08/12/2011 The One Show

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

Tonight's guest is a man of many faces. He can forget him as Brian

Potter in Phoenix Nights? Reality TV star, Geraldine. And later in

the show we will be finding out why he presented himself in front of

royalty dressed as a fireplace. loves dressing up! It is Peter Kay!

Come on in. How lovely to see you. Yes! That's because of your

rickshaw, that. I wouldn't do that to a lady. I'll take it off when we

do the BT. What's on the menu tonight? We've got some lovely

stuff. A lovely thing about winter fuel. Winter fuel! As usual, can

you burn me a disc of the stories to keep. Personalised Christmas

cards? Have you got a one about a lonely bird? The S. The eve got

about three up. The it's lovely. It's a bit common, I have to say.

The few people have said it's a bit tacky. This is your last day of

work before Christmas. Don't say that. There are people out there

grafting. This is my last booking. Have you got a tree at home? Yes,

all I've got to get now are my bits. Everyone says that. What is your

colour scheme? We did it ourselves. Susan's brother thought we'd had it

done professionally but we did it ourselves last Thursday. Gold and

red. We ran out of decorations around the back. So if you are on

the front street you can't see. put it in a corner. The didn't get

enough balls, they ran out at the garden centre. We are going to be

having a chat with Peter about The Book That's More Than Just A Book.

It's a coaster. There are schools closed in Scotland today because of

the Haibin spag bol, which in some parts reached over 100 mph. That is

50 miles inland. There is more snow on its way. This time, it's

expected to fall as far south as Birmingham. It's not the end of the

world but you can see it. But that the rising costs of heating bills,

Anita Rani has been to find out about a new scheme that can help

those over 60 who are struggling to stay warm. 5.4 million people are

currently living in fuel poverty in Britain. This is where the person

spends more than 10 % of their annual income on heating bills.

don't know whether it's because I'm old, getting older. Not being able

to have the heating on as much as possible. But I do dread the winter.

It was those fears that the winter fuel allowance was designed to

reduce when it was introduced 14 years ago. The Grand was �400 for

over 80s and �250 for over 60s. That's now gone down to �300 and

�200. But help is at hand in the form of a new charity which enables

those who cannot afford not to have their winter fuel allowance to give

them money to those over 60 who do. And the man in charge of the

campaign is the CEO of the Community Foundation network. How

will the money be spent? Some of it will be spent directly helping

people pay their fuel bills. Some of it will help people by fires or

insulate their home. Others will be spent on lunch clubs, so people can

get older people and give them a warm, hot meal. There must be a

percentage of the money that gets you stuck on your own costs. What

is that? Every �1 that is donated will be given to benefit in an

older person. All of the costs of the campaign will be given out of

any gift Aid we are able to claim back on the donations be received.

And a variety of celebrities in their 60s are willing to give up

their allowance. It is wrong when there is a winter we are facing a

head, the economy collapsing like this, that people who hang on to

this money and can afford not to. In its great that we, who don't

need to have this very nice gift from the government, we can give it

to those people for whom their winter fuel allowance isn't enough

to pay for their heating bill. think the problem with any old

scheme would be, how do y'know that the right person is getting the

money? As long as it is administrator at Corretja, I am

more than happy to give mind. Donate the money to this charity,

which is a good cause, or give it Deborah be to someone who you know

needed more than you do. There will be people who will feel pressurised

into donating. There might be somebody over 80 who really could

do with that money but they feel there is someone always worse off

than me, especially that generation because that's how they think.

shouldn't feel pressured. People should only give if they can afford

it. One lady has already donated her allowance is Sylvia.

thought that people can't have warmth in their own home when they

are of an age when they need as much warmth as possible is horrible.

I wouldn't be happy thinking about that. And I've brought her to meet

someone who might benefit from her generosity. Nice to meet you. What

is it like in the depths of winter? I'm more or less in here without

any heat on. I can't afford to have it on all day. But I've got my

blankets and Aizue also got a good cardigan on. But there is time to

have the air in the room getting colder and colder. Can you afford

to have it on a bit longer? I shall have to. As long as I've got plenty

to eat, I would just have to cook somewhere else. The appeal is still

only in its infancy and really needs to pick up momentum before it

can have its desired effect. But with it, at least there is hope

that the money and warmth can get to the people who needed. Whether

people want to donate their own allowance or they feel they need

more money, how can they get involved? There are lots of

charities that help the elderly at this time of the Year. Age UK,

friends of the elderly, independent age. But if you feel there is

someone in your community or a relative you are concerned about,

go and help them yourself. If you want to do major winter fuel

allowance to this particular campaign, you can go to their

website. It is the Community Foundation's website. If you are

somebody who feels could do with a bit of extra cash for the

unfortunately, because it's just in its infancy his campaign, they

haven't got the manpower to deal with phone-calls but you can write

to them. There will be some people who are just too proud to ask for

help. Yes. Some people feel that people shouldn't be pressurised

into donating their money if they don't want to. Everyone has paid

their taxes and everyone is entitled, but it shouldn't be

confused with the cold payment, the cold weather payment. People who

are on benefits are entitled to it. If there is a forecast of seven

days on the trot of Zero degrees or below, then you get an extra

payment of �25 straight into your account. Your dad when you're young

Havant interesting insulating tape. Did you not do that when you were a

kid? In the mid-70s, you kind of put this stuff around your door

frames. Mum used to make those snake draft excluders. Yes. We used

to put clingfilm around the windows and my dad would blow it with a

hairdryer. He said he couldn't afford double glazing. It didn't

work but that is what they used to do. We didn't all have central

heating. It is true. If you've no hot water for your shower you are

up in arms, on you? If something breaks down with your boiler.

Anyway. When it comes to Christmas cards there is nothing quite like

the personal touch. And this week, Chief Secretary to the Treasury,

Danny Alexander, poked fun at himself after being called a ginger

rodent by Harriet Harman. Here is his festive offering. Showing a red

squirrel in the snow. As Lucy has been finding out, many of you also

like to put your own stamp on your Christmas cards. This year, many of

us would use the Christmas period to remind our nearest and dearest

what we actually look like. I wonder who this is from. How

lovely! Time was, it seemed, when only royalty, government and

celebrities would dream of sending personalised Christmas cards. I'm

in Havant, on the south coast of Hampshire, to meet some families

who like to give their Christmas cards that extra-special personal

touch. Serran and Simon have brought baby Hugo and little

jazzman to this photography studio. -- Jasmine. Are you an

exhibitionist, do you like having your picture taken? Not at all.

There are things on the website we can download your own pictures but

we wanted something more professional. Because it's going to

a wider audience. What is the baby going to wait? Evidently, baby Hugo

isn't ready for his close-up! It's quite easy, I'm expecting Bing

Crosby to come and sit there. Now it is Andrew and Catherine, with

Emily, William and Megan. But clearly some members of the family

would rather not be photographed. Brilliant. We'll have you on that

site. You will have to smile. might be too much to bear for

William! I just want to know what his mates will make of it. Was it

good fun for everybody? Yes! William, are you going to send it

to everyone you know? No Paul Stout who do you think will like this the

most? Grandma! It's about having families coming together and

enjoying themselves. Next up, it's Tony and Barry, with their Paul

Rees. I can't wait to see what you are going to come up with. Get

changed. I know it's going to be spectacular. You look so cute! I

don't know what to say. Barry, what are you? A Christmas turkey.

already it's a real Christmas scene has descended into total chaos.

This is going to get quite messy. When Sir Henry Cole invented the

Christmas card in 1843, was this what he had in mind? Almost

certainly not. But it is a lot of Did you get it? Lovely.

successful day for the appeals court. That is our Christmas card!

Look at that on my cheek. Is it lipstick? I will keep that. On to

your book, The Book That's More Than Just A Book. Why is it more

than just a book? I don't know, it just sounded like a funny title.

Have you got it? It is hiding in the office. The tour has ended.

now the book, it has loads of pictures in it. It's not a pop-up

book. I used to love a pop-up book. You could put one inside the cover.

Pictures. Let's have a look. There is you with your nan. What are you

doing there? I'm showing her how to work sky. It's a nightmare because

we've gone digital now when deuce only got used to pounds, shillings

and pence. She can pause it. You can go to the toilet or go for a

cup of tea. You are not controlling Britain. And then the next one, you

go from comedian to taxi driver. don't drink. I drink Bailey's, it's

more of a desert than a drink, but I do end up dropping everyone else

off when they have a night out. Peter, can you get another one in?

I've got nine in and two in the boot! It's all legitimate. Now to

your exercise regime. What is going on here? I did a rosemary Connolly.

I got it from the charity shop. You are doing it and then she says, now

we've warmed up... Now we've warmed up, Rosemary? Reject! I was

sweating like Jeremy Clarkson. Sorry! I can say that... You can

say that, that's fine. What is next? You've done the book, is it

the movie, more than just a movie? No, I just enjoy Christmas more

than Christmas Christmas. I'm going to enjoy Christmas, get my bits and

I don't know what I'm doing next. Speak of not doing anything, you

say the art of through a sickie is on the decline. Let's have a look.

No-one does that any more. Did you used to do that? You can't phone in

sick here. I was a farmer's son, you can't do that. The animals are

relaying on you. I like ed when Kelly on X Factor threw a sickie.

"I can't come in. I think it's one of those 24 hour things." Next

thing you are on duvet with a bowl of chicken soup and a duvet.

also think there is too much choice in the world. This is you where a -

- with a mass of cables. I can't sleep at night. It is like a

spaceship landing. Everything is on charge in our house. Is that your

kitsch stkphn No, that's just retrend -- kitchen? No, that's just

pretend, Alex. I'm CGI. I'm at home now. This is green screen. Like

Gladiator. And you've just finished your biggest comedy tour. That's

all done. Hats off as a sign of respect. A massive tour. I loved it.

It was nice. It were good. Will there being another one? I don't

think so. No! I've done it now. that it for you now? I love stand-

up. I really enjoy it, but I want to do other things now. I don't

know what but you should always do what frightens you. Flying a kite

in this weather probably. Sit hard for you to think of the next thing?

No, I've got some ideas but I just want some time off now, with my

family. I loved the tour. I didn't come away from it feeling I didn't

want to do stand-up again. I will move on and do other things. I

honestly do note know what to do next, so if you have any ideas,

ring in. Clean ones obviously, and sensible ones. The book is out in

the shops now. One of Phil Tufnell's jobs here on

The One Show is to scour the countryside and find lands marks

where you think, "What on earth is that?" We are used to seeing large

metal pylons scattered across our fields. We don't give them a second

glance. But apparently there's one here that's a little bit different.

Wow! That's an on electricity pylon. But what's this huge structure

doing in the back of beyond? We are deep in Lincolnshire, not far from

Louth. There might be a clue in the fact that someone called Flight

Sergeant Martin Clayton came to meet me. This is not a pylon. It is

an old radar power. It is double the height of a pylon. It used to

be part of a set of far, part of a chain for our radar defence system.

It was a link all down the South Coast, up the East Coast, to locate

German aircraft as they came across from the North Sea. It was an early

warning radar system. Stenigot tower continued throughout the Cold

War but as technology improved the tower was recommissioned. This one

lived on to fight another day, in a slightly more unusual way. It is

now the main training site for what the RAF call the Aerial Erectors'

School. What are these gis up to up there? They are undertaking one of

the training exercises which is going to check their aptitude for

heights. Why do we need aerial erectors? They are responsible for

all the communications towers that the British forces use all over the

world. So if they don't pass this test it is probably best to get

another job? There are other things out there to get involved in, yes.

RAF trainees have to work at height, like in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Before battle they are sent here to see if they've got what it takes.

What is it like up there, scary? is fun. That first time you get

across, it must take some courage to make that leap. The first time I

thought, what am I doing here? But you crack on with it. As it is used

to test whether people have a head for heights the team here have

asked to test my head. I should have seen that coming. Particularly

as I really don't like heights. Not too bad. Nice and windy. The RAF

want to show me why the tower is so effective. They want me to have a

go at one of the official exercises. This one involves climbing out

without any support across what looks like thin air! Thanks, lads.

I'm going. I'm going. Take your left hand up and grab hold. Same

with the other hand. Excellent. The bit where you let go

and you've just got it between your legs, that is quite scary. That's

pretty scarey, because you've got nothing to hold on to. We are going

to the big platform up there now? Let's go and do it. Good effort.

You've got to be fit just to clamber up here. Look at that view.

I got a bit wobbly halfway. Just don't look down. I never thought I

would never make it this far, but it is a shame to stop so close to

the top. Last push. Apparently I need to see what the RAF puts its

trainees through. You made it. feet up in the air, top of the

world. There is no doubt at all, this

really does test your head for heights. That's quite scary. How

did you turn round? You've have got to admire the work these guys do.

Even though I made it to the top I am not cut out for this work. Good

lad. I wouldn't go up in this wind. Is that a television transistor

mast? Yes. There's one of them in Bolton. My mate work there had and

when people would go up there if there was something they didn't

like they would go and tell him, "What's this filth on Channel 4?"

He would say, "Channel 4 don't tell me, I'm just working the aerial."

Are you a fan of the ladder? isn't, Matt? Exactly. I love The

One Show. Questions like that, "Are awe fan of a ladder?" I like a

ladder. I've got a chair that's a stepladder. You flip it over. A

friend of mine got it for my birthday. This week you've been

rubbing shoulders with royalty. met them all bar the Queen this

week. I met Anne on Monday. And on Tuesday they were all there. Look

at that. Prince Charles, Kate Middleton in the background. I met

Charles. I said, "How are you, alright?" What's wrong with that?

They were having a go for saying, "Hiya, are you alright?" But there

is protocol, Peter. Look, I paid for his house, can I say what I

want! LAUGHTER He's a good laugh. They watch this show. Highia, you

alright? As far as the performance was concerned, the royal variety,

there were a couple of glitches. couple! I did it on Monday. It will

shine up a treat. You won't tell when it is edited. This is before

it all went wrong. Let's have a look.

CHEERING And that was the last time I smiled

on Monday. What happened? Why did it go so badly wrong? I don't know

if I can contractually elaborate. But we'll see on Wednesday. There

is me dressed as a fireplace. I said, "Is it warm in here or sit

me?" That was introducing Leona Lewis. She was singing Hurt. They

just had a few things that went wrong and everyone was sat in their

seats for five hours. Other than, that it was fantastic. Guess who

they sent on the keep it all going? Me. I can't apologise enough.

were asking about a film about a lonely bird. You have not got one,

have you? What are if odds of that? If you are lonesome tonight spare a

thought for Elvis, who has been searching for love. A bird, bird. I

thought you meant a woman! LAUGHTER He's been searching for love for

eight years. Mike Dilger went to Stornoway. The magnificent snowy

owl is usually at home within the frozen Arctic Circle but on very

rare occasions they've even been known to fly south as far as the

Scottish islands. Even more surprisingly, since 2003 one

particular bird has decided to make the Outer Hebrides his home. In

that time he's become a bit of a celebrity. He live as solitary life

and has even been spotted sideling up to a white plastic bag. Maybe

for company. He might be more than a thousand miles from home. So,

could this be the loneliest bird in Britain? The locals have named him

Elvis and I've come all the way here to the isle of Lewes is to try

and find out if he is still lonesome tonight. My chances of

spotting him are as remote as these islands, so my first stop is

Stornoway to see if the locals can point me in the right direction. We

are looking for the famous Elvis, the snowy owl. Have you seen him?

No. Any idea where you can track him down? He's gone on holiday.

Have you seen him? I haven't I'm afraid. A few people know about him

but tracking him down isn't going to be straightforward. In fact he

is so rare we put out a wanted poster for him a couple of months

ago. And I'm armed with the latest internal from bird watchers about

his movements. He was seen in Stornoway just south of where we

are right now. He's been more recently seen on the north coast.

So potentially that's one place we really should try. And this is

where I'm heading now. I want to give myself the best possible

chance of tracking Elvis down, so I'm joining forces with Martin

Scott of the RSPB, who put the word out on level radio. We are looking

for a snowy owl. If you have seen it, give us ring. Whilst we wait to

see if there are any calls from the public, we head to a rocky headland.

Martin, I'm thinking, one small need until a very large haystack.

There are lots of white things about there amongst the rocks.

open moorland habitat with the grass is ideal for snowy owls, as

they normally inhabit the tundra close to the Arctic. The up there

they live on a diet of lemmings but it seems Elvis is just as happy

with the rabbits here. We haven't seen Elvis yet but we've seen a

buzzard flying around this Cairn. And we've spotted this which an owl

has coughed up. Martin has a couple of huge pellets.. Pull of rabbit

bones and fur, which is classic snowy owl food. I suppose we have

to keep looking and not give up. After a couple of hours of chasing

rocks we move on the another of Elvis's so-called favourite haunts.

It is even more barren. Then, our luck changed. Frankly, we had given

up, but can you see that little white blob over there? It is a

loneliest bird in the world. We've located Elvis and he is right on

the north coast of Lewis. It begs the question, why is he here?

drifted down from Greenland and Arctic Canada and ended up on the

Hebrides. He's found a habitat to his liking but can't find a mate.

The chances of a female wandering down here are quite slim, but you

never know. We'll keep our fingerss crossed for him. In the end we

spent almost an hour with Elvis and he seemed totally unfazed by our