- 2 weeks ago
Extraordinary Portraits Season 5 Episode 2
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00:01None of us know what surprises life has in store for us.
00:06But all around are everyday heroes.
00:08Ordinary people showing amazing bravery, courage and determination.
00:12I was holding him by the wrist so that he couldn't blow up the bomb.
00:16When I opened my eyes, I was on the hospital bed, all handcuffed.
00:19I competed in eight Ironman triathlons.
00:23And I'm here to give them the recognition they deserve.
00:26I've assembled a crack team of artists, painters and sculptors
00:30to immortalize these unsung heroes with a unique series of portraits.
00:34This is the hardest bit for you, isn't it, Eddie?
00:36Sitting still.
00:37We were just looking at you.
00:40Can you look at me with your eyes?
00:42It's not going to be easy.
00:43I've been in my own personal hell.
00:45The reveals are not that far away now.
00:48If this second cast fails, I'm done.
00:50There's a big sense of responsibility to capture their story.
00:55But the results are going to be amazing.
00:57I've put my heart and soul into this.
00:59Three, two, one.
01:03Fantastic.
01:03Quite blown away, to be honest.
01:05I wasn't thinking you were going to make me cry.
01:07Sorry, I'm getting a bit emotional.
01:10Creating a legacy for generations to come.
01:13I want to remember them like that.
01:14I'm struggling to find right words because there's no words.
01:18To have us captured in that moment, in that spot that means so much is an absolute privilege.
01:25Welcome to Extraordinary Portraits.
01:36We're often told as we get older, we're supposed to take it easy.
01:41Slow down a bit.
01:42Don't exert yourself.
01:43But our sitter today has basically said, that's a little of nonsense.
01:47She is living proof, if further proof were needed, that age is just a number.
01:57Eddie, aka Iron Grand, started her fitness journey in her 50s with her first marathon.
02:03She learned to swim at 60, and at 72, became the oldest British woman to complete an Ironman triathlon.
02:10Now 82, she's not slowing down.
02:13She continues to inspire others through her charity, promoting fitness for older adults.
02:18Hello.
02:20Edwina.
02:21Oh, yeah.
02:21How lovely to meet you.
02:22And you.
02:23Step this way.
02:25To my artist's retreat.
02:35Firstly, I have to ask, I hear that your nickname is Iron Gran.
02:41Yes.
02:42That's based on the fact that I've competed in eight Ironman triathlons.
02:46Just remind me what that comprises of.
02:49It's a swim of 2.2, I think, kilometre, and then 180 kilometres on the bike, and then a marathon.
02:57A full marathon on top of that. That's an amazing achievement.
03:00It sounded like you have been into fitness for your whole life, but that's not the case, is it?
03:06Absolutely not.
03:07Most people, when they get in their 50s and 60s, they start thinking about slowing down a little bit,
03:13and not taking on marathons.
03:15I think it was the death of my husband that spurred me on to undertake a challenge like that.
03:23Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
03:24He was given six months to live, and in fact only had two months.
03:28But we were able to talk about the future and that I was the lucky one.
03:33And I would be going on immediately after almost he died.
03:38You know, you go out for a walk with friends or a run up a hill.
03:41And that, I think, was crucial.
03:43Right. What keeps you going there, Eddie?
03:45I think the motivation is that I am 82 years old and healthier ageing.
03:53Yes.
03:53That is so important to me.
03:55Yes.
03:55It underpins the Silver Fit charity.
03:57Tell me about Silver Fit then.
03:59We meet up, do some exercise, and then meet up socially for a cup of tea or coffee.
04:04And I think it's a brilliant idea.
04:05So it wasn't going to be running a marathon or anything as extreme as that.
04:09So we did cheerleading for a while with silver pom-poms.
04:14But the key element is the social element.
04:16Absolutely.
04:17So I think perhaps, you know, older people who are on their own, maybe they've lost a partner.
04:22And it may be hard for them to make those social connections.
04:27And what you're offering is that.
04:29Yeah.
04:29Through fitness and exercise.
04:31And having fun.
04:33And having fun.
04:35That's the key issue, isn't it?
04:36That's the key element.
04:37Yeah.
04:38What do your family think about this portrait?
04:42I think they were a bit surprised.
04:44Right.
04:44I'm a mum.
04:45It's going to be fun.
04:48You're right.
04:49I'm going to go and get the artist.
04:50So you sit tight.
05:00Hi, everyone.
05:01How's it going?
05:02Right?
05:02Yeah, good.
05:03So, well, today's sitter, what an amazing character she is.
05:08Her nickname is Iron Gran.
05:10Oh, yeah.
05:11She's now in her 80s, but she's competed in marathons, Ironman competitions.
05:20She's a marvel.
05:21And so, for this reason, I thought that, Caroline, this would be right up your street.
05:28Yes.
05:29Yes.
05:30Good.
05:31Well, that's good.
05:31I mean, this is the sort of thing that you painted in the past.
05:34Older people with great stories, especially women, is my, yeah.
05:39I couldn't have picked better than if I had done it myself, Phil.
05:42Great.
05:42There you go.
05:43Yeah.
05:43Perfect.
05:44All right.
05:44Well, come with me and I'll fill you in on the way.
05:46See you later, guys.
05:47See you later.
05:55Eddie, this is Caroline.
05:57Hi.
05:58Oh, lovely.
05:59Hello.
06:00Nice to meet you.
06:01Wow.
06:02When you think of yourself being immortalised in paint, is there any part of your life that
06:09you want to sort of be included?
06:11I think it is an element of having fun, so I'm not sure how we, yeah.
06:17The wisdom of age with the playfulness and freedom to have fun.
06:23Yeah.
06:24Yeah, I love that.
06:25Well, no time like the present.
06:28There's a lot to do.
06:29I'm going to let you go.
06:30So, see you soon.
06:32High five.
06:33Thanks, Phil.
06:34See you, Caroline.
06:35Good luck.
06:45Not only are they going to create a wonderful portrait, they're going to have an absolute ball.
06:51She's an incredible character and a fantastic subject for Caroline.
06:57This is a perfect match.
07:14I want to know everything there is to know about Eddie before the Iron Grand Eddie.
07:21Painting a portrait is more than just a face at the end of the day.
07:26It's a story.
07:26It's a narrative.
07:29Today, Caroline wants to capture Eddie's physicality.
07:40Eddie, where do you find the energy for this?
07:43I just enjoy it.
07:44Yeah.
07:45I think having a challenge or an end goal is quite useful.
07:49Yeah.
07:50I'm going to take some photos of you where you all posed.
08:01Eddie is like this larger than life personality, but there is this real warmth to her and this real human
08:10side that I want to find more about.
08:27How was that?
08:28That was good.
08:30Yes.
08:30Lovely warm water.
08:31Fab.
08:32Yeah.
08:33I didn't swim at all until I was 60 years old.
08:36Really?
08:37Yeah.
08:39For her painting to be more than just a likeness, Caroline needs to understand what makes Eddie tick.
08:46And this is my flat.
08:47You really get the sun in here.
08:49And you've got all of your...
08:51And that's my three children and that was my husband.
08:54Yeah.
08:54Oh, it's a lovely family photo.
08:56Yeah.
08:57And I can't help but notice all of your awards over here.
09:00I was second in my age group, 2005, in the London Marathon.
09:07And I'm delighted that now, if I did the same time, I'd be 200th.
09:13There are so many more women running brilliantly.
09:15Amazing.
09:16I think it's great.
09:17Yeah.
09:20You were talking about your dear husband and I couldn't help but think that maybe that
09:28was a huge part of your motivation.
09:31We had three months to, you know, to talk about the fact that I would be able to make
09:36the most of life.
09:37Yeah.
09:38That was the catalyst of, you know, I am the one that gets to go on and...
09:44Yeah.
09:44And it was also quite important in recovery terms, you know, to make the most of your life,
09:51to have the fun and be the lucky one.
09:53Yeah.
09:53Well, cheers to Philip.
09:54Cheers.
09:55And everything you've done in his name.
09:58You have literally taken the baton.
10:00Yeah.
10:01He'd be really proud.
10:02I hope so.
10:02Yes.
10:12The majority of the time she exudes this positivity and vitality and energy about her.
10:21But I know that's not the only Eddie that exists.
10:24I know that there's loads of other sides to her.
10:28All the edges amount to like a really, really interesting, complex and wonderful woman.
10:41Exciting news today, my canvas arrived.
10:45I think it's the biggest canvas I have potentially painted on before.
10:52It's quite intimidating.
11:02I'm here in this actually rather lovely spot on the banks of the River Thames.
11:06I'm here to meet Caroline, find out how the process is going.
11:11Hello, Caroline.
11:13How are you doing?
11:14I'm good, thanks.
11:15How are you?
11:15Yeah, what a lovely spot this is.
11:17It's roasting.
11:18It's just been really fascinating to get to know her and chat more about her motivation
11:23and what really drives her and what she does.
11:26Yeah.
11:26And you think that that is something which is going to inform the way that you approach the painting?
11:32When I first met her, I came in thinking a certain direction.
11:36Yeah.
11:36And the more I learn about her, the more that just fractures into all these different components
11:42and leaves my head spinning.
11:44No pressure.
11:47Over 35,000 people have taken part in the exercise sessions run by Eddie's charity.
11:53Hello, ladies.
11:54Welcome, welcome.
11:55Good morning, good morning.
11:57Here's your paws for today.
11:58Thank you very much.
11:59Weight over your toes, looking as far ahead as you can.
12:03Let's go.
12:04Come on.
12:05Come on.
12:19Come on.
12:20Come on.
12:20Come on.
12:20Keep up with you.
12:21Yes.
12:24Did you just tell me you've signed up for another Ironman, Eddie?
12:27Half Ironman.
12:28Half Ironman.
12:30Half Ironman.
12:30Oh, you lightweight.
12:31Yeah.
12:35So, Pat, how would you describe Eddie as a person?
12:39I mean, she's an absolute inspiration.
12:41Really?
12:42Yeah.
12:42And we have supported each other enormously with all sorts of things.
12:46Yeah.
12:46It's emotional fitness.
12:48We've built up resilience because we've become friends and we can talk about anything.
12:53You know?
12:54There's hope.
12:54There's hope in it, isn't there?
12:56It's invaluable.
12:57It's clearly made a big impact on you, hasn't it?
12:59And not just me, though.
13:00I mean, that face, you very, very rarely see anything but that smile.
13:04Aww.
13:05Really, really, really.
13:07And that's part of the inspiration as well, of course.
13:15Right.
13:17Brilliant.
13:18Thanks very much, Eddie.
13:19Thank you so much.
13:20That was great.
13:26I'm a bit stuck.
13:27It's almost like I've got too many options.
13:29Just trying to edit it down and pick the right one.
13:35I have about five different floating Eddie heads, all with different expressions.
13:42Parts of Eddie's character, but all quite different.
13:46Option one.
13:48It's kind of a cheeky Eddie.
13:49I love the glint in her eye.
13:52I really like this expression.
13:54She's looking away from the camera.
13:57She's looking towards something else.
13:59You're instantly wondering what she's thinking about.
14:02This one's definitely more confrontational,
14:05because she's just head on, kind of like, don't mess with me.
14:08Generally, for me, it's all very instinctive
14:11when choosing the right image to work from.
14:20Caroline is torn between portraying Eddie's larger-than-life persona,
14:24as most people see it,
14:25and a more unexpected side.
14:29Lovely to meet you.
14:30Hello.
14:32Nice to meet you.
14:33Nice to meet you too.
14:33Nice to meet Tilly.
14:34She's hoping Eddie's family might help her decide.
14:38Do you call her grandma or nan?
14:39Eddie.
14:40We tend to call her Eddie.
14:41Occasionally, I might call her gran.
14:43Oh.
14:43She doesn't like her.
14:45Is she not?
14:45She's very much not the kind of a soppy, like, granny.
14:49I'm at a bit of a juncture where I don't really know which way to go.
14:55I think she fills her life with everything.
14:57She's incredibly sociable, but always has been.
15:01Yeah.
15:02I think her phrase of, I'm the lucky one,
15:04really has sort of made her embrace life, hasn't it?
15:07To its absolute fullest.
15:08Follow her mantra, yeah.
15:10You know, it doesn't matter where we are, what we're doing,
15:13if an opportunity came up and...
15:14She just takes it.
15:15Yeah, she'll take it completely,
15:16even if she's way out of her comfort zone.
15:19Making the most of each day.
15:21She fills every single minute of her life.
15:23Yeah, 100%.
15:24That's genuine.
15:25Yeah.
15:26100%.
15:26Growing up, we would spend every single second on our feet.
15:30Yeah.
15:30Going somewhere, doing something.
15:33That's genuinely her.
15:34Like, she just doesn't want to sit still.
15:35I think, you know, most people do therapy,
15:37and I think she took up running.
15:39Yeah.
15:39And she found that really, really supportive.
15:41Yeah.
15:42Just like an onion.
15:44Lots of different layers.
15:46This has been really helpful.
15:47It really has.
16:02Part of my process,
16:03when I'm trying to figure out ideas for compositions,
16:06is to go through existing paintings,
16:08asking myself,
16:10what is it about this that works for me?
16:13Why does it excite me?
16:14These are really interesting.
16:17We've got Manet and a couple of Van Goghs,
16:21and they're all women sitting in chairs.
16:24I quite like the juxtaposition of having Eddie seated.
16:30Her whole thing with Silverfoot
16:32is she's trying to galvanize this energy,
16:34getting these people out of their stereotypical armchairs.
16:46Caroline has taken hundreds of candid shots,
16:49which, together with some inspiration from the old masters,
16:52have given her an idea for the composition.
16:54Hello.
16:55Hi, Bill.
16:56Hi, Caroline. How are you doing?
16:57I'm good. How are you?
16:58Great. Really well.
16:59So, what's the plan today?
17:02So, I've got this idea with a chair that I've seen in Eddie's flat,
17:06which I think would make a really interesting compositional
17:09and metaphorical device.
17:11All right, well, I'm here to help in any way.
17:13Cool. Let's go.
17:14Let's do it.
17:17So, where do you want this?
17:18I think we should put it over here,
17:21because I want the light to fall across her face.
17:23OK.
17:23So, around here.
17:25All right, how's that?
17:26It's good, I think.
17:29Oh.
17:30Her face is a map of the world,
17:32is a map of the world.
17:35You can see she's a beautiful girl,
17:37she's a beautiful girl.
17:40I kind of like the idea of the chair being outside.
17:44Yeah, yeah.
17:44Do you know, like, what's happening here?
17:47Eddie's sitting on her throne.
17:49Everything is a device within a composition,
17:51and all the things that are important to you
17:53that you want to put across
17:54is what the viewer has to see first.
17:57And everything around her is a silver pool of light.
18:02People who surround her feel the benefit of it.
18:06It makes you count.
18:08This is the hardest fit for you, isn't it, Eddie?
18:10No.
18:11Sitting still.
18:12No, that's not fair.
18:14I can't imagine you repose in an armchair for too long.
18:17No, that's true.
18:18And your hand.
18:22My daughter, when she realises these are longer shorts,
18:25I've just cut the bottom off.
18:26And she'll say,
18:27Mother, couldn't you find some better shorts?
18:31Now we can have some fun.
18:33Yeah, that's it.
18:34There you go.
18:35Look at that.
18:36Can we try and cross your legs?
18:38Cross your legs?
18:39Yeah, perfect.
18:44The biggest challenge for me will be
18:46finding that split-second image
18:51that encapsulates everything that she stands for.
18:54That's the challenge.
18:55And I'm really happy with your work today, Eddie.
18:59Thank you so much.
19:00I think we should head off.
19:02That's a wrap.
19:03Great.
19:03Fantastic.
19:05All right, let's...
19:09So I'll just...
19:10I'll just take this then, shall I?
19:13I know my place in this scenario.
19:21I feel utterly exhausted, physically, emotionally drained.
19:27The last few weeks have been really tough.
19:30When something isn't going well,
19:32and you know you just have to get up
19:34and get on with it and keep going,
19:36it's more than motivation, it is discipline.
19:49Pom-poms are part of her story
19:52and it's part of the playfulness of her.
19:56I've been in my own personal hell trying to battle that.
20:00I've not gone for an obvious Eddie expression.
20:06I think it's right
20:07and I think it's made for a really thought-provoking painting.
20:12uh but there's always that niggly thing in the back of your head that's like
20:16have i completely missed the mark and the reveal is next week there's still a fair bit to do
20:31it has taken more than 500 hours of painting the pom-poms alone took more than three weeks
20:37but caroline is finally ready aha hey caroline how you doing all right good so this is it
20:49i've got a van blimey it's a lot bigger than i thought it was going to be it's a bit
20:54of a beast
20:55yeah a bit of a two-person carry okay the uh biggest one i've ever painted bill really yes wow
21:12eddie has brought her close friends with her for the big day
21:23this has been quite the project for you hasn't it yes it's been all-consuming yeah it's been intense
21:32how are you feeling excited yes so excited yes yes yes it's quite a size do you are you going
21:41to
21:41need a hand with the reveal i think i'll be all right bill but i will have to do a
21:45switcheroo
21:46and use these steps right from my little legs i cannot reach the bar all right then well if
21:51you're ready i'll go and get eddie and her guests cheers cheers cheers portrait viewing this way
22:08welcome thank you uh today's the big day the big reveal uh how are you feeling so excited
22:15good that is the correct answer caroline how are you feeling about all this um i i feel great about
22:25it actually i just i really hope that i have done you justice i can't wait
22:34okay take a deep breath
22:39caroline shall we do the honors
22:48here we go three two one
23:05fantastic it's brilliant amazing eddie
23:14oh caroline it is very emotional for me that's me saying where are you phil
23:21and i think you knew that because we talked about the loss of my husband and the sadness and
23:27and yet the importance of physical activity in my recovery
23:32it's just you two a tea
23:37i can't say i'm so emotional thank you thank you for knowing you
23:43it's as if eddie's just going to leap out of that chair and that's that's eddie
23:50it is the eddie that i know but it's sort of a more maybe a bit more pensive
23:56it's a sort of different side to her her face everything about the picture inspires you
24:01it shows her determination definitely you look stately there i mean caroline's really
24:09captured you you're so strong and it really does come out it's just wonderful i just could just
24:17watch this all day it's beautiful
24:25it's capturing eddie sitting still which he very rarely does it's just wonderful
24:33i'm so happy that you understand because i feel like we really did connect on a deep
24:41level about all kinds of parts of your life i really wanted to explore the eddie behind
24:47the smile and what i discovered after many many chats with you is this steely determined
24:57in strength that's at the core of everything that you do i think caroline captured uh an
25:03emotional moment when i was looking up there i did lose my husband and you know still remain
25:09very sad about that but i am the lucky one and i've always wanted to make the most of my
25:16life
25:16i think you've captured that fantastically and i'm gonna get emotional because i found it
25:23so profound when you were generous enough to share with me about some of your final conversations
25:29with him one of them was the you're the lucky one and it's stuck in my head every day i've
25:36been painting you oh because you are you're you're living for the both of you yes which is
25:43what i wanted to convey in this yeah but also i don't think you look sad in it i think
25:50there's
25:51this twinkly sort of hopeful determination oh caroline it's just incredible and lovely to see you
26:01thank you so much you're welcome you're welcome i think that from listening to all of your reactions
26:08i think so much about your life has been captured in this painting we live in a society where
26:16the elderly are marginalized ignored yeah abandoned at times and yet here's a person in their 80s
26:29who's saying look at me look at what i can do and listen to me because i've got things to
26:37say
26:37everything that you do is inspirational oh gosh thank you there's there's a lot in this portrait i
26:44mean you you can probably tell from where you are but there is so much wonderful detail in here
26:50what we're going to do now is caroline and i going to step out and invite you all to come
26:55forward
26:56and have a closer look oh wow okay thank you see you in a bit yeah thank you wow oh
27:06my goodness
27:10tattoo yeah yeah no that's new york triathlon
27:23hello hello how did it go yeah it went really well thanks emotional
27:29yeah but in a joyful way it was like a real celebration before i even explained my thought process
27:38yes they immediately got it wonderful reactions from her friends i think they
27:50really responded to the kind of other side of her that caroline captured the more thoughtful the more
27:57pensive side and also she did capture that sense of mischief and that sense of outgoing fun that really
28:05she represents i think this shows you what portraiture is capable of is that it it can
28:12show a fantastic likeness but it also tells you a lot about the person it tells you who they are
28:19and
28:19it tells you a little bit about their history and that's what portraiture is about
28:25so
28:28so
28:30so
28:39so
28:40so
28:40so
28:42so
28:43so
28:44so
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