26/05/2014 The One Show

giant domino run. It snaked its way through the city and

giant domino run. It snaked its way was there for us. This all happened

at about 3pm today. I love how was there for us. This all happened

fell off the windowsill to start with. We will be setting off our own

domino run. Some are bits of wood and some of VHS tapes. It goes

outside as well. These are all Alex's collection of DVDs. Our

guests will be setting us off for us. He is a sharp-witted quizmaster

and TV host who recently said he came close to death. Tonight he will

talk about it for the very first time on television. Please welcome

Chris Tarrant. It's nice to be here. It's nice to be anywhere! This is

the point. I had a stroke. At 39,000 feet coming back from Bangkok, just

about all the way home. That was the longest 12 hours of my life. Did you

alert anyone on the plane. No, they all spoke Thai and not very good

English. It sounds daft but once you've taken off, we were over

places like Azerbaijan, Baghdad or Iran. I thought, I just wanted to

get home. I know it sounds daft. At first, because the arm and leg were

completely paralysed. Then it would start working again. So this

happened whilst you were airborne? Did you feel unwell before you got

on? Just a bit strange, I before I got on. I thought it was cramped.

I'd been working stupid hours, filming in Burma and South America.

It's been a long, silly life, really, and I was wrecked. When I

got to Heathrow, and I must say the guys at Heathrow were fantastic,

because I thought if I can just get up to passport and get through, I

just keeled over. People came rushing up to me. I was lying there

with all my bags. It was frightening. Were you on your own?

Yeah, the crew were still in Bangkok. You look fantastic now.

I've lost so much weight! It's not a great diet. I've lost tonnes. Have

you reassessed your life, are you going to slow down a bit? Yes. I

don't know how yet. At the moment I am publicising a book about my dad,

so I'm doing that. Then I'm going to just think. There's lots of stuff

around. I don't need to work this hard at all. I love it, I enjoy what

I do and have always enjoyed it but A I've cut down some of the

lifestyle has changed a lot. How are you feeling now? I'm doing lots of

physio. I'm fit. I drink no whiskey. That was a bit of a breakthrough. I

have the occasional glass of wine or beer. I haven't smoked for a long

time. What did doctors tell you about why it happened? They couldn't

believe I was in one piece. They were fantastic. This sounds daft, I

remember, I was obviously really scared once I got off the plane, I'm

having a stroke, I'm going to die. And you are supposed to get

treatment really quickly. But I was lying in the ambulance thinking,

this is so cool. The bell was ringing silly moment! But that night

was really scary. I don't think I dead sleep. They pumped me full of

all sorts of drugs but they were fantastic. Jane was there, she was

there all night holding my hand. I was frightened. I. I thought I was

going to die. The next day the arm lifted a bit and went down, the legs

started to work. I was out within a fortnight. I'm very lucky. Someone

like dear old Andrew Marr, he had it worse. It was a lottery, I was very

lucky. Put your health first. You have been working on this book about

your dad's wartime experience. It's taken two years, it's been a labour

of love. My father was my best friend, my closest confidant. We

talked about everything except the war. He would not talk about World

War II at all. We will talk about it soon. You do look remarkably... I've

got a picture of your dad, Bassil. We will have a little look at you.

The likeness... He's got black hair. The family resemblance is

incredible. Tonight, we want to see fathers and sons who look alike. It

would be lovely if you could be around the same age when you send

those photos. View in the photos, not when you the photos. Nigel

Farage has been celebrating today after his party's wind in the

European elections. One UKIP's policies is to reclaim power from

Brussels over our national affairs, so I wonder what he will make of a

new European ruling on beach pollution that Tony has been looking

into. The sea at one in ten English beaches is on track to feel new EU

standards when they come in next year. The new rules are twice as

tough, having the current level of bacteria allowed in bathing water.

One of the beaches that looks likely to fail this new test is ten, here

in Devon. That, for this place, would be devastating. There are

in Devon. That, for this place, standards when they come in next

in Devon. That, for this place, tough, having the current level of

bacteria allowed in Devon. That, for this place,

would be devastating. There are If the council have to warn people not

to swim, that goes against everything, doesn't it? It would be

very seriously. The water sampled ghost to this lab in Exeter to be

tested. Whilst the sample incubate overnight we can take a look at

other samples from English beaches. overnight we can take a look at

What have we got? Element we have got to match

What have we got? Element we have bacteria we are looking for. We have

got an intestinal bacteria here. And here we have E. Coli. E. Coli is

found in intestine is. So we are talking excrement? Over ?2 billion

has been invested to try to reduce pollution. But if beaches such as

Hastings and three out of the four Blackpool beaches are declared no-go

Zunes, how will it affect tourism? This beach is also at risk of

failing. This lady runs a cafe which was devastated in the floods. We had

sand in the sitting area. The inside of the cafe was two foot deep in

water. Emotionally, how was it? It was devastating to seek ten years of

our life washed away. Just was devastating to seek ten years of

get back on your feet there is another but, isn't there? If the

beach fails the bathing quality, people

beach fails the bathing quality, down and using it for recreation.

They will go to a beach which has been passed. Water companies have

installed sensors been passed. Water companies have

raise the alarm when sewage flows been passed. Water companies have

into a river which begins been passed. Water companies have

the beach. Is that enough? The been passed. Water companies have

charity, Surfers Against Sewage have created an application to give

real-time advice to bathers. What we have is a weekly sample which gives

us an average view of what the water quality might be like. You can use

us an average view of what the water it to decide where to go surfing. I

can see which ones have no other, they have

can see which ones have no other, they a green icon. But what about

our sample? The results are in. E. Coli was present, but the levels

were not significant for it Coli was present, but the levels

the new EU test, for now. For Coli was present, but the levels

had a sobering day full of distasteful

can be an easy target but I guess in the long run it benefits us all if

the seaside cleans up its act. We the long run it benefits us all if

saw the app in that film there, but if we want to go to any beach

saw the app in that film there, but sea, this is the sign?

This needs to have information clearly visible

This needs to have information water quality and any

This needs to have information sources. Scotland also has a version

This needs to have information which is updated digitally as well.

We are looking at 30% of the seats going to what we call

antiestablishment or anti-system parties. Will they all get together

to form a block? That's very unlikely, they are highly disparate

parties across Europe with different names and ideologies. They have a

great deal of power to disrupt and get in there. You have access to the

workings of it and for the vote. But the thing to remember is that 70% of

the seats are still held by the pro-European mainstream, so that is

the centre-right socialist parties. Can they defeat on the floor of the

Parliament in Strasbourg Can they defeat on the floor of the

Brussels, can they defeated the main votes? No. But what will

Brussels, can they defeated the main happens in national politics because

are the national government is going to be so wary

are the national government is going anti-European sentiment that they

will realign their policies? I anti-European sentiment that they

people are just fed up with politics and politicians. We just

people are just fed up with politics them. I don't think it's

particularly about UKIP, them. I don't think it's

sick and tired of the same old same old. I think it's that. It seems to

happen right across Europe. In France they've got the National

front. Shortly, we will be chatting to Chris about his father, Basil,

who inspired him to write a book after he read his mum was from World

War II. First, Arthur Smith has been spending the night

War II. First, Arthur Smith has been purpose-built military hospital in

War II. First, Arthur Smith has been Britain, the Royal Victoria

Hospital. This is a nice walk in the park but if I had been here 50 years

ago it would have been a walk in a park but if I had been here 50 years

corridor a quarter of a mile end to end. This was the side of the

corridor a quarter of a mile end to the instigation of Queen Victoria,

it was Britain's the instigation of Queen Victoria,

world. Now all that survives is the chapel and tower. Tonight I am

sleeping in the chapel. Not with the ghost of one famous person,

sleeping in the chapel. Not with the soldiers. It is huge. It was built

to accommodate the whole of the soldiers. It is huge. It was built

hospital's staff and patients, 1000 men. You had to be pretty much on

your deathbed to be excused from men. You had to be pretty much on

service. And Queen Victoria came here? Yes, it was because of her

compassion but this hospital was built. From

compassion but this hospital was chapel you get an impressive view of

the site. water from Queen Victoria's summer

home on the Isle of Wight. The water from Queen Victoria's summer

Queen's surgeon was on his way to water from Queen Victoria's summer

attend Her Majesty at water from Queen Victoria's summer

and he spotted this and thought water from Queen Victoria's summer

would be a good place to build water from Queen Victoria's summer

military hospital. Was notable opposition? They showed the plans to

Florence Nightingale, which was a opposition? They showed the plans to

mistake. She hated it. The chorus had been built to create

mistake. She hated it. The chorus facade but is cut off

mistake. She hated it. The chorus the the effects of sea and sun.

mistake. She hated it. The chorus Queen Victoria laid the foundation

plan in 1856. Albert was always on the side putting in his thoughts.

The Queen could see the hospital rising. Seven years later, at a

total cost of ?350,000, the hospital rising. Seven years later, at a

was finally treating patients. Those rising. Seven years later, at a

who could get here, that is. The man who built Brighton Pier was

commissioned and great expense to build on here

commissioned and great expense to short and the ships full of troops

ran aground. In short and the ships full of troops

casualties arrived by train into the back of the hospital. Among them,

with its padded cells and back of the hospital. Among them,

horrors. So, with back of the hospital. Among them,

going to spend tonight, on this original hospital

going to spend tonight, on this caught short, I haven't got too far

to go. I survived the night but I woke up

at one point feeling small and lonely. I guess a lot of

at one point feeling small and patients must have felt overawed by

at one point feeling small and the almost absurd grandeur of this

place. After the Second World War, the grandeur began to fade,

place. After the Second World War, ?50,000 a year just to keep painted

place. After the Second World War, it was finally demolished in 1956,

unearthing Queen Victoria's foundation stone. Anita, the plans

for the building and the first-ever Victoria come across. -- beneath it.

It has been replaced by this beautiful park for

It has been replaced by this beautiful park benefit of

generations to come. The cemetery behind the park tells the story of

young men from all over the Empire committed to home soil. It was the

pioneer of a once famous men at goal metropolis. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

chose it as a training ground for Doctor Watson. In its heyday, it was

known the world over. He sleeps in some remarkable places!

And original hospital bed? I do not think I would sleep very much. I am

sure he will have a sleepover somewhere else. Chris, we have

touched on the book, dad swore, all somewhere else. Chris, we have

about your dad's wartime experiences. -- Dad's War. But you

would not have the material you need it if it was not for a burglary?

They were devoted. When mum died, the family was devastated. Between

her death and the funeral, somebody blessed them, burgled the house.

They broke in, smashed the house, did not steal much of value and when

they came in I was raging. growing up. It is the thing I am

most proud of. Slowly we put the pattern together of what he did. You

were surprised? Amazed. He was a funny guy, the kids all loved him,

he was a brilliant grandfather. The stuff you started to read, before

the D-day he was at Dunkirk. D-day was horrific, bodies floating in the

tide before even landed. My dad with a bayonet, ripping into somebody's

entrails, you can't actually comprehend that, but he would have

had to have done. Dad would have killed a lot of people. The odds

against him surviving were something like one in three for an infantry

against him surviving were something officer. Dad lasted very nearly the

whole of the war and he was blown up officer. Dad lasted very nearly the

three weeks before the end. He was very lucky to be alive at the end,

he saved his arm, he was blown up by a landmine. He got two medals, he

was an extraordinary heroic guy who, at the end, said, oh well, I

have still got my arm, I had better get a job now. It would be great,

Chris, if you could read an extract from the book. This is bad writing

some time after D-day. He says, the site I saw, I will never forget to

my dying day. I will never see so many ships again. We were some anime

isles off the coast that I knew must be Normandy and the sea was covered

by grey ships of all shapes and sizes. Our British fleet was the

closest. As they began to lower the landing craft the sea looked really

choppy. Sporting mines would have been very difficult and a beach

landing even tougher. We work given seasickness pills and most of the

men were throwing up. Surprisingly I was not sick at all, nor even

frightened. I would have been terrified. If you go to the

graveyards, which I have done, row after row of crosses, 19, 18, 17,

20. My son is 22. The sad thing of course is that you found all of this

out after your dad had passed away. You were telling us that sometimes

you go to the grave and talk to him because you don't have the

opportunity to do it. His death suddenly is going to hit the family

very hard but you get over it and there is so much I want to say, dad,

what about that bit? Just give me more detail. I talked to him at the

grave and I find him quite -- find it quite therapeutic. All of my kids

are ringing me up saying, dad, thanks for this, I'm crying my eyes

out, I have only got to page three. He was an extraordinary man, so much

more of a guide than I ever realised. It is all in there, two

years of Chris's work, out now. Across the country people have been

getting up to some very strange things across the Bank Holiday,

including a mass domino run. Angelica Bell was there to

including a mass domino run. go along. We will watch the film

first and then you can set that away. This is Coventry, the city

once described as having a nondescript concrete Centre.

Today the people of this city are out to prove there is more to this

place than a mass of brickwork. With the aid of over 4000 breeze blocks

weaving their way through the city, revealing some of the city's

historical landmarks and not so well-known parts as well. The domino

run is one of the events closing the convent in mysteries Festival, a

three day programme of artistic events and experiences. What is the

idea behind the domino run? Setup a line of domino blocks

through the city and push them all over. This is quite a logistical

operation. You have any worries? Hundreds! What is the weather going

to do, are all of the props in place? A bit of wit in the wrong

direction sets them off course. The dominoes are being set out on a 1.5

kilometre course. The course is avoided into sections headed by

section managers like James who have the task of keeping the blocks are

bright until the last minute. Every 10th block down in case

somebody knocks them over walking past.

CHEERING they leap off the car park, go

around a fountain, cut through the city centre, nipped down between the

two cathedrals and the big finale ends up in Coventry Cathedral's

ruins. And they have done it! Angelica, you have been doing a bit

of reading on dominoes. The first Britain evidence was in the 13th

century in China but there has been debate about objects found in

tooting Cardiff -- Tutankhamen's two about whether they were early

versions of the game. It was first seen in Europe in the 18th-century

in Italy and since then it has spread. I found out about dominoes

from my grandad, from Dominique Aegerter who came over in the 1950s

and always made me sit there when he played. I used to go to a home when

he was older and dominoes brought his energy at. Visiting my dad in

the Caribbean, he would take me out with all of his mates, slamming on

the table, drinking their run. It went to the Caribbean with the slave

trade. The idea of toppling dominoes, I think, is as old as the

game. On the Internet you can see Sony people setting up cascading

dominoes and I think it is extraordinary. We have a clip of a

Canadian on you Tube and this is the map of the world. It is made out of

14,000 tiles and the patience and precision you would need for that is

incredible. Mesmerising. We have another clip, tribute to Vincent van

Gogh's Starry Night. It is like are falling in front of you, incredible.

You need the patience of a saint. Or no life. We have all of my VHSs

outside, we set them up. They are out in the pouring rain. Chris, this

is hilarious, three times it has gone off at the wrong time. We were

like tiptoeing in here. Chris, would you like to do the honours? Three,

two, one, go for it. It is still going! Yes! It has gone outside, it

is outside now, it is happening. That looks incredible. Look at that!

You are a genius domino expert. Well done, lads. Look at the relief. It

was worth coming for that! Earlier we asked for your pitchers of

fathers and sons who looked like the spitting image of each other. Merely

sent in pictures of her brother and her father, both at 19. Charlie sent

in a photo of himself and his son. Lee and Jesse, both aged eight. Best

of luck with your book, out in the shops now. Goodbye!