30/01/2014 The One Show

Hello, welcome to the One Show with Alex Jones. And Matt Baker.

Tonight's guest celebrated her birthday yesterday, and one of her

presence was this book. But who could it be? The book was written 16

years before she was born, 43 years before she started to work in

television. Everyone's favourite, the face of the BBC Winter Olympics

coverage, it is Clare Balding! Yes! Thank you. Happy birthday. I love my

birthday, so I had all my schoolmates and university friends

around for drinks last night to celebrate the important landmark of

43! You do not need a special birthday to have a party. The

announcer on Radio 4 bought me that book, part of a series that was

written in the 1950s about different careers for girls. It does this

under election, girls looking for a different career. This one is all

about Clare, who goes to work in television. You didn't want to do

this when you left university. No, I didn't, Matt! I did not really know,

I wanted to be a writer, actually, in that kind of junior way. You have

done a few books, we know that. We will be quizzing you about the

Winter Olympics very shortly. I love a quiz, a special birthday quiz? Of

course! Although there is a shortage of new homes being built in the UK,

there is rarely a shortage of objections to plans admitted. Lucy

Siegle has been play Leicestershire village to find out how residents,

when it came to a local planning issue, we given a chance to

contribute, rather than complain. This is a fairly typical English

village in the heart of Leicestershire, village church. A

fruit and veg shop. There is a village pub. And a village

referendum. A village referendum? What is that? Broughton Astley is

facing a big expansion, and because of a change in the law, more than

7000 villages are getting a vote. What is in the plan? Two housing

areas. That is 500 new homes. The parish council wants a yes Bolt to

lock developers into a 15 year blueprint. It includes a supermarket

and extras like a new medical centre and more sports facilities. That is

our existing Recreation Ground, that is the centre, the retail centre.

But there is a big catch. Voting no will not stop the 500 houses from

being built. It is not the most utopian,

inspiring vote. It is trying to strike a balance. We have to strike

a balance between where it would fit in with the least detrimental impact

on the village, because we want to try to retain being a village.

Whatever the referendum outcome, many of the open Spaces here are

destined to disappear, but a no vote would throw out carefully laid

long-term plans in favour of a traditional case-by-case planning

system which could make the growth of the village had to predict and

control. You would be forgiven for being

confused about this. Vote yes and the village gets 500 new houses and

extra amenities. Vote no and the village gets 500 new houses and some

extra amenities. It doesn't seem to make any sense. To make matters

worse, there has been an anonymous campaign giving locals the wrong

idea that a no vote would stop the new houses. Bill and Dave have voted

no but are puzzled about what they voted against. The wife voted yes

for the same reason I voted no, which is we do not want any houses

in the village. You voted no to say, I do not want the building. From the

information we had, a no vote, it is not too late to stop the plans which

are in place. Villager cairn has been running his own yes campaign.

For him, it is a choice between gradual development that suits local

people or out of control house building. It is a choice, but

Hobson's choice, isn't it? Yes, if we get a yes vote, we can keep the

population of the village to roughly 10,500. If we were to say no, and

directing the population will go to about 16,000, with no additional

facilities, which is an thinkable, really. It is clearly village is up

to some tough decisions about the pace of growth. This referendum has

been made possible by a change in the law, the Localism act of 2011,

and it has cost ?10,000 to stage. The moment of reckoning is

approaching, the ballot papers have been counted. This could be seen as

a vote for the whole idea of referendums, a yes meaning, thanks

for the power, a no meaning it has been a big waste of time and money.

The results are about to come in. It does feel a little bit tense in here

now. Total number of votes cast, 2747. I do declare that more than

half of those voting have voted in favour. That is a pretty decisive

victory, so thumbs up for the plan, and I guess for localism. That was a

decisive result. Relief for the parish council. Fewer than 300

people voted no. So a resounding victory for the yes campaign in what

is only the seventh local referendum of this type. It will be interesting

to see where the next referendum pops up.

Thanks very much to Lucy, good luck to the residence of Broughton Astley

and their village development. Joe is yet to give us more of an insight

into this planning news, when will the next referendum be? In seven

weeks, on the edge of Norwich, that will be a neighbourhood planning

referendum. 38% turnout is not as bad as it sounds. In this country,

we tend to turn out for general collections, 60% plus, local

elections not so much, when they are not in general election year. 38% is

pretty good, people want to have a say. We are always hearing about how

much we need new housing, but how much is needed? We are probably sick

of hearing it, but we badly need new housing. The bottom line is that the

population is growing, we have an ageing population. Right now there

are 10 million people over the age of 65. In 30 years, there will be 20

million people over the age of 65, and they have all got to live

somewhere. We have also got more people coming into the country and

leaving, so net immigration. The population is growing, and we do not

have enough houses. We are building 100,000 new houses every year, not

enough, and so far off the pace that we need to 240,000 per year will

stop where do they all go? And while we are not building, the cost goes

up. People are feeling the pinch, people having to go into house

shares and flat shares. They said they would cut red tape to make it

easier to build new houses, but that comes with complications. Yeah,

there are over 100 rules and regulations for new homes. David

Cameron wants to cut that to about ten, so things like a minimum window

sizes, Roodeye mentions, strength of front doors. -- room dimensional is.

Hopefully it will save money that is passed on to people trying to buy

houses. You do wonder, don't you? . We already have the smallest average

size of new home in Europe, we have got a graphic, look at new homes

throughout the world. In the UK, it is about 818 square feet. If you

look at Ireland, 15% bigger. Netherlands, a small country, 53%

bigger. In Australia or the USA... They are huge! Last night, Eric

Pickles was saying he wanted every new home to have space for bins. He

can forget that! Thanks very much, Joe. From March, gay couples in

England and Wales will be able to get married, declaring their love in

public to friends and family. But for some people it can be really

daunting telling friends and family. This is my mum Irene. Things

were pretty desperate at school, I was bullied quite badly. I thought

like a complete outsider. People were speaking a different language.

I knew he was deeply unhappy, I came home from work one night, and he was

sobbing. He said, Mum, I feel like there is nothing to live for. I sort

of had a feeling he might be gay, and I thought it was best to ask

him. When mum asked me if I was gay, my whole world turned on its head.

He said, I am 99% sure that I am. Their reaction was fantastic, 1

billion times better than anything I could have hoped all dream dog,

really. -- dreams of, really. I came out

when I was 16. The biggest thing was coming out to my family, because I

was close to both my parents. I felt that my dad never really approved of

same-sex relationships, so that is why I was always nervous about

coming out to them. In the end, I came out and said, look, I am

enabling should ship with a girl, and it didn't go down well at all.

-- I am in a relationship. He said, get out of my house. That was the

last time I ever saw him. It was Christmas Day four years ago. I have

not had a birthday card, I have not had a Christmas card. I was the

first person in the family to graduate from university. I wanted

him there. You always have that feeling when

you are about to come out that one person will receive its better than

others, and for me it was my mum. You just came out and said, didn't

you? I am gay. And then all of a sudden I breathed a huge sigh of

relief, is that it?! Is that it? Is that all? Sam is still Sam,

regardless. She is still my girl. You never really appreciate how much

you need your parents. When you have one that stays there for you, that

is what my mum was, that is why she is awesome.

By the time I was 15 and a half, I was having meetings in the careers

of this with the army, and I eventually went in the army at 16

and nine months. I felt as if there was something he was not telling me

about. When he came in, I made coffee and said, sit, we are going

to have a conversation now. What is the big secret? He looked me

straight in the face and said, you are not going to like this. And he

said to me, I am gay. Coming out to Mum, I found it more difficult as a

challenge than coming out to the boys in the army. Them two words

took life away from me, expecting to have a daughter-in-law, children,

grandchildren, a whole family. It just disappeared in an instant. He

obviously could see that I was very upset, and he sort of stud up and

said, right, I am going now, I need to go out. Can I have a hug please.

I'd put my hand up and said lead me. She took it like that, and I thought

it was really bad. When she didn't give me a hug, I thought, right, OK.

I was going out to meet Tom. I knew instantly that if you walked out, if

he had gone just then, we were going to lose something very, very special

between us. And I called him, stopped him, and I said, can you

give me a hug? When she called me back, I think in the back of my mind

there was light at the end of the tunnel. The reception was in the

barracks, the barracks I had come out in. This is when it was illegal

to be gay there. The whole regiment supported it, we have such a good

day. She is going to settle down, hopefully we will have a wedding to

go to. It brought us closer together, it made my life a thousand

times better. I thought, if people reject Chris, then I won't be

friends with them anymore either. Thank you to everybody who told

their stories, and you said you knew James. You know first-hand how

difficult it can be for the older members of the family. I do not know

if it is generational. Alice's parents died, and the father was 92,

93, and his mother was a live wire, in her mid-80s. I do not think it is

an age thing. Sometimes it is an imbued sense of shame, that this is

something that parents can feel embarrassed on behalf of their

children because they feel ashamed. The great thing about not feeling

ashamed is that you have the freedom to really enjoy love as should be

enjoyed, and that is with all of your friends and family, being able

to talk about it at work, or not if you don't want it, because some

people don't like talking about any issues. As a society we have come a

long way in accepting same-sex relationships, compared to the 1950s

when people were being put in jail. Bell, ten years ago it was still

illegal to be gay in the armed forces -- well. You had restrictions

on what teachers could say in schools. And some teachers think

they have to hide their sexuality. Do you come far enough? Mandrea

equal marriage is a really exciting development, and I think that is

affirmation of couples being the same as everybody else. I think that

is wonderful and joyful, and there will be some good parties. Amazing

parties. There has been some controversy over Russian laws which

were anti-gay. Was there a point where you thought you would not go?

To be honest, it's awfully easy to stay at home. I am not short of

work, so I wouldn't be idle but I think it's very important. I believe

in equality and freedom and I believe in the right for people to

do the job they do without fear of prejudice or recrimination, on any

basis, whether it is race, religion or sexuality. Save me to go to

Russia, a country that doesn't believe that hasn't got their dash

for me to go to Russia, a country that is believed that and hasn't got

there, for me to be out, proud, I am happy, and I'm doing my job, I think

that is a stronger statement made to make than to stay here. If I stay

here, no one in Russia notice. It is a protest in itself. President

Obama, picking people like Billie Jean King, that is in trying to make

the same statement. The way we can change the world, and there are lots

of ways to do it, boycotts can work, but you all need to do it, and it's

not about one individual, certainly not about one gay present an

ongoing. When are you going? Sunday, and I have unpacked yet. -- I have

not packed yet. It's the warmest winter there ever. I am presenting

from 8pm until midnight, so I think it will be quite cold them. I will

be outside. You know I like to be outside. Anyway, let's get some

statistics. Let's talk about team GB. I am glad you have done that,

because there is a danger of getting distracted by other issues are not

focusing on the sport. I love winter sport in these athletes have worked

really hard and we have a chance of a record Olympic medal haul, 1929,

four medals. Here is your fact of the day. Did you know, Great Britain

has never won a winter Olympic medal on snow? It's all been ice-skating,

curling, four-man bob. Do you think we can get one on snow? Yes, I think

there are new sport is coming in, it's widely termed as slope style,

but it is skis and boards and we have young athletes who are great at

it. James words for example -- James Woods. Look at this, that is James.

And they are good. They will have outside chances, because with

particular sports it's down to the charge you have on the day, how you

get the jobs. You never know, with James words, I would do that. If I

was young man, I would do that James words. Matthew, it's not too late.

The other thing, James and Katie did not learn on snow, they did it in an

indoor village in Sheffield. They were known as the French kids,

because they train in fridges as opposed to the real outside --

French -- refrigerator kids. You think back to Salt Lake City when

Rhona Martin won the curling medal and people stayed up till 11pm. I

was doing that in the studio in London, and we won the gold medal,

and I imagined everybody gabbing round doing that, and you do get

really involved. The best thing for the Winter Olympics is the curling

team in Norway. We were talking about this. Have you seen the

outfit? It's like the Eurovision Song contest. That is brilliant. I

am voting for them based on outfit. And you can see the whole thing on

tablet, mobile, all the rest. BBC Two is the Winter Olympics channel,

and there are highlights from 7pm until 8pm. And across the red

button, online, more hours than you are awake. 650 hours of coverage.

Just a quick one, the two biggest chances the gold medals would be

skied -- speed skating and Lizzie yarn all in the skeleton. -- Lizzie

Yarnold. Our very own action man Andy Torbet

has been trying to conquer nature in a dish used quality. The one Show

has found something lurking in Wales that has never climbed, a vertical

rock face made a smooth, slippery slate. Snowdonia, wild, snowcapped

mountains, shaped by millions of years of geological turmoil. The

area is bubbly most famous for Slate, quarried here for decades --

probably most. This is Vivian Quarry, a magnet for climbers, who

come here to pick their skills against the new -- unique challenge

of climbing on vertical slate. And I am on the very edge of my climbing

abilities. I have climbed most rock types, but never on slate. Vivian

Quarry is amongst the most sought-after slate climbing in the

UK, characterised by vertical slabs of smooth and slippery roots.

Climbers exploit the cracks that form for the hands and footholds,

but with recent rain leaving the slabs wet, we expect today's climb

to be a baptism of fire. Today's route rises from a lake, but sheer

face. I have been nervous about leading the client, but Lucy

creamer, one of the best in Britain is going up first. How is it

different from other sorts of rock? It is not much friction, but it's a

unique feeling to climb on a slippery Rock, so your work has to

be precise. You cannot just get away with calling up your arms. That is

my main form of climbing -- my main form. Immediately I can see that

this is going to need concentration. Lucy has to climb the first five

metres free, meaning if she falls, she will hit the ground. There is no

fixed rope to catch her. Yes, this is pretty damp. Please watch me.

This is pretty wet, because slight -- slate is so slippery. The other

major challenges an overhang, which Lucy has reached. She makes getting

past it look easy. For me, it is the part of the client that I fear the

most. Well, that is Lucy at the top without much problem is -- the

climb. Here we go. I am attached to Lucy's top rope and

she is anchored securely. If I fall, I will be saved, but my pride would

be injured. Tiny, tiny handholds. Keep looking

with the little dishes for footholds. There is no friction in

the climb at all. You hang on with your fingernails. The base of the

slab is littered with broken sections of slate. The stability of

the rock face is a concern. That is a bit loose. As the last climber,

it's my job to remove the hard way that Lucy put in place to protect

us. The metal wedges are jammed in and ropes will save her from a fall

-- remove the hardware. Feeling the rock with your hands and feet is a

technique you need, so the chilly temperature today makes climbing

tougher. This rock is called, isn't it? Yes, but it does warm up.

I am almost there. Just the overhang to negotiate.

It is a bit more of an amateur clamber than a technical triumph,

but I am over it, and I have reached the top of the climb. That was

awesome. Thanks for that. That was good fun. I enjoyed it. That was

hard, enough to feel an accomplishment, but not a nightmare.

The first little bit was hard, but I enjoy that. Turpin places, the rock

is so smooth and has no friction and the cracks are thin -- in places.

The satisfaction and achievement of getting here, and just look at that

view. A lovely view, but would you want to

do it to get there? Oh, well, I wouldn't mind. Yes, you are like

Spiderman. And on that note we will now quiz you, Claire. -- Clare. We

know you pride yourself on sporting knowledge. I am suddenly thinking,

somebody won a bronze and it was taken away from him, so we have won

a medal on snow. Here is your belated birthday present which you

can open if you get it right. But look at this, Clare. We have a set

of Russian dolls and you will love this. One is quite familiar. Is that

my chin? It is you, everything. That is my body? Thanks, Matt. No, you

are looking great. And when you answer a question, we will open it

to reveal the next one. Let's have the first one. Ready, Clare? This

year 's Winter Olympics is said to have been the most expensive games

ever but how much are they estimated to have cost? 31 billion, 41

billion, or 51 billion? They were meant to cost 7 billion, but I don't

think they have gone over as much as 41, so I think 31. Letters open up

your slim and healthy body. There is Vladimir Putin. Yes, it was 31, well

done. Next question. Drug testing was introduced at the Winter

Olympics in 1968. But which substance did the first Olympic

athlete ever to be disqualified test positive for? Was it, adrafinil,

alcohol or amphetamine? What year was it? Like it will make a

difference. It was probably alcohol. You've had some last night. We want

to go to Sochi, and he is holding a pint of beer. It was alcohol! Third

question, a Welsh figure skater is set to make his Olympic debut at

Sochi, but which country will he represent? Great Britain, France, or

Norway? Obviously not Great Britain because it must be more difficult

than that. We will have to hurry you. France. Let's have a look.

Let's have a look at those skates. It is! You can take that with you.

That is it. We are done. Thank you so much. Get packing, because that's

all we have time for to night. Thank you, Clare. Clare will host the

opening ceremony on Friday. We will see you tomorrow when we have Peter

Jones from