Alex Against The Rock for Sport Relief

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0:00:09 > 0:00:11When I agreed to help Sport Relief

0:00:11 > 0:00:13with the fantastic fundraising they do,

0:00:13 > 0:00:16I didn't quite know what I'd got myself roped into.

0:00:20 > 0:00:24This is Moonlight Buttress, Utah -

0:00:24 > 0:00:26a tough challenge for experienced climbers,

0:00:26 > 0:00:28let alone a girl from South Wales

0:00:28 > 0:00:31who sits next to me on The One Show sofa for a living.

0:00:31 > 0:00:35No, I can't! Agh!

0:00:35 > 0:00:37Oh, God!

0:00:39 > 0:00:44The rock rises a sheer 1,200 feet off the canyon floor.

0:00:44 > 0:00:47That's 200 feet higher than London's Shard.

0:00:50 > 0:00:51Agh!

0:00:51 > 0:00:53The climb is so long and steep

0:00:53 > 0:00:55that it's going to take her three days...

0:00:55 > 0:00:59- Is that it for today?- That's it.

0:00:59 > 0:01:01..and she'll have to spend two nights

0:01:01 > 0:01:03sleeping strapped to the wall.

0:01:04 > 0:01:06What a way to spend your birthday!

0:01:06 > 0:01:09Birthday cake! Happy birthday, Alex!

0:01:09 > 0:01:11And all for Sport Relief.

0:01:13 > 0:01:16All I genuinely want to do now

0:01:16 > 0:01:17is get off this wall,

0:01:17 > 0:01:21but I will not be defeated.

0:01:32 > 0:01:35Presenting The One Show five days a week

0:01:35 > 0:01:38throws up all sorts of challenges,

0:01:38 > 0:01:41but keeping guests in check - not to mention her co-presenters -

0:01:41 > 0:01:44isn't too physically demanding.

0:01:44 > 0:01:48I'm not particularly outdoorsy, not particularly sporty,

0:01:48 > 0:01:53don't like outdoor climbing gear to wear. Erm...

0:01:53 > 0:01:56The whole thing actually terrifies me.

0:01:57 > 0:01:59- Agh!- Agh!

0:01:59 > 0:02:02Now Alex has been given the opportunity to show the viewers

0:02:02 > 0:02:05a different side to her character, and some Welsh steel.

0:02:07 > 0:02:09I think that some people see me as, kind of,

0:02:09 > 0:02:13the fluffy One Show presenter who sits there, you know,

0:02:13 > 0:02:18in her little dresses. This is an opportunity for me

0:02:18 > 0:02:20to shut them up once and for all.

0:02:20 > 0:02:21And up until now,

0:02:21 > 0:02:24she hasn't tested her head for heights too rigorously.

0:02:24 > 0:02:27- Da-da!- Da-da!

0:02:27 > 0:02:30Sporty? No. I mean, I never competed in school.

0:02:30 > 0:02:35I used to avoid sports day like the plague. I'd always have a note.

0:02:35 > 0:02:38Cos I just... I didn't like the shorts, really.

0:02:40 > 0:02:42All in all, not a natural choice

0:02:42 > 0:02:46to go through the pain barrier for Sport Relief!

0:02:46 > 0:02:50I have never climbed anything more than stairs before.

0:02:50 > 0:02:53I don't know how I am with heights at that level.

0:02:53 > 0:02:58I don't know whether I'm fit enough. But more than that,

0:02:58 > 0:03:01I've basically got all the gear and no idea.

0:03:07 > 0:03:09If you're about to conquer a piece of overhanging rock

0:03:09 > 0:03:12higher than The Shard, it might be time to do something about that!

0:03:16 > 0:03:19So back in January, when Sport Relief gave her the challenge,

0:03:19 > 0:03:22Alex knew she'd have to get serious.

0:03:24 > 0:03:28First stop - an indoor wall not far from The One Show studios,

0:03:28 > 0:03:31to climb for the very first time.

0:03:33 > 0:03:37Next, she needs a partner to help her up Moonlight Buttress.

0:03:37 > 0:03:40Enter - Andy Kirkpatrick.

0:03:41 > 0:03:43He's at the top of his game and known all over the world

0:03:43 > 0:03:46for pushing the boundaries of what is physically possible to climb.

0:03:46 > 0:03:49He also has a way with beginners.

0:03:49 > 0:03:52Last year, he got his 13-year-old daughter

0:03:52 > 0:03:54up one of the world's legendary big walls.

0:03:57 > 0:03:58I come from the city of Hull -

0:03:58 > 0:04:01which is the flattest place in Britain -

0:04:01 > 0:04:04and somehow, I've ended up making a living climbing

0:04:04 > 0:04:06sort of overhanging rocks and big walls

0:04:06 > 0:04:09and mountains, kind of all over the world.

0:04:09 > 0:04:12Generally, in the most terrible conditions possible.

0:04:14 > 0:04:17'Andy looks hilarious. He doesn't even look like'

0:04:17 > 0:04:20he's seen a mountain, let alone climbed it!

0:04:20 > 0:04:24'I don't really look like a climber. I kind of look like a bin man.'

0:04:24 > 0:04:28- Oh!- OK, so is that...?

0:04:28 > 0:04:30What sort of training is this?!

0:04:30 > 0:04:32'He has written books. You know,

0:04:32 > 0:04:36'he's a very accomplished climber, so I'm sure I'm in safe hands.'

0:04:36 > 0:04:37Don't be too long, cos the rope

0:04:37 > 0:04:41- might start breaking. - Don't... Oh, Andy!

0:04:41 > 0:04:42Agh!

0:04:42 > 0:04:45'Maybe she doesn't grasp how difficult it will be,

0:04:45 > 0:04:48'but not physically difficult. It will be physically'

0:04:48 > 0:04:51really, really difficult, but the fact that

0:04:51 > 0:04:55she can't just say, like, "Cut! I want to stop. I want to get out."

0:04:55 > 0:04:56Oh!

0:04:56 > 0:04:58- Agh!- It's all right.

0:04:58 > 0:05:00Oh, my God, this is hellish!

0:05:00 > 0:05:03Alex has just nine weeks to persuade Andy to allow her

0:05:03 > 0:05:06off this wall and up a real mountain.

0:05:06 > 0:05:07Agh!

0:05:07 > 0:05:09'The standout difficulties she's going to face

0:05:09 > 0:05:12'are the fear of heights. She's going to have to'

0:05:12 > 0:05:16really overcome that kind of... And a natural fear of...dying!

0:05:20 > 0:05:23Alex throws herself into a gruelling routine,

0:05:23 > 0:05:27mixing hard training with holding down a day job

0:05:27 > 0:05:29with me and Chris on The One Show.

0:05:36 > 0:05:39Keep it going, Alex. Keep it going. Good work! Good work!

0:05:39 > 0:05:41- Head up.- Agh!

0:05:41 > 0:05:44Climbing three times a week over the winter,

0:05:44 > 0:05:46she begins to look fluent on the climbing wall

0:05:46 > 0:05:49and master the basic skills that she'll need

0:05:49 > 0:05:51to stay alive in the world of big wall climbing.

0:05:51 > 0:05:54Follow the rope.

0:05:54 > 0:05:57One of her instructors, Audrey, has been filling her in

0:05:57 > 0:06:00on some of the other realities of what it's like

0:06:00 > 0:06:03to live for days on end in the vertical world.

0:06:03 > 0:06:07And the main thing she said, which is really unpleasant,

0:06:07 > 0:06:11and I've got issues anyway with things like this...

0:06:11 > 0:06:12but going to the loo.

0:06:12 > 0:06:15So, how... Girl to girl, how does this work?

0:06:15 > 0:06:18OK, um, lots of different methods.

0:06:18 > 0:06:21I found the method that worked for me was just having a funnel

0:06:21 > 0:06:26and into a bottle, but there are devices out there that help.

0:06:26 > 0:06:28And then she started talking about funnels and SheWees,

0:06:28 > 0:06:30and it was just too much.

0:06:30 > 0:06:34So now, all I've been thinking about since that conversation with Audrey

0:06:34 > 0:06:37is SheWees, and how this is going to work.

0:06:37 > 0:06:39So... Right.

0:06:40 > 0:06:43- So, can... Yeah.- Your harness has got some buckles in the back

0:06:43 > 0:06:46that you can just drop down. So you can just drop your trousers,

0:06:46 > 0:06:48squat down, and nobody sees anything.

0:06:48 > 0:06:52That is now stressing me out nearly as much as the climb itself!

0:06:52 > 0:06:56Some clues as to why Alex would put herself through all of this

0:06:56 > 0:06:58lie in her childhood and family.

0:06:58 > 0:07:00Her parents, Alan and Mary, still live in

0:07:00 > 0:07:04the same part of South Wales that she grew up in.

0:07:04 > 0:07:06We are a very close family,

0:07:06 > 0:07:09so whatever Alex does, or Jennie,

0:07:09 > 0:07:10or myself, or Mary,

0:07:10 > 0:07:13all the family are behind us.

0:07:14 > 0:07:17The thing with Alex is, she's never forgotten her roots.

0:07:17 > 0:07:20If she can help anyone, Alex will.

0:07:20 > 0:07:22Yeah. Always been the same. She'd give anybody

0:07:22 > 0:07:24- her last Rolo, wouldn't she? - Absolutely.- Yes.

0:07:26 > 0:07:27Alex is about to put

0:07:27 > 0:07:31her hard-earned skills to the test

0:07:31 > 0:07:33on real rock for the very first time.

0:07:39 > 0:07:42Her mum and dad are coming along too to support her,

0:07:42 > 0:07:44along with her nephew, Dash.

0:07:44 > 0:07:47- Here!- Here! Ready for...?

0:07:47 > 0:07:49- Action!- Action!

0:07:49 > 0:07:51I'm not so ready for action.

0:07:51 > 0:07:55The cliff she will climb on is on the spectacular Pembrokeshire coast.

0:07:59 > 0:08:01A local climbing team is waiting for her.

0:08:01 > 0:08:03Well, we're having a little picnic...

0:08:03 > 0:08:06pre-climb, in the car, because it's so miserable,

0:08:06 > 0:08:08we don't want to get out. And as Mother here said,

0:08:08 > 0:08:12"Oh, rather you than me! I'm just going to sit in the car."

0:08:15 > 0:08:16Good experience, anyway, isn't it?

0:08:16 > 0:08:19- Well, there is that, Dad.- Yeah. - Good experience!

0:08:19 > 0:08:22You'll never forget it, will you?

0:08:22 > 0:08:25- OK, well, hopefully, I'll see you later for a cup of tea.- Yes.

0:08:25 > 0:08:28We'll keep the coffee for you.

0:08:28 > 0:08:30- Don't break a leg.- No.

0:08:30 > 0:08:32The cliff rises 130 feet.

0:08:32 > 0:08:36Her Sport Relief challenge will be nearly ten times higher.

0:08:36 > 0:08:37It's quite dramatic, isn't it?

0:08:44 > 0:08:46I'm absolutely dreading it.

0:08:46 > 0:08:48Here we go!

0:08:50 > 0:08:52Argh!

0:08:52 > 0:08:53Oh!

0:08:55 > 0:08:59This is totally out of her comfort zone...

0:08:59 > 0:09:01Argh!

0:09:01 > 0:09:03..but she always sees the bigger picture,

0:09:03 > 0:09:06and she's doing it for a reason and a cause,

0:09:06 > 0:09:08a good cause, and she'll see it through.

0:09:11 > 0:09:13I don't know where to go, I'm stuck.

0:09:13 > 0:09:15Just try and swing round onto the wall!

0:09:18 > 0:09:20She always manages to surprise us.

0:09:25 > 0:09:29I can honestly say that was the most terrifying thing I've ever done.

0:09:29 > 0:09:32If that was supposed to make me feel better about Utah,

0:09:32 > 0:09:36I think it's just done the opposite!

0:09:42 > 0:09:47The countdown to her challenge is nearly at an end.

0:09:47 > 0:09:51Just before she's due to leave for Utah, Alex visits London's Shard

0:09:51 > 0:09:54to get her first taste of what it feels like

0:09:54 > 0:09:56to be so far off the ground.

0:09:57 > 0:10:02The thought of spending three days at this height...

0:10:02 > 0:10:04is making me feel queasy.

0:10:05 > 0:10:09I can feel the palms of my hands getting slightly sweaty.

0:10:10 > 0:10:13I will be sleeping on a Portaledge,

0:10:13 > 0:10:16which is as high as the top of this building.

0:10:18 > 0:10:20How on earth do you go to sleep...

0:10:22 > 0:10:23..basically, in the sky?

0:10:25 > 0:10:28There's no wonder my parents aren't sleeping.

0:10:28 > 0:10:31There's no wonder. And if they saw this they'd sleep even less.

0:10:37 > 0:10:39The reason why Alex is putting her parents

0:10:39 > 0:10:42through sleepless nights is simple.

0:10:42 > 0:10:45A few weeks ago, Sport Relief sent her to the Philippines

0:10:45 > 0:10:48to see the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan.

0:10:50 > 0:10:55It claimed the lives of over 6,000 in the city of Tacloban alone.

0:10:55 > 0:10:58If you haven't already supported her challenge, please...

0:11:15 > 0:11:19If you have donated, thank you.

0:11:19 > 0:11:24Alex met Sadie and Patricia, whose lives had been changed for ever.

0:11:24 > 0:11:29How do you feel when it starts raining and it's very windy?

0:11:29 > 0:11:32- So scared.- You're so scared.

0:11:32 > 0:11:36Sadie, what was the most precious thing that you lost in the storm?

0:11:38 > 0:11:43People that I lost during the typhoon was my two other siblings.

0:11:43 > 0:11:48- So, you lost your brother and your sister.- Yes.

0:11:48 > 0:11:51- What about you, Patricia? - My father.

0:12:02 > 0:12:04When once the girls would have played with their friends

0:12:04 > 0:12:09after school, now every day they go to the church next door.

0:12:09 > 0:12:12Before the storm it had no cemetery.

0:12:12 > 0:12:15It's here Alex met Patricia's mum, Connie.

0:12:17 > 0:12:20How long have you been married?

0:12:20 > 0:12:2130 years.

0:12:24 > 0:12:26He was a very loving father.

0:12:28 > 0:12:32Never in all the films that we've done have I ever felt...

0:12:32 > 0:12:34somebody's pain, like Connie.

0:12:36 > 0:12:39Connie has lost the man she loves...

0:12:48 > 0:12:50Sport Relief is supporting local projects,

0:12:50 > 0:12:52such as this child-friendly space.

0:12:52 > 0:12:55Here, children get the chance to be themselves,

0:12:55 > 0:12:58despite the trauma they've undergone,

0:12:58 > 0:12:59and gain some hope for the future.

0:13:08 > 0:13:10The waiting is over.

0:13:10 > 0:13:15After a 15-hour journey, Alex is in Zion National Park, Utah.

0:13:15 > 0:13:18It's game on for Alex Against The Rock.

0:13:18 > 0:13:22- So, you looking forward to seeing it?- Yeah, I feel quite excited.

0:13:22 > 0:13:25- Quite butterfly... - Like Christmas?- Yeah.

0:13:25 > 0:13:28This feeling might last for a very short period of time.

0:13:28 > 0:13:30But for now I'm quite excited to see it.

0:13:30 > 0:13:32Just have to remember that

0:13:32 > 0:13:35when you feel really scared, it's just excitement.

0:13:35 > 0:13:38- You just didn't realise it. - That is such a lie.

0:13:45 > 0:13:48- Right, so where is it?- That's it there, this big pillar going up.

0:13:48 > 0:13:50- You see?- Oh, no.

0:13:52 > 0:13:53Oh, wow.

0:13:53 > 0:13:55I...

0:13:55 > 0:13:56Can't see anybody on it.

0:13:56 > 0:13:59It's weird because there's been so many months, really,

0:13:59 > 0:14:01of building up to it and you see it and you go,

0:14:01 > 0:14:05"Oh, no, that is massive."

0:14:11 > 0:14:14My main worries are, after doing short,

0:14:14 > 0:14:19sharp bursts of training, I've always been very glad to reach solid ground,

0:14:19 > 0:14:21and that is not going to happen.

0:14:21 > 0:14:23My other fear is,

0:14:23 > 0:14:27"Will I be able to go to loo? Will I be really embarrassed?"

0:14:27 > 0:14:30You know. "Will I be able to sleep?

0:14:30 > 0:14:32"What will we talk about when it's just the both of us

0:14:32 > 0:14:34"stuck there on a rock?"

0:14:36 > 0:14:40I'm a very optimistic person, so I'm convinced she'll be able to do it.

0:14:40 > 0:14:43But what if she comes to her senses?

0:14:43 > 0:14:46It really is a crazy thing to do.

0:14:46 > 0:14:48No-one's going to be hauling her up there.

0:14:48 > 0:14:50No-one's going to be helping her in any way.

0:14:50 > 0:14:52She has to do it all herself.

0:14:54 > 0:14:58I wish I was 100% confident.

0:15:00 > 0:15:01But I'm not, really.

0:15:06 > 0:15:07I'm petrified.

0:15:10 > 0:15:12A bracing start to the first day.

0:15:14 > 0:15:17And an introduction to Andy's dry sense of humour.

0:15:19 > 0:15:21Is it cold?

0:15:21 > 0:15:23It's really hot.

0:15:23 > 0:15:24Hurry up, my feet are burning.

0:15:27 > 0:15:31Argh!

0:15:31 > 0:15:33If we wait any longer it's going to freeze over...

0:15:33 > 0:15:35you can walk across.

0:15:35 > 0:15:38OK, go, go, go, go!

0:15:38 > 0:15:39Go, go, go!

0:15:43 > 0:15:47This trek to the base is a bit like

0:15:47 > 0:15:50the walk to the electric chair, don't you think?

0:15:52 > 0:15:55The route follows some grooves and ledges in the rock to a thin,

0:15:55 > 0:15:58single crack that splits the merciless wall.

0:16:02 > 0:16:06- You got me, Andy?- Yeah, climb when you're ready.- All right.

0:16:06 > 0:16:09Deep breath. Here we go.

0:16:16 > 0:16:18Oh, the feet...

0:16:21 > 0:16:23Oh, God.

0:16:23 > 0:16:25There's no gentle introduction.

0:16:25 > 0:16:27Alex has to scale the lower reaches

0:16:27 > 0:16:29using a technique called free climbing,

0:16:29 > 0:16:33relying only on the grip of her hands and the friction of her feet.

0:16:33 > 0:16:35- Are you OK?- Hang on.

0:16:37 > 0:16:40- Are you relatively OK?- Yeah.

0:16:40 > 0:16:45- There's just nothing... Andy, have you got me?- Yeah.

0:16:45 > 0:16:47You're safe as houses.

0:16:47 > 0:16:49Oh!

0:16:49 > 0:16:54SHE GRUNTS

0:16:54 > 0:16:56Oh, God!

0:16:56 > 0:16:59I don't know what to do, I'm not standing on anything.

0:17:01 > 0:17:04Yeah, no, I can't!

0:17:04 > 0:17:06ANDY SHOUTS INSTRUCTIONS

0:17:06 > 0:17:08You won't fall.

0:17:09 > 0:17:12I've got you nice and safe, there's no need to be afraid.

0:17:12 > 0:17:15I just don't know what to do now.

0:17:15 > 0:17:16SHE GRUNTS

0:17:21 > 0:17:22That's it!

0:17:24 > 0:17:27Come on!

0:17:27 > 0:17:30Remember, you're hardcore.

0:17:30 > 0:17:32I know Andy's there but...

0:17:32 > 0:17:36- you just feel like you're on your own.- ..the groove, Alex.

0:17:36 > 0:17:39- What?- Are you nearly at the top of the groove?- Yeah.

0:17:39 > 0:17:40That's the hardest bit.

0:17:42 > 0:17:43You're almost there.

0:17:44 > 0:17:46These shoes feel like they're slipping.

0:17:48 > 0:17:51- OK, here we go.- I've got you.

0:17:51 > 0:17:53Go on, pull. Jam your foot in.

0:17:53 > 0:17:55- SHE GRUNTS - That's it.

0:17:55 > 0:17:57That's it, come on, come on.

0:17:57 > 0:18:01Keep moving your foot up, move your foot up, jam it in.

0:18:01 > 0:18:03Come on, you're doing so well.

0:18:03 > 0:18:07Oh, God, I just need to come up.

0:18:07 > 0:18:09SHE SCREAMS

0:18:09 > 0:18:12Lean back. Lean back.

0:18:12 > 0:18:16- No-one said it would be easy. - I don't think this is very safe.

0:18:16 > 0:18:17Just step up.

0:18:17 > 0:18:21Straight leg. Get your leg on.

0:18:21 > 0:18:24Well done. Remember when I first met you and you said,

0:18:24 > 0:18:28"The most important thing, Andy, it's got to be hard.

0:18:28 > 0:18:31"I don't want people to think it's easy."

0:18:31 > 0:18:34- Well...- Well, that was a mistake, wasn't it?

0:18:34 > 0:18:36But it will get easier, trust me.

0:18:36 > 0:18:39Cos you will get harder and the rock will get easier.

0:18:42 > 0:18:45Next, a sideways move across a blank section of rock,

0:18:45 > 0:18:48using hanging footholds left by Andy.

0:18:50 > 0:18:54One last effort lies between her and her bed for the night.

0:18:56 > 0:18:58Come on, please.

0:18:58 > 0:18:59Just get in.

0:19:03 > 0:19:04Come on.

0:19:08 > 0:19:12# If you can't hold on

0:19:12 > 0:19:15# Hold on... #

0:19:15 > 0:19:19All I genuinely want to do now is get off this wall.

0:19:22 > 0:19:26But I will not be defeated.

0:19:26 > 0:19:28Onwards and upwards.

0:19:34 > 0:19:35Oh!

0:19:37 > 0:19:40If you think about this climb, this route as a whole thing,

0:19:40 > 0:19:42you'll never get up it. We have to think about

0:19:42 > 0:19:43one little bit at a time.

0:19:46 > 0:19:47Anybody who was up here would be scared.

0:19:47 > 0:19:49You'd be stupid if you weren't scared.

0:19:51 > 0:19:53That's it. Grab the edge.

0:19:57 > 0:19:59- Well done.- All right.

0:19:59 > 0:20:01Yay!

0:20:02 > 0:20:04Well done.

0:20:05 > 0:20:07- Oh, God. - I'm really proud of you.

0:20:07 > 0:20:08Thank you.

0:20:08 > 0:20:10Is this our camp for the night?

0:20:10 > 0:20:13- Yeah. Going to get the Portaledge out.- OK.

0:20:16 > 0:20:17SHE GASPS

0:20:17 > 0:20:20As the sun starts to set and the temperatures dip

0:20:20 > 0:20:23towards freezing, it's time to make the bed.

0:20:26 > 0:20:30- Oh, look, there's the divide. - The Welsh borders.

0:20:30 > 0:20:32Are we sleeping on this?

0:20:32 > 0:20:33ALEX SCREAMS

0:20:33 > 0:20:36- It's very rare for one of these to break.- Well, I don't like rare.

0:20:36 > 0:20:38Never would be a better option.

0:20:38 > 0:20:43- If you sleep on the outside, you have more room.- That's fine.

0:20:43 > 0:20:46But if any rocks come down, you get hit by them.

0:20:46 > 0:20:49I'm fine on the inside.

0:20:49 > 0:20:52Apart from the fact that Alex and Andy are in the penthouse suite,

0:20:52 > 0:20:55there is another reason why this evening is so special.

0:20:58 > 0:21:01Oh, it's a little birthday cake!

0:21:01 > 0:21:03"Happy birthday, Alex."

0:21:03 > 0:21:07- That's quite impressive. - That is really impressive.

0:21:07 > 0:21:09Awww, thank you for carrying that up.

0:21:09 > 0:21:13- My pleasure.- And thanks for looking after me today.

0:21:13 > 0:21:16# Happy birthday to you...

0:21:16 > 0:21:18# Happy birthday to you

0:21:18 > 0:21:22# Happy birthday, dear Alex Jones

0:21:22 > 0:21:24# Happy birthday to you. #

0:21:24 > 0:21:25- Hip hip... - Hooray!

0:21:25 > 0:21:27- Hip hip... - Hooray!

0:21:27 > 0:21:29- Hip hip... - HOORAY!

0:21:29 > 0:21:30HOORAY!

0:21:31 > 0:21:33Mmm. This is lovely.

0:21:33 > 0:21:34What kind of cake is it?

0:21:34 > 0:21:36I don't know. American?

0:21:36 > 0:21:39It's definitely a birthday I won't forget.

0:21:50 > 0:21:52Did you sleep OK?

0:21:52 > 0:21:57I did, I did. I always sleep well on the Portaledge.

0:21:57 > 0:21:59I think I probably slept for about three hours.

0:21:59 > 0:22:02- Really?- Mmm. Off and on.

0:22:06 > 0:22:07Time for breakfast.

0:22:10 > 0:22:14The upside of this challenge is that there is probably no better place

0:22:14 > 0:22:15to have a cup of tea in the morning.

0:22:15 > 0:22:18This is actually the nicest part so far.

0:22:22 > 0:22:25- Oh, God, I hope there's nobody down there.- Paul's coming up.

0:22:25 > 0:22:29- Just tell him it's wee. - It'll be all right.

0:22:29 > 0:22:33We've dealt with the wee scenario, and we're over it. We've moved on.

0:22:33 > 0:22:37I had to go and stand up there in the dark, took my head torch off,

0:22:37 > 0:22:39and put the music on very loud.

0:22:39 > 0:22:42- ALEX LAUGHS - And then Alex had a wee.

0:22:42 > 0:22:43- Andy was the gentleman.- I was.

0:22:43 > 0:22:48Ahead of Alex today lies another 600 feet of vertical rock.

0:22:48 > 0:22:50You've broken, like, a mental barrier yesterday.

0:22:50 > 0:22:54So today, you're probably going to have to break a physical barrier.

0:22:57 > 0:23:00Alex is using a technique called Jumaring

0:23:00 > 0:23:02to scale the sheer face.

0:23:03 > 0:23:06Gosh, it's quite strenuous, this, isn't it?

0:23:06 > 0:23:07Just make lots of short, little movements,

0:23:07 > 0:23:09- not lots of big ones.- OK.

0:23:17 > 0:23:20This technique is really exhausting.

0:23:20 > 0:23:25It's just like spending six hours in a gym doing pull-ups.

0:23:25 > 0:23:26Come on, let's go.

0:23:29 > 0:23:32Can I beat the bag? Oooh!

0:23:32 > 0:23:33ANDY LAUGHS

0:23:33 > 0:23:36I'll let you get up here, then I'll hold it up.

0:23:39 > 0:23:43I did get that weird feeling, you know, during training.

0:23:43 > 0:23:46Everybody was saying, you're going to get the exposure thing,

0:23:46 > 0:23:48and I think I just got that a bit.

0:23:48 > 0:23:51- Oh, where you suddenly look down, and go... - HE GASPS

0:23:51 > 0:23:53Well, you've just got to sort of talk yourself round, going,

0:23:53 > 0:23:55- "It's fine, it's fine." - Yeah, you're safe.

0:23:55 > 0:24:00And the ropes feel quite elasticated and a little bit unsteady.

0:24:00 > 0:24:02You're attached to lots of things, though.

0:24:10 > 0:24:13She can also be comforted by the fact that as well as Andy,

0:24:13 > 0:24:16she has a team of world-class climbers supporting her.

0:24:16 > 0:24:20But Alex still has to dig deep to reach the second Portaledge.

0:24:20 > 0:24:24The training wall doesn't prepare you for this.

0:24:25 > 0:24:26The end of a long day.

0:24:28 > 0:24:32Everything is burning really badly.

0:24:32 > 0:24:36- Are they your leg loops?- No, here.

0:24:36 > 0:24:37Is everything untucked?

0:24:37 > 0:24:42Yes, everything's untucked. I just rubbed the rope.

0:24:44 > 0:24:46SHE CRIES OUT

0:24:50 > 0:24:52SHE GROANS

0:24:52 > 0:24:56Stand on this ledge, and you'll stop hurting.

0:24:56 > 0:24:58Come on, you're nearly there!

0:25:02 > 0:25:05Stand on this huge ledge. Well done.

0:25:05 > 0:25:07- Oh, gosh.- Let's have a look.

0:25:07 > 0:25:10I don't know what's happened. It's all, like, burnt there...

0:25:11 > 0:25:13It's way too tight!

0:25:14 > 0:25:18You've got it too tight. Surprised you can even breathe.

0:25:18 > 0:25:20Let's slack it off a bit.

0:25:20 > 0:25:23You need to be all tucked in, like a small child.

0:25:23 > 0:25:26Oh. Thanks, Andy.

0:25:27 > 0:25:28That better?

0:25:28 > 0:25:30- Is that it for today?- That's it.

0:25:34 > 0:25:39When you're at your most tired and your most vulnerable,

0:25:39 > 0:25:41it pushes you again.

0:25:41 > 0:25:45You think, "Oh, we're nearly there, it's nearly over for the day,"

0:25:45 > 0:25:49and then one little bit will just push you again.

0:25:50 > 0:25:52It's never over.

0:25:53 > 0:25:56Tomorrow, there's still a tough climb to the summit.

0:25:56 > 0:26:00So Andy's brought something to help motivate her for the last push.

0:26:00 > 0:26:03Some drawings from the children that she met in the Philippines.

0:26:05 > 0:26:09"Wishing you all good health. Love, Trish." Oh, that's lovely.

0:26:09 > 0:26:11She's a little girl that...

0:26:13 > 0:26:15See, this is why it's important, isn't it,

0:26:15 > 0:26:17that we do things like this?

0:26:17 > 0:26:21So at the end of an awful day like today,

0:26:21 > 0:26:24and then you think, "Gosh, they've got nothing."

0:26:35 > 0:26:36Good morning.

0:26:36 > 0:26:38Quite a windy night.

0:26:38 > 0:26:41The whole Portaledge was flying around in the wind.

0:26:43 > 0:26:44Hi.

0:26:44 > 0:26:47Oh, God, it's freezing, isn't it?

0:26:48 > 0:26:51You're really sweet. I could feel you putting things on me.

0:26:51 > 0:26:53SHE LAUGHS

0:26:53 > 0:26:55It's like having a dad on the Portaledge!

0:26:59 > 0:27:03200 feet to go, and in Alex Against The Rock,

0:27:03 > 0:27:06there'll only be one winner.

0:27:06 > 0:27:09We've just finished the first pitch of the day,

0:27:09 > 0:27:14so we have just one more to go, which is brilliant news. But...

0:27:14 > 0:27:16Even this morning, I know it's nearly over,

0:27:16 > 0:27:20but I cannot wait to get onto just solid land.

0:27:20 > 0:27:23Hanging here feels dreadful.

0:27:26 > 0:27:29Alex decides to finish in style,

0:27:29 > 0:27:31and free climb to the summit.

0:27:31 > 0:27:34SHE STRAINS

0:27:40 > 0:27:41It's been some journey.

0:27:44 > 0:27:47SHE SCREAMS

0:28:00 > 0:28:02SHE LAUGHS Yes!

0:28:05 > 0:28:09CHEERING

0:28:09 > 0:28:11- SHE LAUGHS - Well done, well done!

0:28:13 > 0:28:17I don't think I've ever experienced anything as exciting

0:28:17 > 0:28:20as just stepping over the top there.

0:28:20 > 0:28:22People might think she wasn't climbing the wall herself,

0:28:22 > 0:28:25but she climbed every single inch of that wall herself.

0:28:25 > 0:28:30What I've learned is, if you put yourself out of your comfort zone

0:28:30 > 0:28:32and it raises that much money,

0:28:32 > 0:28:35then it's worth doing time and time again.