Barney conducts and Johny Pitt's Balloon ride Blue Peter

We've got loads coming up on today's live Blue Peter.

Stand by for an artist who creates amazing pictures like this

with just a Biro.

And Johny Pitts takes to the skies to discover the magic

of hot air ballooning.

It feels like I'm on a magic carpet or something.

And I'm set a musical challenge like no other,

as I attempt to conduct the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

APPLAUSE

-Hello.

-Thanks!

-Welcome to Blue Peter.

-Hi, how you doing?

Let's talk about what's been in the news. It's very magical.

If you've been at a fireworks display or a laser show, or a light show,

you'll know what it's like to stand with your family

and look into the sky and see this incredible thing unfold.

No-one does it quite like Mother Nature.

Have you heard of the Northern Lights?

This is what they look like. I have the science bit for you.

This is created by electronically charged particles from the sun

colliding with each other and then entering our atmosphere

and creating a light display like this. They're beautiful.

The Northern Lights are absolutely spectacular.

I met a family last year who went every year to Norway

just to try and catch a glimpse of them.

So, if you saw them here, which there's a good chance you did,

because people in Hove in East Sussex saw some of them...

And in Scotland, they were the brightest there.

If you saw them, you were pretty lucky.

On today's Blue Peter, we want to know,

if you could see anything in the world... Use your imagination -

big piano, anything - let us know.

Maybe a flying horse or your favourite footballer score 15 goals

-in one match.

-A volcano erupting, that would be a good one.

What... That was poised then! What would you like to see?

[email protected].

Now, when you're in class,

are you one of those people who sits there when the teacher

is talking, doodling, scribbling all over your exercise book?

-Am I the teacher?

-That's my doodle.

But it's just a boring doodle, it's quite rubbish.

It's Helen tightrope walking at Battersea Power Station. Very cool.

But we're talking about the doodle and how far you can take it.

Have a look at these photos.

You might think they're photos - they're not!

They're drawings drawn by an artist who uses just a ball-point pen.

Yes, even that image is drawn with a pen! Please welcome James Mylne.

APPLAUSE

-James.

-It's amazing.

-Your work is unbelievable.

When we were told they were created using one pen, we were going, "No!"

I said no way! I said they're photocopies, he's having us on.

-They're not - they're really drawn by you.

-How do you do it?

For everyone at home thinking, "I want to have a go,"

-how do you create those?

-There's three main ways of doing it.

-Um... One way is...

-Joining.

..cross-hatching, which is quite well-known.

You do lines over each other, going from dark to light.

They're closer together for dark areas. And then

another way is being a bit squiggly with the lines.

You cover a lot of area, go from dark to light.

But the thing I use is single lines, small pen strokes, one at a time,

very close to each other.

That can, when you do it for a while,

create a very subtle tone and gradient.

That is why some people can't understand it's done in ball-point.

-You don't think you can shade with Biro.

-Exactly.

-How you getting on?

Yeah, I'm having a go. I think I'll just turn over!

If you have a look at the picture of James Bond, the detail in that -

absolutely unbelievable. How is it different working with Biro

to working with traditional paints? I know you used to do that.

Yeah. I would say it's more difficult with a Biro, because

you can't paint over mistakes. You have to be very careful.

What you do get is very fine detail with a pen.

And they're easier to use because they're everywhere.

And they're cheaper. But, yeah, it's difficult.

Detail is the word we're going to use for this next picture.

This horse has got so much detail in it.

That looks like a photograph, James.

-How do you create that detail?

-Very slowly. I take my time.

I start with pencil for the outlines and then I work on the hardest bits

and just do it very slowly and carefully.

You say slowly, but how long are we talking about?

We've got some footage of you creating a beautiful image.

Here it is. Where did you begin and how long did each bit take?

The whole drawing in total took about 100 hours,

but I start with the eye because that's the most difficult bit

and most important bit to get right. You work your way from there -

again very slowly and carefully,

not making any mistakes.

It does take a lot of time but it's worth it.

Do you often have to rip it up and start again?

As you say, it's not like pencil. You can't rub it out?

I have in the past. Now, I am very careful.

If I do make mistakes, they are very small and I can mask them.

In the past, I have had to do that.

If this has inspired you to start drawing with just a pen and paper,

then please do. We love it when you get involved.

Send us your pictures to [email protected].

We'll try and show some at the end of next week's show.

-James, thank you so much.

-Pleasure. Thank you.

James, amazing. Everyone will love it.

The parents in particular. As you said, it's cheap!

Now, we know our good friend Johny Pitts loves a bit of adventure.

He regularly faces ferocious animals in his series Roar.

He also helps people escape from Scorpion Island.

We thought sending him to a balloon festival would be a piece of cake!

That wasn't quite the case because it turns out

he's afraid of heights.

Can you name a mode of transport

that could get me to the North Pole, Canada or even America

where you don't need to wear a seatbelt,

you don't need to get on a plane, you don't need to get a train ticket?

It is quite tricky. No, I'm not talking about walking!

I'm talking about hot air balloons.

Hot air ballooning is about exploration and adventure,

so I've come to Bristol to Britain's biggest ballooning event.

All this began with one man and his inspiring idea.

Don Cameron is the Godfather of British hot air ballooning

and it all started with this, the Bristol Belle.

As you can see, it's a ballooning antique.

She's the first modern hot air balloon created in Western Europe,

created by Don way back in 1967.

-How did you get into it?

-Well, I used to have a proper job,

but it was with a group of friends at the gliding club.

We discussed this new kind of ballooning that had just been

invented in the States and we thought we'd like to build

the first balloon in Europe because it just has a magic.

You're defying gravity in a way that you don't do with aeroplanes.

Talk to us about where you've been?

I flew the first hot air balloon over the Swiss Alps,

and took a balloon expedition over the Sahara Desert.

-Can I hop in?

-Yes, hop in.

-Am I doing this right?

-Beautifully(!)

-Quite elegant.

-LAUGHTER

-Wow!

-There we are, we're off the ground.

Wow! This is my first time ever in a hot air balloon.

This is such an incredible feeling. It feels like I'm on a magic carpet.

-She still flies after all these years?

-Still flies, just.

We wouldn't risk flying her at any height at all.

Because she's definitely not... airworthy.

GAS WHOOSHES

Well, Don's given me the low-down on his spectacular career,

but now it's time to see this amazing festival from above.

I just hope I can hitch a ride.

Meet Rosie Bailey,

a 12-year-old balloonist who has a real head for heights

and each year helps her mum and dad out during the fiesta.

Rosie has very kindly offered to give me a bird's-eye view of this

incredible fiesta in her dad's own balloon. How cool is that?

It's just dawning on me though that I'm scared of heights!

So this is going to be interesting.

Right, OK, Rosie.

One minute we were on the floor and the next we're in the air.

You don't even feel a thing. Rosie, why is that?

I thought there'd be more turbulence or something.

Cos when you are standing still, all the air is blowing past you.

Whereas when you're in the balloon you are going with it.

So that is why you're not feeling it? It takes you along.

When was the first time you got in a hot air balloon?

-When I was 11 months.

-Not 11 years, 11 months?!

-Yes.

I have to say, I am scared of heights.

If I look down, I still feel a bit weird.

-But it's really calm and relaxing, isn't it?

-Yeah.

You should see the views across Bristol,

-they're outstanding over here!

-Whenever we go over the city,

which I think we should be coming across soon,

I always count trampolines.

It happens to be a habit.

I guess because you can! When else could you count trampolines

apart from when you're in a hot air balloon looking down?

Who knows where we'll land, but it's important that we do land,

because we've still got to get to the highlight of this fiesta.

Believe me, you are in for a treat.

So with my feet back on the ground, it's time to pack up

and get ready for the night glow.

So everyone's getting their hot air balloons ready.

In a minute they'll shoot their flame up

and this whole field is going to turn into a giant rainbow of colour.

All these balloons will start to light up

as soon as the music kicks in.

Right, here we go! The magic is about to happen.

Wow!

You know when you are at a concert, everyone puts their

mobile phones in the air? This is an epic version of that.

That's amazing!

I've had an absolutely incredible time.

I met the godfather of British hot-air ballooning.

I met a young ballooning enthusiast and I just witnessed

one of the most incredible sights you could possibly see

on a lovely British evening and I didn't need my passport!

The wait is almost over.

A week today, you will find out how to be part of this year's Appeal.

You've baked a difference,

you've made cards to sell

and you've sent a smile.

But what does this year have in store?

Find out next week.

I know you want to find out!

But it's only seven days to go until you find out how to get involved.

It is fair to say the gang inside Blue Peter Towers is going crazy.

Do you know who is coming in to launch this year's Appeal?

It's One Direction! They will be here next week.

If you are a One Direction fan, don't miss that show.

Now, last week, we told you about a competition

which involves you winning the chance to produce this show.

You get to come in here and be our bosses for the day.

The producer is the most important part of the production team.

-You have to be talented and good-looking...

-Stop sucking up!

Am I getting this right, Barry? We'll miss you when you go.

Basically, you need to be in charge.

You can decide what we get to do on the road, backstage

and also what happens on the website.

If you have wanted to take part in a TV show and control and

call the shots, especially the stuff we get to do, now is your chance.

All the details are on the Blue Peter website. But be quick!

You've got to get your entries in by October 22nd.

Last week we showed you a film of Helen building a Blue Peter ship

in the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. And we said, if you visit it,

take a picture and send it to us and you never let us down!

You've been doing it. Hope, Ella and Leo went dressed as pirates.

-I love it!

-Isn't that fantastic?

Why are pirates called pirates?

-Because they arrrrr!

-That's my favourite punchline!

It's nearly panto season! Sam has been along to...

Oh, no, it's not!

..to see that ship. He made his own sculpture.

Thank you for sending that in. Well done to you.

Another Sam has been in touch.

He's also made a sculpture. He made this robot.

Unless Sam is eight feet tall, his mates helped him out there.

Thank you for that. It's completely made of rubbish!

We love seeing the things you make and create. Keep sending them in.

Now, for this next item, I will need the studio lights to be dipped.

-Lights down, please.

-I'm scared.

-You're all right.

Hang on to the cushion. Now, have a look at this.

I am going to show you how to make one of these fellas.

It's sticking with the idea of recycling.

We're showing you how to do it in time for Halloween.

You can put these outside your house.

Maybe you could take one with you when you go trick-or-treating.

We've called it a botkin

because it is a cross between a bottle and a pumpkin.

Last week I asked you to save these,

plastic drinks bottles. Drink all the pop and hang on to the bottle!

You'll need one of these.

You need some lights, a glow-stick or one of these electric tea lights.

You can get these from department stores, pound shops, party shops.

You'll also need some black marker pens and plastic bags.

So, the first thing that you do is you take your plastic bottle

and you cut it in the middle to split it in two.

So if you cut all the way around. Be careful.

Sometimes the bottles can be sharp.

On the top side you cut two slits, one on either side.

You are doing that so you can slot... Oh, it's stuck!

..slot the top section into the bottom section.

There are two ways to do this.

One way is to take the electric tea light... Watch this!

..and you put it inside the plastic bag.

Then you pop that in and you build your botkin.

Obviously, don't use a real tea light.

It needs to be an electric one!

I will show you today how to make one of these botkins

using a glow-stick.

So, you take your plastic, pull it like that.

And thread it through the neck of the bottle.

Pull plenty through so it will fill the bottle.

Slot the top half of the bottle into the bottom half.

Get some tape and secure that bottle in place like that.

You want your plastic bag to fill the bottle

and look like a ghost, so you bend that back and blow into it.

It should fill the bottle, just like that.

Next, the fun bit. Oh, look. I've got lipstick all over the bag!

I'll get some more later.

Take your glow-stick, snap it so that it glows.

Give it a bit of a shake, so it's nice and bright,

then you pop it into the bottle like that.

All that is left to do is create a ghoulish face.

Now, if you have a look over here, we have done a few different things.

We've done a ghost there with little arms out of the side.

That is easy to do. Create a couple of slits.

We've got some black plastic bags on that one to make some scary hair.

And then, if you look down here at the one at the front,

we've created some little bat wings.

You can create whatever you want. This is a really easy make, guys,

so, hopefully, you will have some fun with this over the holidays

in time for Halloween and you should be able to find

most of the bits you need around the house.

Now, lovely Lee in lighting, can you put the lights down, please?

And you should be able to see our ghost glowing in the dark.

There he is.

If you head over to the Blue Peter website,

all the details are on there.

As always, let us know how you get on. Send us some pictures.

-HE BLOWS

-Send us some pictures.

It doesn't work with the big ones, does it?

HE BLOWS AGAIN Hey, it did work!

It's not just ghosts and ghoulies that you can do, you can do snowmen.

If you take a torch,

rather than a glow-stick or an electric tea light...

I've put the lights up too early, you can still see that it shines.

..you can have a go at any time of the year,

making your botkins, or boterations, that would be called, I suppose.

-OK, let us know how you get on.

-Yes, please. Over to this camera.

Something to tell you. If you're in a school choir at school,

otherwise they wouldn't call it a "school choir",

or if you are in a group, or an orchestra,

the most important person is the conductor. Yes?

Yes! Now, they are trained. They normally play in the band,

and they know exactly what they're doing.

So, when you give that stick to someone like me,

and you get them to play the National Anthem,

anything could happen, as you're about to find out.

It's the star of the show,

with hundreds and thousands of people watching its every move...

..and up to 100 classically trained musicians at its beck and call.

This is the conductor's baton.

Now, it may not look like anything special,

but this thing holds extraordinary powers.

In just a few hours' time,

I'll be using it to conduct the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

as they play the National Anthem in front of thousands of people.

Yeah. I'm in trouble!

'In the past, conductors used wooden staffs, violin bows

'or even rolled-up manuscript paper

'before the use of wooden batons began in the 19th century,

'but one thing that hasn't changed throughout history

'is that each member of the orchestra

'looks to the conductor for their every move.'

Before a concert, there's only one place you'll find the conductor,

and that's backstage, practising the music,

and if there's one thing I need it's practice!

'Master of the baton Richard Davis has agreed to give me

'a few top tips for my conducting debut.

'First up, rhythm.'

The most important thing is to get the right tempo.

-If you can dance, you can conduct.

-I can throw a few moves!

-Yeah?

You have to feel the tempo,

the speed at which you want the orchestra to play.

'If the conductor doesn't bring the orchestra in together

'and keep a steady beat,

'the performance could be ruined.'

If we're doing something like in a waltz...three, four.

-One, two, three, four. One, two...

-Perfect!

'Next up, volume.'

We can do loudness and softness, so louder...

..softer.

'So with my baton hand conducting the rhythm,

'my free hand is controlling how loud the orchestra are playing.'

Open up your chest, they will just play.

-Yeah. You're a little tense. If you just open up...

-I am a little tense.

-# Bom-bom-bee-bom... #

-Sure.

Richard's final tip

is how to control the musical expression of the orchestra.

If you want them to punctuate, just do that...bah-bah-bah.

If you want them to play long... baaah-baaah-baaah.

'Now, I play a lot of music myself,

'but this feels like patting my head

'and rubbing my tummy at the same time.'

The thing with this that I'm struggling with so far

-is that I've got one hand doing one thing...

-Yeah.

The other hand is not... See? Even now, it's not necessarily in time

-with what's going on here.

-Yeah.

-It's giving accents.

I've got to be aware of the instrument,

the tempo, and what I want the instrument to do

just with these two parts of my body.

'But mastering the physical challenge

'is only one aspect of being a conductor.'

In a way, you're not only controlling the orchestra

but you're controlling the emotions of the audience as well.

You might want to just delay that crescendo to the last minute

to make them weep behind you.

'So not only do I have to command the orchestra,

'but I also hold the key to the mood of the audience too.

'My baton and I seem to have a lot of responsibility!'

-You have all that power there.

-With this.

'After a few minutes of practising in front of a mirror,

'it's time to rehearse with the real thing -

'the BBC Philharmonic.

'So that's little old me

'conducting one of the best orchestras in the world.'

Are you ready?

'Before I'm let loose on the National Anthem,

'I'll practise having a steady rhythm and keeping in time

'with another classic - The Great Escape.'

MUSIC: Theme From "The Great Escape"

ORCHESTRA PLAY SLOWLY

Brilliant!

ORCHESTRA SPEEDS UP

Right, that's fantastic, cos that shows you what damage you can do.

'That didn't go so well.

'I wasn't keeping a constant beat with the baton

'and ended up making different instruments

'play at different speeds. Not a good start.

'Despite my problems, it's time to crack on.

'I've got just 15 minutes with the orchestra

'to rehearse the National Anthem

'and I want to see if I can put my own stamp

'on this iconic piece of music.'

NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYS SLOWLY

Go longer!

ORCHESTRA SPEEDS UP

Shorter.

'With a few more flicks of the baton,

'the orchestra start to follow my lead.'

Go forward!

'Using Richard's techniques,

'I make the orchestra play some short and punchy notes.

'That's called "staccato".'

Long!

'And with more gentle hand movements

'I can make the same piece of music go from short and punchy

'to smooth and gentle. That's called "legato".

'I'm starting to realise that, as the conductor,

'it really is my responsibility to inspire the orchestra.

'If we're going to create something truly special,

'it's down to me and the baton.'

-Amazing.

-If they trust you, they'll do anything.

'That was my last chance to practise conducting with the orchestra -

'the next time will be in front of a packed audience.

'It's time to decide just how I'm going to conduct

'the National Anthem.

'So I've got to get it right, so I'll give it a big introduction

'and that'll be with our percussion section.

'# Da-na-na-na! # Timpani giving it a go.'

I want to make that really loud and really energetic to say,

"Here comes the National Anthem."

Then I'll play it as straight as I possibly can from there,

so lots of nice legato,

smooth strings, make sure the tune comes out.

Then at the end I want it to be a massive build...

# God save the Queen! #

I'm going to try and get them to go as loud as I can

then make them stop at the same time for some drama.

'I've got a plan,

'but, all too soon, the audience are taking their seats.'

I've never been as nervous in my life.

Three things to remember - the opening, nice and big,

the tempo, nice and steady,

and the ending, everybody off at the same time.

If I get that right, it'll be good.

If I don't, it'll be awful.

'And then, it's time.'

DRUM ROLL

NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYS

APPLAUSE

'Barney did absolutely brilliantly.'

The first drum roll had a real impact.

'Then he got the strings to have that luscious sound.

'He opened up his chest and the brass responded.

'But he's a presenter, he's a professional.'

He did a brilliant job. I'm very proud of him.

'It was an amazing day.'

It really was. I properly enjoyed myself. Everything went well.

These incredible musicians did what I asked them to do. The best.

Just the best. I want to do it again.

MUSIC: "Land Of Hope And Glory"

-APPLAUSE

-I'm so jealous!

I've never seen you look happier. You were singing.

I was in my own little world.

-Wave a stick at someone, amazing what they will do!

-Well done.

Let's talk about emails, shall we?

We asked you to talk about the things that you would most like to see,

inspired by the Northern Lights.

Aaron says, "I would like to see the Earth from space."

Eleanor says, "I would like to see animals playing in an orchestra.

"Imagine a pig playing cello or a dog playing a clarinet."

-Barney would be at the helm!

-That's weird!

Kyle says,

"I want to see Lady Gaga getting chased by a dog in her meat dress!"

That's genius!

Rachel says, "I would like to see the crowd cheering for me

"on the Olympic podium with a gold medal round my neck."

You and me both, Rachel,

A girl with the best name, Lillia... # Lillia-lillia-lillia-lo! #

..she would love to see a volcano erupting -

another idea and so original. Brilliant.

I don't know what's happened to you today.

I'm excited about the conducting.

Milly says, "I would love to see One Direction on a flying horse

-"singing Live While We're Young."

-Brilliant.

And Daniel would like to live...

No, would like to see the dark side of the moon.

Then you can live there! Thank you very much.

We love hearing from you as always, so do keep in touch.

Don't miss next week's show, otherwise you will miss this lot.

With the release of the new movie Frankenweenie

I get to go behind-the-scenes and you are going to love this film.

It's 3D, it's black and white and it's Tim Burton - you can't go wrong.

Halloween is just around the corner.

We'll show you how to make some creepy treats -

-they're eyeballs made of peanut butter.

-They look gross.

Also, don't forget, One Direction will be in this studio

to launch this year's Blue Peter Appeal.

It will be quite exciting. I want to talk about the Appeal.

We know about it - you can all get involved and it'll be a load of fun.

As you have found out, One Direction will be here

doing a bit of bopping, left to right, and telling you about it.

That's it for this week. We'll see you next week.

-As always, keep in touch on the Blue Peter website. Bye for now.

-Bye!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd