22/02/2016 The One Show

Hello and welcome to The One Show with Matt Baker.

Joining us tonight, an 80s superstar who is back on tour with his classic

hits - and he's gone to a lot of effort...

And it's worked, because he's had to add more tour dates

It is good to see you. It is good to be here, thank you for having me.

We'll talk all about your upcoming tour shortly.

First, forget David Cameron vs Bo Jo - some big Neighbours news

Did you see this in today's papers - Scott and Charlene have a teenage

daughter who is heading to Ramsey Street?

So I hear. I saw something on Twitter, this is funny, the soap

opera after the soap opera. It has been in the newspapers. She looks

healthy. She looks attractive. What more could you want? My dad has just

finished Neighbours himself, he has been working there for about two

years. So you have had the family connection. Yes, my half-sister was

in it for about four years. Any actor who is in Melbourne has to go

through Neighbours at some point in their life.

Well we'll come back to that later in the show.

Just over four weeks ago, the government announced

a ?20 million pound scheme for non-EU migrants to learn

English, with the focus on Muslim women.

Fiona Foster went to meet one particular woman,

for whom learning English not only means British Citizenship,

but it's the bridge between her, and her own children.

Today young mother Aisha is arriving in Manchester for an exam. Feeling a

bit nervous, it is important to learn English to have a relationship

with my daughters. A single mum, she is from Pakistan but has been living

in Lancashire are almost three years. She is taking an

English-language test as part of her application for a full British

citizenship. Passing is vital if she is to get leave to remain in England

with her two young daughters. We will find out later how she gets on.

The government says 190,000 Muslim women living in England speak little

or no English. At factor it believes contributes to their isolation and

separate development. Last month that Prime Minister said hard truths

were needed. The backward attitude of some Muslim men was leading them

to exert damaging control over women in the family. So five years after

the government cut English lessons for many migrants, ?20 million is

being made available aimed at helping Muslim women learn English.

And from October women who have moved here to live with their

husbands but wish to become British citizens must pass a new

English-language test. Failure could mean losing the right to stay here.

The new tests will be some were to the one Aisha is taking. You have to

do two courses, hopefully I can apply for my Visa. Nine years ago

Aisha separated from her British husband when there are arranged

marriage failed. She was left in Pakistan whilst her daughters stayed

in England. Reunited five years later, her lack of English made

medication with them virtually impossible. -- made communication.

It was so hard, I was literally crying. I wanted to tell them I love

them but you cannot communicate. You don't know the language, you cannot

do anything I think. Did you meet any resistance from family or the

community when you said you wanted to learn English? Some families are

really controlling. If somebody give me the chance I would definitely

learn English, why not? QED is an education and training charity in

Bradford. The Prime Minister has pledged ?20 million to help Muslim

women in particular learn English to tackle segregation and help them

keep away from the lure of extremism. What are your thoughts?

We welcome the announcement that money will be made available, what I

struggled with was the connection of having the low level of English and

connecting it to extremism because there is no evidence of that. What I

have experienced is that women who don't have the English-language

skills are disconnected to society and having conversations with

children about these issues in English, in a language the children

will understand, will be crucial. Ten miles down the road in Keighley,

this 24-year-old and 29-year-old North learn English at the community

centre. They credit the classes here with helping them integrate

successfully. They help me to improve English, they help me to

make friends and again my confidence and help me find a job. If you enjoy

your life in England you have to know English. The women came to

Britain from Pakistan on spousal visas with little English but both

now hope they will be good enough to obtain full British citizenship in

their own right. One believes that learning English has given them

freedom. I feel much more confident in my words and sentences and now I

can talk to anyone. I am much, much more free in my life. The Prime

Minister wants to make sure that it is a requirement to speak English

before you can stay in this country. I agree with him at the country we

are living in, we must know the language. I am happy he said that.

Back in Manchester and Aisha's test results are in. Congratulations, you

have passed. Your certificate will arrive in around seven days. I

passed, I am so happy. For more information

on The English Language Test for non-EU migrants,

head to our website. Now Jason, your Ten Good Reasons

Tour kicks off on the 26th February, and here's three good

reasons in just 20 seconds, # Too Many Broken Hearts in the

world. # Now we are back together,

together... # And seal it with the case

# A cheeky look to the camera towards

the end. I was so in love with you then. I am now! What happened? Are

you married? Give us an idea of how this will work, you are singing the

album? Yes, I thought it would be an interesting way to go out and do

something fresh and for all the fans that had bought the album, it sold

extremely well in 1989. The bestselling album. It was an

opportunity to really have that moment and I think music puts you in

a place and time like no other medium does. You can listen to those

songs and transports you right back to where you where and what you were

doing, Alex. It takes me back like that, I remember walking up the road

to the shop listening to it on my Walkman and thinking why you don't I

have a Jason in my life? Double bed with shoulder pads. Thinking one day

if only I could meet him and here you are! You were 21 when you

recorded it, what can you remember of your life then? It was pretty

crazy back then because Neighbours was such a big success. The music

became part of the wave of that but I never anticipated how successful

it would become. I was fascinated by music more than acting because you

can't reach your own story. But everything together was the perfect

storm. In those days, television you see now, things like X factor build

up the back story of people so you fall in love with the characters,

that was sort of the early incarnation with Neighbours in a

way. So hopefully this tour will bring back a few memories. I am

guessing a lot of the tracks did not go into our lives situation, had you

not sung some of them before? I do a lot of them at festivals but I have

never sung the whole record as such. I think it is interesting, they were

well crafted pop songs in those days and cutting forward to today we are

kids are on computers and can cut and paste and you know, I think

people underestimate how successful stock, Aitken and Waterman wearer.

And the melodies, wonderful melodies. I think the music has

dated a little but it is OK. That is why there is a big resurgence of the

80s, Sonia, Tiffany, 5-star... I do a radio show on a Sunday night and

the 80s are quite important, a bit like the 60s, a lot of colour, MTV,

the visual aspect, not just the music. The clothes and the culture,

I don't know what happened. I think the 90s was a rebellion against the

80s in a way, but I am flying the 80s flag. Your children would have

seen you a lot, you said you are match ready because of this page

work you have done, they have seen you as an actor in all these

wonderful characters on stage, will be see you as the pop star? They are

extremely embarrassed! Very frightened I might do anything but

standing behind the microphone, if I look like I will start dancing I am

sure they will keep their distance. But I think they are excited at the

fact that I am working in a part of the business which can maybe express

them to the front of Justin Bieber Q or something. That is where it is

exciting. Have they listened to the album and do they like a particular

song? I asked them to come to rehearsal and they quite frankly

refused. Maybe some work experience, see how some plugs are going, but

they were not interested at all. They are missing out. They will be

there! The tour begins on Friday and goes right across the UK.

Now, what's your child's favourite toy?

A games console, tablet or the light saber they fight Darth Vader with?

Here's the story of a pioneering teacher, who brought bundles of joy

These seven and eight-year-olds from the Clara Grant primary school are

queueing up to receive bundles of toys. This ceremony was once a

weekly tradition unique to hear. At the turn of the 20th century living

conditions in Bow were squalid. Most of the children lacked the basics,

food, shoes, even clean water. But I young teacher called Clara Grant

became Headmistress of the local primary school. She became that --

she saw that they also lack something else. She believed that as

well as basic needs children needed to play. I spoke to the current

headteacher. She was worried about the families of the dockers, the

number of children they had and they didn't have enough to feed them and

clothe them. So she set up an initiative to help raise the

families standard of living and give the children something to play with.

She put together these bundles of broken toys, boxes, bits of paper,

in a bundle tied up with string. She soon became known as Bundle Woman of

Bow. She wanted the children to value the toys so they paid one

Wawrinka, a quarter of an old penny and the smallest coin in circulation

-- the paid one farthing. The children had to pass underneath and

if they could not be did not get a bundle. Doreen and Joyce received

these bundles. They went to the school in the 1940s and it was the

highlight of the week. It was lovely, you would hope you are not

too tall to go under the arch. You would run home with a bundle and

open it up. It was a packet of cards wrapped up in newspaper and then

another with little odds and ends, but in, Wessel, a piece of cloth.

Little tiny things but they were treasures. We were very poor and we

did not have much in the way of toys. We would look forward to it.

Exactly. About every other week we looked forward to going. Clara Grant

received an OBE in 1948 just one year before she died. But the

bundles continued well into the 1980s. Now Doreen and Joyce are

helping gather picture postcards and dolls made of pegs to bring the

tradition back for one day only. It is going to be interesting to see

what today's children make of what is inside these bundles. I think

they will fit under the arch. Today we have exchanged the farthings for

special tickets. Fit under the arch, good. Bend your knees a little bit.

Thank you. So what do the children think? Look what I got! It's a

little doll made out of a pig. I got a picture! This is my favourite!

When you look through it everything is pink. The toys in the bundles are

so simple. But we have had so much fun. Nice, don't you think, that

this sort of toy can still bring a smile to children's faces.

Those bundles will keep you entertained for hours. On that note

I went to the props cupboard and I made a little bag for you. If you

excuse me... We are surrounded by all these toys, but before that we

have got this photograph of Clara's funeral in 1949. Look at the

turnout. Exactly and can you see in the back it said Fern Street

Settlement. They have even named the local primary school after her and

it is the Clara Brown primary school. You could tell by the way

the ladies were talking what an impact she had. You have brought in

some toys from the 1800s and 1900s. Shall we start here? Most of these

are the sorts of things that the children could not afford. That was

a penny toy, although it probably cost about 2p. It was a lot. They

would have had to save up for a few months in order to have one toy like

that. Where would it have been made? Like most of the early 19th century

toys it was made in Germany, that is where the Tory industry was centred.

You can imagine in the First World War people going, I do not want a

German toys because we were at war with Germany. It provided an impetus

for the British industry to get started. We have come a long way.

What was your favourite? I like the Knievel. Did you have the thing

where you pulled it? We used to wind it up and his legs would be

flexible. You are still playing with that. You cannot leave it alone.

Simple little dolls like this. They are one of the things that if you

had, it made the bundle very special because the bundle was full of

fabric and ribbon and you could make clothes for your simple, wooden

dolls. And this little box of cards here? These are fun, some of the

very first ideas of moving image toys. It is a card with a picture of

a pigeon on one side and a picture on the other side of the cage. If

you twist it back and forth. It appears as if the pigeon is inside

the cage. It is a bit like when you do a book. The books that you flick.

We have got a modern thaumatrope. Isn't that nice? From the 19th and

18th centuries. And we have also got the phenakistoscope. I am impressed.

Your ancient Greek is marvellous. It means to deceive and the idea is

that it would deceive the eye. It was invented in 1829 by a physicist.

We have one here. You are holding it correctly. There is a mirror

opposite you and you look through these little slits and you spent it.

You should be able to see it moving. It is like a short section of film.

A gentleman called Richard has put something up online so everyone can

enjoy it. It is wonderful stuff, from around the 1830s, preserved for

posterity. Thank you, Ruth, and thank you to Robert with his toy

Museum which is a West Mullen. But do not touch anything. I asked what

kind of toy Robert would have wanted to have in his collection, but if

you have a wartime can of spam at home, contact us.

Now, the story of a girl called Iris who was diagnosed

Through the love of her family and a very special cat,

she's blossomed into quite the artist.

This one is called dance to the oboe, it is very energetic, there is

a definite separation of colours. This is one of my favourites, it

reminds me of reflections in water. She was very happy with this one.

Can you hear me, Iris? I hope you know my voice by now. I cannot wait

to know how you feel and how you think.

Gazing at a child at play takes me back to when I was a little girl

with my imaginary friends hosting catalyst tea parties. I would be

lost for hours in my own little world. And for iris Gray is being

lost in her own world is an everyday reality. In 2011, at just two years

old, she was diagnosed with a severe form of autism and her prognosis was

bleak. They told us that she may not talk, she may not live independently

and it all seemed like focusing on the negative, but it brought out a

side of me that said, I am going to bring her on. It is like a real

detachment. They are there, but they are so closed off. She would put her

books or around her like a little fortress. I always believed that

animals played a big part in therapy and we tried equine therapy and we

also tried dogs, but that did not work. And we heard about a cat, the

main coon, that light water and that was important at the time because

she did not like having a bath and she got stressed. Then we found a

cat. From the very start they seemed to connect and they did everything

together. She even had a bath with Iris and that's sorted that problem.

It was an incredible change in her life. They were incredible best

friends, it was something that she had not had. Therapist and best pal

all wrapped up in one. Not only did Toola offer her friendship, she

inspired her to be more open and express herself. She did not make a

mess, she was not like another child, she thought about it. Wow.

After she has painted she is a lot calmer. It is almost as if she feels

content and happy. How has the painting affected your understanding

of what she is going through and feeling? We began to see some cat

shapes in her paintings, so she was being influenced by Toola. Toola

would get onto the table and be ready and waiting. When I saw her do

a lot of high flicking, when she was stamping very hard on the paper, I

could tell there was some tension there. It was as though we began to

hear her, even though it was not through words, but to painting. Then

when I saw her being more fluid, I would know she was more relaxed and

calm, using pale blue and fluids. I never thought we would be painting

everyday and I never thought we would have a like Toola. It is an

amazing feeling. We do not have to think for her, we can go with the

flow and follow things and she is happy.

What an uplifting film. We just want to look at all her work.

We just want to look at all her work.

Thanks to Arabella, Iris and Toola the cat.

You can read more of Iris's story, as well as see more of her

paintings, in the book Iris Grace which is out on Thursday.

We still can't believe Scott and Charlene have a daughter.

Each map you did not know anything about it.

Two years ago, we had Kylie and we surprised her with a video

message from Scott and Charlene's son Daniel

Hello, ma'am, it is Daniel, your son. I have not heard from you in

ages. Somebody said you were doing your new album. You did not tell me

that. Kylie reacted brilliantly. So we called Neighbours HQ and asked

for a video message. They did not? How depressing. That

is awful. Shall we finish the interview now? Or are we could go

one better. Good day, I have not seen you in ages. That sounds as if

it is live. Not only is it live, she flew over from Melbourne and she is

with us tonight. Please meet your on-screen daughter who you have

never met, Madison Robinson. Good to meet you. Nice to meet you. That is

a bit of a surprise. And your real name is Sarah Allen.

Thank you so much for being on the show. Thank you for having me. I am

surprised how you have grown without me knowing what you look like. You

guys have set this up really well. Very briefly, you are making your

debut, aren't you? Yes, I am, it is super exciting. What can you tell us

about your family? Madison comes down from Brisbane. From Vegas as we

call it in Melbourne. You have got a lot of catching up to do.

You have got a lot of catching up to do.

You can see Sarah's Ramsey Street debut on April 22nd,

and Neighbours continues weekdays on Channel 5 at 1.45 and 5.30pm.

Still twice a day like the good old days.