08/05/2014 The One Show

Hello and welcome to The One Show with Matt Baker. And Alex Jones.

Tonight, Esther Rantzen is campaigning to get a change in the

law to protect the relationship between children and their

grandparents. Esther will be responding to One Show viewers who

have been separated from their grandchildren. And Marty Jopson will

be looking at the science of bubble making. And we will also be joined

by this man who is very good with his bubbles. Look at that, lovely!

Also with us is a man who describes himself as a mechanic, motorcycle

racer, engine builder, mountain bike and tea addict. But his mates say

this about him... We do not know where he is, he will be here in a

minute. He is fit, he is fast. Every man and his dog wants Guy Martin to

win. It is Guy Martin! Looked a bit dramatic or that. I couldn't fathom,

what is your first love, are you a mechanic or a racer? Is asked me

what my traders, or well, what is your trade? One Show presenter. I am

a truck mechanic. Truck fit. It is the same thing. So the motorcycles

are hobby? The TV stuff it, the mountain bikes and motorcycles are

hobby. You told us you were doing some modelling this morning! When I

was in that situation, it was like, what are you doing? They were

talking French, wanting me to do this and do that. What were they

asking you to do? Just hold things in certain positions. Shall we stop

it there! We will talk about your sideburns. They are tremendous. Is

that what you call them, tremendous? They are quite a feat. I had them

since I was 16 years old. They have got a fair footing now. They are all

right. We would basically like to see yours at home. If your sideburns

have a fair footing, get your photographs to us. We will show some

of them later on. Now, earlier in the year, Esther Rantzen met a group

of grandparents who through family breakdown, were denied access to

their grandchildren. Since that film you have been in touch to share your

stories. And we have also heard from those who have been lucky enough to

be reunited with their grandchildren. Esther went to find

out more. It was awful. I have three young

grandchildren that I have never seen. They are missing out. The

words of grandparents who are heartbroken because they are denied

access to their own grandchildren. Our report really struck a chord. I

have had so many, around 250 letters and e-mails from other grandparents

and grandchildren, talking about the heartbreak. And I am afraid the

agony they are going through really shocked me. I had an e-mail from a

grandson who is an adult now. He said... I was not allowed to see my

grandparents before I died. As a child, you are powerless. These

feelings have stayed with me or my life. He has emotional scars which

have run deep. Feelings of loss and regret. In our first report, we met

Jane Jackson who runs a support group in Bristol for grandparent and

has been hearing from grandchildren. When you hear from the

grandchildren, of what damage this is doing, it is just so powerful and

so unnecessary. The happy news is after our programme there were some

reunions. We cannot show because they are so scared that anything we

do might jeopardise this fragile relationship, so, tell us about

them. I sent my son a text message expressing how I was feeling,

missing the grandchildren and generally asking that he not let

them forget me. I received a text from him saying it would be good for

us all to meet. It is a start. They're all sorts of reasons why

grandparents may not have access to their grandchildren, bereavement,

divorce or separation, sometimes a family row which cannot be resolved.

It is lovely to hear about the reunions and reconciliations, but

there are so many stories where there still warfare and heartbreak.

It makes me wonder if what we really need is a change in the law. In

France, children have an explicit legal right to stay in touch with

their grandparents. In the UK, they do not. But the new Children and

Families act says before they ask the courts to decide, they must go

for mediation. Is it enough? Paul Cobb is a family lawyer. He thinks

the crucial thing is for families to start communicating. I have so many

letters from families who say it is so difficult, painful and expensive.

I think it works in a lot of cases. Some cases it does not and that is

sad and unfortunate, but what is important is grandparents understand

that there are avenues open to them. Negotiated at degree -- no shaded

agreements in the longer term are more likely to succeed. One

grandmother took her son to court and she now sees him every two

weeks. Can you remember the first time you met your grandson again? He

ran into my arms and gave me a great big cuddle and we were both in

tears. It was so nice. It was, nano, I have missed you, I have missed

you. We were so pleased to see each other again. I have received 250

letters from grandparents who described to me how heartbroken they

are. What message would you give them? The past is the past. We

cannot go back and change that. We can move forward and do what we can

to mend and repair the bridges that have been broken. I am more than

ever convinced that the voices that count are actually the voices of the

grandchildren. Not just because they love their grandparents but because

they need their grandparents. And if they aren't apprised of their

grandparents, the feeling of loss lasts all their lives. I am hoping

that maybe some parents watching this programme will think that they

can forget the past and think about the future. And allow the

grandparents back into their lives, for the sake of the children.

Let's hope so. I think it is fair to say that there is a lot of

complicated family situations at that and not all grandparents are

saints. With my child line experience I know you can get

abusive grandparents, violent grandparents, they are human, you

get all sorts. What strikes me about the files of letters which came into

the show is so many of them really do not know why. Perhaps they have

made a mistake, perhaps they have been tactless, perhaps there has

been a family row, a bereavement, a divorce, a separation, but why

should that impact on the grandchildren? It is the

grandchildren I think are the important pawns in this battle. If

we had a change in the law, it would only be to put the rights of the

grandchildren in place so if you go to court, the court recognises that

those grandchildren will have the right, as they do in France, to stay

in touch with grandparents whatever goes on. And as we saw in your film

there are grandparents who are truly desperate to reconnect with the

grandchildren. Would you say that court is absolutely the last

resort? I am afraid I would. It is an elaborate process, it does take

time, it does cost money. Even if you go to mediation first, that can

be gruelling. Sometimes families cannot sit down together in a room.

Sometimes they feel so strongly. I'm hoping that Dawn's advised that you

heard at the end of the film, it is all about compromise for the sake of

the children and it is all about getting that back into

communication. Can I read you one of the many letters thanking the show?

This is a lady who says: Thank you so much for tackling this issue. It

is a very tangible pain and one that no one talks about. It is really

hard when other folk show us pictures of their grandchildren

which stirs it up over and over again. I wish there was some way to

get across to parents not only the pain they are causing grandparents

but what they are doing to their kids. She says, thanks for

listening, many blessings. That is the point I would like to make.

If there are parents listening right now who think, for the sake of their

own children they can move forward, if they think we can be helpful in

any way, maybe they could get in touch with my care of the show and

maybe we can provide an example to other families that it is possible.

Guy, from reading your book, you have a strong family unit and your

grandparents have been a big part of your life. Oh yes, a big part. I

have been lucky that I grew up with them all. That is double deck Lil,

Mike granny. When she was a kid she was the size of a bus so they called

her Double Decca Lil. She is not now! She is 90 or 91. I see how

regularly. Why'd you want to see her so often? She has still got all her

marbles about her, words of wisdom. She is just a constant. It is

continuity, isn't it? That degree of separation, not quite as close to

your parents. Will she be watching? I am sure she will. Let's give her a

wave! Now, Guy, we know you drink 15 to 20 cups of tea a day which is

pretty excessive. You came into the studio with one. It was just a small

one. We want you to try this. Sit back, relax and enjoy this next

film, because this tea is made in Scotland, of all places. Can I drink

it now? Guess, you can while we go over to Sarah Mack.

A group of thirsty Scottish builders. They love their tea but

today The One Show has a surprise for them. It will not be Jasmine,

Darjeeling or English breakfast with these lads. We are a nation of tea

lovers. We go for 165 million cups of tea every day. As you would

expect, most comes from India, China and Sri Lanka. These are the three

biggest producers of tea in the world. Surprisingly, here in not so

sunny Scotland, we are now producing our very own home-brew. This is the

first ever Plantation in the country. Expert tea grower says this

is the best spot to cultivate tea plants. I did think, are they crazy?

Are you mad? If you go to some of the areas of the Himalayas which

grow tea, it is also very wet. With that and the low-lying cloud, the

only thing we are missing is the sunshine. Strangely enough, if you

are trying to develop a fine tea, you do not want overly synthesised

-- photosynthesise leaves. You are definitely in the right place. Yes,

there is a beautiful bush which is giving us the tips of the tea. From

this we will make white tea which is one of the finest teas in the world.

So the smaller they leave the more delicate flavour? Do you want people

to be drinking Scottish home-brew? We have a lot of people interested.

The British drink a lot of tea. We know the flavour of it and what is

in the cup. Now what do we do? This is your basket. Growing the T here

is only half of the process. The next stage, brewing, is where the

tea comes to life. This is tea which is grown outside these fairy doors.

You are the best brewer in town. I will do my best! As far as we know

no one has processed tea leaves in a white tea fashion before so I would

like to think so. If I was to buy a cup of this tea, how much would it

set me back? I would like to think if someone was serving it in a cafe

you would be paying 20 or ?30 for a pot. 20 or ?30 for a pot of white

tea? Who drinks it? Tea connoisseurs. It is amazing how you

can remind yourself how tea should taste. Cheers. Very nice. It might

be Britain's favourite drink, but how do these lens compared to our

favourite cup of tea? It is time to call in the experts. Tea is up! What

do you think? It is the best I have ever had in my life. Do you like it?

Very nice. Where do you think it comes from? India. No, up the road

in Scotland. If you bought this in a cafe, it is ?25 for a part. Is that

in the budget? Absolutely not. Although it may not be everybody's

cup of tea, I quite like it. You think herbal tea is a bit

poncey? Down here in London you drink all that fancy tea. My

calibration has been knocked out a bit because I have a drinking

normal, Yorkshire tea and Tetley tea. It is just a bit strange to

come and drink this without added cow juice in it. It is not

offensive. ?20 a part! But it is nice, different. Let's talk about

your autobiography. You are 32? ! I know I am. Fancy writing an

autobiography at 32, I would have said the same. What life experience

have you got at 32? And so your own question. They have been asking me

to do it for three years. I did not want to do it. So I did it. And then

I thought, would they let me write it how I wanted to do it? I am not a

complicated person. It was straight to the point, might offend a few

people. I have quite enjoyed writing it. It took a year to do it. I am

not surprised, but lots of the focus of it is some of the crushes you

have experienced in your racing career. The worst one was in the

Isle of Man in 2010? That brings back some memories. That is the

picture, explain to us what is happening? I am amongst it

somewhere. That bit in the bottom corner, that is my arm sticking out.

It looks a lot worse than it was. The ball in the top of the screen is

the petrol tank? It is. The crushes would have shaped your career, but

it was a crash that got you into racing, wasn't it? Normally they put

you off! Why was that? Well, my book will tell you the story. At the

junction, you turned right? I had had a bit of a heavy night the night

before. Did you go through the mopeds stage? I wanted to get it on

the road and go as fast as possible. I did thousands of miles on that. I

had a crush into a car and I thought, it is dangerous, best go

racing. So you thought you would go on a track? Yes, everything is going

in the same direction and you have a meat wagon if it all goes wrong. We

have a clip of you building up to that race.

Unbelievable speed. Talk about doing all sorts of things on these bikes,

recently you have been riding a motorbike across water? Yes. Who

came up with this bright idea and what we're trying achieve with this?

It looks great. We did loads of preparation. It was a Channel four

series. We built the bike, made the skid pan for the bottom of it. Up

until that, I thought it was great. We dug a trench out, bit of a

practice run on the motorbike. I thought I had sussed it. I will go

to the lake and I thought I would be able to go from Dover to Calais. I

started there and I thought, is not going to work and what are you

doing? ! You don't seem to have a fear of crashing. Is that why you

talk about not being into getting married and having kids, is that

why? You know what you do is so dangerous you don't want to involve

other people in it? You could say that, I have had my eyes open. He is

married with two kids and he had a bit of a crush Elli in the year. My

mum and dad don't want him to go racing because a mortgage,

responsibilities, a wife and two kids. With me, they don't really

bother. I don't have any responsibilities. I am not married.

You might be if you carry on with this modelling. We have seen him

having a go at riding across some water. Now we will see him riding

through a bubble. Marty Jopson explains the science behind what

makes bubbles, bubbles. Who doesn't love bubbles? These

perfect spheres of liquid are one of nature's wonders. Blowing a small

bubble is child's play. I want to see if I can blow the biggest bubble

possible. I will need something more than this. To beat the record for

the world's largest free-floating, indoor soap bubble, I need a bubble

more than two metres in diameter. This is going to be a monster. To

give me a hand is this physicist, Cyril, who has been studying the

properties of soap films for over 40 years. Cyril, why is it if I blow

into pure water like that, I don't make bubbles, they don't survive

bastion Mark the surface is not flexible and when you produce a

bubble it is unstable and it bursts and releases the air. So it produces

a flexible surface. One half is oil and likes to be out of the water.

The other half mixes well with water, like a coin. When they are

stuck together, something special happens. The molecules organise

themselves in a layer. This quality makes soap good at cleaning greasy

pans, helping the oil and water to mix. It makes the water surface and

elastic. It needs a little stone with my scientific instrument. It is

a toilet brush. We have added soap. The surface is flexible. When you

blow it will flex and encompass the air in the form of a bubble. Two

layers of soap molecules trap a thin layer of water. But for a giant

double the real challenge is to stop it from bursting. Why do they burst?

Evaporation from the surface. A small hole appears in the film and

this rapidly expands and then bang, the film is gone. Anything that

reduces evaporation will help. Melissa Reid will help. It will hang

on to the bubble and stop it from evaporating. I am using one part

glycerin, ten parts washing-up liquid. But what about the wand.

Does the shape of the frame make any difference to the shape of the

bubble it produces? No, any shape will always produce a spherical

bubble because it will want to take up the surface with the minimum area

associated with the volume of air and that is a sphere. For my record

attempt I am building a Giants, flexible wand to try to seal the

bubble. I have got my mixture, I have got my ones, it is bubble time.

-- wand. Nice big film of bubbles. That was close. The mixture is

working. The problem is closing the bubble at the end. That was too

quick. I am going to add a bit more glycerin. Lift and separate, walk

back. For a split second week got it. That was definitely a bubble,

but was it big enough? Just before it burst we got a complete, sealed

bubble, it is a whopping 1.4 metres diameter. Not quite a world record

but certainly a personal best. The only way to celebrate our bubble

attempt is with a bottle of bubbly. Cheers.

Sam, the bubble man is the record-holder for the world's

bubble. He was having problems closing off, you obviously didn't.

How big was your bubble? You could fit a small car inside. You have

been for ever blowing bubbles, pardon the pun. When did you start

and how did you start? It started in 1989, I had a bit of a double

epiphany, a moment of inspiration. And then I turned professional in

2000. Now I get to fly all over the world doing fun things with bubbles.

I was at the opening ceremony at the Olympics. Earlier, Guy Martin talk

on the role of your assistant. Look at you, going through a bubble. That

has never been done? It is a first. To the best of my knowledge, it has

has never been done? It is a first. never been done before. Is that

right? I think I had my eyes closed at that point. Scariest thing you

have ever done! You showed us your bubble net. My dad gave me a dying

wish to scatter his ashes over the cliffs of Cornwall in bubbles. It is

a windy place so I invented this net to do that. Then I got picked up by

a windy place so I invented this net the idea and we had 55 people using

it at the Olympic opening ceremony. Earlier we asked for your sideburn

pictures. You did not disappoint. Ready? This is the first one.

Jonathan, and these sideburns are 14 weeks old. Look at Harry, he is only

seven. Look at this, this is Roy. Absolutely perfect. That is all we

have time for tonight. All the best Absolutely perfect. That is all we

with your autobiography. Tomorrow, Paul Heaton and Philip Glenister are

here.