Best of Helen and Barney 2 Blue Peter

Coming up on a very special edition of Blue Peter -

I take to the seas for a daring mission.

I scale the heights on one of Britain's oldest ships.

I've never held on to something so tight in my life.

I face one of my more unusual challenges.

And Helen and I reveal our very best Blue Peter moment together.

SCREAMING

-Hello!

-Hello! Now, the Olympics are currently in full swing.

Athletes from all over the world are right here in the UK

striving to achieve their very best.

To celebrate, we're looking back at some of the great things

we've been able to bring you on Blue Peter... stop it!

-Trying to concentrate, aren't I?

-I like that.

And we're going to be counting down to some of our best bits.

It's been so difficult to pick our top five, but I have to say

my favourite thing about the show is that I get to explore my passion for

photography with you, as we've been designing the Blue Peter calendar.

And, each month, there's a different discipline for a different picture.

My favourite has to be light painting. Have a look at this.

Michael Bosanko is an incredible photographer and a very kind man.

He took that picture and it's one of the most difficult things to do,

but he makes it look so easy.

Very clever technique, isn't it?

When he offered us the chance to come down

and show us how to do it, we, of course, jumped at the chance

and that's why it's number five in our countdown.

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about tonight's shoot.

And I'm doing so much more than just taking a photograph.

Tonight, I'm going to learn how to create a unique piece of art.

Now, you may be sat there wondering what that's got to do

with a man waving around some funny lights.

Well, follow us over here.

Let's have a look.

Ah! And there he is. That's what it's all about.

This is light painting.

That click you hear when you take a picture is the shutter

opening and closing very fast.

When the shutter opens, it lets the light through to the lens

and then that records on the sensor and you have a regular photo.

The longer the shutter stays open, the more time the light has to make

an image on the sensor, and then you get something like Michael's work.

As we're out at night in the middle of the forest,

I think it's only right that my photo has haunted theme.

What do you reckon?

Yes, good. It's going to take a lot of effort, though.

I thought this might be the case.

There's a lot of detail there, isn't there?

It just so happens I've met a team of light painting enthusiasts.

-They are itching to get going. Shall we meet them?

-Yes, go on.

This crack squad of helpers are the hardest workers in town

and they need to be with what I've got planned for them.

OK, guys, take a look at this. Everyone gather round.

Aaron, the tallest, you're going to do the moon.

Megan, you're going to do the face.

-What kind of face are you going to go for?

-Scary.

-We all know what we're doing?

-Yeah.

After a quick crash course from expert, Michael...

This is your starting point and finish point.

..we're primed for our first attempt at the calendar photo.

Ready? Go.

It's getting there, guys. Michael, have a look at this.

Yes, you can see how it's going. It's really good.

We are so close to creating a masterpiece.

All it needs is a bit of fine tweaking.

Thomas? You know your starbursts?

Bring a few out here as well and hold the torch really still.

Quite low as well, because it picks up anything on the ground.

-Everyone ready to do another one?

-Yes!

-OK.

That might look good,

but if you were going against the tree it would reflect the light.

After five attempts,

we finally got a photo worthy of a place in the Blue Peter calendar.

-Ah, look at that. Nailed it on the last take. Who wants to see it?

-Me!

You ready? Here we go.

-I think that looks wicked. What do you reckon?

-Yeah!

Michael, you happy?

Superb. Phenomenal. Well done, guys.

Look at that. We are artistes!

And here it is, the finished picture as part of Blue Peter's calendar.

One final thank you to Michael Bosanko,

who lent us all of his technical gear on the night

and spent a lot of time helping us achieve that wonderful photo.

I want to thank you for sending in your efforts. Jamie's been in touch.

He had a go at light photography and created this smiley face.

Thank you for that, Jamie.

Thomas has drawn a ghost.

It's kind of got a skirt on and is being chased round the park.

It's brilliant. Thank you very much.

-It's not got a skirt on!

-You've got a skirt like that.

And also, Lewis, who sent in this picture, it's a flowery picture

and you can just see the shadow in the middle of it.

It looks a bit like the petal,

but that's actually Lewis being lit up by the light.

Thank you for sending us your stuff. We love it.

We do love it when you get involved,

and loads of you took part in the challenge we set you.

We wanted to find the best animal photograph.

So many entries, but the winner was Evie McLoughlin, who's 13.

She sent in this photograph of guinea pigs who appear to be

on some sort of start line, and that made it onto our calendar.

What a legend Evie is.

We like pictures that tell a story and this one definitely does.

And it's funny as well. And it's really well composed.

It fitted all the criteria for the judges and that's why it won.

Photos, letters, e-mails, whatever you would like to send us,

keep them coming in. We really enjoy reading them.

Now, one of the best things about being a Blue Peter presenter

is that we really get to take on some amazing challenges

and you get to get stuck into the action.

We love to know that you guys are along for the ride with us, as well.

Oh, yeah.

-Nope!

-Ha!

That's incredible. No hands on the steering wheel.

-I forgot about that! You kicked that guy off his luge.

-I did not!

-Yes, you did.

-I was trying to brake.

He's pretending he's not competitive in a race situation.

-You basically went, have that!

-Yes, I kicked him.

You know, we're pretty lucky. We get to do some amazing things.

Going to the South Pole was tough, but it was an absolute privilege.

We're often put to the test as Blue Peter presenters

but it's important that, at those moments,

you stand tall and stay strong. Isn't that right?

The worst thing you can ever do on this show

is tell the bosses what you're afraid of.

Because I hate rats. So, what do they make me do?

Of course - lie in a coffin full of rats. They were all over me.

Another time I had to face my fear was

when I attempted an old tradition known as "the beard of bees".

I basically had to coax a swarm of bees onto my face.

It hurt a lot,

and that's why it makes it to number four in our countdown.

Ugh, I'm itchy!

I'm about to take on the beard of bees.

You've done this before, haven't you?

I have to say, the first one I did, it was a little bit scary.

You've got bees crawling up towards your eyes and they start to nibble,

because they're trying to build comb.

So, don't worry if you start to get a bit freaked out.

-What if they sting me?

-If they sting you, you just have to stay still.

Let us know, and I'm sure we will be able to work it out,

because you'll probably squeal.

I was taking no chances.

The bees can't walk on that, so that will stop them

crawling up around your eyes, OK?

If you do get a bit too panicked, or you start to get stung

we should have a signal, I think.

Just do that, right?

Agreed. If you do that, we get the beard off. Let's go!

Right, Oh, my Lord.

We've just opened a box of bees, and there are hundreds.

I cannot believe they're all going to be on my face.

Ohh!

The Queen was inside this wire cage, and where she went,

the rest of the colony would follow.

Let's get the queen bee on your chin, then.

I tell you, the noise is as bad as anything, isn't it?

Right, you hold the queen.

If you suspend her by the bottom of the cage

then I'll tie it behind her head.

Can you move your chin forward a bit, Helen?

Oh, they're all over me!

That's me.

Is it looking good? Will we tie it there?

Lean forward a touch. All right?

Keep her there, and keep calm.

I'm on a beach, I'm on a beach, I'm on a beach!

Is that the sound of the waves or the bees?

The sound is quite intimidating, isn't it?

OK, bees, get on with this.

They're coming up gently, very gently.

Oh, it's so weird on my neck. It's so tickly!

SHE SHRIEKS

'The secret to not being stung is to keep yourself perfectly still.

'Obviously, I was working with experts,

'so please don't try this at home!'

They're getting close to my mouth now, so I'm going to stop talking.

This is so weird!

Just step back a bit, back a bit more.

It is just like a constant tickling, isn't it,

all over your face and neck?

SHE MOANS SOFTLY

I really want to laugh, but I daren't!

HELEN LAUGHS

It is so hard, isn't it, not to scratch or tickle?

Oh, this ain't so bad.

I'm going to take the cross away

and then you'll be the only thing in the vicinity for them to pitch on.

OK!

Good, now I'm all on my own. Thanks(!)

Nothing else for the bees to sit on or rest on. Just me.

It's looking quite good.

It is looking good.

This is a new one, body of bees.

I can hear them in my ears, sort of going, "Rrrr!"

'Most people do this for a few minutes.

'I was there for 20 before the bees finally lost patience.'

Argh!

Stung me, stung me, stung me! On my face!

-Yeah, she's got a sting on her face.

-OK.

-Smoke her.

-Oh, get off, get off.

-Take the queenie out.

-Well, they like me, don't they?

-Don't they just!

I was itchy. They were in my hair and in my top. Ugh!

I can't believe you got stung.

I got stung about seven times. Apparently, when one bee stings you,

it sends off a warning signal to the others,

so that's why the guys started to panic,

because they knew that once I'd been stung once, I'd get more stings.

What was the smoke machine for? A disco or something?

The smoke doesn't hurt the bees. It's basically to get them

to clear off me, because they don't like it, so they fly away from it.

It really is quite brave.

One more example of why Helen Skelton is as amazing as she is, everybody.

Thanks.

Now, we're all very proud of what we make and do here on Blue Peter,

especially when we find out

you've been having a go at making them at home, too.

Right, where do we start?

It's still saveable.

Remember it doesn't matter what it looks like. You can't go wrong.

Tunnel is ready.

Here's one I made earlier!

Christmas star, courtesy of Shezza.

-OK, hang on a second.

-Ha-ha!

-Go on.

-That is genius.

-Yeah, yeah.

It was a bit crunchy, that slice, I have to say.

I hate it when you get stuff on your glasses. That made me cringe.

I loved it when Ed Sheeran came in

and made a Christmas decoration with us.

He made one which was very much like that, but he gave his away to a fan.

That is because Ed Sheeran is the nicest guy on the planet.

What about these bracelets made for Mother's Day from recycled stuff?

I made brooches as well. They went down very well -

loads of you got in touch to tell us.

We love your photos of the things you've made, so keep them coming in.

Especially when it's food. Take a look at these bad boys.

These are lovely Jubilee jellies

that have been sent in by Amina from Denbighshire.

I wish they really were sent in. I'd have eat them.

We made some chameleon juice with Stefan Gates.

And we got a picture of those from Carol.

And Barney seems to love this little knitted penguin,

so thank you very much for that.

This is a plaque on the front of the table

sent in by Ozan from Birmingham.

Real detail. I love it when they do the Blue Peter ship.

It's amazing, isn't it?

You guys seem to absolutely love the sock puppets.

We particularly loved this one, by Elias in Morecambe.

It is an Ood from Doctor Who.

Just as scary as the real thing!

This is a union flag, sent in by Alicia, made of those beads you iron.

I wish I could do that.

And Daniel wrote us a very scary book.

We both had a scan through it

and we've been fighting over who gets to read through it properly,

so thank you for that, Daniel.

Now, we get loads of different bits and pieces sent into us

and it does take our team quite a while to get through them all,

so bear with us. Someone will get in touch.

Because everything we get is looked at by us and the team.

The address to send your bits and bobs to is...

You must remember to put your name and address on whatever it is

you've made because, otherwise, we can't send you a badge.

True say, Blu-Ray! Now, something for a bit of expert help.

Back in 1869, the Cutty Sark was built.

It's one of the most famous ships in the world.

But in 2007, it was under threat from fire

and nearly all of it was destroyed.

So, since then, experts have been renovating it to its former glory,

so I went along to put some finishing touches on, as you do.

Unfortunately, I didn't know what I was letting myself in for

and that's why it's number three in our countdown.

'I gingerly take my first steps on the rigging.'

When this boat was built they didn't have the technical stuff we've got.

-They just climbed it.

-They just climbed it.

They were either really brave or really daft.

'Climbing rigging isn't like climbing a solid ladder.

'Every step is wobbly and scary.'

Oh, my goodness!

Oh!

'It's hard to believe, if you worked on a ship like this,

'climbing to the top of the mast would be part of your everyday job,

'often in howling storms.'

(That is so far down!)

Be brave, Barney, be brave.

People watching. Be brave.

I really don't want to be here right now.

Ah! Ah, mate!

OK?

Yeah, I'm good, I'm glad we're here.

Just when I think I've made it, Andy breaks the bad news.

Can we go up to the yard above? Are you good for that?

BARNEY LAUGHS NERVOUSLY

'I've got to climb another 5m to reach the penultimate yardarm.

'That's the name for the horizontal beam that sails hang off.'

-You can step across onto that rope, as well.

-Oh, you're kidding.

And both feet on there. Grab hold of that handle.

Got to be kidding. Woah, woah! Oh!

Oh, what!?

So there's literally just a bit of rope between me and the ground.

And what, a 45-50 metre drop?

-Yeah, about that.

-That is phenomenal.

What a feeling. I've never held onto something so tightly in my life.

'Now I'm here,

'there's the simple matter of hoisting a line into place.'

BARNEY LAUGHS

I'm having a moment.

It's just getting my head round the fact that I'm stood

on a very small rope, dangling hundreds of metres in the air.

But it's all good. I'm there.

You can see behind you this wooden block and the wire in the rope.

What you need to do now is release this rope that's holding it in,

so that you can swing it down into place, nice and safely,

so that it'll be there for ever more.

If you grab that with one hand, that will hold the rope

while you do it, and start untying the knot.

-You can watch it dropping away,

-And there she goes.

Wow! Does this have a function on the ship?

These control the yards and stop them swinging around.

It also allows us to position the yards, so we can sail.

-That's brilliant. So we're all done.

-That's the job complete.

'After climbing this high, all I've managed to do is undo a knot

'and secure one line of the Cutty Sark's huge web of rigging.

'But, do you know what? It's my rope.

'Barney's rope!'

Now, there is one more thing. Can we get down now?

Stay tuned to find out if Barney makes it back.

Oh, I'm here, aren't I? It was so scary up there.

If you've ever been that high up,

you probably know it's pretty windy. Was that moving at all?

Not in the slightest but it was still terrifying. I'm never doing it again.

But I'm glad I did. Go to Greenwich and check out the Cutty Sark. What?

-I'm just patting you in an affectionate way.

-Thanks, Helen.

Go and see the Cutty Sark. It's brilliant. You can see Barney's rope.

Time to move on to another maritime adventure

and one that I will certainly never forget.

I went along to join the Royal Navy's Sea King crew to find out

what happens when things go wrong on the ocean wave.

It's number two in our countdown.

So we need to look out for the lifeboat, which on a day like today

is quite easy, because it's bright orange.

But imagine doing this at night, in the dark.

Oh, wow!

And there it is!

That's going quite quick, we're going quite quick.

We're going over 100 miles an hour, and I'm going to land on that?

It's choppier than I thought it would be.

I was more confident yesterday. "I'll be fine."

Now, I'm like, "Oh, wow."

'This is it. Me and the winch.

'Suddenly, that wire is looking even thinner.'

My stomach is doing somersaults!

HELEN SCREAMS

'I only managed to land properly once in training

'and this is ten times worse.

'The boat I'm aiming for is rocking side to side

'and spray is flying in my eyes.'

Eight yards.

This is absolutely nuts!

HELEN SCREAMS

I really want to land on my feet.

'And then it happens.

'The landing I'd been dreading. I misjudged the movement of the boat

'and hit the railing - hard.'

When I got to the boat, I thought my legs were underneath the railings.

I got my legs round the railings.

The next thing, I was looking at the sea.

'There's no time to celebrate getting onto the boat in one piece.

'I'm here to work.

'Winchmen are also trained paramedics,

'so my first job is to assess the state of the casualty.

'In this case, he's the 771 training dummy,

'affectionately known as Dead Fred.

'There is still hope for Fred. I signal for a stretcher ASAP.

'The guys from the RNLI set up a rope between the helicopter

'and the lifeboat, to guide the stretcher safely in.'

Go on to the deck and work it again.

Finished, then? Good work.

'The helicopter retreats to a safe distance

'while we secure the casualty in the stretcher.'

Hi, Rob, we're ready for you. Casualty is happy!

'I guide the helicopter back in

'and we set up the guide rope all over again.'

Up and off and clear.

How are we doing? Great winch.

'One stretcher and casualty safely in the back of the helicopter.

'Now all we have to do is get the rescuer back to safety.'

Just grab the handhold, bring yourself in.

And for her dedication, Helen receives her stripes

from the 771 Squadron to put on her flying air suit.

They just dropped me out of the helicopter.

I owe the guys a massive thank you for this,

so thank you to 771 Squadron and thank you to the Navy

for being so kind to Blue Peter over the years.

Now, from one scary moment to another.

We were set a challenge recently to try to find out

about the science behind being frightened.

So what better location to choose

than a scary castle, supposed to be haunted, as well?

We had only been there a few minutes when we were already getting scared.

Look at this.

Before Peter takes us round the castle, we put on heart monitors.

A normal heart rate is around 60-90 beats per minute

depending on your fitness and age.

When you're scared, your heart rate rises, so, these monitors

would give an accurate reading as to how spooked we really were.

Muncaster is full of portraits and scientists believe

this is what gives visitors the feeling that they're being watched.

HEARTBEATS SPEED UP

BOTH SCREAM

HELEN LAUGHS

-Good evening.

-Oh!

Seriously, dude!

And that was just the start of it.

Little did I know that this one had lined up

a series of pranks for me to walk right into.

We're staying in a haunted castle,

of course I'm going to play practical jokes on you.

We'll join the story now

where I just placed a melon above a trapdoor in a fireplace.

All I've got to do is get Helen over to the fireplace

and then press the button to release it - and make her jump

and do a funny little dance.

So... VOICE ECHOES SPOOKILY: At number one in our countdown,

this is what happened when things really went bump in the night.

"She gave a little laugh and looked away,

"as if she were aware

"that, to a stranger, her words might seem to save her."

I am not even kidding.

If someone's playing a joke, stop it.

What you talking about?

Whatever's blowing air on me is what I'm talking about.

-Where you getting air from?

-In here.

-That's a chimney.

-There's bound to be a draught.

-I'm serious.

HELEN SCREAMS AND LAUGHS HYSTERICALLY

BARNEY LAUGHS

-Did you know about that? Did you know?

-Yeah, I pressed the button.

Anyway, back to the story, back to the story.

'I cannot believe Barney tricked me! I'll never live this down.

'I need to get him spooked, too.'

I dare you to go down the stairs to the great hall,

go back to where we had dinner and go and get something off the table.

-To the dining room? To get something off the table.

-Yeah.

HEARTBEAT ACCELERATES

I may sound like I'm being brave here but this is a very dark castle.

I'm not entirely sure where the dining room is. This way.

I'm in here now on my own. I did not think this dare through.

HEARTBEAT QUICKENS

(See how dark it is?)

Really dark.

DOOR HINGES CREAK

No way, no way!

HEARTBEAT QUICKENS AGAIN

Man! Did you see that? A door started to shut on its own.

OK, fork, knife. What else can I get? What's that?

A little flower. Girls like flowers, don't they?

HE EXHALES

HE GASPS AND EXHALES

You've got something. What have you got?

I've got a knife, a fork and a flower. There's the flower.

And those are if you want to eat something during the night.

'I passed my dare successfully.

'I think the time has come to get Helen down that spooky hallway

'where my second prank awaits.'

-You know the corridor we went down earlier?

-Yeah?

-You know the guy that scared us?

-Yeah?

Your challenge is to go and get his hat...and bring it back.

Bear in mind, it is the darkest corridor in the castle. No lights.

-Pitch black.

-OK.

-Good luck.

Here goes.

(Here we go, here we go, here we go.)

(OK.)

(Place is so dark.) Where's the man gone? The man's gone.

OK, what's moving? Calm down. I don't like it.

The man's gone, the man's gone.

He's gone!

-Barney? The dummy's gone.

-What do you mean he's gone?

-The dummy's gone.

It looks like I'm going to have to lead her to the floating head myself.

It's very big.

Hang on, what's that?

Flickering at the end.

There's something...

flickering at the end.

Right up there.

HELEN GASPS IN TERROR

BLOODCURDLING GROAN

With all our focus on the floating head,

I'd forgotten that the mannequin makes a noise when you get near it.

That was the first time Barney screamed. He ran away.

Yeah, OK. In the end, I was scared by my own prank.

GHOSTLY LAUGHTER

Your face was absolutely brilliant.

I wasn't really scared. I was doing it for the telly.

He screamed like a toddler.

I genuinely was quite frightened. It's scary when you don't...

Let's not go there.

Anyway. I hope you've enjoyed our best moments on Blue Peter.

We've really enjoyed reliving them and we hope you have, too.

Fingers crossed there will be many more to come.

That's it from us. See you next time.

Have a nice week. Bye-bye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd