Episode 9 Officially Amazing

Welcome to Officially Amazing,

the show that's fit to burst with the most precarious,

preposterous, and positively perilous world records.

Today, for example, this man is currently practising for

an incredibly complex and dangerous record, involving this rope.

What, don't believe me?

You all right up there?

-Yes, thanks, Ben!

-Great.

Here's what else is coming up on today's show.

What's this guy doing with that car?

And it's surprise record time in the Bunker.

So we've all been kicked out.

Now, it's back to a couple who are...

Ha! Dah-dah!

-Ow!

-CROWD GASPS

Meet Donovan and Rebecca.

They're a multi-record-breaking acrobatic husband-and-wife team,

whose incredible strength allows them to perform

some of the coolest lifts, balances and tricks I've ever seen.

How could these two be any more awesome?

Brace yourself.

HE SINGS A LONG, SUSTAINED NOTE

Sadly, there'll be no more singing today, as Donovan and Rebecca

attempt to break their own record for...

Let's find out what that means. Donovan?

We hang a straight rope from the ceiling,

Rebecca's going to put her hand in the loop,

hold on to the rope, I'm going to give her a good spin,

she's going to let go of the rope and hang horizontally out.

Wow, OK. This is not just a technically difficult record,

but it's also a physically strenuous one.

What effect is it having on your bodies?

When we go very fast, I feel like someone

has just bumped me on the nose.

So I feel a bit dizzy and it takes me a few minutes.

It takes a good hour and a half to recover.

Wow, that's a lot of recovery time.

It's so physically demanding that Rebecca and Donovan

have only one chance to break their record.

Let's take a look at the rules...

The rope must be at least eight metres long.

Rebecca must be holding it with just one hand.

Only full, 360-degree rotations will count.

And they must beat their own world record

of a massive 48 spins in 30 seconds.

Five,

four,

three,

two,

one - go!

She's spinning so fast we can hardly see her.

But by the magic of slo-mo...

Look at Rebecca!

Every single muscle is tensed.

She's holding herself out vertically with just one arm!

And she's still remembered to point her sparkly toes.

Phenomenally impressive!

And it's not just Rebecca's muscles that are working to the max.

Donovan has to use every ounce of strength to control the rope.

If he loses momentum or rhythm, they've got no chance.

So gruelling, yet so graceful.

Ten, nine...

Donovan's speeding things up! One last big push for the record.

Come on!

..three, two, one, time!

Whoa!

Wow!

That's incredible!

Rebecca spun so fast that official adjudicator Mark has to watch

a slo-mo replay so he can count each rotation.

Have they beaten their own record of 48?

How did they do?

You achieved...

-..52, that's a brand-new Guinness World Records total!

-Come on!

Yes!

They had one shot and Donovan and Rebecca smashed it!

They truly are Spanish web masters!

Now, over to Al and Haruka for an altogether less-glitzy record.

Hnnn...

Ow!

Two large men jogging into a TV studio

filled with rubbish old cars.

Yes, please!

Who are they, Haruka?

They are Spain's...

And Italian...

Giacomo Sportelli?

In English, he's...

Oh, I like him.

Well, Inaqui and, erm, Jim will both attempt the record for...

Speediest flipper gets the record.

I hope the show's car insurance covers this entertaining vandalism.

Signor Sportelli goes first.

Ah, good old Mr Sporty!

Come on, my man!

Ooh, he's struggling!

Why wouldn't he be, Haruka?

He's trying to roll a car that weighs half a tonne!

He's stopped!

Maybe he's hoping the red one is a bit lighter?

It isn't.

Hold on, he's doing it!

He's actually... He's not doing it.

He's given up, with a grand total of zero.

I don't blame him.

Good luck, Inaqui.

If Signor Sportelli can't do it, I doubt anyone can.

Go!

Wait a minute, look at that!

He's a motor-flipping maestro!

This is all very impressive,

but I'm pretty sure that leaking petrol is not good.

Health and safety, anyone?

Anyone?!

Poor Jim can only watch as incredible Inaqui

flips all ten cars in one minute and 44 seconds.

It's a world record that no-one has broken in 14 years!

Well done, Inaqui.

Now, if you could put the cars back how you found them,

we'll make our way to the Secret Bunker.

Because it's time for this...

Heh-heh!

Aargh!

CRASH!

A titanic triumvirate, courageous to the core.

Valiantly attempting world records that you can try at home.

They are...

Team American uberhero, US Ray!

Team UK's inspirational idol, Sizzling Steve!

And for Team Japan, the understated elegance of Mr Cherry.

Together they form the legend that is...

Last time, Mr Cherry romped home, backwards on all fours,

to claim his second world record of the series.

Which finally takes him to the top of the scoreboard.

But it could all change,

because today we've got another surprise record!

We don't know what it is, but we do have a clue.

Is it going to be sorting dice, maybe?

Shall we find out?

Yeah, I think so.

And here are the rules...

Each die must be placed alternately by the two challengers.

If the tower falls within the minute, it can be rebuilt,

but whoever knocks the tower over must be the person to start

that rebuilding.

The tower must stand for a full five seconds once the minute is over,

and the target for this new world record is a towering 50 dice!

Ray's a dicey disaster area. Time for an emergency team talk.

All right, Ray, can you do this? Just be honest with me.

It's not about whether I can do this,

it's about whether or not WE can do this.

I feel our strategy should be to start with the metal dice,

because they're firm and strong, and they'll give us a good base,

-we can build on that.

-That sounds perfect.

-Let's do it, USA.

-All the way.

-All right.

Crikey!

Team USA have devised an actual, sensible plan of action!

Sizzler's held ten dice-related records,

but has a controversial tactic.

Hope that their tower will fall over, basically.

So essentially what you're saying is, we're praying for other

people's failure, rather than banking on our own success?

-Sounds right.

-He makes you proud to be British, doesn't he?

Cherry has just one dice record, but it is for stacking.

What are the things that we need to look out for?

-TRANSLATION:

-I have no special technique.

But our hearts will be strong!

-BOTH:

-Ei! Ei! Oh!

Today, each team gets two one minute attempts at the record.

And for the first time ever,

everyone is banished from the bunker.

So there can be no seeing,

hearing

or even smelling of other competitors' tactics.

Or the score we need to win.

Take it away, Team Japan.

Three, two,

one - go!

And they're building confidently from the off.

This is a team with a plan.

Their building technique is impressively precise.

I'd be worried right now,

if I had any idea what was going on!

MUSIC: It's A Shame About Ray by The Lemonheads

Team Japan have moved on to the smaller,

lighter dice as the tower grows.

Oh, no! The tower's shrunk!

And worse than that, Cherry caused the collapse,

but Haruka placed the next dice!

This is straight up, no-nonsense, flagrant breaking of the rules.

Disqualification!

At least we have a second attempt, and a plan.

Ni...

Ichi...

So we don't mess up again, this time we've decided to say

ichi and ni when placing the dice.

This means one and two.

It seems to be working well, keep those fingers steady, guys!

-Five...

-Starting to wobble!

-Four...

-Can it take one more?

One - stop!

We daren't even breathe!

Al and dice disaster area, US Ray, are up next.

Go!

A solid start from the US boys.

Indeed, Haruka.

What on earth is going on?

Team USA appear to be organised and capable, Ben.

Confusing scenes!

Ray and I are in what we call the zone.

Erecting a structure America can be proud of.

Start with the little ones.

It is delectable dice stacking.

I'd be in shock,

if I wasn't outside, thinking about Steve.

MUSIC: You're My Best Friend by Queen

MUSIC: I Hate Everything About You by Ugly Kid Joe

Back in the bunker, it's still looking scarily good.

Five,

four,

three, two,

one - stop.

Isn't she beautiful?

Like a mini Statue Of Liberty.

And let's not forget, Team USA get another attempt.

The less said about that, the better.

So what can experienced dice-keteers Team UK do?

Go!

As expected, we've started brilliantly.

The Brits are building from the floor.

Probably insider knowledge from Dr Dice himself, Steve.

Could Team UK reach that record-breaking 50 dice summit?

You know, Haruka, I think we just might.

Catastrophe! As the dice stack falls with only 15 seconds left!

Dice master Steve just isn't used to dealing with such a wobbly column.

Stay calm, Steve! Don't panic!

We're panicking! Stop panicking!

-Five...

-Aargh!

..four, three,

two,

one - stop.

A mere 48 short of the world record target.

We could be witnessing the death of a dice dynasty.

If only we could actually see it.

MUSIC: Cherry Oh Baby by UB40

But don't forget, Team UK have a second attempt.

Can they improve on that score of two?

It's looking good...

-Oh.

-And the UK have suffered another collapse!

Unprecedented rubbishness!

There's still time to build a record breaker, Haruka!

-Five, four...

-Oh.

..three, two,

one - stop.

Total dice-aster!

I wonder how everyone else did?

So, Shanta, tell us - did we get a world record?

No.

OK, so then, who got the Officially Competitive point?

In third place, with 12 dice...

..was team UK.

Thanks for the slow clap, Team USA(!)

And in first place...

with 34 dice...

..Team USA!

Actual unbelievable scenes!

As Team USA win the dice challenge

and celebrate by mooing like a pair of mating whales.

That win puts Ray joint top of the scoreboard! Yes!

With former leader Steve now rock bottom.

Will Steve ever sizzle again?

Find out next time when we return with more stack-tastic records,

like these...

# Well, Rebecca was spun by Donovan

# They set the record at 52

# She spun really quick and she wasn't sick

# And, Ben, she was much braver than you

# Al and US Ray

# Had a tremendous day

# Their tower of dice stood tall

# But Team UK had fall after fall

# And Inaqui showed Jim Sporty how to flip cars

# But here come the rubbish bits

# The outtakes! #

Dice to meet you.

Me too!

Mmm...dice!

-OK!

-OK.

-Can we stop, sorry?!

-Are you ready?

Shanta?

No!

We are ready, Shanta.

Keep calm.

Keep calm!

-BOTH:

-Cherry on!