6:30:23 > 6:30:26Today, find out all you need to know to train to be an astronaut.
6:30:26 > 6:30:28We have a performance from the super-cool Foxes.
6:30:28 > 6:30:32And one theatre company is turning this rubbish into this.
6:30:32 > 6:30:33QUACKING
6:30:33 > 6:30:36That's all coming up on today's live Blue Peter.
6:30:53 > 6:30:54CHEERING
6:30:54 > 6:30:59- Hello!- Hi! - And welcome to Blue Peter.
6:30:59 > 6:31:02Now, you can probably tell it's just me and Barney today.
6:31:02 > 6:31:04Lindsey's away training for an epic challenge.
6:31:04 > 6:31:08- You'll find out more about that later in the year.- Hang on.
6:31:08 > 6:31:10If Lindsey isn't here, and it took me ages to get into make-up,
6:31:10 > 6:31:13why did it take so long? You say it's Lindsey...
6:31:13 > 6:31:16Thanks. Don't make it too poofy this week. Have you got any lippy?
6:31:16 > 6:31:20- No!- That's enough, thank you. - Unbelievable, Barney.
6:31:20 > 6:31:23- I know. - DING!
6:31:23 > 6:31:26Anyway, coming up very soon, you're going to see how I got on
6:31:26 > 6:31:28when I was put through my paces to train to be an astronaut
6:31:28 > 6:31:31and that got us thinking. If you could train to be anything
6:31:31 > 6:31:33in the world, what would it be? Lucy?
6:31:33 > 6:31:36I'd be an actress because of my cousin.
6:31:36 > 6:31:38She was on Blue Peter when she was little.
6:31:38 > 6:31:41- Did she get a badge?- Yeah. - It's inspiring stuff, Blue Peter.
6:31:41 > 6:31:44- How about you, if you could train to be anything?- I would be a scientist.
6:31:44 > 6:31:47- What kind of scientist? - A crime scene investigator.
6:31:47 > 6:31:49Look at that. How cool is that?
6:31:49 > 6:31:51So what would you train to be if you could?
6:31:51 > 6:31:52Get in touch, usual details, please.
6:31:52 > 6:31:55We are live, so get in touch via our website.
6:31:58 > 6:32:01We will try and squeeze in as many comments as possible at the end.
6:32:01 > 6:32:03Radzi, have you heard about the new drink
6:32:03 > 6:32:06- that everyone's drinking in space? - No. New drink?
6:32:06 > 6:32:08Yeah, it's all the rage. Everyone loves it.
6:32:08 > 6:32:10It's called gravi-TEA.
6:32:10 > 6:32:13- HE LAUGHS - Oh...
6:32:13 > 6:32:15WIND WHISTLES
6:32:15 > 6:32:18Oh, I liked that one. I thought that was really good. OK, awkward.
6:32:18 > 6:32:22Well then, let's go into the next film.
6:32:22 > 6:32:24I went to meet Tim Peake a few months ago. He's an astronaut.
6:32:24 > 6:32:26He's the first official British astronaut
6:32:26 > 6:32:30who's going to the International Space Station in 2015.
6:32:30 > 6:32:32And I thought, if I'm going to speak to him,
6:32:32 > 6:32:34I should probably go dressed for the part.
6:32:34 > 6:32:36OK, this hasn't really gone that well.
6:32:36 > 6:32:39I'm going to speak to the scriptwriters. One second.
6:32:39 > 6:32:40# Spaceman
6:32:40 > 6:32:44# I always wanted you to go into space, man
6:32:44 > 6:32:47# Intergalactic Christ
6:32:47 > 6:32:49# Spaceman... #
6:32:49 > 6:32:51Hey, I'm here to meet Tim.
6:32:53 > 6:32:55Oh, hi. Yeah. I'm not a real astronaut,
6:32:55 > 6:32:59but I am here to meet a man who's about to become one.
6:32:59 > 6:33:02Can someone get me out of here, please? I am sweating.
6:33:03 > 6:33:07Major Tim Peake is set to be the first official British astronaut
6:33:07 > 6:33:10when he blasts off to the International Space Station in 2015.
6:33:10 > 6:33:12So I went down to London to meet him
6:33:12 > 6:33:15and find out a bit more about his mission.
6:33:15 > 6:33:17Tim, we say you've got to earn your Blue Peter badge,
6:33:17 > 6:33:19and just by being an astronaut,
6:33:19 > 6:33:21we think that well and truly means you can wear that with pride.
6:33:21 > 6:33:23Fantastic, thank you very much.
6:33:23 > 6:33:26So, you are the first official British astronaut.
6:33:26 > 6:33:29- How does that feel? - It feels fantastic, it really does.
6:33:29 > 6:33:33It was a real privilege to be selected back in 2009
6:33:33 > 6:33:35and since then I've just been doing some amazing training.
6:33:35 > 6:33:37What sort of things do you do?
6:33:37 > 6:33:39The training is incredible, it's really diverse.
6:33:39 > 6:33:41There's a lot of things you need to know about.
6:33:41 > 6:33:43Firstly, just the trip up and back,
6:33:43 > 6:33:45so we have to know everything about the Soyuz spacecraft,
6:33:45 > 6:33:46how to get there and back.
6:33:46 > 6:33:49Rendezvous and docking with the space station.
6:33:49 > 6:33:51How to do a spacewalk, or how to use the robotic arm
6:33:51 > 6:33:54so that you can capture a visiting vehicle
6:33:54 > 6:33:56and dock it to the space station.
6:33:56 > 6:33:58How to carry out all the science that we'll need to do.
6:33:58 > 6:34:01And then the simple things like how to repair the toilet
6:34:01 > 6:34:02and how to eat and sleep.
6:34:02 > 6:34:04And weightlessness, how do you train for that?
6:34:04 > 6:34:06That means there's no gravity,
6:34:06 > 6:34:08but here there is gravity, so how do you get round that?
6:34:08 > 6:34:10There are two main training methods.
6:34:10 > 6:34:12The first one is to experience real weightlessness,
6:34:12 > 6:34:14and you do that by going up in an aircraft.
6:34:14 > 6:34:17You can practise how your body reacts, how to move,
6:34:17 > 6:34:19how to handle heavy things.
6:34:19 > 6:34:22But if we want to practise that for longer periods of time,
6:34:22 > 6:34:23we use water.
6:34:23 > 6:34:26We get kitted up in gloves which are just like the ones
6:34:26 > 6:34:29we're going to wear on a spacewalk, and various other bits of equipment.
6:34:29 > 6:34:33We go down in the swimming pool, using the water as neutral buoyancy,
6:34:33 > 6:34:35and practise five, six-hour-long spacewalks.
6:34:35 > 6:34:38For the audience watching who would love to be an astronaut,
6:34:38 > 6:34:39what sort of things can they do here?
6:34:39 > 6:34:41We all come from a variety of backgrounds.
6:34:41 > 6:34:45There are schoolteachers, there are engineers, there are physicists.
6:34:45 > 6:34:47There are test pilots like myself.
6:34:47 > 6:34:50And the one thing we have in common, I guess, is that we are all
6:34:50 > 6:34:54passionate about what we do and we try and be as good as we can be.
6:34:55 > 6:34:57Tim really is an amazing inspiration, isn't he?
6:34:57 > 6:35:02He is out of this world. How can you train like an astronaut right now?
6:35:02 > 6:35:04Well, I've come to this school in Salford to find out more
6:35:04 > 6:35:07because the students in here are already moonwalking their way
6:35:07 > 6:35:12towards becoming the next generation of space explorers.
6:35:12 > 6:35:14The pupils here are learning about the qualities
6:35:14 > 6:35:15you need to be a good astronaut.
6:35:15 > 6:35:18And they're testing themselves with various challenges
6:35:18 > 6:35:19as part of their lessons.
6:35:19 > 6:35:22They're using simple objects that anyone can get hold of,
6:35:22 > 6:35:27like rulers and jigsaws, to mimic the elements of human space-flight.
6:35:27 > 6:35:29Astronauts of the future, you've got to teach me
6:35:29 > 6:35:31how to be an astronaut too.
6:35:31 > 6:35:33So what are we doing here, what is this little challenge?
6:35:33 > 6:35:37We're testing our fast reaction times on catching the ruler.
6:35:37 > 6:35:40Because that's what you need, fast reaction times,
6:35:40 > 6:35:43when you're in space, when you're repairing the ship outside.
6:35:43 > 6:35:46Like, if you drop anything, so you can catch it straightaway,
6:35:46 > 6:35:48so it doesn't float off into the universe.
6:35:53 > 6:35:55Space high-five, no gravity.
6:35:58 > 6:35:59Awesome!
6:35:59 > 6:36:03'Next up, puzzles. But why are we wearing gloves?'
6:36:03 > 6:36:07It's hard for them because they won't be able to grip the pieces easily.
6:36:15 > 6:36:17'But this is Blue Peter so we've super-sized things.
6:36:17 > 6:36:20'First up, a light wall to test my reactions.
6:36:20 > 6:36:22'One point for every button hit.'
6:36:22 > 6:36:24OK, you scored 32 in 30 seconds
6:36:24 > 6:36:26and that was both of you at the same time.
6:36:26 > 6:36:28So what would be a good score for me to get?
6:36:28 > 6:36:3240 if you're good, and 45 if you're an expert.
6:36:32 > 6:36:35- 40?- Yes.- Or 45?
6:36:35 > 6:36:38- If a light flashes, I need to hit it.- Go!
6:36:47 > 6:36:50- Time up.- Yes! That'll do, won't it?
6:36:50 > 6:36:53That was in between 40 and 45, right in the middle
6:36:53 > 6:36:57- so I'm kind of in between good, and did you say expert?- Expert.
6:36:57 > 6:36:59OK, challenge two.
6:36:59 > 6:37:01This time it's hand-to-eye coordination
6:37:01 > 6:37:03and a two-metre-long buzz wire.
6:37:03 > 6:37:09Everyone's life hangs in the balance...based on my steady hand.
6:37:09 > 6:37:10Here we go.
6:37:10 > 6:37:13Three, two, one. Go.
6:37:19 > 6:37:21BUZZING
6:37:21 > 6:37:24- Ah! No! Does that mean I'm not an astronaut?- Yeah.
6:37:24 > 6:37:26Thank you for your support(!)
6:37:26 > 6:37:29So it all comes down to the last challenge for me
6:37:29 > 6:37:32to prove my, er...astronauty-ness?
6:37:32 > 6:37:35Christopher, what is my final challenge?
6:37:35 > 6:37:37Well, since astronauts do lots of flips in space,
6:37:37 > 6:37:40because of the micro-gravity environment,
6:37:40 > 6:37:43you'll be doing ten flips on that.
6:37:43 > 6:37:45CHEERING
6:37:45 > 6:37:47It's time to test my space rolls.
6:37:50 > 6:37:52KIDS CHEER
6:38:05 > 6:38:09So there you have it. One small step for man, one giant leap for Barney.
6:38:09 > 6:38:12I think it's fair to say I've been put through my paces today
6:38:12 > 6:38:14but you don't need to have all this equipment
6:38:14 > 6:38:15to train to be an astronaut.
6:38:15 > 6:38:18You can use anything in your classroom, in your home,
6:38:18 > 6:38:20so why not give it a go? Go on, train to be an astronaut.
6:38:20 > 6:38:23You never know, you could be the next one in space.
6:38:23 > 6:38:25CHEERING
6:38:25 > 6:38:27It was such a good day. We'll keep you updated
6:38:27 > 6:38:29with Tim Peake's movements later in the year.
6:38:29 > 6:38:31If you can't wait, watch Newsround tomorrow.
6:38:31 > 6:38:35He is announcing a new competition which you just have to enter.
6:38:35 > 6:38:37And thank you to the children at the school as well,
6:38:37 > 6:38:39for helping me train to be an astronaut.
6:38:39 > 6:38:42- I still feel sick, thank you! - Barney, let's walk and talk.
6:38:42 > 6:38:44If you were watching last week's show,
6:38:44 > 6:38:46you'll have noticed that we were in the Blue Peter garden.
6:38:46 > 6:38:48That's all part of our green theme
6:38:48 > 6:38:50which we're going to be celebrating over the next few weeks
6:38:50 > 6:38:53because we know just how much you care about the environment,
6:38:53 > 6:38:56and that's because we see the amount of post that you send to us about it.
6:38:56 > 6:38:58Just look at the Big Badge Wall this week.
6:38:58 > 6:39:01Again, caked, and all to do with the environment.
6:39:01 > 6:39:03Here's one I have to show you - this is from Rebecca.
6:39:03 > 6:39:06She's made a flowerpot from an old boot. I love this.
6:39:06 > 6:39:09Rebecca is wearing her blue badge.
6:39:09 > 6:39:13Because of her inspired boot, which is from the Skinny Jeans Gardeners,
6:39:13 > 6:39:16you're now getting a green badge as well, Rebecca. Well done.
6:39:16 > 6:39:18Congratulations. Someone getting his green badge
6:39:18 > 6:39:19this week, too, is Calum.
6:39:19 > 6:39:21Calum has designed this. It's come from Motherwell.
6:39:21 > 6:39:24It's a bin, which is pretty cool, where you put your recycling.
6:39:24 > 6:39:26Look at it, he's made it out of silver paper
6:39:26 > 6:39:28and an old cardboard tube. He's even given it eyes as well.
6:39:28 > 6:39:33This bit is a touch of genius. It's actually a pencil sharpener.
6:39:33 > 6:39:34Calum, well done. Green badge on the way.
6:39:34 > 6:39:37Now this is from Sarah, from Hertfordshire,
6:39:37 > 6:39:39and this is absolutely mega.
6:39:39 > 6:39:41Look at the size of this piece of post!
6:39:41 > 6:39:44It's got flowers, plants, trees, you name it.
6:39:44 > 6:39:47Well, Sarah, yourself and every person on the Big Badge Wall
6:39:47 > 6:39:50are all going to be getting their green badge.
6:39:50 > 6:39:52One of the best things about Blue Peter badges
6:39:52 > 6:39:55is that you get into over 200 attractions for free.
6:39:55 > 6:39:57That's right, I said for free.
6:39:57 > 6:39:58So send in all your stuff
6:39:58 > 6:40:00because that's what can get you a Blue Peter badge.
6:40:00 > 6:40:03All the details about them are on our website.
6:40:03 > 6:40:05Last week, we told you we're going to have
6:40:05 > 6:40:07some rubbish puppets here in the studio.
6:40:07 > 6:40:09That inspired Lucy to design her own. Look at this.
6:40:09 > 6:40:11It's a cardboard tube with orange paper on it.
6:40:11 > 6:40:13It's got a smiley face and like all good cats,
6:40:13 > 6:40:16it's got a lovely pair of whiskers at the bottom.
6:40:16 > 6:40:18This is because we've got a brilliant performance
6:40:18 > 6:40:21- from the Theatre-Rites company and our Excavators. Hello.- Hello!
6:40:21 > 6:40:24Good to see you, Charlie, Simon, Mohsin and Ed.
6:40:24 > 6:40:25Let's start from the very beginning.
6:40:25 > 6:40:28We're talking about how everything's been created from rubbish.
6:40:28 > 6:40:30So where did the idea come from?
6:40:30 > 6:40:33We wanted to make a piece that explored the hidden values of things
6:40:33 > 6:40:35and objects that people normally throw away.
6:40:35 > 6:40:38And as Excavators, we believe that one person's rubbish
6:40:38 > 6:40:39could be another person's treasure.
6:40:39 > 6:40:41OK. Who are you going to introduce us to now?
6:40:41 > 6:40:45- We've got somebody in the bag. - There he is!- Oh, hang on!
6:40:45 > 6:40:47OK!
6:40:47 > 6:40:49- Come on.- Out you come.- Come on.
6:40:49 > 6:40:52There you are. Come on, come on, you!
6:40:52 > 6:40:54- Don't be shy! - BARKING
6:40:54 > 6:40:56- There he is!- This is our dog.
6:40:56 > 6:41:00- Amazing! Hello, mate. How are you doing?- Sit down. Sit.
6:41:00 > 6:41:02- He's well trained, isn't he? - He's really well-trained.
6:41:02 > 6:41:05And you can see he's made out of a bit of old rope, binoculars,
6:41:05 > 6:41:07a bottle, a brush, an old tin, some springs
6:41:07 > 6:41:09and some old tennis balls on his feet.
6:41:09 > 6:41:12Fantastic. Presumably he's still in training. Oh, yeah!
6:41:12 > 6:41:15Sit! And fetch!
6:41:15 > 6:41:17Still working on it.
6:41:17 > 6:41:20That's fine. Good boy, well done. Who else have we got here?
6:41:20 > 6:41:24- Here, we've got... - Who have we got here?- There he is.
6:41:24 > 6:41:27Come on! Good boy. QUACKING
6:41:27 > 6:41:29We've got our duck. As you can see,
6:41:29 > 6:41:31our duck's made out of an old tea set.
6:41:31 > 6:41:33And when we find him in the show, he's covered in grime and muck,
6:41:33 > 6:41:36like the birds that get hurt in oil spills out at sea.
6:41:36 > 6:41:39So we clean him down and teach him how to fly again.
6:41:39 > 6:41:41Absolutely amazing. So lifelike as well.
6:41:41 > 6:41:44You're all wearing your green Blue Peter badges.
6:41:44 > 6:41:47Recycling is a big thing. We love turning old things into new things.
6:41:47 > 6:41:48How important is it to recycle?
6:41:48 > 6:41:52It's really important. Just think about how much stuff we throw away.
6:41:52 > 6:41:54And as a theatre company, it's our job to inspire people
6:41:54 > 6:41:58to think about that and think about how they might re-use their rubbish.
6:41:58 > 6:42:00The Blue Peter audience is better than everybody at being
6:42:00 > 6:42:02inspired by the show and things that they see.
6:42:02 > 6:42:05If you could give us an idea of what to do
6:42:05 > 6:42:07and how to recycle our rubbish into puppets?
6:42:07 > 6:42:10Sure. First of all, be sure that whatever rubbish you do find
6:42:10 > 6:42:13is clean and safe to use. Once you've done that,
6:42:13 > 6:42:16carefully select one item of rubbish that best suggests a character.
6:42:16 > 6:42:19Then you can play with all the different ways of making puppets
6:42:19 > 6:42:21but also of making your puppet come to life.
6:42:21 > 6:42:23- Like this. - QUACKING
6:42:23 > 6:42:25BARKING
6:42:25 > 6:42:28You've got a bit of a busy month ahead of you, you're touring?
6:42:28 > 6:42:31Yes, we're touring Rubbish all over the country.
6:42:31 > 6:42:34We're off to Liverpool next, and we're also going to Bath,
6:42:34 > 6:42:37- London, Leicester, Canterbury and Manchester.- Amazing.
6:42:37 > 6:42:40Now, I think it would be a shame to have all this set dressed
6:42:40 > 6:42:43and have you in costumes and our rubbish puppets in the studio
6:42:43 > 6:42:47- and not have a sneak peek. Could you do that for us?- Oh, yes.
6:42:47 > 6:42:50OK, you get yourselves ready and I'll do the big intro.
6:42:50 > 6:42:53Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please welcome Theatre-Rites,
6:42:53 > 6:42:56the Excavators, with a brilliant show, it's Rubbish.
6:42:56 > 6:42:58No, it's actually called Rubbish. Thank you.
6:42:58 > 6:43:01GENTLE PIANO MUSIC
6:43:03 > 6:43:05Oh... OK. Oop...
6:43:05 > 6:43:06Ohhh.
6:43:06 > 6:43:07Oh!
6:43:07 > 6:43:09Oh... Oop!
6:43:11 > 6:43:13Oop...Oh! Ahhh.
6:43:13 > 6:43:14Er...OK.
6:43:18 > 6:43:19Hup, hup, hup...
6:43:19 > 6:43:21Ah!
6:43:24 > 6:43:26Oh!
6:43:29 > 6:43:31Huh!
6:43:36 > 6:43:38Ahh...
6:43:40 > 6:43:41Huh...
6:43:45 > 6:43:46Ah!
6:43:56 > 6:43:58Huh. Oop...
6:44:10 > 6:44:12Ooh! Huh...
6:44:16 > 6:44:19HORN HONKS Oh, sorry!
6:44:19 > 6:44:22HORNS HONK Oh! Oh! Oh!
6:44:22 > 6:44:24HORNS HONK
6:44:24 > 6:44:26Oh! Oh!
6:44:28 > 6:44:30APPLAUSE
6:44:33 > 6:44:36Absolutely amazing. Have you ever seen a better example of how to turn
6:44:36 > 6:44:39rubbish into something new and exciting? That was all live.
6:44:39 > 6:44:42A great performance from the Theatre-Rites. Excavators and
6:44:42 > 6:44:44Rubbish. Thank you very much, guys, brilliant.
6:44:44 > 6:44:47If that has inspired you to get involved and to make your own
6:44:47 > 6:44:48puppets from rubbish, which we've
6:44:48 > 6:44:51got here in the studio, beautifully modelled.
6:44:51 > 6:44:54Flynn, that's amazing. What's this guy?
6:44:54 > 6:44:56Erm, this guy is Dave the dragon.
6:44:56 > 6:44:59Dave the dragon. It happens to be the best name for a dragon!
6:44:59 > 6:45:01Your creativity can take you anywhere you like. If you're going
6:45:01 > 6:45:04to make one of these puppets out of rubbish, why not take a
6:45:04 > 6:45:07picture of it and send it to us? Usual details...
6:45:07 > 6:45:10We'll try and put as many of them as we can in our gallery.
6:45:10 > 6:45:13So, you've made one as well, Radzi?
6:45:13 > 6:45:16I was in the dressing room and I found an old pair of socks.
6:45:16 > 6:45:18Yeah. My dressing room - those are my socks!
6:45:18 > 6:45:23- Hang on. What's this?- Again, I found a packet of crisps.- My crisps!
6:45:23 > 6:45:25I was saving those for later!
6:45:25 > 6:45:28What else have you nicked? That's ridiculous!
6:45:28 > 6:45:31Anyway, next week will mark the 20th anniversary
6:45:31 > 6:45:35of the English Channel, which connects England and France.
6:45:35 > 6:45:36A few months ago, Lindsey got
6:45:36 > 6:45:39the opportunity to travel through that tunnel.
6:45:39 > 6:45:42As this is Blue Peter, she wasn't just getting to
6:45:42 > 6:45:45visit France. Oh, no! Lindsey had to get her hands dirty!
6:45:45 > 6:45:47< Radzi, have you seen my drink?
6:45:49 > 6:45:51Below the English Channel is one of
6:45:51 > 6:45:54the seven wonders of the modern world.
6:45:54 > 6:45:57Wondering what it is? Let me show you the Channel Tunnel.
6:45:57 > 6:45:59The Channel Tunnel is a railway line
6:45:59 > 6:46:02that runs underneath the English Channel
6:46:02 > 6:46:04and connects Great Britain with France.
6:46:04 > 6:46:07Clocking up a massive 31 miles, it is
6:46:07 > 6:46:09the longest undersea tunnel in the world.
6:46:11 > 6:46:13Construction of the tunnel started in 1988,
6:46:13 > 6:46:16and on the 1st of December 1990,
6:46:16 > 6:46:19English and French workers shook hands as the last bit of rock
6:46:19 > 6:46:21was drilled through.
6:46:21 > 6:46:24There's about 400 trains that pass through here every day,
6:46:24 > 6:46:27and today I'm going to be on one of them.
6:46:27 > 6:46:30It's going to take us under the sea and get us to France.
6:46:30 > 6:46:33Oh, there's even a shutter going down!
6:46:33 > 6:46:37We've got our own little room for the car.
6:46:37 > 6:46:40I think we just have to sit and wait until we are in France.
6:46:40 > 6:46:42And that's exactly what we did.
6:46:42 > 6:46:44So here I am, the other side of the English Channel,
6:46:44 > 6:46:48which means I am now officially in France. Bonjour.
6:46:48 > 6:46:52It's about 6pm, which means we've travelled over 30 miles under
6:46:52 > 6:46:56the sea in around 35 minutes, which is pretty impressive!
6:46:56 > 6:46:58No, no! The journey doesn't stop here.
6:46:58 > 6:47:02I'll be coming back here to see exactly what happens to the tunnel
6:47:02 > 6:47:04when the trains aren't running.
6:47:06 > 6:47:09I'm back, and it's about 9:30pm.
6:47:09 > 6:47:12It's strange to think that in a couple of hours I'm going to
6:47:12 > 6:47:15be under the sea. I'm here to meet John Keith, who works for Eurotunnel.
6:47:15 > 6:47:17He'll tell me about the maintenance that
6:47:17 > 6:47:21goes on to keep the tunnel open and the trains working.
6:47:21 > 6:47:23- Hi, John.- Hi, Lindsey. Good to see you.
6:47:23 > 6:47:25So, what are we going to be doing tonight?
6:47:25 > 6:47:28First, I'll show you the rolling stock maintenance how we
6:47:28 > 6:47:30keep our trains running.
6:47:30 > 6:47:33Then we are going underground, into the tunnel.
6:47:33 > 6:47:36We'll see some of the rails being replaced underground.
6:47:36 > 6:47:38That's so cool, I'm really excited!
6:47:38 > 6:47:40Am I right that the reason we are here late is because it's the
6:47:40 > 6:47:44- safest time to be here, because the trains aren't running?- It is.
6:47:44 > 6:47:47'And it's inside this huge depot that those trains are taken for repairs.'
6:47:47 > 6:47:50This is the big stuff - 850 metres long.
6:47:50 > 6:47:54850 metres! Look over there.
6:47:54 > 6:47:58That's how the guys get from one end of the shed to the other.
6:47:58 > 6:48:02I'm not surprised! It's so long, it's miles away!
6:48:02 > 6:48:05So I got on a bike and checked it out for myself. My goodness!
6:48:05 > 6:48:11I am actually out of breath and I've only cycled a tiny bit of this train.
6:48:11 > 6:48:14This is not just a big train, this is epic!
6:48:17 > 6:48:21Now we are actually under the shuttle.
6:48:21 > 6:48:24That's right, this is the train above us.
6:48:24 > 6:48:28Look down there and see how far away it goes. You can't even see the end.
6:48:28 > 6:48:30These are the longest trains in Europe.
6:48:30 > 6:48:34John, I spend a lot of my life feeling quite small cos I'm short.
6:48:34 > 6:48:36Now that we are here, I feel absolutely tiny!
6:48:36 > 6:48:39This room is just full of train.
6:48:39 > 6:48:43Things get even more impressive as we head into the Channel Tunnel.
6:48:43 > 6:48:46So we've just entered the tunnel for the first time.
6:48:46 > 6:48:48This is where all the workers do the maintenance.
6:48:48 > 6:48:50First we go through an airlock.
6:48:50 > 6:48:53This keeps the tunnel air pressure constant and means that in an
6:48:53 > 6:48:56emergency, trains can be evacuated safely through clean air.
6:48:56 > 6:48:58Here we go! We're off!
6:48:59 > 6:49:02We're going down into one of the tunnels where they do all
6:49:02 > 6:49:04the maintenance on the tracks.
6:49:04 > 6:49:07Tonight they are replacing old track with new track, which is cool.
6:49:07 > 6:49:10I'm hoping I'm going to be able to get involved.
6:49:10 > 6:49:14It's just turned midnight and we are in the service tunnel waiting
6:49:14 > 6:49:16to get into the railway tunnel.
6:49:16 > 6:49:18We can't go down there until it's safe to do so,
6:49:18 > 6:49:21and that means all the electricity has got to be off.
6:49:21 > 6:49:23You can see on the door behind me, it says "4352".
6:49:23 > 6:49:25That means we are 43 and a half
6:49:25 > 6:49:27kilometres from the English entrance of the tunnel.
6:49:27 > 6:49:31The trains have stopped running for the night in the main tunnel
6:49:31 > 6:49:33so the maintenance team can get started.
6:49:33 > 6:49:35Trains travel over the track at around 90mph,
6:49:35 > 6:49:38which means that every little
6:49:38 > 6:49:41stone they hit is going to cause wear and tear.
6:49:41 > 6:49:45And that's why these guys are down here doing their best all through
6:49:45 > 6:49:47the night, working as quickly as they can
6:49:47 > 6:49:49to mend the track for the next day.
6:49:54 > 6:49:56This machine here is incredible.
6:49:56 > 6:50:00Its job is to lift up the tracks, push them to the side
6:50:00 > 6:50:03and get them out of the way for the new tracks.
6:50:03 > 6:50:05It makes it look so easy!
6:50:05 > 6:50:09But I soon found out that not all of the maintenance was quite so simple.
6:50:09 > 6:50:12I'm so scared of getting this wrong.
6:50:14 > 6:50:15Pull up.
6:50:17 > 6:50:19This is so stressful!
6:50:19 > 6:50:23They told me I've got a new job. I did it!
6:50:23 > 6:50:25That was so nerve-racking.
6:50:25 > 6:50:29In the next four hours, these guys are going to do a kilometre
6:50:29 > 6:50:31and a half of this work.
6:50:31 > 6:50:33Where that little white mark is, that's where
6:50:33 > 6:50:37they are about to cut into the tracks and replace it with new rails.
6:50:40 > 6:50:42Every single part of the track is being inspected
6:50:42 > 6:50:44and looked at in such detail.
6:50:44 > 6:50:46They are even being marked off to say that they are OK
6:50:46 > 6:50:48and ready for new track.
6:50:48 > 6:50:51Even the pads they are laying down have a role to play in stopping
6:50:51 > 6:50:53wear and tear.
6:50:58 > 6:51:01In just a few hours the train will be flying through here again.
6:51:01 > 6:51:04The new track is in place but there's still more welding
6:51:04 > 6:51:07and safety checks to be done before the tunnel can reopen in the morning.
6:51:07 > 6:51:10I think I'll leave them to it. It's bedtime!
6:51:14 > 6:51:17Nice one, Lindsey. Now, it's time for a bit of music.
6:51:17 > 6:51:22This week's Blue Peter guest is tipped for great things in 2014.
6:51:22 > 6:51:26Louise Rose Allen, best known by her stage name, Foxes, is a British
6:51:26 > 6:51:30singer-songwriter from Southampton. She first burst onto the music scene
6:51:30 > 6:51:33last year with her debut single, Youth.
6:51:33 > 6:51:36Earlier this year she bagged a Grammy award.
6:51:36 > 6:51:40Her second single, Let Go For Tonight, rocketed into the UK singles
6:51:40 > 6:51:42chart in the top ten.
6:51:42 > 6:51:43With a sell-out UK tour planned,
6:51:43 > 6:51:46Foxes is going from strength to strength.
6:51:46 > 6:51:49Now she's here to perform just for you.
6:51:50 > 6:51:54Now, it is time to meet her. Would you please give it up for Foxes?
6:51:54 > 6:51:56CHEERING
6:51:58 > 6:52:00- Welcome to Blue Peter.- Hi! - How are you?
6:52:00 > 6:52:02I'm very well, thank you. How are you?
6:52:02 > 6:52:05I'm very excited to hear you perform later.
6:52:05 > 6:52:08I'll start with the most obvious - your name, Foxes. That's a wicked
6:52:08 > 6:52:09name. Where does it come from?
6:52:09 > 6:52:12I took it from a song I wrote when I was really little.
6:52:12 > 6:52:16I had to change my real name because it's very close to Lily Allen so...
6:52:16 > 6:52:21- OK!- My name is Louisa Rose Allen - and, yeah, Lily Allen.
6:52:21 > 6:52:23Have you always wanted to be a singer?
6:52:23 > 6:52:26Yeah, I was writing from the age of 12.
6:52:26 > 6:52:30I used to make drum kits out of kitchen equipment
6:52:30 > 6:52:32and weird stuff like that.
6:52:32 > 6:52:36- That's exactly what we do on Blue Peter.- Yeah, you do! Amazing.
6:52:36 > 6:52:39If you were to look at the top ten greatest all-time musicians,
6:52:39 > 6:52:42not all of those people would have a Grammy award, but you've got one.
6:52:42 > 6:52:44What was it like, winning that?
6:52:44 > 6:52:47Erm... Almost as amazing as this right here.
6:52:47 > 6:52:50No, it was amazing.
6:52:50 > 6:52:56I still can't believe I've got a Grammy so early on. It's incredible.
6:52:56 > 6:52:59Really, it just makes me want to work harder.
6:52:59 > 6:53:03It's a nice thing at a very early stage.
6:53:03 > 6:53:08- Foxes, thank you so much for coming in.- Thanks for having me.
6:53:08 > 6:53:11- Before you perform, Barney, I think you've got some comments.- I do.
6:53:11 > 6:53:13Thank you very much. We've been
6:53:13 > 6:53:17asking you what you would train to be if you could.
6:53:17 > 6:53:20Look at Flynn looking down the barrel! You're a proper presenter!
6:53:20 > 6:53:23Quartz Disco Sea Lion says, "I would train to be a palaeontologist or
6:53:23 > 6:53:26"an archaeologist because I love dinosaurs and history."
6:53:26 > 6:53:29That's a good one. Lemon Metallic Pupfish... What a brilliant name!
6:53:29 > 6:53:32"I would train to be a stunt driver, but if I don't get the job I would
6:53:32 > 6:53:34"definitely be a Blue Peter presenter."
6:53:34 > 6:53:35I'm glad we're only second best(!)
6:53:35 > 6:53:37Blue Netball Elephant,
6:53:37 > 6:53:39"I would love to train to be a zookeeper or become
6:53:39 > 6:53:42"a volunteer at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, to walk the dogs."
6:53:42 > 6:53:44- That's a lovely one. Hi, Radzi. - It was.
6:53:44 > 6:53:46Flynn, if you could train to be anything,
6:53:46 > 6:53:48- what would you be?- An actor.
6:53:48 > 6:53:50An actor! I like it, my friend.
6:53:50 > 6:53:52Now, we want you to get in touch with us at the end of the show.
6:53:52 > 6:53:56You can go online and tell us what your favourite part of the show is on
6:53:56 > 6:53:58- the Blue Peter website. We love it when you do.- It's the
6:53:58 > 6:54:01usual website address.
6:54:01 > 6:54:04You can go on there and vote for
6:54:04 > 6:54:06the bit you liked in the show today.
6:54:06 > 6:54:09I think if you go on there and tell them you liked the bit about
6:54:09 > 6:54:11gravi-TEA earlier, that would go down well.
6:54:11 > 6:54:13That is just about all we've got time for.
6:54:13 > 6:54:15Before we hear Foxes perform,
6:54:15 > 6:54:17here is what is coming up on next week's show.
6:54:17 > 6:54:21I can't tell you how excited I am. Penn and Teller, the magic duo,
6:54:21 > 6:54:25are going to be in the studio with some mind-boggling magic.
6:54:25 > 6:54:29The cast of Next Step shows how to transform hoodies into backpacks.
6:54:29 > 6:54:32And UK hip-hop dance champions Rough Diamond are going to be here
6:54:32 > 6:54:35with a show-stopping performance. Show them some of your moves
6:54:35 > 6:54:38- as well.- It was a robbery! Lindsey shouldn't have won that.
6:54:38 > 6:54:40But here to perform the fantastic brand-new single
6:54:40 > 6:54:42Holding Onto Heaven is Foxes.
6:54:50 > 6:54:54# Starless sky
6:54:54 > 6:54:58# We've got so good at pretending
6:54:58 > 6:55:05# There's a side, a side to you, that isn't running
6:55:05 > 6:55:13# But I don't know where it is that you've been hiding
6:55:13 > 6:55:19# But I need you tonight
6:55:21 > 6:55:27# But I need you tonight
6:55:29 > 6:55:33# Cos I'm holding onto heaven
6:55:36 > 6:55:40# Lights fade but I won't let them
6:55:44 > 6:55:48# Oh, I'm holding onto heaven
6:55:52 > 6:55:56# When I breathe it's only you
6:55:58 > 6:56:02# All these years
6:56:02 > 6:56:05# I've been chasing down the answers
6:56:05 > 6:56:13# I was here, always tracing out your shadows
6:56:13 > 6:56:18# But I need you tonight
6:56:20 > 6:56:24# Cos I'm holding onto heaven
6:56:28 > 6:56:32# Lights fade but I won't let them
6:56:35 > 6:56:40# Oh, I'm holding onto heaven
6:56:43 > 6:56:48# When I breathe it's only you
6:56:48 > 6:56:50# I can't take it
6:56:50 > 6:56:53# Cos you think nobody sees what you're doing to me
6:56:53 > 6:56:58# I'm telling you, guilt is in your eyes
6:56:58 > 6:57:03# I hate what you've done, what you've made me become
6:57:03 > 6:57:05# No sleep, face the night
6:57:08 > 6:57:13# Oh, I'm holding on
6:57:16 > 6:57:19# Lights fade but I won't let them
6:57:23 > 6:57:27# Oh, I'm holding onto heaven
6:57:31 > 6:57:35# When I breathe it's only you
6:57:35 > 6:57:40# Cos I'm holding, cos I'm holding
6:57:40 > 6:57:44# Cos I'm holding onto heaven
6:57:44 > 6:57:48# Cos I'm holding, cos I'm holding
6:57:48 > 6:57:52# Cos I'm holding onto heaven
6:57:52 > 6:57:57# Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
6:57:59 > 6:58:05# Cos I'm holding, cos I'm holding onto heaven. #
6:58:07 > 6:58:10APPLAUSE
6:58:10 > 6:58:12- That was good.- Thanks.