Episode 8 Officially Amazing

This is the World Of Records!

# Biggest shoe, weirdest face

# Fastest loo, tightest space

# Longest snake, smallest van

# Heaviest cake, tallest man

-# Longest ears on a dog! #

-Awww!

# Most poisonous frog

-# And a woman with a beard! #

-What?!

Greetings! I'm Ben Shires and you're tuned into Officially Amazing.

In this series, we search the planet for the scariest, weirdest,

highest, coolest and most dangerous records out there.

Today we're going to be seeing an officially strange record

attempt from Japan,

but first, here's what we've got coming up for you

in the rest of the show.

Today's incredible official Guinness World Records include...

..I get to grips with a record-breaking giant snail

called Homer...

..in the USA, Al meets a flipping superstar trying to

break his own world record...

..Sizzling Steve dices with disaster...

Will he survive?

..and I wrestle the heaviest female athlete in the world.

-Will

-I

-survive?

But first let's head to the other side of the world, where

our Japanese friend Haruka is about to see a record attempt that's...

-"Here you go, Haruka, love."

-Thank you.

Welcome to Wan Wan Dog Circus!

"Wan wan" means "woof woof" in Japanese,

and the centre provides a happy home for these rescue dogs.

The team already holds the Guinness World Record for 13 dogs

skipping at the same time.

This was set in 2009, but today they're hoping to go one better.

But what does it take to be a doggy record-breaker?

Frankie takes the challenge very seriously.

He's the leader of the pack.

Frankie? Oh, he's a bit deaf. FRANKIE!

"Getting 13 was hard. Today there are 14 of us going for the record.

"I know we can do it if we can just get Billy off that ball.

"Not sure about this..."

It looks like fun. I wonder if I could join the gang.

-"What do you think of it so far?

-Rubbish.

"Should someone give her a biscuit?"

Honestly, I was much better at this when I was at school.

Let's hope that the dogs will do better than I did.

Wan Wan's waggy-tailed wonders are multi-talented.

This little one - the one with the orange mohawk - already holds the

world record for the Most Rotations Around A Human Neck In 30 Seconds.

Who's a good dog?

Previously on Officially Amazing, we saw a group of 20 dogs just

fail to surf their way into the record books in America.

But then we saw little Gustl get himself

a record for Most Knots Untied By A Dog In A Minute in Germany.

Can our Japanese dogs join him in the canine hall of fame

and set another amazing record?

They've been transported to a special location for the new record

attempt of...

We'll be back later

to see how they get on.

"Oi! How come I'm the only one with orange hair? Tsk!

"No-one's listening."

Now, Japan is a place that's synonymous with chopsticks

and not just for eating with.

In Britain we also use them to set records.

Well, at least, this man does.

There are some things in life you really need to practise to be

any good at. Take chopsticks, for instance.

Millions of people use these the world over to eat their dinner

instead of knives and forks, and yet I just can't get the hang of them.

They're so hard!

-All right, Ben?

-Sizzling Steve, of course he's using chopsticks.

Is there anything the man can't do?!

EXPLOSION

There are people around the world

who take on bonkers adrenaline-fuelled

challenges and death-defying stunts to set world records.

Steve is not one of them.

Instead, he sets world records without leaving the house.

The master of the mundane, the baron of the banal,

the emperor of the everyday,

the pontiff of... well, you get the idea.

He takes seemingly simple tasks to a whole new level

and turns them into extraordinary record-breaking challenges.

He currently holds...

Will today bring him number 11?

Today, Sizzling Steve is going to attempt

the record for...

The current record is...

Here are the highly complicated rules for this challenge.

1) He must stack the dice one on top of each other using chopsticks.

2) He has one minute.

Er, and that's it.

And remember, whatever you do, do try this at home.

-Steve, how are you feeling?

-I feel good about this one.

-Good.

I feel good too. Claire, are you ready?

-I'm absolutely ready.

-Three, two, one, stack 'em!

Sizzling Steve is off to a flyer!

The bottom two dice look a bit precarious, but what do I know?

He's the sizzling stacking specialist.

He needs 36 for the record. He's got 19.

He's got 20.

Oh, but there's a wobble!

Look at the pain etched into that face.

Steve, you crumbled, but I think you're good to go again.

Shall we reset?

Go on, let's do this. Three, two, one, go!

This is his second attempt. Just look at that technique!

Moving to the smaller dice now.

Fascinating strategy from The Sizzler.

That's 22!

Oh! 23's too much.

But this man will stop at nothing when there's a record at stake.

Just look at the determination in that face.

Would you like to go again?

One more time.

"One more time," says the man,

and we all agree I think you've got it in you.

Three, two, one, stack!

Final chance for The Sizzler.

Remember, 36 is the magic number, but is fatigue setting in?

We've seen this sort of thing before.

Remember when the Space Cowboy didn't have the strength to

throw another chain saw?

This is exactly the same thing. Just completely different.

I'm feeling good about this. He's stacking fast. Go, Sizzler, go!

Look at the devastation on that face.

Not sure what THAT face is.

Never mind. Never mind, Steve. You diced with danger and danger won.

What do you think went wrong?

I don't know.

Keep trying, mate.

But do not fear,

this record-breaking colossus will return with an even more

dangerous, high-octane challenge to end all challenges.

Trinidad and Tobago.

Pass.

Pass.

Now to Al in America, who's going to meet someone who actually

leaves the house to break records.

Ah, the skate park.

I've been here before and let us never speak of that again.

No, Al, we won't mention it. Instead, we'll watch it.

They've got something else here that I can equally embarrass myself on.

I give you this.

A scooter!

This is 16-year-old Dakota Schuetz,

but in these parts he's knows as...The Machine.

He's been competing since he was ten

and is currently ranked number one freestyle scooter rider in the world.

Dakota already holds the Guinness World Record

for the Most Stunt Scooter Backflips In One Minute,

spinning an incredible 12 times!

But today he's going to try and beat his own record.

-Dakota, great to meet you, man.

-You too.

Your nickname is The Machine. How did that happen?

Are you made of metal? Do you take batteries?

No, at the contests we go to, I just land a lot of tricks and try

to be as consistent as I can, so someone called me The Machine.

It's a cool nickname, I think.

The Machine certainly is consistent.

To be able to set records like this, you need stamina,

concentration and hours of practice.

Look at the way he keeps on going, landing perfectly every time

and lining up the next jump.

But 12 in one minute is going to be tough to beat.

What's your main strategy for upping the ante

and breaking this record today?

The record's 12, so I'm going to try and do 12 and if there's time,

just keep going until I get tired.

Ah, you heard it from the man, now let's get to the rules.

Dakota has to stay in complete control during each backflip.

He must land correctly and ride it out.

And no extra flying aids are allowed.

But this guy definitely won't need any.

Dakota has spent years perfecting his technique, so unless you're also

known as The Machine, then don't even attempt this sort of thing at home,

or in your local skate park.

The stage is set. Let's do this!

Three, two, one, go!

That's one. That's two.

Dakota's trying to beat his own record of 12 backflips.

Come on, The Machine!

It's looking good so far.

But he might need to pick up the pace if he's going to get the record.

This is incredible.

Time is running out.

Can he get a couple more backflips in before this minute is up?

OK.

It looked good, but how good?

It's time to find out from official adjudicator Michael.

I'm very excited to announce that, with 18,

you've set a new Guinness World Record achievement.

-Congratulations.

-Thanks.

-Great job.

So Dakota smashed his own record.

The man really is a lean, mean, record-breaking machine.

This is Nev.

He's an Australian and here he is making a record-breaking something.

But can you guess what it is?

Is it a...

Ah, it works, then.

Nev is making the world's largest surfboard.

It's 12 metres long and needs...

Phew!

It cost Nev over £30,000 to make.

It took four weeks and about five or six people full-time for that period,

and we're all a little bit stressed but we're all really excited.

Excited they may be, but a surfboard that doesn't surf is just a board.

So whilst it's definitely big,

to get the record it actually has to surf.

Time to hit the beach.

Surfing is a favourite pastime for Australians, along with

throwing shrimps on the barbie and losing to England at cricket.

Oi, mate?!

Look at it compared to that normal-sized surfboard.

Oh, Nev has been clever - he's put his name on the board in case

someone else picks it up by mistake.

Clearly Nev isn't a man to do things by halves and

so instead of testing it on his own, he's invited the whole beach along.

If this works, they'll set two Guinness World Records -

The Biggest Surfboard and The Most People Riding On One Surfboard.

Here goes!

Incredible!

There are 47 people on that colossal board!

That's the most people surfing on the world's largest surfboard.

Or, if you're a shark, the world's largest buffet,

although you're probably not a shark if you're watching this.

So Nev and his mates are Officially Amazing.

All they need now is the world's biggest campervan to get it

home again.

On this show, I end up in lots of strange situations.

Today, the crew have blindfolded me

and brought me here to meet Joseph, who I'm told owns a record-breaker.

I've no idea what it is, but I'm about to find out.

-Would you like to hold him?

-I don't know, would I?

-Yeah.

-I'll put out my hands.

SQUELCH!

Sounds ominous, Joseph. Oh!

Try not to drop him.

-Has he just had a wash, Joseph? He feels wet.

-Maybe.

It's quite suctiony and a little bit slimy and quite heavy.

Is it a toad?

The world's biggest snail?

-You're correct.

-Ah, brilliant!

-Oh, hello!

-"Hello!"

-Look at that!

This is Homer, the world's largest pet snail.

-He's one handsome snail, isn't he?

-"Oh, ta!

"You're not so bad yourself, big boy!"

-It feels very strange when he's on you.

-Yeah.

It's a feeling of him undulating underneath you.

He's constantly moving, a bit like caterpillar tracks on you,

but slimier ones.

Homer is a giant African land snail. Or if you prefer...

Like all snails, Homer is both a he and a she,

which sounds terribly confusing.

Homer lives in a comfy box of soil in Joseph's bedroom

and he's got a very special diet.

What's he eating right now?

He's eating a cuttlefish bone.

It's to help his shell grow

bigger and stronger.

Ah, amazing.

Looks like it's quite a crispy sort of thing to me.

Does it make a lot of noise?

Yeah, and when I'm trying to get to sleep at night, it keeps me awake.

Really? Just from him eating?

-Yeah.

-So he's quite a noisy eater. A bit of a party animal...

-Yeah.

..when it comes to the munch.

This is the actual sound of Homer eating.

-"Nyum nyum nyum nyum nyum!"

-HOMER BELCHES

Not really. This is Homer.

RHYTHMIC CRUNCHING

-So that's him scraping away at the bone.

-Yeah.

Well, look, he is obviously the world's biggest pet snail,

but you and he are Officially Amazing. Well done!

Thank you.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! Yes, I'm amazing. Thank you!"

Now it's time to return to Japan to see Haruka.

Part two.

I'm in Japan, just outside Fuji City, in the shadow of Mount Fuji, where

some amazing canines will shortly be attempting to break their own

record for The Most Dogs Skipping On The Same Rope,

and the current record stands at 13.

These dogs have been practising all day. Some more than others!

And now it's time for walkies. Or should I say skippies?

The Wan Wan team have already set the current world record of 13 dogs

skipping, but can they beat that today when 14 of them

do their skippy thing?

"Can I point out I did not choose this outfit?"

The atmosphere is very tense as we build up to this

Guinness World Record attempt.

"All right, all right, eh? Calm down, calm down!"

To beat the record,

all 14 dogs must leap the rope at the same time at least 12 times.

All the dogs have to do all 12 jumps.

If any of them miss a jump, it's a fail.

Come on, you canines!

-Dogs, are you ready?

-"Yes!"

"I were born ready!"

The trainers, whenever you're ready.

We're off!

Remember, they've all got to jump over the rope 12 times to

break the record.

Can they keep going? Look at that one going for it on the end!

The challenge is over.

It looked amazing, but did all 14 dogs clear 12 jumps

and set a new world record?

As the dogs take a well-earned break,

let's find out what the official adjudicator thinks.

And with 16 skips over the rope, and 14 dogs doing that,

you have achieved a new Guinness World Record!

Congratulations!

The Wan Wan dogs have beaten their own world record in style!

14 dogs all managed 16 jumps! Wow!

-Congratulations!

-SHE SPEAKS JAPANESE

ALL CHEER

We've had a fantastic time in Fuji City. Thank you very much.

SHE SPEAKS JAPANESE

Bye-bye!

Our Japanese dogs can bow out with their heads held high!

And cut!

-"Phew!

-That's better."

And talking of heads held high...

PARROTS SCREECH

# Do you get lonely up there with your head in the clouds?

# Do you get tired of always looking down?

# No, you don't

# I know that you are head and shoulders above the rest

# Cos when it comes to being tall, Sultan Kosen...

# You're the best #

# Part time farmer, he's a charmer

# But his height might slightly alarm ya

# He's a Turkish delight

# And he lives all right in spite of his height

# Yeah, he's 8'3", you see, measured on the 8th of February 2011

# Yeah, what a guy

# I bet the view's beautiful from way up high

# Being super-tall can be helpful too

# If you want something from the top shelf

# He'll happily hand it down to you

# Just using those huge hands that are 12" wide

# Oh, how I'd love to stand by Sultan's side

# It's a tall order, my friend what life has thrown at you

# But it's incredible too

# And I wish that I could spend

# One day in your size 28 shoes

# Do you get lonely up there with your head in the clouds?

# Do you get tired of always looking down?

# No, you don't

# I know that you are head and shoulders above the rest

# Cos when it comes to being tall, Sultan Kosen...

# You're the best. #

Now for...

PHONE RINGS

CRASH!

I've come to a sports centre in West London to wrestle

a record-breaking sportswoman.

Sounds easy!

All right, I'm going in.

HE LAUGHS NERVOUSLY

Hello!

I'm Ben. Nice to meet you.

Yeah?

Good morning!

-What's your name?

-Sharran.

Lovely to meet you, Sharran. And what record do you hold?

I hold the Guinness World Record

for the Heaviest Sportswoman In The World.

And I'm sorry to ask this, but how heavy are you?

At the time of doing the record I was 205kg,

but I'm now 180kg.

Wow, OK. So that's basically about three of me.

Hey! So, er, who's asking the next question?

Me! Me! I'll do it!

So which sport is it that you do?

I'm an amateur sumo wrestler.

Sumo is a full-contact,

semi-naked wrestling sport originating in Japan.

And just like the wrestlers, it's huge.

Some professional sumo wrestlers eat...

Don't try that at home!

That's almost 100 doughnuts

or nearly 300 apples. They must have very big shopping trolleys in Japan.

I used to think sumo wrestling was all about being quite big,

wearing a nappy. I mean, obviously it's nothing to do with that at all.

What does it actually entail?

-Well, it's not a nappy, first of all. It's called a mawashi.

-OK.

And we fight in a dohyo

and the whole point is to get your opponent out by getting

another part of their body or the mawashi to touch the floor.

You can also win by putting your opponent outside the ring,

picking him up and putting him outside the ring.

Apparently, the only way to properly understand sumo

is to try it out yourself.

Oh, no...

Let's get ready to suuuuumo!

In the purple vest, weighing in at 180kg,

currently...

And in the black vest, weighing in at 75kg,

currently...

It may look like an uneven contest,

but there are no weight divisions in sumo.

Wrestlers regularly face opponents twice as heavy as themselves.

And it's not always the biggest wrestler that wins.

Sumo is about speed, agility, skill and balance too.

Which means I'm technically in with a chance.

Yeah, right. Before the bout, mind games.

Hm, not sure that worked.

Now to lull Sharran into a false sense of security.

Make her think I'm terrified.

Yeah, that's pretty convincing, isn't it?

He'll be back.

Oh, she's still here. Right, I'm going to have to wrestle now.

Let battle commence!

I can do this!

OK, it may not look like it

but I'm genuinely using all my strength here.

Sharran just isn't moving and now she's laughing at me

and I'm getting dizzy.

Whooooaaaaa...!

Well, I'm still waiting for the official word,

but I'm pretty sure that I've been officially beaten.

But I can also confirm that Sharran is our supersize sumo superstar.

And she's also Officially Amazing.

Having experienced sumo first-hand myself,

I thought it only fair to let Al have a go too.

Why should I have all the pain? I mean, fun.

Over in America, of course, they do everything bigger,

so Al's meeting his own supersize sports star, and here he is.

Whoa! His name is...

Tipping the scales at over...

He's over two metres tall and has...

He's so big that they had to remove the front seat from his car.

He sits in the back and drives from there!

Manny is going to give Al a not-so-gentle introduction

into the art of sumo and Al has no idea what he's got his hands on.

Oh, my... OK.

Oh! HE LAUGHS

Wait up! Do you see the size of that guy's hand?! It's as big as my head!

So let me get this straight - I've got to wrestle this dude?!

Thanks!

OK, plan A - knock him over.

Nope.

Plan B - tickle him. Cootchy-cootchy-coo! No.

OK, plan C - surrender. Did you hear that, Ben? I didn't lose.

I surrendered.

USA! USA!

Yes, Al, you surrendered emphatically.

That's Sharran Alexander and Manny Yarborough,

two more Officially Amazing record-breakers.

See you next time for lots more heavyweight records!

# So Sizzling Steve, he took those dice and stacked them nice and high

# He didn't get anywhere near the record but he had a real good try

# Well, Dakota, he's a machine On backflipping he's pretty keen

# Yeah, the dogs could easily cope with jumping over a skipping rope

# And we met Homer the world's biggest pet snail! #

"Ta-ra!"

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd