0:00:02 > 0:00:05Cardigan Bay - the sweeping west coast of Wales.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09This is just something else.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13Home to the largest population of bottlenose dolphins in the UK.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17It really is the New Zealand of the northern hemisphere.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19And the only place in Wales where you can buy a pier...
0:00:19 > 0:00:22It is up for sale if anybody out there wants to buy the pier.
0:00:22 > 0:00:23..and even a zoo.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27Don't forget to wash your hands after you've played with the snakes.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31Over spring and summer, we followed the rich and varied lives...
0:00:31 > 0:00:34This is just not Elvis enough.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37..of the locals who call this coast home.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40"Toilet lady from Ceredigion" will do me.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45Quite proud really that I'm going to start a business here again.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48Why on Earth would you want to live anywhere else?
0:00:48 > 0:00:50This is their Cardigan Bay.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Cardigan Town, and after a four-year renovation,
0:00:59 > 0:01:04its 900-year-old castle is weeks away from opening to the public.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Once everyone's got the high vises and the hats,
0:01:06 > 0:01:09we'll go outside and make a start.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15And probably the castle's biggest super fan, Glen Johnson,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18is training up volunteers to be tour guides.
0:01:18 > 0:01:19In the Middle Ages,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21people used to hang their clothing in the privy,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25with the idea that the ammonia fumes from the urine deterred the moths.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27All it really did was to deter their friends
0:01:27 > 0:01:31and do an awful lot for the French perfume industry.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36While Cardigan Castle may not be the largest or best preserved
0:01:36 > 0:01:40medieval castle in Wales, its unique for a number of reasons.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43It is the first stone castle ever built by a Welshman,
0:01:43 > 0:01:45it's the birthplace of the National Eisteddfod,
0:01:45 > 0:01:49it was besieged more times than any other castle in Welsh history.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52There is also an arrow slit halfway down the castle wall.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Now, that is to a chamber that is completely buried.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58I'll be the first man with a trowel in his hand going,
0:01:58 > 0:02:01"Whoopee! I'm going down to the bottom of this one."
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Glen's obsession with Cardigan Castle and the buildings
0:02:06 > 0:02:10within its walls started long before he met his wife, Catherine.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16Pretty much before he set foot in the castle he was interested,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19and according to Glen, due to a school project.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22I passed the castle every day on the way to school, and I thought,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25"Everybody knows of Cardigan Castle,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28"but nobody seems to know anything about it."
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Back then, the castle was lived in
0:02:31 > 0:02:34by local aristocrat and eccentric Miss Barbara Wood.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38That's 1990, and this is Miss Wood.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41A real character, Miss Wood.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44It was a little bit like Miss Havisham in Great Expectations,
0:02:44 > 0:02:49the house was starting to crumble all around her,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52but she still regarded herself perhaps as the lady of the manor,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55but the manor was falling apart at the seams.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01She ended up taking up the parquet flooring and the floorboards
0:03:01 > 0:03:04and ultimately the joists in the dining room,
0:03:04 > 0:03:05and burning them on the fire.
0:03:05 > 0:03:11Because the tinders in the room were starting to suffer from rot
0:03:11 > 0:03:13and they couldn't afford the coal.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19With the house deemed unfit to live in, Miss Wood left the castle
0:03:19 > 0:03:24in 1999, leaving Glen to delve deeper into its mysteries.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28By now, he's a walking encyclopaedia,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31knowing each and every owner since 1093.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Believe it or not, these were probably a wedding present.
0:03:36 > 0:03:37They are a pair of whale bones.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Captain James Ellis, of Castle Street,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42brought them back from the Baltic,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44and I can imagine David Griffith Davies
0:03:44 > 0:03:47unwrapping these and saying, "Oh, you shouldn't have.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49- LAUGHTER - "Cuff links would have done."
0:03:51 > 0:03:55The first group - enthused and trained.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57But Glen's work isn't done.
0:03:57 > 0:04:03I've got a group of about a dozen people coming in, who are... Sorry.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07I just realised my wedding ring has come off.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Not on the floor down there, is it?
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Oh, hell.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20You know, I've been on-site for half an hour,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23could be anywhere round about.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26I'm just going to have a little shufty over here
0:04:26 > 0:04:29and then I better start with my little group.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Glen isn't the only Cardigan resident with a big problem.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45- ALL:- # Take my hand... #
0:04:45 > 0:04:48New Zealander Des Perenara moved to the area nine years ago.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53And is better known by his stage name, Elvis Desley.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58# ..falling in love with you... #
0:04:58 > 0:05:01But while the locals are in love with Des,
0:05:01 > 0:05:03he's fallen out of love with his jumpsuit.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06CHEERING
0:05:06 > 0:05:10Unfortunately, you should have two-way stretch material here,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12but I've only got one-way stretch.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14And so I actually can't do this move where you have to go
0:05:14 > 0:05:16all the way down here.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20I can't do that. I can only go to here in this suit.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23And with Des planning to compete in the world-famous Elvis Festival
0:05:23 > 0:05:28in Porthcawl, he's decided to invest in a new stretchy jumpsuit.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33The era that I want to have a look at as is 1969, 1970,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36when he was at his most athletic.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39So I, ahem, have to lose a bit of weight.
0:05:39 > 0:05:45Get slightly thinner, keep up the flexible side of things
0:05:45 > 0:05:49so that I can really do the King justice.
0:05:53 > 0:05:59So 54-year-old Des is planning to model himself on Elvis aged 35.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01# Well, it's one for the money Two for the show
0:06:01 > 0:06:03# Three to get ready Now go, cat, go
0:06:03 > 0:06:05# But don't you
0:06:05 > 0:06:07# Step on my blue suede shoes... #
0:06:07 > 0:06:09It's no mean feat, but helping him
0:06:09 > 0:06:13achieve his new look is family friend and seamstress Sarah.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16So, this is the suit.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Fantastic suit, it's done me well for eight years, hasn't it?
0:06:21 > 0:06:25- Yep.- But we've had to make a few adjustments to it.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Because I just really couldn't go down into that move.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33And Sarah, thankfully, put in this gusset, that goes all the way
0:06:33 > 0:06:36down the leg, down the crotch, so that I can get to this position.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38I can probably get to there.
0:06:38 > 0:06:43- Which is, you know, it's OK, but... - Not as far as you want to go.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47So, in the new suit, what I want to do is be able
0:06:47 > 0:06:52to go all the way down in that iconic position.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55So the new suit is going to be less restrictive
0:06:55 > 0:06:58- and enable you to do that move. - Absolutely.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03From the King of Rock and Roll to the Queen of Toilets.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07We're proud that Ceredigion is known throughout
0:07:07 > 0:07:11the UK as a Mecca for toilet standards.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Jasmine Wilson is in charge of Ceredigion's coastal public loos.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18And her toilets have won awards for being the best in Britain.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21There we are.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Today is a big day for Jasmine.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27She's putting on a seven-mile charity walk from Borth to Aberysthwyth.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33So if you like, we are going from toilet to toilet.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Yeah, keep the work element in there as well.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39I've got one last T-shirt.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41I say "we", I'm just the brains behind it,
0:07:41 > 0:07:47I can't do the walk myself, my knee just wouldn't allow it.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I've got family, I've got grandchildren,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52I've got friends and colleagues -
0:07:52 > 0:07:54some who I didn't even know were walking
0:07:54 > 0:07:56and I really, really appreciate that.
0:07:56 > 0:08:01You all ready to go? OK, off you go. Ta-ra, Claire.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Jasmine is raising money for road safety charity Brake.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10And it is a cause close to her heart.
0:08:13 > 0:08:1712 years ago, Jasmine lost her son, Aled, in a road accident.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22He was a motorbike instructor and was hit by a car.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Aled was just 31,
0:08:25 > 0:08:26and left two small children.
0:08:28 > 0:08:35It is an emotional day. There is no two ways about that. But, erm...
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Vitally important, seeing as I can't turn the clock back,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43to do what I can for the future.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I know that Aled would be very proud of everyone today.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00He'd be the first to help out if he could.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04So, yes, it is tough, but it's a way of giving thanks, and, erm...
0:09:07 > 0:09:09..just being aware how fragile life can be.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Ow!
0:09:25 > 0:09:28JASMINE LAUGHS
0:09:28 > 0:09:30As the walkers battle on,
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Jasmine gets ready to welcome the troops on Aberystwyth Beach.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38Yay! Fire going. Better put the beer on to chill, I think.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52- Hero!- First to finish are Jasmine's grandchildren.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54HE SIGHS
0:09:54 > 0:09:58- Good for you.- Can we have some food now?- Food?
0:09:58 > 0:10:00It was important for us to do this walk,
0:10:00 > 0:10:05because it's a charity we feel strongly about, isn't it?
0:10:05 > 0:10:07OTHERS: Yeah.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Thank you for doing that, lovely effort.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14Next to arrive - Jasmine's two sons.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18- I'll be right behind you.- Really? - Yeah. Ready?- Let's go.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Oh, look, Brett's going into the water.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28LAUGHTER
0:10:33 > 0:10:36I am in my element, I'm feeding everyone,
0:10:36 > 0:10:40they really deserve it, they've worked hard.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43These are the people that look after me, day in, day out.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47From my grandchildren, to my sons, to my colleagues...
0:10:49 > 0:10:51..who are a brilliant support.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Cardigan Castle is nearly ready to open to the public.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06It's time for the final touches,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09that include a specially commissioned chair to commemorate
0:11:09 > 0:11:12the castle having been the venue for the first ever Eisteddfod in 1176.
0:11:15 > 0:11:16The fork lift needs to be here,
0:11:16 > 0:11:20we need to reverse into there with the forklift to pick it off.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26As the 300-kilo chair is inched into place at the castle,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29it's a nervous time for sculptor Paul Clarke.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31INDISTINCT
0:11:31 > 0:11:33OK, yeah.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Cos it's a little top-heavy, I was getting twitchy then.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44Down a little bit. Once it's down, it skids. That's it.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48It is tilted forward a little bit, I think.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51And Glen is on hand to record this historic moment.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Whoever sits on it first,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56you're going to end up looking like Ronnie Corbett.
0:11:56 > 0:11:57Cos it's huge!
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Well, it's nice to be with you once again, isn't it, Ronnie?
0:12:04 > 0:12:05LAUGHTER
0:12:09 > 0:12:14- Smile!- Job well done.- Sorted.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Chair in place, and it's time to welcome the volunteers
0:12:17 > 0:12:20and local dignitaries for the opening ceremony.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22There's a nice crowd, and it's a bit
0:12:22 > 0:12:26of a who's who of Cardigan as well, and most of these people
0:12:26 > 0:12:31have personally assisted in some way or another with the castle project.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33IN WELSH:
0:12:39 > 0:12:43And it's it an emotional time for retired vet Dick Thomas,
0:12:43 > 0:12:47one of four local people who formed the trust to save the castle.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Today, to me, is a dream come true after 15 years.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57SCHOOLCHILDREN SING
0:12:57 > 0:13:00I hope it will be great for Wales and Cardigan.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:13:03 > 0:13:06And so, for the first time in decades...
0:13:10 > 0:13:13..the doors of Cardigan Castle are open to the public.
0:13:15 > 0:13:20I'm really pleased, it's been a fantastic day. Quite elated, yeah.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24We've taken the next big step. Cardigan's got its castle back!
0:13:24 > 0:13:26SCHOOLCHILDREN: Oi!
0:13:31 > 0:13:35At the top end of the county, it's feeding time at Borth Zoo.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39This can be dangerous for Alan.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44I did get bitten once, by the reticulated python in the zoo.
0:13:44 > 0:13:50I thought he was asleep, in his hide, and it looked like
0:13:50 > 0:13:53he was asleep, and I thought, "Oh, well, in that case
0:13:53 > 0:13:57"I'll clean the other end of his viv out while he's asleep."
0:13:57 > 0:14:01And he shot across at 100mph, grabbed my arm, refused to let go.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03There is the scar. They said the teeth
0:14:03 > 0:14:07went an inch deep into the muscle in my arm.
0:14:09 > 0:14:10For the past two years,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14the zoo has had its eye on another very dangerous animal.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16IT ROARS
0:14:16 > 0:14:18The African lion.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24Finally, zoo owners Alan and his wife Jean have had their
0:14:24 > 0:14:28lion licenses issued by the council, and they have a moving-in date.
0:14:29 > 0:14:3111th of August, that's next Tuesday.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34That's what we're aiming at, at the moment.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36- Well, that's the date. - Yeah, that's the date.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Unless something goes wrong, that's the date.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41"Unless something goes wrong."
0:14:41 > 0:14:4411th of August for the lions to arrive, the lions of Borth.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47- The pride of Borth... - Yeah.- ..we like to call them.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Currently, "the pride of Borth"
0:14:51 > 0:14:55reside over the border at Noah's Ark Zoo in Bristol.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Zulu, he is a bit of a grumpy old boy,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00but he's very protective of his girlfriend.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04They're very much in love, he'll follow her everywhere,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06and if he thinks there's a threat at any point
0:15:06 > 0:15:09he'll be there in front of her, looking after her.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12You going to play chase? Come on then.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Big cat keeper Mark has been with Zulu and Wilma for almost six years.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21In short bursts these guys can do 22 metres a second.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25So they're literally twice as fast as the fastest man on Earth,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27so you're never going to outrun them.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Back in Borth, the excitement is rising.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37And the job of looking after Ceredigion's lions
0:15:37 > 0:15:39will be down to Tom.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42I essentially haven't slept since about three o'clock
0:15:42 > 0:15:45this morning, cos I'm on an adrenaline high,
0:15:45 > 0:15:47let's put it simply.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53I... Oh, can't believe it's actually happening. It's unbelievable.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56But zoo manager Joe is a little more apprehensive.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00At the moment, I'm, eh, pretty nervous.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04We've gone through this a lot of times, practised a lot,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06put all the protocols in place,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09and hopefully everything is going to go absolutely fine.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12But I won't be happy until they're in the enclosure
0:16:12 > 0:16:14and it's all safe and it's all done.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17LION ROARS
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Crack of dawn next morning, and the big move begins in Bristol.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28It's early in the morning, so let's try and keep our sharpness about us.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32We're going to bring Zulu and Wilma into den five,
0:16:32 > 0:16:33which is this one here.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36We'll probably have to go round to get the cats to come in,
0:16:36 > 0:16:40then we'll get the trailer in and get in position, and go for it.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- STRAINED:- Three...
0:16:42 > 0:16:45MAN GRUNTS
0:16:45 > 0:16:48With the lions loaded into their travel cages...
0:16:50 > 0:16:54..back in Borth, the team are making final preparations.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Everyone just wants it to go smoothly,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59I guess that's the main thing.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01No drama, no cockups.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03HE LAUGHS
0:17:03 > 0:17:05We have three of us who are gun-licensed.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07We have to have the guns on-site, obviously,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10cos this is a major weak point in any of these plans,
0:17:10 > 0:17:16the actual transferring them from a secure cage to a secure cage.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20So, yes, the guns will be on-site. There's customers in already,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24which is a bit of a worry.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28Nothing's going to wrong, nothing is going to go wrong!
0:17:33 > 0:17:35At the other end of the county...
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Could be anywhere round about.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42..Cardigan Castle historian Glen still hasn't found his wedding ring.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45THEY LAUGH
0:17:45 > 0:17:48But he has finally come clean to his wife Catherine.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50When he told me he'd lost his ring,
0:17:50 > 0:17:52mainly I felt really, really bad for him.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55I keep going to play with the ring and it's not on my finger.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57- That's one of your nervous habits.- Yeah.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00He was so distraught by it, I think
0:18:00 > 0:18:03he was worried about telling me that he'd lost it.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06It was cute, how upset you were by it.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10The loss though, has given them the opportunity to
0:18:10 > 0:18:14celebrate their love by getting new rings especially made.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17- After you.- Thank you.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23- There we are.- (There's my ring.) - One for you.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28- Try it for size.- It's pretty. Yay.- There we are.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30I'll have to make sure I don't lose this one.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32- They're good fits. - That's a good fit, yeah,
0:18:32 > 0:18:36that one's not going to come off like the last one did!
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- That's good.- How's yours?- Mine's gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Bizarrely, for me, it's actually really nice to have
0:18:42 > 0:18:44the visual representation of being his.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Because it doesn't normally bother me, that kind of thing,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49but actually, it feels really good.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55With romance in the air, where else does a man take his wife?
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Do you ever get that feeling of deja vu?
0:18:59 > 0:19:00CATHERINE LAUGHS
0:19:00 > 0:19:02The castle, of course.
0:19:05 > 0:19:06And while they're here,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09the couple have an impromptu renewal of their vows.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13With this ring, I thee wed - again.
0:19:13 > 0:19:14CATHERINE LAUGHS
0:19:14 > 0:19:18The first man since Richard Burton to say that.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22And like any old romantic, there's only one thing on Glen's mind.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28I mean, hopefully it won't be such a struggle for the castle
0:19:28 > 0:19:30or for Cardigan from here on.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35It's now the story of the castle's great success.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Seamstress Sarah has been burning the midnight oil
0:19:45 > 0:19:48to get Des' new jumpsuit ready for the big competition in Porthcawl.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51DOORBELL RINGS
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- Sarah!- Hi, Des!- You OK?
0:19:56 > 0:19:59- You got my suit?- Yeah.- You got my suit!- You ready to try it on?
0:19:59 > 0:20:00Oh, I'm so ready.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05- The moment of truth has arrived. - Oh, yeah. Is it going to fit?
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Will Des' new suit give him the freedom to bend
0:20:08 > 0:20:10into Elvis' classic poses?
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Yeah, I feel quite responsible for his performance.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17If he can't move in it, then...we're in trouble.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- Hey, Sarah.- Wow.- Look at this, baby. - What do you think?
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- I like it, it looks good. - It looks fantastic.
0:20:25 > 0:20:30- This is the critical thing, is it? - Look at that. Look at that!
0:20:30 > 0:20:32- I can...- Without reinforcements.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Now I can actually do the real movement. Thank you very much.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38- You're welcome. - SARAH LAUGHS
0:20:38 > 0:20:42- That's good, you're a good customer. - I can just... I'm just...
0:20:42 > 0:20:46- So free!- As Des gets limbered up...
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Porthcawl, baby, here we come.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53..the pride of Borth has finally arrived.
0:20:53 > 0:20:58And with the lions, a nurse, a vet, a police marksman
0:20:58 > 0:21:00and a team of other experts.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Behind closed doors, they start the tricky task
0:21:04 > 0:21:09of moving 57st of feline muscle into their new home.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16You can't do things willy-nilly where lions are concerned.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28First to emerge and to sniff the sea air of Borth is Wilma.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34She's a very beautiful animal, isn't she?
0:21:34 > 0:21:38She's so confident, loads of character.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40And she's admiring the view.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46It's a momentous day for big cat keeper Tom.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50I'm still not entirely sure it's real.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52HE CHUCKLES
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Two weeks later, and the reality has finally sunk in.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03It feels fantastic to finally have them here, after 20 months
0:22:03 > 0:22:06and everything we've been through,
0:22:06 > 0:22:10all the conditions and red tape we've had to fulfil.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14To finally have the lions in feels amazing.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Big relief more than anything else.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20There were times when we thought it wasn't going to happen.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22But they're finally here.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26And with them, Zulu and Wilma have brought new hope for the zoo.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30The zoo's doing better than ever, more customers than I've ever known.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34I believe we're something like three-quarters numbers up
0:22:34 > 0:22:36on last year, which is just incredible.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Two years ago we first started this process.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47It's taken that long to get the lions actually here.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50We did get to a point we thought we'd never have them.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53But there they are. Aren't they brilliant?
0:22:53 > 0:22:55Aren't they playing the game?
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Ceredigion has finally got its lions.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05From the king of the jungle to the King of Rock and Roll.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Elvis Presley!
0:23:07 > 0:23:09CHEERING
0:23:11 > 0:23:14It's the world-famous Porthcawl Elvis Competition.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18And 15 of the top tribute acts gather nervously
0:23:18 > 0:23:21backstage at the Grand Pavilion.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25They're all independent judges, their decision is final.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27But Des is late.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31- ..their decision. - Sorry, mate.- You will be.
0:23:31 > 0:23:32LAUGHTER
0:23:32 > 0:23:34With stiff opposition from across Europe,
0:23:34 > 0:23:38the usually cool Des is already feeling the pressure.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46- I'm just texting Fi to let her know that I'm number ten.- Elvis Desley?
0:23:46 > 0:23:50- Yes? Yes? - Which folder are your tracks in?
0:23:50 > 0:23:56- In the music folder. I'll come up with you.- You sure?- It'll be easier.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01And to add to Des' nerves, there's a problem with his backing tracks.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06So I put the songs on the stick, but they're in a certain file.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08SNIPPETS OF MUSIC PLAY ON COMPUTER
0:24:08 > 0:24:10And Jack's just trying to organise it
0:24:10 > 0:24:14so I can actually get to sing today.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Which would be quite nice after all the stress I'm going through.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18JACK LAUGHS
0:24:18 > 0:24:23As Des battles with technology, Fi arrives with his posse of supporters.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25And the competition gets underway.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29# I remember too... #
0:24:32 > 0:24:35I think Des is probably feeling quite nervous already,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38cos he's texted me to say he's on tenth in the running order.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41And he said that he thinks the other ETAs are really strong,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45so he's not entirely sure he's going to make it to the final this year.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49# If you find your sweetheart
0:24:49 > 0:24:52# In the arms of a friend... #
0:24:52 > 0:24:54I just wish I could see myself all the time,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57cos then I'd have a lot more confidence in myself.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02I look great, and I know it's really vain to say it, but when
0:25:02 > 0:25:09I can't see myself I feel like me, Des, who's just an ordinary bloke.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14But when I see myself, I think, "Oh, yeah, that ain't bad."
0:25:14 > 0:25:18So I can see why I should be confident,
0:25:18 > 0:25:20but I don't feel it inside all the time.
0:25:22 > 0:25:28It's time for Des to gather his nerves and show what he's got.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31All the way from Auckland, New Zealand...
0:25:31 > 0:25:32CHEERING
0:25:32 > 0:25:34..Elvis Desley!
0:25:37 > 0:25:39AUDIENCE: Woo!
0:25:41 > 0:25:45# So if an old friend I know
0:25:45 > 0:25:47# Stops by to say hello
0:25:47 > 0:25:51# Would I still see suspicion in your eyes? #
0:25:53 > 0:25:55ALL: Woo!
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Why am I doing this? Why am I doing this?
0:25:59 > 0:26:00Why am I doing this?
0:26:00 > 0:26:02- FEMALE BACKING SINGERS: - # Too much, baby
0:26:02 > 0:26:04# Caught in a trap
0:26:04 > 0:26:06# Woo-ooh, woo-ooh
0:26:06 > 0:26:08# I can't walk out now... #
0:26:08 > 0:26:12I guess I'm doing it because other people believed in me
0:26:12 > 0:26:14before I believed in myself.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18So I did it on their faith in me rather than my faith in myself.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20And now I'm so far down the track.
0:26:24 > 0:26:25# Caught in a trap... #
0:26:25 > 0:26:29So I guess that's why I do it. Cos I can now.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32# Polk salad Annie
0:26:32 > 0:26:34# Gators got your granny
0:26:36 > 0:26:39# Everybody said it was a shame
0:26:39 > 0:26:42# That your mama was-a workin' on the chain gang... #
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Des' suit has held together,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52and he's wowed the crowd into a frenzy with his final number.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56CHEERING
0:27:04 > 0:27:07But what will the judges have made of his performance?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13If I got into the top three, I'd be absolutely stoked.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16It'd be a fairy tale ending.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Fairy tales don't happen very often,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21so I'll be shocked if it does happen.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25..reverse order. Third place, Mr Peter King.
0:27:25 > 0:27:26CHEERING
0:27:30 > 0:27:32In second place...
0:27:32 > 0:27:33Elvis Desley!
0:27:33 > 0:27:36CHEERING AND WHISTLING
0:27:41 > 0:27:43The winner, Michael Glaysher.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47Among tough competition, Des has come second.
0:27:47 > 0:27:52- There she is.- That was amazing. That was amazing.
0:27:54 > 0:27:55And there's only one way
0:27:55 > 0:27:58for Cardigan's only Maori Elvis to celebrate.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02HE PERFORMS THE HAKA
0:28:12 > 0:28:14CHEERING
0:28:16 > 0:28:19- Next time...- Oh, wow. - On Aberystwyth Pier,
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Natalia has something to prove...
0:28:21 > 0:28:23I'm not this ditzy, dumb person
0:28:23 > 0:28:26and I can actually pull off something quite big.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29..dolphin wars rage off New Quay...
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Could have got some goose fat and a big shoehorn
0:28:31 > 0:28:33and squeezed a few more on.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37..and Gethin races to build his cafe in time for summer.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40It's critical really that I get this open for
0:28:40 > 0:28:42the six weeks' holiday coming up soon.