Friendship Special 12 Again

Coming up: 12 Again gives you the low-down on friendship.

At 12, friends are everything.

It's a nice thing to know there's someone there to listen to you.

Friends support you through thick and thin.

Our celebs remember the best of times and the worst,

when friendships could be fraught and kids could be cruel.

I was picked on for being a bit shorter.

Because I had a funny name as well I got really picked on.

Because I was a sensitive person, if somebody did have a dig at me,

that made it fun for him to have another go.

And find out what you should do if you are a victim of bullying.

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be best friends

with your favourite celebs when they were your age?

Which tunes got them feeling all chummy

and what buddies on the box did they like to watch?

Because despite the glamorous lifestyles they now lead,

once they were a kid trying to make friends just like you.

This show finds out what friendship was like for your favourite celebs

and asks them to become 12 again.

From presenters to actors,

to comedians and magicians,

they've all had fun with and fretted over friendship.

Just go away.

So let's find out what your favourite stars remember

about becoming bezzy mates.

Well done, guys.

-Friends meant everything to me at 12.

-The TV show?

-Had it started?

-No, not Friends the TV show.

-Sorry.

We had a great group of friends.

I've still got the same friends now, ten years on, which is amazing.

I was always the comedy fat one at the side.

When I was around 12 I was, like, the stupid, short one

that none of the girls fancied.

I was the funny one because my dad's a comedian

and it was dead easy to be the funny one because I just used his act.

I probably had a lot less friends than I thought.

I had a lot of people who took advantage of my kind nature.

-I didn't really have many friends, did you?

-No!

Oh, bless! I'll be your mate.

So when you're 12, how important is friendship?

I think friends are so important at the age of 12.

You join a new school where you try to meet new people.

You do new lessons and stuff and homework.

It's completely different and alien to you.

If your friends are going through the same thing, which they are,

that's when you need your friends the most, really.

Friendships at 12 were quite fraught

because you're quite self-conscious. It matters what your friends think.

I don't know how you make friends.

You just kind of do make friends.

I don't think there's any science to it, no formula.

I never had a best friend at school. I had groups of friends

but I never had that one-on-one.

I remember writing in my diary that I should focus this year

on trying to get a best friend.

I remember looking round the class trying to choose.

I had a close group of friends.

It's just I wasn't super-popular.

I had, like, five or six really good mates.

I had a big group of friends and we hung out together.

You always had one or two that you used to keep as your close friends

and you'd tell them everything.

It was a nice thing to know there was someone to listen to you.

When you're 12, friends are everything.

If you've not got mates, it's a disaster.

So that's what our celebs felt about friendship

but what wacky things did they do to be part of the gang?

We had a secret language that I made up.

It was basically you would write numbers in a letter

rather than the alphabet.

All it was, the letter A was one, the letter B was two,

and so on and so forth. Now, I thought it was a great idea.

The boys didn't.

So no-one ever did it. Instead they got girlfriends

and I was at home writing letters to myself.

Me and my friends could speak Aigy Paigy, a special language

where after every vowel you put an "aig",

so you're saying the same sentence.

If I said, "Hello. My name's Hayley."

I'd say, "Haigellaigo. Maigay naigame aigis Haigylaigey."

You'd be able to understand that

but if you didn't speak it no-one else would be able to understand it.

I'm totally lost!

I was good at speaking it but not as good at picking up on it

but my best friend was brilliant at picking up on it

and not as good at speaking it so we were a team.

Friendship bracelets were massive when I was at school.

We used to knot together three or four pieces of coloured thread

and then you did a knotting, twisting pattern

to make it into a little bracelet.

It took hours and actually they were a really nice idea

because you'd give them to your mates.

You didn't want anyone to be left out

so you'd end up giving out about eight or nine.

Gutted! Helen never gave me one.

If someone made one for you it was heart-warming. You'd think,

"You've spent time on that. Everyone will know we're mates."

It was like a little club.

We had those necklaces, a heart broken into two pieces.

One says "best" and one says "friends".

Together it made the whole heart.

You'd give your half to your best friend but a few days later

you'd want it back because you had a new best friend.

But it wasn't only you, Helen.

Lots of our celebs have experienced

when friendship can be flighty, fleeting and fickle.

I had a friend who flipped a coin to be my friend.

Some friend he was, eh?

"I'm now going to flip this coin. Heads, I'll be Barney's friend.

"If it's tails, I will not." Tails!

I think it had two tails either side of it and he was winding me up.

You love them one day and they're your best mates

and you're going to stay at each other's house that weekend,

then if you invite someone else to stay, it upsets that person,

then next minute you hate each other.

You have best friends at different places.

"You're my best friend at school but you are at dance club."

You had emergency friends as well,

friends you hung out with just because there was no-one else.

You were someone else's emergency friend which never felt very nice.

Emergency or otherwise, that's our celebs' take on friendship,

but what pally pop songs made them feel like soul mates?

How many songs have been written about friends?

There are loads of classics. Obviously The Rembrandts.

# So no-one told you life was gonna be this way... #

I fell in love with that song so my mum bought me the sheet music.

I learned it on the piano and thought I was really cool.

Originally written as the theme music for mega hit US series Friends,

I'll Be There For You reached number three in the UK charts in 1995.

# But I'll be there for you... #

-That's a great song, that says it all.

-Yeah.

# I'll be there for you

# Cos you've been there before

# I'll be there for you

# Cos you're there for me too. #

SHE GIGGLES

Not quite, Kirstie, but one-hit wonders The Rembrandts

weren't the only people to record a song about friendship.

It must be a friends thing because we had a number one

with I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

which again is a one-hit wonder.

-Why are you bringing this up?

-It's got "friends" in the title.

-You know what they're going to do?

-Go on.

They're going to show a clip of us.

HE SINGS THE INTRO

That's right, guys, it's you two singing totally chumtastic anthem

With A Little Help From My Friends.

Originally by The Beatles then many years later Sam and Mark ruined it.

Paid us a lot though, so who cares?

# What would you think if I sang out of tune?

# Would you stand up and walk out on me?

Before CBBC stardom beckoned, the boys were pop idols,

and this was their debut...hit?

Awful video.

# I get by with a little help from my friends... #

-We were moving into a flat together.

-Ugh!

Hey, it was a little cheesy.

A little cheesy?

It's more cheesy than a four-cheese pizza with extra cheese.

I don't know if they moved into that flat together but it was brilliant.

Sam and Mark aren't the only ones

who have hit the top spot with this classic song.

There was Joe Cocker in 1968.

-# ..a little help from my friends

-Yeah, I know!

# Whoa, I'm gonna keep on trying

# ..little help from my friends... #

And then in 1988, Scottish pop stars Wet Wet Wet.

# Get by with a little help from my friends... #

In fact there's been at least 50 cover versions

of this famous friendship anthem.

# Get by with a little help from my friends... #

Because we do, we do get by with a little help from our friends.

And I can to this day say that I get by with a little help

from my friends, Sam and Mark. Love you, brothers. Love you.

And from a song that celebrates friendship to a heartfelt ballad

about how it feels to be an outsider that struck a chord with Rebecca.

SHE HARMONISES

When I was 12 or 13, a song that really meant a lot to me

was Christina Aguilera, Beautiful.

# Now and then I get insecure... #

I think the lyrics are so true to how I was feeling at the time.

I was never physically hurt by bullies

but there were boys and it's going to happen because of my size.

They would always say horrible names to me.

But name-calling does affect you.

# Words can't bring me down... #

Christina Aguilera recorded Beautiful in 2002

and the song's empowering words are all about being strong

and not letting other people's opinions affect your confidence.

# You are beautiful no matter what they say

# Words can't bring you down No, no... #

No matter who you are, where you are, what you look like,

you are beautiful and you are you.

That song really helped me to accept myself.

I didn't need to change. I didn't need to do anything

to be a better person or be more accepted.

# Don't you bring me down today. #

You're only on this earth once

and there's no point changing for anyone.

Be happy in yourself no matter what.

Still to come, we find out what TV double acts our stars enjoyed.

Not only did I watch them and think, "Amazing best friends!

"But they also got to work together which is awesome."

They have these comedy glasses that they manage to see everything through

and see it in a different light.

DONG!

The two of them wouldn't be the same without each other

and that's what friendship's all about.

But first we look at the flip side of friendship

and what you should do if you're being bullied.

In secondary school your mind and your body

are going through a lot of changes and that's when

people start to become territorial and choosy

over who they hang out with. That's when bullying can happen.

I was fodder for bullies at school because I wore glasses.

That was my ticket to the world of being bullied.

I had a stammer so it meant that I said the same word over and over

and I couldn't get my sentences out.

Because of my stammer it meant that I was bullied and picked on.

I realise now looking back that I was definitely getting bullied

but it was kind of disguised by people posing as my friends.

They'd get me to do their homework for them

and make fun of me all the time.

You're so conscious and you want these people to like you.

You can almost overlook the negativity coming towards you.

Because I was a sensitive person, if somebody did have a dig at me,

if somebody called me something,

they'd probably see it register on my face that it had hurt me,

so that made it fun for them to have another go.

My parents are from Iran, not England,

so it was really hard socially at school.

I had a funny name as well.

I got really picked on because of my name.

Back when Shappi was young, a popular kids' TV drama

spoke to her about the problems she was facing.

We used to watch the programme Grange Hill

and there was a boy called Gripper Stebson who was the bully

and he was racist.

In this controversial storyline, Gripper and his gang

tried to stir up racial tension at the school.

-All right, Mr Singh? We want a word with you.

-No!

-In here.

They intimidated students and victimised black and Asian pupils.

Mr Singh, what's the big hurry?

PAPER TEARS

Thanks, that's my timetable(!)

But when Gripper picked on one particular pupil...

You're all freaks, you lot. Aren't they?

..he was about to meet his match.

No-one asked you anyway.

I remember there was a character called Precious Matthews

and she was a black girl.

You. Get out.

I'd rather not stay here.

Since you came in there's a nasty smell about.

In my head I was Precious Matthews's best friend.

I used to get called racist names at school.

Do you mind?

I lived in Grange Hill land and she'd stick up for me.

When Gripper finally pushed Precious too far,

her response inspired young Shappi.

Sticking up for yourself is a life skill.

You've just ruined my map, you pig.

When you're a kid it's kind of hard.

You get something straight, you pathetic little runt.

You lay one more finger on me

or make one more remark

about me being black,

I'm going to get my brother down here.

I used to think, "I wish I could just say that to another kid.

"It would be amazing."

Now you just flipping well move!

Precious Matthews was my hero.

And just like Shappi when she was younger,

many kids experience bullying at some point.

And if you're a victim of bullying, dealing with it can be really tough.

It takes a very strong person and a brave person to stand up and say,

"Hey, they're saying stuff to me they shouldn't."

You can be in such a dark place

and people might not know that you're getting bullied.

So how did our celebs cope when they were having a hard time?

I was picked on for being a bit shorter.

I wouldn't go home and cry about it,

I'd just give it back as good as they gave it to me.

I had an interesting situation with two of my friends

who sort of turned a bit funny towards me at one stage.

My dad phoned up both their houses and he said,

"Warwick was just mentioning he was having a bit of trouble

"at school at the minute.

"Could you watch out for him? You're his best mate."

They thought they'd got away with it, so they became nice to me.

Simple. What a great way of sorting something out.

Magic definitely helped me survive.

It gave me a bit of a cool factor.

I'm still riding off that wave to this day.

One lunch time these older girls put salt in my hair.

I burst into tears and the fact that I cried in front of everybody

scared these girls so much. They thought,

"She's going to tell someone now and do something."

They never did it ever again.

That's right, Hayley, if you are being bullied,

you should tell someone you trust about it.

It isn't always that easy.

So in 2004, Anti Bullying Week was launched

to offer advice and support for kids having a hard time.

Top stars are backing the latest campaign to stamp the problem out.

I think Anti Bullying Week was a great thing

in the sense that people admit if they're being bullied.

Big-name celebrities joined the campaign.

I am the person who sat on her own.

I am the person who walked home alone.

And anti-bullying wristbands were given away for kids to wear.

This is something that's got loads of you talking.

Sara from Surrey says

it's a great sign that children

are not alone when it comes to bullying.

Having these wristbands that you wear,

it was quite a good thing at school. You actually felt quite proud of it.

I reckon it would make

children stand up

and not feel ashamed that

they're against bullies.

I'm worried that bullies might not stop.

It definitely had an effect on people,

just to show there is support out there

and people are against these bullies.

Sadly, the problem hasn't gone away.

Bullying has now moved into cyberspace.

Now something that really upsets you, cyber bullying.

Bullying these days is so much different to when I was at school.

When I was at school, someone would say something mean,

you'd pass notes saying something horrible.

Now you can get to people 24/7.

It's not face-to-face-type bullying like it was when we were 12.

Cyber bullying is when people use the internet or mobile phones

to threaten, tease or embarrass another person.

Schools are being urged to do more to stop hi tech bullies

targeting children using mobile phones and the internet.

And tips for victims on what to do if you're targeted.

If you're a victim of cyber bullying,

it can be really hard to deal with.

Somebody actually wrote a blog about me

and to read comments and nasty lies about yourself,

that was a bit of a tough time

but I got through it by talking to my guidance teacher

and my friends as well.

I think we're getting more aware now, that actually

whether you're in the playground or on the internet, bullying is wrong.

Our celebs offer their top tips on friendship.

A good friend is somebody who is there for you no matter what.

Someone that's funny, that you can have a good laugh with

and stay up late and have girly sleepovers with.

If you're going through anything bad in your life,

usually friends are the person that can bring you out of that.

But now let's find out which best friends on the box

our favourite celebs were tuning in to.

There's been so many over the years that you could say.

-You've got Vic and Bob.

-Vic and Bob!

The Two Ronnies.

Morning, Dorning. Any news of the Girder murder?

-What amazing mates they were.

-You could tell by watching it.

Morecambe and Wise.

-Ern!

-Yes?

Just testing.

-Cannon and Ball. Apparently they didn't get on.

-Oh, interesting.

-Hale and Pace.

-Did they get on?

-I don't know. I'm just saying duos.

-OK.

One is the straight guy, one is the fall guy.

The classic combo, like Sam and Mark.

It's a winning formula, Mark.

-Yeah. When are we going to win?

-I don't really like you that much.

-Oh, OK.

-Is that where we're going wrong?

-No real chemistry.

-Don't sit too close.

-Come on!

-French and Saunders!

-Yes.

Legendary comedy duo French and Saunders first met way back in 1978

when they were both training to be drama teachers.

Yes, that's how we check you've got eyes.

They soon realised they shared the same sense of humour,

so they moved in together, became the best of pals,

and the rest is history.

SHE LAUGHS

-Did you feel that?

-No.

I loved French and Saunders. They used to do comedy sketches

and take the mick out of themselves.

-Are you pregnant?

-No.

-What's that?

-Just a big, fat, wobbly tummy.

-Oh, right.

I thought that must be a great friendship because you can

poke fun at your mates yet they still know you love them.

Their hugely popular sketch show was first broadcast in 1987

and ran for two decades.

It just looked like they were mates having a laugh

and having a bit of a giggle.

They were brilliant at making serious and emotional things funny

and making you see it in a different light.

And my favourite episode?

This cheeky spoof of the blockbuster film Titanic.

LAUGHTER

Brilliant film - you cry, it's emotional.

I'm flying, Jack, I'm flying!

Yet they do it and totally take the mick!

PROJECTOR CLICKS AND WHIRRS

LAUGHTER

They just have these comedy glasses that they manage

to see everything through and see it in a different light.

I'm going to hit all your funny bones with this xylophone stick.

-Right.

-All right? Are you ready?

-Yes.

KNEE TONES LIKE A XYLOPHONE

If I'd been mates with those two, I would have been a happy chick.

There's still time.

And from two queens of comedy...

ERNIE SNIGGERS

Ernie, I'm home!

..to a pair of playful puppets.

Bert and Ernie have got to be the biggest best friends,

like, on the planet.

You've got the sensible one who makes the decisions...

BERT CHUCKLES

..and the other one, who's quite daft.

Um...

But they need each other, that's what I love about it.

# Just the two of us... #

Puppet pals Bert and Ernie are two of the best-loved characters

from the long-running American kids' TV series Sesame Street.

Ernie, what is going on here? This place is a mess!

Look, your toys are everywhere.

-Yeah, well, I was just about to pick them up, Bert.

-Well, good!

Friends aren't always identical.

You never have one person who's good at tidying

and the other person good at tidying -

one's good and the other one isn't.

But this one will be good at something that this one isn't.

Ernie was messy and Bert was tidy...

-Ernie.

-Mm?

-Is that a banana peel I see?

-Yes, it is, Bert.

One had rhythm...

HE TAPS "SHAVE AND A HAIRCUT"

..and one, er...didn't.

BANG! BANG!

Oh, groove with me, baby.

But their relationship worked

and it taught kids that you can still be best mates,

even if you are very different.

Ernie, what are you doing with all these toys?

I'm putting them away, Bert.

They had such different characters.

You're actually cleaning up?! Be still, my beating heart!

These two guys know each other inside out.

I know how much you don't like messes, Bert.

Oh, boy, you can say that again!

I know how much you don't like messes, Bert!

ERNIE SNIGGERS

But also get on each other's nerves all the time.

I know where my rubber ducky is! Whoo!

He's under my clown! And under my ball!

-Wait, Ernie...

-And under my football!

-Ernie!

Fire engine... Here's my rubber ducky!

You both take something from that relationship that helps you out.

You do your kind of drumming

and I'll do my kind of drumming at the same time.

That's so crazy it just might work.

The straight guy will learn something from the silly guy.

-Doesn't that sound nice, Bert?

-Swinging!

The two of them wouldn't be the same without each other.

And that's what friendship's all about, isn't it?

Gracious, that was really cold! I mean COOL!

And from puppet princes...

MUSIC: "Louie Louie" by The Three Amigos"

..to the undisputed kings of prime-time.

Everyone loves Ant and Dec.

-Hello!

-Thank you!

CHEERING

I used to watch them on Byker Grove...

..then, of course, on SMTV.

Saturday morning kids show SMTV was a mega hit show for Ant and Dec.

And, basically, it was totally bonkers!

Arrrgh!

That was huge and it looked like so much fun.

Can you see me? Can you hear me? Can you see me?

Yes, Dec, yes! Yes, I can see you!

They've got so much chemistry.

Not only did I watch them and think, "Oh, my God, amazing best friends,"

but they also get to work together, which is awesome.

The multitalented twosome have been entertaining the nation

for over 20 years.

They even crammed in a pop career.

Kind of.

-RAP:

-Sit back, cracker jack Don't take no flack

Rhyme in time To the rhythm of the track...

And then I decided I'd had enough of the music business,

had enough of PJ and Duncan and I quit.

Mainly because I couldn't fit any more gold discs on me wall!

SNORTS WITH LAUGHTER

LAUGHTER

I quit the band to become Britain's best-loved entertainer.

So when you doing that, then?

And much-loved they are,

but they haven't quite given up their pop star days.

And, in 2013, they rumbled their way right back to number one.

# Let's get ready to rumble... #

-Come on!

-Let's hear you!

# Let's get ready to rumble

# Get ready, get steady

# And rumble... #

Here we go!

# Everybody rumble! #

Yep, the Geordie duo have been buddies for ever.

They were flatmates for years

and, even now, they still live three doors apart.

Whenever you watch them, they have fun, which is amazing.

Which is what friendship is about - not taking yourself too seriously

and acting like a wally in front of each other.

I think they'll be in a nursing home together,

holding each other's hands, going, "We had a laugh, didn't we?

"We had a laugh!" Yeah, they're awesome to watch on TV, definitely.

The chemistry - that is brilliant.

# Watch us wreck the mic Watch us wreck the mic

# Psych! #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Now that's what you call chemistry.

But what do our celebs think is the formula for a perfect friendship?

A good friend is somebody who is there for you, no matter what.

Just someone that's funny, that you can have a good laugh with and,

you know, stay up late and have girly sleepovers with and watch the telly.

Your friends are your lifeline.

When you've invested in someone and they've invested in you,

you know that they'll be there for you, which is perfect,

it's a perfect friendship.

If you're going through anything bad in your life,

usually friends are the person that can bring you out of that.

And, if you're being bullied, what advice can they give?

What I always did was tell my parents, you know?

What I always did was tell my teachers and stuff.

And that wouldn't necessarily make you any more popular

but it helped a bit. You know?

It meant at least somebody had your back.

I think telling a teacher is always the scariest thing

because you don't want...

You kind of don't want the bully to be mad at you.

But, actually, they're just scared as well

and the moment that you tell someone, they often just stop.

In my experience, I felt that bullies are more...

more insecure with themself rather than them picking on you.

So you've got to think that, "It's nothing to do with me,

"it's obviously an insecurity that they have themself."

And what advice would they give to their 12-year-old selves?

To anyone who's 12 at the moment,

I would tell them to try and be themselves.

It's really hard, cos when you meet loads of new people

and you are in a different scenario, you want to be like them.

But you've got to remember that all of those people

are also scared and are trying to be like you.

So if you can just be yourself and just be, I don't know,

loud with it, confident with it and happy with it,

then I think that's the best bit of advice I could give.

Just be nice to people.

And then 99% of people will be nice back.

And the 1% that aren't nice to you,

they're not worth worrying about anyway.

So if I could tell my 12-year-old self something, I would say,

"You know these people here? These are your real friends.

"These guys don't care and you won't see them ever again.

"As soon as you leave school, they're gone.

"These people will still be here.

"So spend more time with people that count."

Don't fall for peer pressure.

It's so easy, you know, to go with the flow

cos you want your friends to think you're cool.

But, you know, in ten years' time, when you've left school

and you're out in the real world,

a lot of these people aren't even going to matter.

If I was to see the 12-year-old me, I would tell him...

to keep your good friends close, you know, choose your friends wisely.

And, if you do, they will become lifelong friends

and people that will help you and stick with you.

Ultimately, friends are there

to support you through thick and thin, aren't they?

It doesn't matter how thick you get, or how thin you get,

they'll be there.

So what have we learned?

Don't let Hayley Cutts teach you French...

Haigellaigo. Maigay naigame aigis Haigylaigey.

..never take a drum lesson off Bert...

Oh, groove with me, baby!

Um...

And never forget this matey musical motto.

# I'll be there for you

# Cos you're there for me too

# Ooh. # SHE LAUGHS

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd