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This episode was kindly donated by SuperLegendary.
This episode's repeat was broadcast on Monday 29th June 2020.
This episode's repeat was broadcast on Monday 29th June 2020.
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TVTranscript
00:00Thank you very much.
00:31Good afternoon and a very warm welcome back to the Countdown Studio.
00:36It's the new year and we're beginning with a bang.
00:39Why? Because we offer you the Champion of Champions Series.
00:4416 of the best contestants over recent years are coming back to go head to head in a knockout competition.
00:52Sparks will fly. Geniuses will show themselves once again.
00:55For the next three weeks, the best will challenge the best and a sort of uber champion will emerge.
01:02At that time we begin, I suppose, Rachel, to look afresh at life.
01:07New Year resolutions, perhaps they're to do with work, at play, at home, whatever they are.
01:13Now, what resolutions have you had?
01:15What exciting things are in store for Rachel Riley?
01:18Well, the typical stuff. So Susie and I, in about four and a bit months, we're going to do a
01:22100km cycle for Ride the Night for Charity.
01:25So I need to get fit now. Yeah, I've had a nice little rest over Christmas, had a few cocktails.
01:29Many would suggest that you're already really quite fit.
01:32Well, the fitness level for 100k. It doesn't take too long to get there, but I do need to put
01:37the hours in and get on my bike and build up these muscles.
01:41I'll keep a very close eye to see whether I can see any improvement.
01:45Well done, Rachel. Who have we got with us? We've got Tom Kappelman is back. Welcome back, Tom.
01:49Tom, you were the series champion in June of last year, 2015.
01:53A software engineer from Enfield. Loves his computer games. Big Lord of the Rings fan.
02:00And how does it feel to be back facing Glenn Webb, Tom Kappelman?
02:05Could be an easier match. I think so. Why? Because Glenn Webb was an octo-champ back in 2013 and
02:12notably scored 141 points, the most ever achieved in a heat game.
02:17That was fantastic. Financial advisor from the West Midlands, whose favourite song is Total Eclipse of the Heart.
02:24You're a big fan of the 80s power ballads?
02:27Yes. That's the year I really first started getting into music and that was the one that stood out.
02:32And when did you first get into Countdown?
02:34Probably around about the same time, actually, mid-80s.
02:37Good. Well, you're brilliant at Countdown. I don't know how good you are at singing power ballads, which we'll see
02:43perhaps later on. I don't know.
02:44Let's have a big round of applause for Tom and Glenn Webb.
02:52And over in the corner, of course, a very happy new year, Susie.
02:55Thank you. And to you.
02:56Pleasant holiday, I hope.
02:58Really lovely. Thank you.
02:59And you're joined today by the wonderful Mary Winifred Gloria Harniford, one of Britain's most celebrated broadcasters.
03:08Thank you. I'm not a Winnie, am I? I'm not really. I'm not a Mary and I'm not a Winnie.
03:11You're a Gloria.
03:12I'm a glue.
03:14Indeed.
03:14I have to say, this is the nicest way to start off the new year.
03:17It's wonderful to have you back.
03:18Thank you very much.
03:19You've done it all and everything you've done, you've done fantastically.
03:23Thank you, Nick.
03:23It's a great pleasure to have you back.
03:24Thank you very much.
03:25Now then, Tom Kappelman, take us away. Good luck to you both.
03:29Hi, Rachel.
03:30Hi, Tom.
03:30Can I have a consonant, please?
03:31You can, thank you.
03:32Start the year with W.
03:34And another.
03:37C.
03:38And another.
03:40T.
03:41And another.
03:43N.
03:44And a vowel, please.
03:46U.
03:47And another.
03:48I.
03:49And another.
03:51O.
03:52And a consonant.
03:55L.
03:56And a final consonant, please.
03:59And a final T.
04:01And here's the countdown clock.
04:03Bye.
04:14Bye.
04:19Bye.
04:22Bye.
04:23Bye.
04:24Bye.
04:27Bye.
04:31Bye.
04:34Well Tom a six a six Glenn yes six as well two sixes Tom and outwit outwit and uncoil
04:43uncoil that road yes so really good to get a six out of that round I have to say can
04:49you beat it
04:50Gloria and Susie in a word no I'm a bit intimidated by these marvelous people I was asking the boys
04:56coming into the studio how many programs have you been in to get this far yeah 11 I thought
05:01we haven't got a chance today all right chaps well done and Glenn let us go hi Rachel can I
05:09start with
05:10a constant please can indeed thank you start with Y and another ah and a third s and another h
05:22and a
05:24vowel please B and another a and another e and another I and another vowel please and the last
05:40one you stand by
05:47so
06:18and I'll stick with a six and your six a heresy now then Glenn sheery s-h-e-a-r
06:25-i-e s-h-e-a-r-i-e
06:30um no I thought not I don't know it's all I saw sheers was out there we had a six
06:38as well we had
06:39easier yes this is okay yeah very good but tough these opening two rounds I have to say not easy
06:47very good could be easier all right Tom has sprung an early lead 12 points to Glenn six as we
06:53go to
06:54uh two numbers we go to Rachel's corner over there now then Tom uh can I sit small please you
07:00can
07:00indeed thank you Tom six little ones for the first numbers game of the year and kick us off we
07:05have
07:06four six nine one seven and two and the target seven hundred and twelve seven one two
07:22so
07:33so
07:34so
07:49Tom 711 not written down right and no 718 718 so then Tom 6 plus 4 plus 1 11 times
08:027 times 7
08:0377 plus 279 times 9 times 9 yep 711 1 away not bad but not perfect can you make it
08:12712 well that is a
08:14perfect start to the year because 711 was actually the best this one it's impossible well done Tom
08:18now 19 plays 6 so Tom's uh forging ahead but bags of time let's go into a tea time teaser
08:26shall we
08:26it's ice clear and the clue this 8 will count as one of your five a day this 8 will
08:33count as
08:33one of your five a day
08:50and a warm welcome back after the clue this 8 will count as one of your five a day and
08:56the answer
08:56is celeriac celeriac which has got eight letters actually for those who are struggling 19 plays
09:04Glenn's six and it's Glenn's letters game Glenn a consonant please Rachel thank you Glenn
09:09d d and another m and another q and another r and a vowel please a and another a and
09:26another o and another a
09:31a and a consonant please and lastly b stand by
09:39beep
09:40beep
09:42beep
09:55MUSIC CONTINUES
10:13Two sixes. Glenn?
10:15Amoeba.
10:16An amoeba.
10:17Abroad.
10:18Abroad.
10:19Any more amoebas over there?
10:21I'm useless at this particular game, I have to say, today.
10:24I've only got a five.
10:26Not easy.
10:26You've got one, haven't you?
10:27Yeah, there's one more six.
10:29Familiar countdown word, this one, the ray dome.
10:31So it's one of those dome structures protecting radar equipment.
10:34That's right.
10:35And what was your five?
10:36Oh, Baird.
10:38Baird.
10:38All right.
10:4025 plays 12.
10:41And Tom?
10:43Take it away.
10:44Can I have a consonant, please?
10:46Thank you, Tom.
10:47S.
10:47And another?
10:50V.
10:51And another?
10:53N.
10:54And another?
10:56T.
10:57And a vowel?
10:58I.
11:00And another?
11:01E.
11:02And another?
11:04I.
11:05And a consonant?
11:08G.
11:09And a final consonant, please.
11:12And a final D.
11:14Countdown.
11:15double.
11:17T.
11:17T.
11:18T.
11:18T.
11:45Yes, Tom?
11:46Nine.
11:48Nine.
11:49Nine.
11:50Nine.
11:50Oh.
11:51Another chaps.
11:52Divesting.
11:53Both of you are divesting.
11:56Brilliant.
11:57Well done.
12:00Well done.
12:01One OC, same word, along with Susie.
12:04Oh, well done.
12:05Good.
12:0643 place, 30.
12:08Glenn, it's your numbers game now.
12:10There's Rachel.
12:11Can I get one large, please, Rachel?
12:12You can indeed.
12:13More traditional.
12:14One large, and five small ones, and hopefully a possible one.
12:17Thank you, Glenn.
12:18These numbers are five, three, one, ten, six, and the big one, 50.
12:25And the target, 636.
12:29Six, three, six.
12:30One.
12:31One.
12:43Two.
12:46Two.
12:47Two.
12:47Two.
12:48Two.
12:49Two.
12:53Three.
12:54Five.
12:55Four.
12:56Four.
12:58Three.
12:59Six.
13:01Yes, Glenn?
13:02Yes, 636.
13:03Tom?
13:03636.
13:04Both of you.
13:05So, Glenn?
13:0550 minus 1.
13:0750 minus 1, 49.
13:0910 plus 3 is 13.
13:10Yep.
13:11Multiply.
13:12For 637.
13:14And then 6 minus 5 for the 1.
13:15Yep.
13:16Well done.
13:17636.
13:18Well done, Tom.
13:19Kappelman.
13:20Different method.
13:2150 plus 3.
13:2253.
13:236 times 10 over 5.
13:256 times 10 divided by 5 is 12.
13:28And then times a 53.
13:29Perfect.
13:30636 again.
13:31Right.
13:35Well, they're both firing on all the sildons they've got.
13:39But I think Glenn, he's up to speed now.
13:42So, Glenn, you're going to have to really push on here.
13:44But let's have a little moment for you guys to relax as we turn to Gloria.
13:49And Gloria, the consummate, the ultimate professional.
13:52But sometimes even you can get your words mixed up.
13:56Oh, I make mistakes all the time.
13:57But I love it when I'm doing live programs and you genuinely make a mistake and you haven't really realized
14:02what you've said.
14:03I have a few humdingers, which sadly I cannot repeat here.
14:06But there was one instance last year with Ariana Grande.
14:11Now, at the time, I didn't even know who she was.
14:12But I now know, of course, she's one of the biggest pop stars worldwide.
14:16And so she was a very, very sweet girl.
14:18And so I was talking to her.
14:19It was on Loose Women.
14:20I was talking to her about the competition between young singers.
14:23And I said, you know, with all that quirking going on.
14:26And so everybody started to roar and laugh, of course.
14:29And I realized I said quirking instead of twerking.
14:31But she really played along with it.
14:33So she was going on a world tour.
14:34So she said, I'll only go as long as Gloria comes with me on stage and quirks the entire night.
14:39But there was another one.
14:41We were lucky enough to go to Andrew Lloyd Webber's house a few years back.
14:44And he has, of course, the most amazing collection of art and sculpture.
14:49I love sculpture.
14:50But fantastic.
14:51And paintings, of course.
14:53And we were in the queue for supper.
14:55And Geoffrey Archer was in front of my husband.
14:57So he said to Stephen, what do you think of the art?
14:59And so he said, it was fantastic.
15:01He said, any particular one caught your eye?
15:03And he said, well, I love that piece of sculpture just down in the dining room.
15:06And he said, and I also love the cannelloni.
15:09And so Geoffrey goes, try cannelletto, Stephen.
15:14Absolutely.
15:15And I think Geoffrey Archer would have rather enjoyed it, actually.
15:18He's got quite a collection himself, you know.
15:20Oh, he has.
15:20He has, indeed.
15:21A marvelous collection.
15:22But Andrew Lloyd Webber, he's got the cannellettos.
15:25He has.
15:26Do you remember?
15:26He saved it for the nation and all that.
15:28Yeah, he did.
15:28But actually, there's another funny story you've reminded me of if you time for it.
15:31David Mason is the man who buys most of his art.
15:35And I think it was the cannelletto was at the Tate Gallery, one of the multi, multi-million pound paintings.
15:41And John Paul Getty, Jr. was coming at that time for dinner.
15:45And so Andrew said, I really would like that painting in my room over dinner, in my dining room.
15:50And David said, but you can't.
15:52It's at the Tate.
15:53So he stamped his little foot and he went, well, I want it there.
15:56So what happened was the big van pulled up at the Tate on closing hours, took the painting off the
16:00wall, drove it down to Sidmonton, hung it up.
16:03John Paul Getty went, ooh-ah, ooh-ah, ooh-ah.
16:05And then through the night, the painting went back to the Tate again.
16:08And I suppose if you've paid millions of pounds for a painting and you wanted there to show somebody, you
16:13might as well have it.
16:14Yeah.
16:14I guess.
16:15What a great story.
16:16What a great story.
16:16True story.
16:17Well done.
16:18So Tom on 53, Glenn on 40, and it's Tom's letters again.
16:21Tom.
16:22Can I have a close note, please?
16:23Thank you, Tom.
16:24F.
16:25And another.
16:27N.
16:28And another.
16:30T.
16:31And another.
16:32S.
16:33And a vowel.
16:35A.
16:36And another.
16:38E.
16:39And another.
16:42A.
16:43And another.
16:46I.
16:46And a consonant, please.
16:48And the last one.
16:49C.
16:50Stand by.
16:51And a consonant, please.
16:55And a consonant, please.
16:58And a consonant, please.
17:04And a consonant, please.
17:04And a consonant, please.
17:04And a consonant, please.
17:06And a consonant, please.
17:07And a consonant, please.
17:08And a consonant, please.
17:09And a consonant, please.
17:10And a consonant, please.
17:10And a consonant, please.
17:10And a consonant, please.
17:11And a consonant, please.
17:12And a consonant, please.
17:12And a consonant, please.
17:13And a consonant, please.
17:21Yes, Tom?
17:22Nine.
17:23Nine, Glenn.
17:25Yeah, nine as well.
17:26Tom?
17:27Fascinate.
17:28Both of you?
17:29Same one.
17:30Well done.
17:30Well done.
17:31Well done.
17:36Did fascinate elude you?
17:38Same word, same word.
17:38Anything else, Susie?
17:40No, I was just double-checking the OED.
17:43The first fascinator, you know, those hats are called fascinators now,
17:46but the first one in the 18th century was a magician,
17:48because it was fascinating as all to do with witchcraft
17:50and putting a spell on people.
17:52Really?
17:52Bewitching them.
17:53As you do, Nick, all the time.
17:54Yes.
17:55I wish.
17:56Now then, 71 plays 58.
17:58Glenn, let us go.
18:00A consonant, please, Rachel.
18:01Thank you, Glenn.
18:02G.
18:03And another.
18:05S.
18:06And another.
18:08R.
18:09And another.
18:11P.
18:12And a vowel, please.
18:14E.
18:14And another.
18:16O.
18:17And another.
18:19E.
18:22Another vowel, please.
18:24U.
18:28And a consonant, please.
18:30And lastly, N.
18:33Stand by.
18:51And a consonant, please.
18:52And a consonant, please.
18:52And a consonant, please.
18:52And a consonant, please.
18:53And a consonant, please.
18:53And a consonant, please.
18:54And a consonant, please.
18:54And a consonant, please.
18:54And a consonant, please.
18:55And a consonant, please.
18:55And a consonant, please.
18:59And a consonant, please.
19:04yes then web I'll stay with 707 and Tom eight right then sponger sponger and
19:14generous and generous well done Tom yes excellent in the sponger the generous
19:21and also superego that's one word or eight yeah superego is one it's one
19:30done and that's an eight as you say 79 plays 58 but now it's Tom with the
19:36numbers Tom can I have six more again please you can indeed let's go for the
19:39bottom row six little ones thank you again Tom and this time they are two nine
19:45four another two one and eight and the target four hundred and eleven four one
19:55one
19:56do
20:07do
20:09do
20:10do
20:10do
20:12do
20:12do
20:12do
20:27Well, Tom, 413, not written down.
20:31Two away. And Glenn?
20:32I think 410. But again, not written down, so...
20:35All right. Well, look, let's go with Glenn, shall we?
20:39OK. So 9 plus 2 is 11.
20:429 plus 2, 11.
20:45Times the 4.
20:4644.
20:47No, I've used... No, I've gone wrong.
20:50Too far? All right. Tom?
20:52OK, 4 plus 2 is 6.
20:544 plus 2 is 6.
20:55Times 8.
20:56Times 8, 48.
20:58Minus 2.
20:59Minus the other 2 for 46.
21:01Times 9.
21:02Times by 9 for 4...
21:07414.
21:08And subtract for 1.
21:09And you've got 1 left over, yes.
21:12There we go.
21:134132 away.
21:14Well done.
21:15Can you get us nearer?
21:16Can you get us on the spot?
21:17This one is another impossible one.
21:20Yeah, you could have got to run away.
21:22So, well done, Tom.
21:23Well done.
21:2386 plays 58 as we go into our final tea time teaser for today,
21:27which is Lost Boys.
21:29And the clue,
21:30the boys may not be lost,
21:32but they're very crafty.
21:34The boys may not be lost,
21:35but they're very crafty.
21:53Welcome back.
21:54I left with the clue,
21:55the boys may not be lost,
21:56but they're very crafty.
21:57And the answer, Susie,
22:00is sly boots.
22:02Sly boots.
22:02Where does that come from?
22:03It's a good one.
22:05It's actually older,
22:07much older than bossy boots,
22:09which is a similar formulation.
22:11And it's a sly, cunning, or crafty person.
22:12Somebody does something on the sly.
22:14It's used in a mild or jokey way.
22:18But it was recorded in one of the earliest glossaries,
22:20earliest dictionaries ever,
22:22which was a saucy survey, really,
22:23of the jargon of rogues in the 17th century.
22:26And it says,
22:27a seeming silly but subtle fellow.
22:30So crafty, definitely.
22:31I've never heard of that before.
22:32It's great.
22:32I like it.
22:33Have you?
22:33Sly boots.
22:34I haven't, no,
22:34but I'm going to use it now.
22:36Yeah, it's unpleasant, isn't it?
22:37A pejorative sort of phrase.
22:38Yes, but only in a mild,
22:40slightly mild way.
22:41Sly boots.
22:41Yeah.
22:42Maybe, maybe.
22:4386 then, 2.
22:44Glenn's 58.
22:45And Glenn,
22:47foot on the gas there, Glenn.
22:49Letters game.
22:50Constance, please, Rachel.
22:51Thank you, Glenn.
22:52D.
22:53And another.
22:55T.
22:57And another.
22:58S.
22:59And a fourth.
23:01R.
23:02And a vowel, please.
23:04A.
23:05And another.
23:06I.
23:07And another.
23:09O.
23:10And another.
23:12E.
23:16And a consonant, please.
23:18And lastly, V.
23:20Stand by.
23:21OK.
23:51Glenn?
23:52nine and nine as well and your word deviators deviators and and deviators
24:00well done well done
24:01very good same word well done something else wasn't it lots of sevens otherwise diverts that kind of
24:12thing but some yeah lots of nines today tremendous tremendous that's why they're
24:17here 104 plays 76 and tom let us game a constant please thank you tom d and another g and
24:30another
24:30ah and another n and a vowel a and another e and another u and another e and constant
24:47please and lastly jay stand by
24:51so
25:21tom
25:23i'll try an eight and eight and then yeah i'll go with an ace as well
25:26mm-hmm and underage underage underage this is getting so boring
25:36sadly doesn't apply to me anymore but there you go
25:39me neither my word yeah not risky at all
25:41112 112 plays 84 and we turn now to susie susie dent your first origins of words for 2016 now
25:53then what have you got
25:54uh well i had a lovely email from iris jameson so um happy new year to iris and she asked
26:00where booby trap
26:01uh comes from uh which is is a nice question uh and booby has actually meant a dunce since the
26:07late
26:0817th century um i'll get the titters over with i'm not talking about the other type of booby boobs
26:13uh that goes back to german word meaning teat so i'm going to leave that to one side
26:17um but the first sense of booby trap was a hoax or a practical joke a little bit like a
26:22humbug which
26:23was also a hoax uh in its early days and there's one description from the 19th century talking about
26:29booby traps uh which uh mentions books and boots balanced on the top of a door that's left a jar
26:35and
26:35of course the first person coming in would get this shower of uh solid uh stuff coming down upon them
26:41but why booby well it's also behind um the idea of a booby prize and it goes back to the
26:48spanish word
26:48meaning bubble bubble meaning a fool and that in turn probably looks all the way back to latin
26:54bulbous meaning stammering so the idea of somebody who can't quite get their words out and so it's a
26:58little bit foolish and this word incidentally was also applied to dim-witted seabirds probably gannets
27:04who sailors would observe and notice that they never flew away whenever they were approached
27:09uh and if they did fly away with they would do so very very uh cumbersomely and basically
27:15we're just a little bit stupid and so they were called boobies as well uh but they've been dunces
27:21for many many years uh in english and the word dunce of course goes back to duns scottis who was
27:27a
27:27teacher uh long ago who when the humanists arrived in the 16th century was thought to be incredibly
27:33old-fashioned and a little bit pedantic and so all his followers were called duns scottis
27:38followers and up with it was shortened to dunces well done well done thank you julie
27:48riveting thank you now then glenn what are we going to do about this letters game constant
27:55please rachel thank you glenn t and another m and another l and another p and a vowel please
28:09o and again i and another o and another e another vowel please and the last one u don't don't
28:27Ст swim to d Bolivian
28:31aww
28:56or
28:59Yes, Glenn.
29:00And they're six.
29:01A six.
29:02A six as well.
29:03Two sixes, Glenn, six.
29:04Polite.
29:05And?
29:05Polite as well.
29:06Gosh, they do stick together, these two.
29:08You couldn't have poilu, could you?
29:10P-O-I-L-U-E-E.
29:12And what do you think that is, Nick?
29:14It was the name, the slang word for a French soldier in the First World War.
29:19A sweat.
29:20Spot on.
29:21It is there.
29:22Yeah, historical, informal, an infantry soldier in the French army,
29:25especially one who fought in the First World War.
29:27How about that?
29:28Very good.
29:29It's not the top of the class.
29:30And it's in the dictionary as a slang French word.
29:33Isn't that extraordinary?
29:34It's about P-O-I-L-U, so it's a five.
29:37But it's in.
29:37OK.
29:38Yeah.
29:39All right.
29:39One, one, eight, two, ninety.
29:41Tom's there, OK?
29:42And Tom's back now with a letters game.
29:45Consonant, please.
29:46Thank you, Tom.
29:47N.
29:48And another.
29:51X.
29:51And another.
29:54S.
29:54And another.
29:56R.
29:57And a vowel.
29:59A.
30:00And another.
30:01E.
30:02And another.
30:04I.
30:06And a consonant.
30:08H.
30:10And a consonant.
30:12And the last one.
30:13L.
30:14Countdown.
30:15And are you?
30:16And a consonant.
30:45I agree.
30:45And a consonant.
30:45mmm Tom 8 Glen 8 Tom inhalers inhalers look at these two glued together hand up
30:54in the corner inhalers well done well done nothing else Susie nothing about
31:01all right so one two six plays at 98 and it's Glenn's numbers game good luck
31:08Glenn one large please Rachel one large think Tom will be relieved with that
31:11because if he gets the next two rounds he'll match the all-time highest score so
31:15no pressure but right the last numbers game of this contest is 7 8 4 another 7 6
31:23and a large one 100 and the target 899 and it's 899
32:01yes then can only see 900 900 and Tom saying not written down so tell me about it 8 plus
32:107 minus 1
32:116 8 plus 7 minus 6 is 9 times 100 times 100 900 I was it oh yeah yeah 6
32:24minus 4 for the 2 6
32:26minus 4 is 2 plus the 7 plus the 7 is 9 multiplied by the 100 900 yes jolly good
32:35but Rachel take us to uh the 899 well you have 8 minus 7 there for one takeaway oh look
32:45at that
32:45okay so Tom on 1 3 3 Glen on 105 fingers on buzzers let's reveal today's countdown conundrum
33:04Glenn is it block hole let's see whether you're right blocker well done
33:16well done 115 to 1 3 3 so we shall see you Tom in the uh quarterfinals well done indeed
33:23well done
33:24and Glenn it was a bit of a slow start otherwise you were right there all the time yes a
33:29few bad
33:29risks but up against a fantastic he's a good player but you're a great player too and prove it you're
33:34going to drag this piece of priceless kryptonite home with you thank you and stick it on your office
33:38desk there so that all can see brilliant stuff well done see you tomorrow oh very much so it's
33:43really exciting for me to watch boys like this it's they're just so good I'm in awe in other words
33:48they're tremendous we'll see you tomorrow and Susie too of course well done very good two good
33:54players well three nines for our opening game of this champion of champion series you can't say
33:58fairer than that can you not bad at all let's see what we get tomorrow shall we let's see same
34:03time
34:03same place we've got two more great great players tomorrow join us there and you'll be sure of it a
34:08very good afternoon contact us by email at countdown at channel 4.com by twitter at c4 countdown or write
34:17to us at countdown leads ls3 one js you can also find our web page at channel 4.com forward
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34:24countdown all the best bits of the british seaside minus the rain crowds traffic jams and sand in the
34:32sun is tonight on channel 4 we're off to devon and cornwall the new date guaranteed good weather
34:37next though we're buying into a place in the sun
34:40you
34:42you
34:47you
34:48you