dinner and dance.
23:28This is phase one of the gala dinner night operation.
23:32Stand by your beds.
23:34The next mission is about to commence.
23:36The main ticket sales will go towards covering the event.
23:40And then anything over and above will be donated to the fund.
23:43These are balloons for 42 people.
23:45Imagine if there would be a hundred people.
23:46Oh.
23:48What's the plan then for today?
23:50You're going to make sure that you've everything packed that you need.
23:53Yeah.
23:53Get the balloons, put them into the van.
23:55Yeah.
23:56Then we'll put all this into the van.
23:58OK.
23:58I can do that.
24:01Loading the car up with 300 balloons and decorations doesn't leave a lot of space for Diane.
24:08So, taking the company car.
24:11Maybe you should ask the Benidorm police how good a driver I am of a mobility scooter.
24:16See yous all later.
24:18Should have went the right way up the street, shouldn't it?
24:25Coming up.
24:26Let me show you something.
24:27Chris surprises Trisha at the parade.
24:30Thank you so much.
24:32And Jack's Poppy Day sing-along.
24:34One, two, one, two, one, three.
24:36Getting nothing there.
24:37It's a major stumbling block.
24:39It's only something go wrong again.
24:52One table down, four to go.
24:54Diane's taking a quick break from preparations for her gala dinner for the Royal British Legion.
25:00Today is the official launch of the Poppyfield.
25:02It's a brilliant day.
25:04We've got a lot of old veterans here, which you very rarely see in the one place together.
25:08It's a great turnout. So impressed.
25:10So, onwards and upwards, this is the day that we've been working for.
25:16Ah, bagpipes. My favourite.
25:19But Diane can't hang around for a jig. It's back to the gala venue.
25:23If I sit down, I will not get up. That's my thing. Don't sit down. Don't sit down. Don't sit
25:28down.
25:29It's three hours till guests arrive and not everyone's marching to the same beat.
25:36The orchestras do a spanner in the works.
25:38They weren't on note this morning, so the director, the musical director, is punishing them.
25:45So he's bringing them in here to do a rehearsal.
25:48I think it's so they don't have a drink after the lunch, between the lunch and the dinner.
25:56It's terrible.
25:57Are you sure they've not already had a few?
26:02This is why they're being punished.
26:04It's been very good this morning.
26:07It's all coming together.
26:10Finally. Finally, I can see stuff happening and it's great.
26:13It's absolutely... I love this part. I love this part.
26:15This is when I'm like...
26:18I've got a barn. I've got an entertainer.
26:21People know where they're sitting.
26:22Great.
26:24I love this. This is going to do my own life, but I love it.
26:29This is the best part. This is my favourite part.
26:32This is the glitter.
26:34It really annoys the cleaners.
26:37Just some little hearts that everybody feels to love.
26:40Excellent work on the decorations, Diane.
26:42Stand down.
26:45And we're done.
26:47Yay.
26:48So I think I've got like 15 minutes to get ready.
26:51I don't know how to do a time check.
26:54Just sort out the table, get rid of the rubbish,
26:56and then that's me going to get changed.
26:58Yay!
26:59The party.
27:10One of my favourite photographs was me up in Mijas on a donkey.
27:15That's got to be nearly 50 years ago.
27:20I must have been...
27:24Seven, eight, nine, ten.
27:25I can't remember the year, but it was mid-70s.
27:27I remember going up to Mijas Pueblo and I got a photograph of me on my very first donkey.
27:33There were no roads. Back then times were different. These donkeys were made to work.
27:39They had packs on the back and they were moving rubble like they did in the mines in the UK
27:43and all over the world.
27:45We used to ride around on the donkeys for free because they were working donkeys.
27:54I remember in the 70s and early 80s, coming to Spain was phenomenal.
27:59It was just an eye-opener.
28:01Good memories being with the family, my sister, mum and dad enjoying themselves,
28:05finding a Spanish bar to have a paella and yeah, it was so different.
28:15The memories of the things we did then are things that I want to do again now
28:20and especially with my little 12-year-old boy.
28:23So he's got them memories in 40, 50 years as well.
28:41Tricia and husband Chris are in the hubbub of Benny Dunn's famous fancy dress fiesta.
28:46Look at all the Flintstones coming down now.
28:48Oh yeah, Flintstones.
28:52I don't know what to say about this one.
28:54If we go on any past, we'll go backwards.
28:57Hey, it's just after half past three.
29:00Three o'clock.
29:01Three o'clock.
29:02They know the time.
29:04Where are we doing?
29:05I don't know.
29:07The parade should be starting very soon.
29:09But not where or when the famous parade will arrive.
29:13Where are we at the moment? Quite quiet.
29:15It should have already started.
29:16They must be coming a different route then today.
29:19Not to worry.
29:20It turns out good things come to those who wait.
29:23Around in daft costumes.
29:25And word's just come through that the parade has started.
29:28So he's going to get even more exciting every day too.
29:31Oh, I can't wait to see it. The show's going to be brilliant.
29:38Fiesta!
29:39Isn't that Benny Dunn Tom?
29:40Oh my gosh, you're brave.
29:42Hi Tom!
29:43And he's not the only familiar face here today.
29:46Feel open as well.
29:52Oh, and there's Miss Levi.
29:54Queen!
29:57Hello, my lovely.
29:58How you doing?
29:59Hi guys, you alright?
30:00Hi.
30:01But sadly missing is Trish's dad Peter, who passed away this year.
30:05This year is extra special for me because he's brought back a lot of memories of my dad, Pops, of
30:12the fun times we've had together.
30:14We visit a few of the places that he likes to stand and watch the parades go by and have
30:18a drink or two.
30:24Pops enjoyed the whole bit of it, didn't he? He loved going and watching everybody.
30:28Oh yeah.
30:28I do miss him.
30:29I know he's partying himself up there and he's following around today.
30:33How are you alright?
30:35You've seen it.
30:36Yeah.
30:36It's nice to spend time celebrating these occasions in Benudorm with our friends.
30:41You're there!
30:42Here we go!
30:43Lots of people come over today who we've not seen for quite some time.
30:47And they're all coming over, hello Trish, hello Chris.
30:50And that's really nice, that.
30:52What did you think of the parade?
30:54Oh, I loved it.
30:54Fabulous, wasn't it?
30:55We really enjoyed that.
30:57Best time, but definitely coming next year.
30:58Oh, brilliant.
30:59Best time ever.
31:00That's been my favourite so far.
31:02Yeah, brilliant.
31:03I love this.
31:05Oh!
31:07But little does Trisha know that Chris has another treat for her that he's kept secret all day.
31:13Do you know something?
31:15Pops would have absolutely loved everything today.
31:17It's the bones of him.
31:19But he's here with me.
31:20He's here.
31:21Well, he certainly is here with us today.
31:23He is.
31:25Let me show you something.
31:29Oh, steady on, Chris.
31:31Oh!
31:34Oh, it's her dad in his Fiesta costume.
31:37Oh, that's lovely.
31:39He's with us today.
31:40When did you get that?
31:43It's a surprise for you, love.
31:46I know he would have loved to be here today.
31:48And he is.
31:49He is.
31:51And I've got the stomach to make him stand there as well.
31:55Yeah.
31:55Thank you so much.
31:57Sure.
31:57We won.
32:00Oh!
32:01I'm absolutely worn out.
32:04I've not laughed so much in a long time.
32:06And obviously with my little secret underneath here.
32:10You're carrying him around with you.
32:12I've been going like this all the time now.
32:14He's definitely around with me.
32:18Thanks, Dad, for coming.
32:19And thank you, Chris, for bringing him with you.
32:21You're amazing.
32:23Nice one, Chris.
32:27I think it's time to party in Trisha's dad's honour.
32:29I'm a party.
32:31I can't answer you.
32:32I can't answer you.
32:34I can't answer you.
32:35I can't answer you.
32:35Everyone's d-mob happy in Beridorm.
32:46That's Julianne in the TV table.
32:50I know that.
32:50Well, back in Aberdeen de Polares...
32:52George and Michael, Catherine and Ian.
32:54I think that's the more then.
32:55Yeah, 30.
32:56Jack's 31.
32:57The guests are marching in for the Poppy Appeal sing-along at Liz's bar.
33:02How are you down?
33:04You all right?
33:05In fact, Bernard, put them here now.
33:08There was two extra boots this morning,
33:11so I've had to move and make another table
33:13so that the four of them sit together.
33:15It's the eighth time organiser Jack has hosted the annual event here.
33:21Just sit down.
33:22Give yourself a drink and enjoy yourself.
33:25Thank you very well.
33:26OK.
33:27And this Remembrance Day, he's hoping to make a record amount.
33:31I'm looking at this for 1,000 euros.
33:33I always set the target high.
33:36There's nothing wrong with a high target.
33:38But his fundraising efforts have already hit a huge hurdle.
33:42It's not fair to real.
33:43Yeah.
33:43Feeling too good again.
33:45Jack's lieutenant and raffle seller wife, Leslie, is out of action.
33:50This wasn't right.
33:52She's dizzy and giddy and not feeling well.
33:54Which means my raffle ticket money will probably be down.
33:57Because she's my biggest asset for selling raffle tickets.
34:01I would say there's always something goes wrong on the night.
34:03Hopefully that's one out of the way.
34:05With the €15 ahead ticket price also including food,
34:09the raffle is Jack's secret weapon for seizing money.
34:12This is the raffle between the alcohol, biscuits, cakes, chocolate, the RAF 100 book.
34:20There'll be enough there to sell plenty of tickets, which is all that I'm interested in.
34:25I like this.
34:26Oh, do you know where you got that?
34:27Where?
34:28You.
34:30Me?
34:30You gave that to Leslie last Christmas.
34:33Did I?
34:34Aye.
34:35You couldn't think what you get her when you got her up.
34:37Oh.
34:38So, he's ended up with...
34:39In fairness, it's taken a year for it to come back there.
34:43Jack signed up friend Carol to ship those tickets in Leslie's place.
34:48She's an able deputy. She's done it before, once.
34:51I've had a good teacher.
34:53Is that right?
34:53His wife's taught me.
34:55So, you know, it's a shame she's not here.
34:57Yeah.
34:57We'll miss her tonight.
34:58But you've got to make sure you take as much money as her, otherwise she won't...
35:01Er, she'll tell me off, won't you?
35:03Yeah, she will, yeah.
35:05No pressure, Carol.
35:07Find euros at your floor, three strips for a test.
35:09She'll do OK, Carol.
35:11And if she doesn't, I'll go round afterwards myself and just say,
35:13you haven't bought enough raffle tickets.
35:1520?
35:16You want the whole what?
35:17It's a group of expats.
35:19I look at them older people, not like myself,
35:25who don't get any chance to sing these songs very often.
35:28Yeah, 20, that's what he said.
35:30That's ever so generous, thank you.
35:32I mean, there's loads of prizes.
35:35Standing Carol might be going great guns on the raffle.
35:37I've got some fifties.
35:39I knew there'd be a cock-up time.
35:42But out on the front line, Jack has a new foe.
35:44Try it.
35:45One, two, one, two, one.
35:47Getting nothing there.
35:48It was earlier, because I checked it earlier on.
35:55One, two.
35:56Maybe the battery.
35:57I think it's just the battery that's changing on the mic.
36:00Right, try it.
36:01One, two.
36:05Tell me something go wrong again.
36:07Why is it not connecting?
36:09It's not connecting at all.
36:15Coming up...
36:17I'm trying to find my husband.
36:19Oh, he's talking to me.
36:20Hello?
36:20Is Diane on a solo mission?
36:22Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen.
36:24When I press the start button, hopefully the music will start.
36:29And is there mutiny in the ranks at the sing-along?
36:31Liz is the noisiest coffee maker in the country, Liz!
36:51Let the party and fun begin.
36:53In a Benidorm ballroom, Diane's about to find out if her hard work's paid off.
37:02She spent weeks planning a formal dinner and dance for the Royal British Legion.
37:07Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen.
37:12Thank you all for attending.
37:14The 100th year anniversary.
37:15If you'd please just like to make your way in and take your seats, thank you very much.
37:28Husband Jim's been helping her all day.
37:30I'm trying to find my husband.
37:32Oh, he's talking to me.
37:33Hello?
37:35Where are you?
37:36But he's gone AWOL, so Diane's hosting solo until he arrives.
37:41Help yourselves do the vilevante or the hors d'oeuvres.
37:44You've got soup and then you've got chicken and roast potatoes.
37:46And then you've got apple crumble and custard.
37:49Just in time, before the volumonts disappear, here's Jim.
37:53We match.
37:54Yay!
37:56Now all their hard work has come together, the pair can finally relax and enjoy themselves.
38:02The culmination tonight is going to be the best show you've ever seen.
38:05It is the Jersey Boys experience, ladies and gentlemen.
38:19It's been a great night. Yes, Tim. It's been really, really good.
38:24Wonderful, wonderful evening.
38:28Lovely meal, lovely people, lovely wine.
38:31Diane's really gone half the way and done a really, really good job for this day tonight.
38:36Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
38:39You've seen them, they're having a ball.
38:41They're having a great time.
38:42They're enjoying every minute of it.
38:44And you see their happy, smiling faces.
38:47That was enough for me.
38:50I'm hanging in now to take my shoes off and dance till the last person falls down and it's probably
38:55going to be me, actually.
38:57So, thank you all. Good night. Enjoy your evening. Bye-bye.
39:01At ease, soldier.
39:09But no, it was working this morning.
39:11Was it?
39:12Yeah, I checked it this morning.
39:13Things aren't going quite so smoothly.
39:16Huh?
39:17Must be something silly.
39:18For fundraiser Jack.
39:21I don't believe this.
39:23This usually makes a noise and it's no making a noise.
39:26Him and bar owner Liz have 40 paying guests waiting.
39:30Try it now, Jack. No.
39:31Oh!
39:32I've got a bit of trouble with my equipment.
39:35I won't be long.
39:36Is that it?
39:36Do I still have an echo?
39:37Can everybody hear me clearly?
39:40I know you can't hear me, Jackie.
39:42You're deaf as opposed.
39:44Oi.
39:45So you're hearing aid on, hon?
39:46Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
39:48Oof.
39:49After one false start, the fundraising sing-along can commence.
39:53I'm going to throw the raffle.
39:54I've got feedback.
39:55My mistake.
39:59That's not going to work.
40:01As a sound technician, you're a wonderful bar owner.
40:05The raffle is Jack's main method of getting the expat crowd
40:08to part with their cash to help injured service personnel.
40:12If we call out your number...
40:13What should I do?
40:14They always put it on the coffee machine when I'm talking.
40:20And then Liz is annoying as a coffeemaker in the country.
40:24Things can go wrong in the night.
40:26And they tend to often go wrong when I'm doing something.
40:28But fortunately, I'm not easily embarrassed.
40:31What I'm going to do is I'm going to throw this microphone away.
40:36And thankfully, I have a big mouth.
40:39On the peach.
40:41Two, four, six.
40:42Yes.
40:43On the yellow.
40:45Two, one, one.
40:47I've actually noticed the women tend to go for the alcohol
40:49and the men go for cakes.
40:52What's that handball's going for?
40:54That's the one I wanted.
40:55I did too.
40:56On the peach.
40:57One, five, one.
40:59I was really delighted to get this coat ball.
41:02The prize is procured.
41:04It's time for the main event and the mics playing ball at last.
41:07Are we all ready?
41:09When I press the start button, hopefully the music will start.
41:13Dust off the pipes.
41:14Jack's lined up a classic.
41:16We'll meet again.
41:20Don't know where.
41:23Don't know where.
41:26But I know they'll meet again.
41:30Some sunny day.
41:33Mama.
41:34Vera would be proud.
41:37Good.
41:38Lovely.
41:39Marvellous.
41:40Reminded me of my parents because they'd have loved it.
41:44Obviously they're gone, but they'd have absolutely loved it here.
41:48They've hit the high notes, but has Jack hit his 1,000 euro target?
41:5220, 30, 40.
41:55We've sold quite a lot.
41:57Everybody's really generous.
41:58Thanks to your generosity tonight, I won't tell you the actual figure but it is,
42:03I'll tell you what we ended up with.
42:04Because Liz Blester rounded it up to 1,000 euros.
42:09We raised 1,000 euros.
42:11It's fabulous.
42:12She was a kid in the back side.
42:13She's got a heart of gold.
42:15There you go.
42:15So it's Jack.
42:16Jack's got a bigger heart than me.
42:18But she's got a bigger mouth than me.
42:22Thank you very much for attending.
42:24Before I finish off, could we have a round of applause for A, the chef and B, all the staff
42:30except for Liz.
42:36Next time on The Costas.
42:37OK.
42:38A joyful farewell for Alex and Claire.
42:40He always said, when I go, I want to be here.
42:44Sam's publicity push goes unnoticed.
42:47Where is everybody?
42:48And will Ant's big party be a washout?
42:51The weather's been absolutely awful.
42:54I've never known nothing like it.
43:08If it's a clean party, I'll take care of me.
43:09I'll take care of you guys.
43:09Bye-bye.
43:09You're welcome.
43:10Bye-bye.
43:11I'll take care of you.
43:11Bye-bye.
43:13Bye-bye.
Comments