Carol Kirkwood

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0:00:02 > 0:00:04Telly. That magic box in the corner.

0:00:04 > 0:00:07It gives us access to a million different worlds

0:00:07 > 0:00:09all from the comfort of our sofa.

0:00:09 > 0:00:13In this series, I'm going to journey through the fantastic world

0:00:13 > 0:00:16of TV with some of our favourite celebrities.

0:00:16 > 0:00:20They've chosen the precious TV moments that shed light...

0:00:20 > 0:00:24- Proper.- 'She seems like a nice girl, though.'- Look at that.

0:00:24 > 0:00:26..on the stories of their lives.

0:00:26 > 0:00:29THEY SING

0:00:29 > 0:00:31Some are funny.

0:00:31 > 0:00:34- Could you do the chanting? - I could do... Mnum, mnum, mnum.

0:00:34 > 0:00:35Some...

0:00:35 > 0:00:36Amazing.

0:00:36 > 0:00:38..are surprising.

0:00:38 > 0:00:40I was mortified.

0:00:40 > 0:00:42Some are inspiring.

0:00:42 > 0:00:45I am not a number. I am a free man.

0:00:45 > 0:00:48- And many...- Did George Orwell get his predictions right?

0:00:48 > 0:00:49It's all so dramatic!

0:00:49 > 0:00:50..are deeply moving.

0:00:50 > 0:00:52Oh, no.

0:00:52 > 0:00:54And heads down the beach towards almost certain death.

0:00:54 > 0:00:57All of us, weeping.

0:00:57 > 0:01:00So come watch with us as we hand-pick the vintage telly

0:01:00 > 0:01:05that helped turn our much-loved stars into the people they are today.

0:01:05 > 0:01:07Welcome to the TV That Made Me.

0:01:16 > 0:01:20My guest today is one of the first people we see when we wake up.

0:01:20 > 0:01:24Carol Kirkwood has been brightening up our mornings come rain or

0:01:24 > 0:01:26shine for over a decade.

0:01:26 > 0:01:30The TV that made her includes a family game show...

0:01:30 > 0:01:33Could we have the scores on the doors, please?

0:01:33 > 0:01:34..a Scouse sitcom...

0:01:34 > 0:01:39- Do I ever ask you personal questions about your private life?- Yes.

0:01:39 > 0:01:41..and a kids' institution.

0:01:41 > 0:01:45My idea of this special treat is called scone pizza.

0:01:45 > 0:01:47It can only be the one and only,

0:01:47 > 0:01:52- the lovely Carol Kirkwood is with us today.- Hi, Brian.

0:01:52 > 0:01:53Are you excited about this?

0:01:53 > 0:01:57I am, I'm really looking forward to taking a wee jaunt down memory lane.

0:01:57 > 0:02:01That's what it is. Today is a collection of TV archives,

0:02:01 > 0:02:04things that you've enjoyed over the years but first up,

0:02:04 > 0:02:09we're going to rewind the clock and go back to the early Carol.

0:02:11 > 0:02:18Carol Kirkwood was born Carol MacKellaig on 29 May 1962

0:02:18 > 0:02:22in the remote rural village of Morar in the West Highlands of Scotland.

0:02:23 > 0:02:27Mum and Dad had their hands full with two sons, six daughters

0:02:27 > 0:02:29and a family business to run.

0:02:29 > 0:02:31My parents owned a hotel.

0:02:31 > 0:02:34It was only about four minutes' walk up the road, but we spent a lot of

0:02:34 > 0:02:38time in the hotel and we used to play in the hotel car park on our bikes.

0:02:38 > 0:02:42And when we went to school, the local school, when we were at primary

0:02:42 > 0:02:46school, we would come home for lunch and I never wanted to do that.

0:02:46 > 0:02:49I wanted to stay with my friends and have a school lunch,

0:02:49 > 0:02:52but we were going back to the hotel and having a hotel lunch.

0:02:52 > 0:02:58So things like lemon sole, salmon, and I wanted a burger and chips!

0:02:58 > 0:03:01With you talking about that hotel...

0:03:01 > 0:03:04You might find this a little bit interesting.

0:03:06 > 0:03:10'And then the manager will come out and welcome you all to Morar.'

0:03:10 > 0:03:12BAGPIPES PLAY

0:03:12 > 0:03:14That's Morar Hotel!

0:03:14 > 0:03:18'Here, too, is a piper to greet you after your second day's journey.

0:03:18 > 0:03:21'The hotel manager is on the doorstep to welcome you.'

0:03:21 > 0:03:23Oh, my goodness!

0:03:24 > 0:03:28- Oh, my goodness! - How does it feel seeing it?- Lovely.

0:03:29 > 0:03:34- Oh, gosh, I spent years there. - That's not you on the left.

0:03:34 > 0:03:35SHE LAUGHS No.

0:03:35 > 0:03:38We used to love it when the coach drivers would come up

0:03:38 > 0:03:40because they would take us for a spin in their coach.

0:03:40 > 0:03:45- You'd be sitting there like wee girls.- So, is that...?- Oh, yes. Yes!

0:03:45 > 0:03:48That's what it was like. Look at the wallpaper and the carpets.

0:03:48 > 0:03:50- Oh, look at that fire. - That's what it was like!

0:03:50 > 0:03:54The rooms look out at the dark islands of Rum and Eigg.

0:03:54 > 0:03:58- Look at that view, Brian.- Oh, it's stunning.- Look at the bedspread!

0:03:58 > 0:03:59HE LAUGHS

0:03:59 > 0:04:02You had these candlewick bedspreads too.

0:04:02 > 0:04:04We had so much freedom!

0:04:04 > 0:04:08Because you'd come home from school, dump your school bag, pick up

0:04:08 > 0:04:11your bike with your friends, swimming costume on, off to the beach.

0:04:11 > 0:04:14- It sounds to me like you didn't have much time to watch TV! - SHE LAUGHS

0:04:14 > 0:04:17Well, our TV was very much monitored.

0:04:17 > 0:04:21I know some children nowadays go in and just watch telly

0:04:21 > 0:04:24ad nauseam or watch it on the computer or whatever.

0:04:24 > 0:04:27It wasn't like that for us. We were very much outdoor kids

0:04:27 > 0:04:28and we'd play and make up games.

0:04:28 > 0:04:31- Well, look at that. You had a chance to see...- Beautiful.

0:04:31 > 0:04:33..a beautiful setting.

0:04:33 > 0:04:35But I remember, at the corner of the hotel in the opening

0:04:35 > 0:04:37shot of that, there was a car parking space

0:04:37 > 0:04:39and my dad always parked there.

0:04:39 > 0:04:42And I was just little, wanted to learn to drive but was far too young.

0:04:42 > 0:04:45And so the hotel was on a slight slope,

0:04:45 > 0:04:47the car park was on a slight slope.

0:04:47 > 0:04:50So anyway, he had a Jag and I was sitting in the Jag pretending

0:04:50 > 0:04:52to drive, turning the steering wheel.

0:04:52 > 0:04:55I'd seen Dad taking the handbrake off often.

0:04:55 > 0:04:57I took the handbrake off, didn't know how to put it back on

0:04:57 > 0:05:02as the car and me slid slowly smack into the wall.

0:05:02 > 0:05:04Couldn't sit down for two weeks.

0:05:04 > 0:05:06Dad was gutted! Bless him.

0:05:13 > 0:05:16Carol, your earliest TV memories, what are they?

0:05:16 > 0:05:19- We didn't have telly when I was a wee girl, Brian...- No!

0:05:19 > 0:05:21..because we didn't have reception.

0:05:21 > 0:05:25We didn't actually get BBC One until probably... I was about six.

0:05:25 > 0:05:28Then we only had BBC One for donkey's years after that,

0:05:28 > 0:05:31so STV, as it would have been in my case,

0:05:31 > 0:05:34and BBC Two just weren't there, and as for Channel 4 or 5, well,

0:05:34 > 0:05:38- we're going back to BC, so obviously they weren't there either.- Yeah.

0:05:38 > 0:05:40As six-year-old Carol and her siblings

0:05:40 > 0:05:44switched on TV for the first time in 1968,

0:05:44 > 0:05:46they could have watched The Railway Children,

0:05:46 > 0:05:50one of the first children's novels adapted by the BBC,

0:05:50 > 0:05:53Dad's Army, beginning its nine-year run,

0:05:53 > 0:05:55and the last episode of sitcom

0:05:55 > 0:05:59Beggar My Neighbour, starring Reg Varney.

0:05:59 > 0:06:02The first programme I actually remember is Play School,

0:06:02 > 0:06:03the theme tune and everything.

0:06:03 > 0:06:07A little trip down memory lane for Carol Kirkwood. Here we go.

0:06:08 > 0:06:10Look at that! Oh, my goodness!

0:06:10 > 0:06:12- VOICEOVER:- Here's a house.

0:06:12 > 0:06:15- Oh!- With a door.

0:06:15 > 0:06:20CAROL AND BRIAN: Windows - one, two, three, four.

0:06:20 > 0:06:22- Ready to knock?- Yes!

0:06:23 > 0:06:27Here you are, there's some cornflakes for you.

0:06:27 > 0:06:29Oh, my goodness, Big Ted!

0:06:29 > 0:06:32I used to do this as a kid myself with my dolls. We'd have tea parties,

0:06:32 > 0:06:35be pretending to feed them things, cakes and things.

0:06:35 > 0:06:39So, you mentioned the names of the dolls. Don't cheat!

0:06:41 > 0:06:43Who have we got, then?

0:06:43 > 0:06:46There was Mabel and Jemima, there was Big Ted and Little Ted...

0:06:46 > 0:06:48- Big Ted, Little Ted.- ..and Humpty.

0:06:48 > 0:06:52- And apparently Hamble.- Hamble!

0:06:52 > 0:06:54Oh, my goodness, I'd forgotten about her.

0:06:54 > 0:06:56For me, Humpty was the star.

0:06:57 > 0:07:00He was the only one that looked... I don't know, I liked Humpty.

0:07:00 > 0:07:02Plenty of sugar.

0:07:02 > 0:07:04Look at Humpty, what a cool hairdo!

0:07:04 > 0:07:06BUZZING

0:07:06 > 0:07:07What do you think that is?

0:07:09 > 0:07:13- Look at the special effects! - I know, look at that fly!

0:07:13 > 0:07:16This is better than Avatar!

0:07:16 > 0:07:18BUZZING CONTINUES

0:07:18 > 0:07:23- Oh, look, there's Brian Cant. - Doesn't he look young?

0:07:23 > 0:07:25Did you guess it was on the end of a bit of thread?

0:07:25 > 0:07:28I've really come to say it's time to say goodbye until tomorrow.

0:07:28 > 0:07:30- Goodbye until then.- Goodbye.

0:07:30 > 0:07:33You used to answer them when everybody was saying goodbye.

0:07:33 > 0:07:34You'd go, "Goodbye!"

0:07:35 > 0:07:39BBC Two's planned opening night on 20 April 1964

0:07:39 > 0:07:42was blacked out by a power cut.

0:07:42 > 0:07:45When the new station finally launched the next day,

0:07:45 > 0:07:48Play School was its first-ever programme.

0:07:48 > 0:07:53- So, what did you love about it, Carol? The simplicity?- Yes.

0:07:53 > 0:07:55I'd never seen anything like this before because again,

0:07:55 > 0:07:57growing up, my mother was a teacher.

0:07:57 > 0:07:59We grew up with lots of books and things

0:07:59 > 0:08:03but we hadn't seen television. It seems incredible now.

0:08:03 > 0:08:06- And just to see that and to see what they did...- And see it in colour?

0:08:06 > 0:08:08Well, we were black-and-white to start with,

0:08:08 > 0:08:11but seeing it in colour now - incredible!

0:08:11 > 0:08:13It takes you back to when you were inch high,

0:08:13 > 0:08:17and it wasn't just me watching it, it was my wee sister

0:08:17 > 0:08:19and then later on my wee brother as well.

0:08:19 > 0:08:22I think he was a bit of a legend, wasn't he, old Brian Cant?

0:08:22 > 0:08:23Yes, he was.

0:08:23 > 0:08:26I used to think he was just like a big brother,

0:08:26 > 0:08:28although he probably would have been old enough to be my dad -

0:08:28 > 0:08:30no disrespect intended to Brian.

0:08:30 > 0:08:33But, yeah, he just had a warmth about him as well.

0:08:33 > 0:08:35Just a really nice man.

0:08:36 > 0:08:38Over its 24-year run,

0:08:38 > 0:08:43Play School introduced us to 104 ever-enthusiastic presenters.

0:08:43 > 0:08:46But there were a few who stood out from the crowd.

0:08:46 > 0:08:51The legendary Johnny Ball, dad to DJ Zoe Ball,

0:08:51 > 0:08:53and children's TV stalwart,

0:08:53 > 0:09:00Chloe Ashcroft, presented 545 episodes each across three decades.

0:09:01 > 0:09:07Avengers and Carry On actress Julie Stevens appeared in 600 episodes.

0:09:07 > 0:09:09The man most linked to the show, Brian Cant,

0:09:09 > 0:09:15managed 620 episodes, but even he didn't beat Carol Chell,

0:09:15 > 0:09:20who appeared in a whopping 763 Play School days.

0:09:20 > 0:09:23Oh, those were the days. They don't make telly like that any more.

0:09:23 > 0:09:28- No. And it was only on for a short period of time.- I know.

0:09:28 > 0:09:30I think that's what was interesting,

0:09:30 > 0:09:35there's not a children's channel, like now you have got CBeebies.

0:09:35 > 0:09:39Then, you had a little window and that was your time.

0:09:39 > 0:09:43It was also how you watched it, so I would watch it with my mum

0:09:43 > 0:09:46if she was around, for example, and my little sister, as I was saying.

0:09:46 > 0:09:49It was a family thing. Play School was on.

0:09:49 > 0:09:52There was a time you switched on the telly and there it was.

0:09:52 > 0:09:55And you were glued, you know, kind of sitting there

0:09:55 > 0:09:57with your mouth hanging open, just agog

0:09:57 > 0:09:58watching all that was happening.

0:09:58 > 0:10:01Then you would repeat some of it yourself with your toys.

0:10:01 > 0:10:06So, do you recognise anything around our palacious little place here?

0:10:06 > 0:10:09That chair, actually. We had two of those in our front porch.

0:10:09 > 0:10:12- They were blue and white.- Yeah? - Exactly the same.

0:10:12 > 0:10:14- We've got pipes for you.- Oh!

0:10:14 > 0:10:18- My dad used to smoke a pipe and... Oh, a wee story for you.- Go on.

0:10:18 > 0:10:21Bless him, I loved the smell of the tobacco that he burnt.

0:10:21 > 0:10:24Obviously we didn't smoke. Thank you.

0:10:24 > 0:10:27I feel like Sherlock Holmes now!

0:10:27 > 0:10:30Anyway, we would, in the morning, after...

0:10:30 > 0:10:33He put his pipes in the stand at night before he went to bed

0:10:33 > 0:10:35and my wee sister, Trish, and myself would go down

0:10:35 > 0:10:37and we'd be sucking on them in the morning, like,

0:10:37 > 0:10:41"Mmm, this tastes nice," and they'd be covered in slabbers!

0:10:41 > 0:10:44We put them back and poor Dad, not having a clue we'd done it,

0:10:44 > 0:10:47later on would put his tobacco in, light it up.

0:10:47 > 0:10:49I don't think I know anyone that owns a pipe these days.

0:10:49 > 0:10:52- No, neither do I.- It's just from a different era, isn't it?

0:10:57 > 0:11:02Your biggest influence, Carol, stems back to 1973.

0:11:02 > 0:11:06I'm not going to say any more. We're going back to 1973.

0:11:06 > 0:11:09Princess Anne, as she walks down the aisle of Westminster Abbey

0:11:09 > 0:11:11- to marry Captain Mark Phillips. - Oh, my goodness.

0:11:11 > 0:11:15- Now, you were a huge fan. - I was, I loved Blue Peter.

0:11:15 > 0:11:18...The Royal Military School of Music.

0:11:18 > 0:11:20We used to watch this all the time.

0:11:20 > 0:11:22You'd come in from whatever you were doing.

0:11:22 > 0:11:25If you were outside playing, you'd come in and watch Blue Peter.

0:11:25 > 0:11:27If you were outside crashing the car, you'd think,

0:11:27 > 0:11:29"You know what? I'd better go in now, it's Blue Peter!"

0:11:29 > 0:11:30I'm in enough trouble.

0:11:30 > 0:11:34There are an estimated 500 million people going to be watching

0:11:34 > 0:11:37the royal wedding on Wednesday and amongst them, there's going to be

0:11:37 > 0:11:39an awful of a lot of children, because the Queen...

0:11:39 > 0:11:42I remember actually watching this particular one.

0:11:42 > 0:11:44Look at the set.

0:11:44 > 0:11:46Gosh, it looks so sparse.

0:11:46 > 0:11:47Launched in 1958,

0:11:47 > 0:11:51Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's programme.

0:11:51 > 0:11:54Not bad for a show that was designed to fill a six-week

0:11:54 > 0:11:56gap in the schedule.

0:11:56 > 0:11:59It blazed the trail for TV shows to break out of the studio

0:11:59 > 0:12:03and use BBC TV Centre as a location,

0:12:03 > 0:12:06prompting a stern memo from the then BBC management

0:12:06 > 0:12:10that read, "Television Centre is not a place of entertainment."

0:12:10 > 0:12:12Have a listen to what Johnny's got to say

0:12:12 > 0:12:14because he's got rather a good idea for something to do.

0:12:14 > 0:12:17Dead right, there. My idea is to give your mum a holiday too.

0:12:17 > 0:12:21Tell her you'll cook her a special treat when she puts her feet up

0:12:21 > 0:12:23on Wednesday morning to watch the television.

0:12:23 > 0:12:24I loved John Noakes.

0:12:24 > 0:12:26So did I, you never knew what he was going to do next.

0:12:26 > 0:12:30- And he always got so many things wrong.- I know, that was his charm.

0:12:30 > 0:12:31Look at the state of that!

0:12:31 > 0:12:33I loved, "Here's one we prepared earlier."

0:12:33 > 0:12:36Oh, that's where it first started.

0:12:36 > 0:12:39- A lovely smell.- We smelt it. - Is it done?- Is that why you're here?

0:12:39 > 0:12:41- I haven't had any lunch. - Can you pass the knife?

0:12:41 > 0:12:44- Is this the sort of thing you would have made?- Yes.- Really?

0:12:44 > 0:12:46I wouldn't have done it regularly but because they made it

0:12:46 > 0:12:50on Blue Peter, it would be, "Let's have a bash at doing this."

0:12:50 > 0:12:52I didn't make everything they made,

0:12:52 > 0:12:54but they always had the sticky-back plastic

0:12:54 > 0:12:56and the loo rolls and the empty washing-up liquids.

0:12:56 > 0:12:59And they are making this for the royal wedding

0:12:59 > 0:13:03- so that they can eat this. - Which is exactly what we did.

0:13:03 > 0:13:05With the scones?

0:13:05 > 0:13:07Yeah, we made them and we sat down... I remember it so well.

0:13:07 > 0:13:09The sun was shining,

0:13:09 > 0:13:13we drew the blinds, watched it on the telly with our scones.

0:13:13 > 0:13:16To make you feel more at home, we've actually got some scones for you.

0:13:16 > 0:13:19- Have you?- Yeah, I shall go and get them.- Thank you.

0:13:19 > 0:13:22Wait there. Don't go anywhere.

0:13:22 > 0:13:25Scones, it's a long time since I've had a scone.

0:13:25 > 0:13:28- Oh, lovely!- I've been in the kitchen.

0:13:29 > 0:13:32Oh, yum! You know, I may as well whack them straight onto my thighs

0:13:32 > 0:13:34because that's where they're heading.

0:13:34 > 0:13:36- Oh, yeah, a moment on the lips. - I know.

0:13:38 > 0:13:41Blue Peter is also renowned for its cast of animals.

0:13:41 > 0:13:45Each year, young tortoise owners were reminded how to safely

0:13:45 > 0:13:48prepare their four-legged friends for winter,

0:13:48 > 0:13:52usually with the show's longest-serving pet, Freda,

0:13:52 > 0:13:55who stayed with the show for 16 years.

0:13:55 > 0:14:01She first appeared in 1963 as Fred until they realised he was a she.

0:14:03 > 0:14:07So, was Blue Peter something that made you want to be a presenter?

0:14:07 > 0:14:11- Yes.- Really?- I wanted to be a Blue Peter presenter full stop,

0:14:11 > 0:14:13but I was so shy.

0:14:13 > 0:14:17Is it still an ambition to be a Blue Peter presenter?

0:14:17 > 0:14:18Gordon MacKenzie Highlander,

0:14:18 > 0:14:21I would be like the granny on that programme!

0:14:21 > 0:14:26- I think you could earn a gold Blue Peter badge today.- Yeah?

0:14:26 > 0:14:29What I've got planned for you... This is a classic,

0:14:29 > 0:14:33a moment that every year on Blue Peter they would do

0:14:33 > 0:14:37and present to the children, and of course this is your chance

0:14:37 > 0:14:40to do that and I have a couple of things to get for you.

0:14:40 > 0:14:44- I'm feeling very nervous now, Brian. - Don't feel nervous.- Eek!

0:14:44 > 0:14:49First of all, I would like to introduce you to Trevor.

0:14:49 > 0:14:51- That's not real, is it?- Yeah. - Seriously?

0:14:53 > 0:14:57- Just put him on your lap there. - Hello, Trevor!

0:14:57 > 0:14:59And we are going to hibernate him.

0:14:59 > 0:15:02Oh, I can feel his leg moving on my leg!

0:15:02 > 0:15:04Oh, it's quite tickly!

0:15:04 > 0:15:07- Trevor, you're tickling me!- So, we're going to... We're going to put...

0:15:07 > 0:15:09- We're going to hibernate him. - CAROL GASPS

0:15:09 > 0:15:10So, you have to take this box

0:15:10 > 0:15:13- that is big enough for him to turn around in...- Yeah.

0:15:13 > 0:15:16- Oh, Trevor! - ..fill it with shredded paper...

0:15:16 > 0:15:19And this is yours. I will hold on to Trevor while you now

0:15:19 > 0:15:23- present the rest of this moment to earn your gold Blue Peter badge.- OK.

0:15:23 > 0:15:25OK, well, first of all,

0:15:25 > 0:15:28Trevor, I hope that you are going to enjoy your bed.

0:15:28 > 0:15:31Some very nice bedding here for you.

0:15:31 > 0:15:34We've put this through a shredder, it's all confidential,

0:15:34 > 0:15:35you can't see anything from it.

0:15:35 > 0:15:37- No.- So, Trevor, I'm just going to make...

0:15:37 > 0:15:39- Very important, data protection. - Yep...

0:15:39 > 0:15:41CAROL LAUGHS Absolutely.

0:15:41 > 0:15:43Spreading this out, nice and evenly.

0:15:43 > 0:15:44HE MOUTHS Yeah.

0:15:44 > 0:15:46- It's going all over the place, Trevor.- Nice.

0:15:46 > 0:15:48But we want to make a nice little...

0:15:48 > 0:15:51I'll make it nice and soft in the middle, particularly, a little...

0:15:51 > 0:15:53A little bit of a hollow for Trevor to sit in.

0:15:53 > 0:15:54Yes, a little bit of a hollow.

0:15:54 > 0:15:57- Note the hollow. That's very good, you know.- Yeah, so that...

0:15:57 > 0:15:58Yeah, you've sold it for me.

0:15:58 > 0:16:01Right, Trevor, how deep would you like your bed?

0:16:01 > 0:16:03- Um, I think one more and that should do.- One more? OK.

0:16:03 > 0:16:07Do we now place Trevor in, Blue Peter presenter?

0:16:07 > 0:16:09Yes, well, has he got anything else that can go in with him,

0:16:09 > 0:16:12- or is this it? - Well, what, like, a cuddly toy?

0:16:12 > 0:16:14What do you mean? I don't know, he doesn't need anything else.

0:16:14 > 0:16:15Oh, Trevor, little man!

0:16:15 > 0:16:18I like the way you're stroking him. He can't feel anything, it's...

0:16:18 > 0:16:21I know, I don't like to touch him in case I scare him, though.

0:16:21 > 0:16:23Oh, why are you going to scare him, Carol?

0:16:23 > 0:16:25- Oh, you're a good boy, aren't you? Look at you!- Ooh...

0:16:25 > 0:16:27There you are, I'll let you place him into the box.

0:16:27 > 0:16:28OK, Trevor, come on, we're going in.

0:16:28 > 0:16:30- In you go, wee man.- And now...

0:16:30 > 0:16:33There you go! Watch your wee leggies.

0:16:33 > 0:16:35- There you go!- So, we have to... And then we have to...

0:16:35 > 0:16:37- All settled.- Oh...

0:16:39 > 0:16:42This is a true Blue Peter moment.

0:16:43 > 0:16:47- Look at that.- This is a little...

0:16:47 > 0:16:48A little message from Trevor.

0:16:48 > 0:16:51CAROL LAUGHS

0:16:51 > 0:16:54- Oh!- But a good Blue Peter presenter will always carry on

0:16:54 > 0:16:56in the face of adversity.

0:16:56 > 0:16:59Carol, you hold them because my hand's a bit messy.

0:16:59 > 0:17:01Look at him, he's looking out, now, what are you laughing at?

0:17:01 > 0:17:04We have to punch some holes in here. I need a dry-clean.

0:17:04 > 0:17:06If you've got to go, Trevor, you've got to go.

0:17:06 > 0:17:09BRIAN SIGHS OK. How many...three on each side?

0:17:09 > 0:17:11Yeah. And just maybe a few on top there, that's it.

0:17:11 > 0:17:13You're OK, Trevor.

0:17:13 > 0:17:14And, um...

0:17:14 > 0:17:17And, of course, then you put a bit of gaffer tape over it and...

0:17:17 > 0:17:19Yeah, and Bob's your uncle. Trevor's your uncle.

0:17:19 > 0:17:21Congratulations, well done,

0:17:21 > 0:17:23I think you've earned your gold Blue Peter badge.

0:17:23 > 0:17:24Thank you.

0:17:24 > 0:17:27In the... No, it's all right, it's the other hand!

0:17:27 > 0:17:30THEY LAUGH

0:17:30 > 0:17:31Thank you, Brian.

0:17:31 > 0:17:34- Oh, let's watch something else, we need to escape from all of this. - Aww!

0:17:35 > 0:17:37Thanks to Blue Peter,

0:17:37 > 0:17:40the only thing harmed there was maybe a bit of my pride.

0:17:40 > 0:17:44The show's first-ever pet arrived in 1962,

0:17:44 > 0:17:48but sadly, the poorly pup died shortly after her debut.

0:17:48 > 0:17:51Fearing the news might upset the young viewers, who had been asked

0:17:51 > 0:17:53to choose her name,

0:17:53 > 0:17:56producers secretly found a lookalike to take her place.

0:17:56 > 0:17:59The new dog was named Petra.

0:17:59 > 0:18:02Over 50 years, the show has become home to...

0:18:07 > 0:18:10Thankfully not all at the same time.

0:18:16 > 0:18:19CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:18:21 > 0:18:22Thank you.

0:18:22 > 0:18:24Oh, I used to love this!

0:18:24 > 0:18:27Do you know, every Saturday, the television on,

0:18:27 > 0:18:30everybody sitting down, The Generation Game on, loved it.

0:18:30 > 0:18:31Yeah.

0:18:31 > 0:18:35In the '70s, traditional variety shows fell out of favour

0:18:35 > 0:18:38and TV bosses were on the hunt for something new.

0:18:38 > 0:18:40And could we have the scores on the doors, please?

0:18:40 > 0:18:44Step forward Bruce Forsyth with his Generation Game.

0:18:44 > 0:18:49It fast became one of the biggest game shows of the decade.

0:18:49 > 0:18:53When Larry Grayson took the helm in 1978, it seemed unstoppable.

0:18:53 > 0:18:56In 1979, at its peak,

0:18:56 > 0:19:01the show entertained 25 million people of all generations.

0:19:01 > 0:19:03- Larry was so funny. - He was so endearing.

0:19:03 > 0:19:05You never knew what the devil was going to happen

0:19:05 > 0:19:07- and he was on with Isla...St Clair, wasn't he?- Yeah.

0:19:07 > 0:19:10Please meet Miss Isla St Clair.

0:19:10 > 0:19:12And look at Isla's dresses.

0:19:12 > 0:19:14APPLAUSE

0:19:14 > 0:19:18Did you always want to be Isla St Clair?

0:19:18 > 0:19:21- No, I wanted to be a contestant on this.- Oh, right.

0:19:21 > 0:19:24I loved the way that they would be killing themselves laughing,

0:19:24 > 0:19:27so if they were making something with pottery, for example, and you know

0:19:27 > 0:19:30how you have to keep your hands on it as it spins, or it'll go choooww?

0:19:30 > 0:19:32- Yeah.- If you take your hands off it...- Oh, here they go.

0:19:32 > 0:19:35I say, I wouldn't like to stick a chocolate flake amongst this lot!

0:19:35 > 0:19:37LAUGHTER

0:19:37 > 0:19:40It always ended up a right old mess, didn't it?

0:19:40 > 0:19:44But Larry was so camp around the whole thing, which made it.

0:19:44 > 0:19:46I know, I know.

0:19:46 > 0:19:48- You are doing well, Fred.- Fred?

0:19:48 > 0:19:49Fred, Joe.

0:19:49 > 0:19:51Look at that, though!

0:19:51 > 0:19:52Oh, look at the mess.

0:19:52 > 0:19:54Look at the mess!

0:19:54 > 0:19:55And you'd be sitting at home thinking,

0:19:55 > 0:19:57"I could do better than that!"

0:19:59 > 0:20:04The show introduced us to a conveyor belt of glamorous assistants,

0:20:04 > 0:20:07including trained dancer Anthea Redfern,

0:20:07 > 0:20:09who would go on to become Mrs Forsyth.

0:20:10 > 0:20:14Isla St Clair arrived alongside Larry Grayson and would go on

0:20:14 > 0:20:18to present her own travel show and become a folk singer.

0:20:18 > 0:20:21And after a nine-year break, the show returned in the '90s

0:20:21 > 0:20:25with Bruce back at the helm and Rosemary Ford as his sidekick.

0:20:25 > 0:20:28She became eternally linked to the catchphrase,

0:20:28 > 0:20:31"What's on the board, Miss Ford?"

0:20:31 > 0:20:34I love, more and more, Larry Grayson, as I've got older.

0:20:34 > 0:20:36- I just think he was so...- So funny.

0:20:36 > 0:20:38- He was. - MIMICS LARRY:- "And you know..."

0:20:38 > 0:20:41- But he was also... He was caring as well, you felt you knew him.- Mm.

0:20:41 > 0:20:43- You thought, "Oh, Larry, bless you." - Yeah.

0:20:43 > 0:20:45He was that kind of person.

0:20:45 > 0:20:48Bruce had a slickness, but there was...there was...

0:20:48 > 0:20:51It was just chaotic, you know, it was.

0:20:51 > 0:20:52- With Larry, I know.- Yeah.

0:20:52 > 0:20:55But remember the conveyor belt and they'd be trying to help him?

0:20:55 > 0:20:57"Have you said a cuddly toy? Have you said a cuddly toy?"

0:20:57 > 0:20:59- "Yes, I've said a cuddly toy."- Yeah.

0:20:59 > 0:21:00Cos that was always there. But the Teasmade,

0:21:00 > 0:21:04the electric blankets, the candlewick cover for your bed,

0:21:04 > 0:21:07all the things that were trendy in those days, maybe a radio.

0:21:07 > 0:21:12What else did they have? Cutlery and vases and glasses and all of that.

0:21:12 > 0:21:14- MIMICS BUZZER:- You've won! - CAROL LAUGHS

0:21:14 > 0:21:16- You won, Carol, all right? - I loved it.- What did you get?

0:21:16 > 0:21:20- The Hoover, the shaver, the electric drill, the blanket, the cuddly toy...- A Hoover? Yes!

0:21:25 > 0:21:27So, let's move away from The Gen Game now,

0:21:27 > 0:21:31a world away from The Gen Game because this is TV taboo,

0:21:31 > 0:21:35this is something that, well, dare I say, really made your mum

0:21:35 > 0:21:37and dad hot under the collar.

0:21:37 > 0:21:40THE OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST THEME TUNE PLAYS

0:21:46 > 0:21:49Is this The Old Grey Whistle Test? Do you know what?

0:21:49 > 0:21:51I'm surprised I even know that

0:21:51 > 0:21:52because I was never allowed to watch it.

0:22:02 > 0:22:04- Wonderful opening music, isn't it? - It is, isn't it?

0:22:04 > 0:22:07What's really strange about this is I was never allowed to watch it,

0:22:07 > 0:22:09it was too risque.

0:22:09 > 0:22:11It was on late at night as well, but the Sex Pistols and groups

0:22:11 > 0:22:15- like that were on and anything with that word in front of it...- Yeah!

0:22:15 > 0:22:17- And were originally on this programme.- Yes.- It was...

0:22:17 > 0:22:20It certainly was a forerunner for...just great acts.

0:22:20 > 0:22:21Look at Whispering Bob!

0:22:21 > 0:22:24Hello there and welcome to this week's Whistle Test.

0:22:24 > 0:22:27- Do you know, the thing is, now I know him, he's a friend...- Uh-huh.

0:22:27 > 0:22:31..and it's so strange to think that I wasn't allowed to watch him

0:22:31 > 0:22:33and now he's just...amazing.

0:22:33 > 0:22:36First of all, music from an American group who are to The Stones

0:22:36 > 0:22:38what The Monkees were to The Beatles -

0:22:38 > 0:22:40a pale and amusing derivative.

0:22:40 > 0:22:42These are the New York Dolls.

0:22:42 > 0:22:46- Remember that Love Story movie that was out many moons ago with Ali MacGraw in it?- Yeah, yeah.

0:22:46 > 0:22:48I didn't see that till I was about 31,

0:22:48 > 0:22:51so just a couple of days ago, frankly. Um, because...

0:22:51 > 0:22:52Thank you for not laughing at that.

0:22:52 > 0:22:54- THEY LAUGH - I'm sorry.

0:22:54 > 0:22:56You managed to keep a straight face.

0:22:56 > 0:22:59But because there was so much shenanigans in it, put it that way.

0:22:59 > 0:23:02- Yeah.- So my dad would just say, "This is rubbish," and switch it off.

0:23:02 > 0:23:04But in a way, I wasn't bothered about that

0:23:04 > 0:23:07because I used to find it embarrassing. We were all very young

0:23:07 > 0:23:10and innocent and, you know, a couple kissing on telly was like,

0:23:10 > 0:23:12"Oh, Mum and Dad are in here, don't want to see that."

0:23:12 > 0:23:14- And they wouldn't let you watch this?- No.

0:23:14 > 0:23:17Did you know that The Whistle Test was actually commissioned

0:23:17 > 0:23:18by David Attenborough?

0:23:18 > 0:23:20- No, I didn't.- Yeah.- Gosh.

0:23:20 > 0:23:23It was good, though. All my friends at school were allowed to watch it

0:23:23 > 0:23:27and they'd be in in the morning at school saying who they'd been watching and how cool they were

0:23:27 > 0:23:31and how brilliant they were, and I just didn't know anything.

0:23:31 > 0:23:35- Aww, did you pretend that you'd watched it?- Yes, sometimes I did.

0:23:35 > 0:23:37- Ah.- Cos I felt so uncool! - And do you think...?

0:23:37 > 0:23:40- I mean, you've now befriended... It's Bob, isn't it?- Bob, yeah.

0:23:40 > 0:23:42Is that because way back then you just wasn't allowed

0:23:42 > 0:23:44- to even watch the show?- No...

0:23:44 > 0:23:46Have you ever confessed to him that...?

0:23:46 > 0:23:49No, I've never confessed to him, so I hope he's not watching today!

0:23:49 > 0:23:53- But, no, I haven't. But he's a lovely, gentle man, Bob Harris.- Mm.

0:23:53 > 0:23:55Really lovely.

0:23:55 > 0:23:56Mock rock.

0:23:56 > 0:24:00The New York Dolls and one of the songs from their first album,

0:24:00 > 0:24:01that was called Jet Boy.

0:24:01 > 0:24:04Was this the sort of thing you were into at...?

0:24:04 > 0:24:07I was more a Donny Osmond kind of girl, loved Donny Osmond.

0:24:07 > 0:24:09Bay City Rollers to a certain extent.

0:24:09 > 0:24:11I mean, when I was growing up at school

0:24:11 > 0:24:13we had all the Bay City Rollers stuff,

0:24:13 > 0:24:14like the short tartan trousers,

0:24:14 > 0:24:17the hessian bags that had Bay City Rollers on them, all that stuff.

0:24:17 > 0:24:20But it was... You were either Bay City Rollers or you was Donny Osmond.

0:24:20 > 0:24:24I know, Donny Osmond was my number one. But music is my passion.

0:24:24 > 0:24:27If I had to tell you anything it would be music, so, yes,

0:24:27 > 0:24:30I bought loads of records, then CDs and now download it all the time.

0:24:30 > 0:24:32- LOVE music. - But when you were younger,

0:24:32 > 0:24:35- did you find it difficult to get hold of records?- Yes.- Really?

0:24:35 > 0:24:37We had to go from Morar to Fort William,

0:24:37 > 0:24:38which was about 45 miles away.

0:24:38 > 0:24:40Now, nowadays, you think, 45 miles,

0:24:40 > 0:24:42a drop in the ocean. But it was twisty roads...

0:24:42 > 0:24:45Yeah, but you were in a horse and cart, weren't you?

0:24:45 > 0:24:47- It was that long ago. - You cheeky monkey! No!

0:24:47 > 0:24:50- But we had single-track roads with lay-bys.- Yeah.

0:24:50 > 0:24:53So, you know, it would take forever to get to Fort William.

0:24:53 > 0:24:56- It was an excursion. - So how would you get music, then?

0:24:56 > 0:24:59Well, Radio Luxembourg and Top Of The Pops.

0:24:59 > 0:25:03And one year, from Santa, we actually got... My sister and myself

0:25:03 > 0:25:06got two tape recorders, and the kind that you pressed play

0:25:06 > 0:25:08and record, so you'd have them in front of the telly

0:25:08 > 0:25:11whilst your favourite track was playing, or when they were doing

0:25:11 > 0:25:14the top 40 on the Sunday evening and you'd get your music that way.

0:25:14 > 0:25:17- So it was a bit... Swwshhhswww... - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

0:25:17 > 0:25:18..until we got the records.

0:25:18 > 0:25:20- It's amazing how it's moved on. - I know!

0:25:20 > 0:25:22- Can you imagine it?- Oh, I know!

0:25:27 > 0:25:29So, we're going to move on to comedy heroes

0:25:29 > 0:25:32and I'm going to take you now back to 1973.

0:25:32 > 0:25:33- 1973?- Yeah.

0:25:33 > 0:25:35- I was 11.- Aww!

0:25:35 > 0:25:37It's going back to the days of bows and arrows.

0:25:37 > 0:25:40Fancy spending Friday night on me own.

0:25:40 > 0:25:42CAROL GASPS The Liver Birds!

0:25:42 > 0:25:44BRIAN HUMS THEME TUNE

0:25:44 > 0:25:48Me, with all the talent, it's a sheer waste of woman.

0:25:48 > 0:25:49They were so funny.

0:25:49 > 0:25:52Didn't you just love the way that Sandra was, like,

0:25:52 > 0:25:53"Oh, I've found a new man,"

0:25:53 > 0:25:56- and Beryl was so matter-of-fact about the whole thing?- Yeah.

0:25:56 > 0:25:59- Hi, Beryl!- Hello.

0:25:59 > 0:26:02- Have a nice evening?- Ecstatic.

0:26:02 > 0:26:05I've had four showers and half a gallon of cocoa.

0:26:06 > 0:26:09- I had a fabulous time. - Where did you go?

0:26:09 > 0:26:11No, Paul and I stayed in.

0:26:11 > 0:26:15- Ooh, did you now?- Yeah, we wanted to see the play on the telly.

0:26:15 > 0:26:17Of course you did, love.

0:26:17 > 0:26:19I found it hilarious, I loved it.

0:26:19 > 0:26:20I just loved the characters.

0:26:20 > 0:26:22- The characters.- I loved them both.

0:26:22 > 0:26:24- Beryl, I loved her sense of humour. - Mm-hm.

0:26:24 > 0:26:28- And Sandra, she was just like your big sister, wasn't she?- Yeah.

0:26:28 > 0:26:30She was really nice.

0:26:30 > 0:26:33I loved seeing their fashions, though, because they had white

0:26:33 > 0:26:35boots, knee-length white boots and you'd think, "Wow, look at them!"

0:26:35 > 0:26:37Look, she's got 'them on there.

0:26:37 > 0:26:40Beryl! Do I ever ask you personal questions about your private life?

0:26:40 > 0:26:41Yes.

0:26:41 > 0:26:44When you brought that fella back last week,

0:26:44 > 0:26:46did I ask what you were doing on the sofa?

0:26:46 > 0:26:49You didn't have to, this sofa gives its own running commentary.

0:26:51 > 0:26:54Four twangs and a boing and me secrets are out.

0:26:54 > 0:26:56No, that was really good, that was good fun.

0:26:56 > 0:26:58So, which one of them was closest to you?

0:26:58 > 0:27:00Which one of those two characters was closest to Carol?

0:27:00 > 0:27:03I would like to say Sandra, but it was probably Beryl!

0:27:03 > 0:27:08The Liver Birds was often seen as a female version of The Likely Lads

0:27:08 > 0:27:13and was co-created by one of TV's most successful writers.

0:27:13 > 0:27:16Carla Lane would become the first woman to create

0:27:16 > 0:27:18hugely popular sitcoms.

0:27:18 > 0:27:23She scored her first solo hit in 1978 with Butterflies, casting

0:27:23 > 0:27:26Wendy Craig as the frustrated stay-at-home wife

0:27:26 > 0:27:28to Geoffrey Palmer.

0:27:28 > 0:27:31She went on to write love affair drama, Solo, in 1981

0:27:31 > 0:27:37and The Mistress in 1985, both starring Felicity Kendal.

0:27:37 > 0:27:42In 1985, she wrote I Woke Up One Morning about four alcoholics

0:27:42 > 0:27:46trying to quit the drink, starring Jean Boht, who went on to star as

0:27:46 > 0:27:50Nellie Boswell in the smash-hit sitcom Bread.

0:27:50 > 0:27:51So, Carol, watching The Liver Birds,

0:27:51 > 0:27:54did it make you want to live in the city?

0:27:54 > 0:27:57I always wanted to live in the city, not necessarily Liverpool,

0:27:57 > 0:27:59although I've been to Liverpool many times.

0:27:59 > 0:28:02Edinburgh or London were my cities of choice

0:28:02 > 0:28:04and I did end up living in both.

0:28:04 > 0:28:06Yes, because it seemed so glamorous -

0:28:06 > 0:28:09- the styles, the opportunities and everything else.- Yeah.

0:28:09 > 0:28:11So, yes, it did.

0:28:11 > 0:28:14And when I was growing up, you know, it was beautiful

0:28:14 > 0:28:16and I appreciate it as an adult, but as a child,

0:28:16 > 0:28:19you did all the outdoor things like going a bike, cycling, and so on...

0:28:19 > 0:28:21Yeah, I mean, you had an idyllic childhood.

0:28:21 > 0:28:24Yes, but it didn't have cinemas and things like that.

0:28:24 > 0:28:26The disco was in the local hall, for example,

0:28:26 > 0:28:29so it wasn't a discotheque, as they were called in those days.

0:28:29 > 0:28:32Did you eventually get a pair of knee-high white boots?

0:28:32 > 0:28:34No, I got knee-high black ones, though.

0:28:34 > 0:28:37Let's not go there, Carol, let's move on.

0:28:43 > 0:28:45Carol, what was it your mum and dad loved to watch?

0:28:45 > 0:28:48A whole host of things, but again, it is Saturday night viewing -

0:28:48 > 0:28:51- Blankety Blank with Terry Wogan.- Oh!

0:28:51 > 0:28:52They were big fans of Terry Wogan.

0:28:52 > 0:28:55So I'm going to take you back there now,

0:28:55 > 0:28:58to your parents' choice - Blankety Blank.

0:28:58 > 0:29:00APPLAUSE

0:29:00 > 0:29:02Good evening and welcome.

0:29:02 > 0:29:05Now, who have we here that we haven't had before?

0:29:05 > 0:29:06- Me, sir.- You, sir?

0:29:06 > 0:29:07- Yes, me, sir.- Wee Joe Brown.

0:29:07 > 0:29:09Yes, sir.

0:29:09 > 0:29:13- Do you know, the star of this was the microphone, wasn't it? - Oh...

0:29:13 > 0:29:16- They loved that.- Yeah, they did too.

0:29:16 > 0:29:18Said Biggles, "By Jove,

0:29:18 > 0:29:22"flying in an open biplane is an exhilarating experience."

0:29:22 > 0:29:25- Very good that, isn't it? - Yes, very good, yes, carry on.

0:29:25 > 0:29:29"Why, the wind almost blew my BLANK off."

0:29:30 > 0:29:32Do you know, this takes me back.

0:29:32 > 0:29:34We'd all be sitting round, you know,

0:29:34 > 0:29:37watching the telly, and it was - shhh,

0:29:37 > 0:29:41silence whilst we watched this and listened to what Terry's saying.

0:29:41 > 0:29:43But it was so funny and some of the answers they gave,

0:29:43 > 0:29:45and you'd play along with them as well.

0:29:45 > 0:29:46- Goggles?- Goggles.

0:29:46 > 0:29:49I thought from the old days they would always wear one of these?

0:29:49 > 0:29:50Yes, wig.

0:29:50 > 0:29:51BUZZER

0:29:51 > 0:29:54It's amazing when you look at it and you see all the hairdos,

0:29:54 > 0:29:56- which were trendy at the time.- Yeah.

0:29:56 > 0:29:59Well, I copied Norman and I had toupee, but...

0:29:59 > 0:30:01- Goggles!- I had goggles.

0:30:01 > 0:30:03BUZZER, APPLAUSE

0:30:03 > 0:30:06But some of the things they came out with were so random,

0:30:06 > 0:30:08you know, "What?!"

0:30:08 > 0:30:10Come on, handsome. Pants, you had.

0:30:10 > 0:30:12LAUGHTER

0:30:12 > 0:30:14"Almost blew my pants off?" Some wind!

0:30:14 > 0:30:18You wonder how long it took to film this with all the laughter and everything.

0:30:18 > 0:30:19Mm.

0:30:20 > 0:30:24She's gone with goggles. I think... Well done, Lynsey.

0:30:24 > 0:30:26Terry was brilliant as well, he's got the gift of the gab.

0:30:26 > 0:30:28Yeah, there's a real art to it.

0:30:28 > 0:30:31I mean, he's got a lot going on there - he's got six celebrities, he's got the contestants.

0:30:31 > 0:30:35Well, there you are, Connie, two points is as good as anything on this show.

0:30:35 > 0:30:37They had the Supermatch Game which used to finish it,

0:30:37 > 0:30:39and I bet you always wished you could play that, didn't you?

0:30:39 > 0:30:41- Yes, yes!- Good.- Oh, no!

0:30:41 > 0:30:43Good.

0:30:43 > 0:30:46- And here it is. Here it is. - Brilliant.

0:30:46 > 0:30:50So, look, I've even got a... I'm not quite sure what it is.

0:30:50 > 0:30:51Looks like a drumstick.

0:30:51 > 0:30:53It is, actually, you know, we've adapted that.

0:30:53 > 0:30:55But it's good, it's good.

0:30:55 > 0:30:58So, we are going with the theme of you being the gorgeous,

0:30:58 > 0:31:00lovely weather lady that you are. Snow.

0:31:00 > 0:31:04So, what do we think it is? What do we think that is?

0:31:04 > 0:31:05What do you want to put in there?

0:31:05 > 0:31:08- Shower.- Snow shower?

0:31:08 > 0:31:11I'm like as if I think that this works, I can't believe...

0:31:11 > 0:31:13I want to say Snow White, in all honesty,

0:31:13 > 0:31:17- but sticking with the weather theme, I'm going to say snow shower.- Whoa...

0:31:17 > 0:31:21- Let's see. So. This is for one point.- Yeah.

0:31:21 > 0:31:25- We did ask 100 people to supply this...missing word.- OK.

0:31:25 > 0:31:29- You are saying...remind me again? - Snow shower.

0:31:29 > 0:31:32OK, let's see if you get... Snow shower?

0:31:32 > 0:31:36- BRIAN GASPS - Snow White, which was, of course, your first answer there.

0:31:36 > 0:31:40- Ooh.- Gasps of awe from Carol.

0:31:40 > 0:31:43Number two, sno-o-o-ow...

0:31:43 > 0:31:45Plough?

0:31:45 > 0:31:46Man! Oh!

0:31:46 > 0:31:51- Yeah. So we are hoping that this is snow... Remind me again?- Showers.

0:31:51 > 0:31:53- CAROL GASPS - Snowball!

0:31:53 > 0:31:55- So you are completely wrong.- Gutted!

0:31:55 > 0:31:59- Well, commiserations.- I'm rubbish at all the games on this show, aren't I?

0:31:59 > 0:32:03- Uh, no, you're not. Yes, you are. - Yes, I am.

0:32:03 > 0:32:06I would like to give you a consolation prize,

0:32:06 > 0:32:10something that you can take home with you and here it is.

0:32:10 > 0:32:14I've always wanted one of these. Thank you very much, Brian.

0:32:14 > 0:32:16- It's a pleasure!- I love it.

0:32:21 > 0:32:23Carol, we're moving on to your guilty pleasure now,

0:32:23 > 0:32:28something that you would not ever miss.

0:32:28 > 0:32:30That has to be Starsky & Hutch.

0:32:30 > 0:32:34- Oh, you betcha!- Oh, I loved this!

0:32:34 > 0:32:37STARSKY & HUTCH THEME TUNE PLAYS

0:32:37 > 0:32:40- Look at that car.- Look at that car, look at it, it takes the corner...

0:32:40 > 0:32:42I know, typical bloke, ain't I? Look at the car!

0:32:42 > 0:32:46And the way they fall over the bonnet. Especially Hutch. Phwoar!

0:32:46 > 0:32:49- You had a soft spot for Hutch? Really?- Yes.

0:32:49 > 0:32:54In the 1970s, cop shows didn't come much cooler than this.

0:32:54 > 0:32:58David Starsky and Kenneth Hutch skidded their way around

0:32:58 > 0:33:04Bay City, California, catching bad guys in their iconic Gran Torino.

0:33:04 > 0:33:07The series caught the mood of the decade with its fashionable

0:33:07 > 0:33:10flares and funky soundtrack.

0:33:13 > 0:33:16Do you know, I used to wash my hair before this came on every week.

0:33:16 > 0:33:19I'm going to have to hold you back, you are nearly in the telly here!

0:33:19 > 0:33:20But it is the middle of the show!

0:33:20 > 0:33:22Well, at least I can hear the end of the game on the radio.

0:33:22 > 0:33:24Hey, listen, listen...

0:33:24 > 0:33:27- Before the show went on...- Yeah, I can't take my eyes off this, sorry.

0:33:27 > 0:33:30- ..you used to wash your hair?- Yes.

0:33:30 > 0:33:32PEOPLE SCREAM

0:33:32 > 0:33:33Just...just in case. Just in case.

0:33:33 > 0:33:37- In some weird world that I lived in as a child...- Uh-huh.

0:33:37 > 0:33:41..David Soul could actually see me and see that I had washed my hair!

0:33:41 > 0:33:44- Aww!- I adored him.- Yeah?

0:33:44 > 0:33:47And if anybody spoke when he was on, it was like, "No, please don't."

0:33:53 > 0:33:55- And he was just such a hero.- Mm.

0:33:55 > 0:33:59He was all man, there was nothing he couldn't do.

0:34:01 > 0:34:05He was brave, he was powerful, he was handsome.

0:34:05 > 0:34:07He was funny and he was so cool.

0:34:07 > 0:34:12Yeah, Carol, calm down, love. Calm down. Even I fancy him.

0:34:12 > 0:34:14CAROL LAUGHS

0:34:23 > 0:34:26What did you think of the other characters in it and Huggy Bear?

0:34:26 > 0:34:28Huggy Bear was really cool as well, you know, he was all, sort of,

0:34:28 > 0:34:31shrugging his shoulders as he was walking along and...

0:34:31 > 0:34:33Starsky was too, Starsky was always eating, wasn't he,

0:34:33 > 0:34:35in his big long cardigans and things?

0:34:35 > 0:34:40But he was cool too, but David was the epitome of perfection for me.

0:34:43 > 0:34:46- Don't stand there with your mouth open, cuff him.- Oh.

0:34:48 > 0:34:53See? So cool, took command of the whole situation, real he-man.

0:34:53 > 0:34:56Lines like that, "Don't stand there and look at him, cuff him," you know?

0:34:56 > 0:34:58You are very good at that, actually, Brian.

0:34:58 > 0:35:01- Do you think so?- Yeah, yeah. - Thank you very much.

0:35:01 > 0:35:06The '70s ushered in a wave of flashy US cop dramas that were unlike

0:35:06 > 0:35:09anything British audiences had seen before.

0:35:09 > 0:35:13The kindly policing of Dixon Of Dock Green with Jack Warner was

0:35:13 > 0:35:17still on our screens and despite the slightly more realistic Z Cars,

0:35:17 > 0:35:20British TV needed to take a handbrake turn.

0:35:22 > 0:35:26And it came in 1975's The Sweeney, with John Thaw

0:35:26 > 0:35:28and Dennis Waterman's Flying Squad

0:35:28 > 0:35:31taking on London's underworld. "Shut it!"

0:35:31 > 0:35:36Then, in 1978, it was the police themselves in the dock in

0:35:36 > 0:35:41Law And Order, starring future EastEnder, Derek Martin.

0:35:41 > 0:35:43Were there any other TV crushes? Was there any other shows

0:35:43 > 0:35:45where you would sit there with your hair done?

0:35:45 > 0:35:47He...

0:35:47 > 0:35:52David Soul in Starsky and Hutch was the main one, he was just so cool.

0:35:52 > 0:35:56- Do you know what? I met him in later life.- I know you did, I know you did.

0:35:56 > 0:35:59- How do you know I did? - I know you met him in later life

0:35:59 > 0:36:01and we are all going to see this right now.

0:36:02 > 0:36:04Excited cos she's sitting alongside David Soul!

0:36:04 > 0:36:07We were going to get to the weather, weren't we?

0:36:07 > 0:36:10- We're about to take her out and hang her up!- Are you, indeed?

0:36:10 > 0:36:12- Oh, a little touch of the arm there, Carol.- What was I wearing?!

0:36:12 > 0:36:14I know, we all blame poor Carol.

0:36:14 > 0:36:16- But it is going to get better this weekend.- Yeah.

0:36:16 > 0:36:19Do you get letters of complaint? Do people blame you? Do they shoot the messenger?

0:36:19 > 0:36:23They do. The most common thing I'm asked is, "What're you going to do about it?"

0:36:23 > 0:36:24What ARE you going to do about it?

0:36:24 > 0:36:28- Look how he's turned his body language... - Oh, the body language is there.

0:36:28 > 0:36:31Didn't I hear recently that the BBC had asked their weather people

0:36:31 > 0:36:33to sort of put a nice spin on the weather, regardless if...?

0:36:33 > 0:36:37Absolutely not, David! You must be talking about another channel.

0:36:37 > 0:36:38Controversy...

0:36:38 > 0:36:42- Were the other presenters aware of your crush?- Yes, what had

0:36:42 > 0:36:44happened beforehand was the researcher for The One Show

0:36:44 > 0:36:47phoned me up and I said, "Who is the guest that's on tonight?"

0:36:47 > 0:36:49and he said, "David Soul,"

0:36:49 > 0:36:52and I went, "Ah, David Soul who was Hutch in Starsky & Hutch?"

0:36:52 > 0:36:56and he said, "Yes," and I went, "Oh, I used to LOVE him."

0:36:56 > 0:37:00So, on the show, they were playing a little video of something else.

0:37:00 > 0:37:03Adrian Chiles turns to David Soul and said,

0:37:03 > 0:37:06- "David, Carol used to really fancy you."- No!

0:37:06 > 0:37:09Yes, and he turned to me and said, "Do you not now?" What do you say?

0:37:09 > 0:37:12And I just said, "Well, David, I haven't seen you for quite a while,"

0:37:12 > 0:37:14and he said, "Well, you are seeing me now."

0:37:14 > 0:37:18Again, I said, "Well, I think you are lovely." What can you say, though?

0:37:18 > 0:37:21- You can't say, "Yes, I fancy you," or, "No, I don't."- Yeah.- Whichever.

0:37:21 > 0:37:25- One time he was in... Do you remember Saturday Swap Shop?- Yeah.

0:37:25 > 0:37:28And Superstore and all of these Saturday morning programmes.

0:37:28 > 0:37:29He was on that and I tried phoning up.

0:37:29 > 0:37:32I must have run up a huge phone bill from the Highlands,

0:37:32 > 0:37:36- trying to phone London all the time to talk to him.- Well...

0:37:36 > 0:37:38let's welcome him.

0:37:38 > 0:37:39- SHE SHRIEKS - No, no.

0:37:39 > 0:37:43That would have been hilarious! I would have been mortified!

0:37:49 > 0:37:52We've reached the point where we want to talk about your big break,

0:37:52 > 0:37:55how it came about, your interest in weather.

0:37:55 > 0:38:00I mean, did you go to college, did you study it, was it a game plan,

0:38:00 > 0:38:04or was it pure luck that you fell into this sort of career now?

0:38:04 > 0:38:07Pure luck to fall into weather. I wanted to be on the telly

0:38:07 > 0:38:11and had written to the Beeb to find out what I had to do

0:38:11 > 0:38:14and I was just a regular presenter, doing other shows,

0:38:14 > 0:38:18but not big shows, and my agent at the time was new

0:38:18 > 0:38:22and he invited me to go for an audition for the Weather Channel.

0:38:22 > 0:38:24I had no meteorological experience at this stage whatsoever

0:38:24 > 0:38:27and I'm saying, "I don't want to be a weather presenter,"

0:38:27 > 0:38:30and he said, "Well, they're probably not going to offer it to you anyway,

0:38:30 > 0:38:32"you big-headed thing, so just go for the audition,"

0:38:32 > 0:38:36so I did. Well, Brian, love at first sight.

0:38:36 > 0:38:38When you present the weather in certain studios,

0:38:38 > 0:38:42you can't see anything behind you - it's either a blue or a green screen,

0:38:42 > 0:38:45so you see the image of what you're talking about

0:38:45 > 0:38:48in the camera in front of you, which is reversed,

0:38:48 > 0:38:51- so it is like rubbing your tummy and patting your head.- Right, right.

0:38:51 > 0:38:53When you've got a front - it's hard not to move your hands

0:38:53 > 0:38:55when you're talking about the weather -

0:38:55 > 0:38:58but when you've got a weather front that's here and you rub your finger

0:38:58 > 0:39:00down along it like that

0:39:00 > 0:39:02and there's nothing there, it's just green,

0:39:02 > 0:39:08it's so satisfying, and the weather, it changes every day.

0:39:08 > 0:39:10- This is satisfying? - It's challenging.

0:39:10 > 0:39:12So getting it right is what is satisfying?

0:39:12 > 0:39:15Yes, because you're looking at an image that's reversed,

0:39:15 > 0:39:16that's not behind you,

0:39:16 > 0:39:18that you're talking about, so it's tricky to do

0:39:18 > 0:39:21and the temptation is to do that when you're talking about the weather,

0:39:21 > 0:39:24to bring your hand in front of you rather than keeping it behind,

0:39:24 > 0:39:27but I just loved it. I loved the weather stories we'd talk about -

0:39:27 > 0:39:30there's a beginning, a middle and an end to every weather story.

0:39:30 > 0:39:34It's timed, we're usually in a live news environment

0:39:34 > 0:39:36and with breaking news and things, you might be told,

0:39:36 > 0:39:38"You've got two minutes."

0:39:38 > 0:39:39You've got what we call open talk-back,

0:39:39 > 0:39:41which means you hear everything.

0:39:41 > 0:39:43If somebody's saying, "I want an Earl Grey,"

0:39:43 > 0:39:45you hear that, or talking about EastEnders,

0:39:45 > 0:39:47you hear that as well as your timing, so you've got a minute left,

0:39:47 > 0:39:50you've got 15 seconds left, whatever.

0:39:50 > 0:39:51All of that is challenging

0:39:51 > 0:39:54whilst talking about the weather at the same time.

0:39:54 > 0:39:58But the weather is so varied and I love my job.

0:39:58 > 0:40:00Do you many times go out on location?

0:40:00 > 0:40:03- Yes, I go out on location lots. - Do you enjoy that?- Love it.- Yeah?

0:40:03 > 0:40:06But sometimes it can be really rough!

0:40:06 > 0:40:10- Sometimes you're standing in blizzards or rain...- We know.

0:40:10 > 0:40:13We know. We've got some classic moments of you, Carol,

0:40:13 > 0:40:16where things did start to go a bit rough.

0:40:16 > 0:40:18And in the north of Wales, for example,

0:40:18 > 0:40:21we'll be looking more at snow in the hills.

0:40:21 > 0:40:22Now, behind all of that,

0:40:22 > 0:40:29we're also going to have very strong winds gusting inland to about 55mph.

0:40:29 > 0:40:31I remember that - we were in a blizzard.

0:40:31 > 0:40:33I had the producer holding on to my legs,

0:40:33 > 0:40:35- because it was... - So while you're filming this,

0:40:35 > 0:40:38- you've got a producer hanging on to your legs?- Yes. And you know what?

0:40:38 > 0:40:42It was so cold, my mouth started to freeze, my tongue.

0:40:42 > 0:40:45It was like being hit by pins and needles.

0:40:45 > 0:40:49And, really, wherever you are, it's going to feel cold,

0:40:49 > 0:40:51despite the fact that we've got temperatures

0:40:51 > 0:40:54up to about ten degrees Celsius in the Channel Islands.

0:40:54 > 0:40:56When you add on the strength of the wind and the wind chill,

0:40:56 > 0:40:58it will feel more like below freezing.

0:40:58 > 0:40:59'The gallery was saying,

0:40:59 > 0:41:02'"This is great television, have another minute!" I'm like, "No!"'

0:41:02 > 0:41:05But you can't say, "No, I don't want another minute!"

0:41:05 > 0:41:07You've just got to carry on.

0:41:07 > 0:41:11- I'll never forget that, ever, as long as I live.- You can't even see!

0:41:11 > 0:41:12'I know!'

0:41:12 > 0:41:15That's it from me. Back to you two.

0:41:15 > 0:41:18Weather is not the only hazard.

0:41:18 > 0:41:19Here we go, have a look at this.

0:41:19 > 0:41:21GASPING: 'I remember this!'

0:41:21 > 0:41:24..although it will still be hot and humid, not quite as hot and humid

0:41:24 > 0:41:27as it's going to be in the next few days, Charlie and Lou.

0:41:27 > 0:41:28LOUD LAUGHTER IN STUDIO

0:41:28 > 0:41:30Listen to the laughter!

0:41:31 > 0:41:33Oh, Carol, don't look behind you!

0:41:33 > 0:41:36Don't turn round!

0:41:37 > 0:41:40Upstaged by a dog - it's the story of my life!

0:41:40 > 0:41:42And it's true, it is.

0:41:42 > 0:41:45You are so endearing, you really are,

0:41:45 > 0:41:47- and you have the most amazing smile. - Aww!

0:41:47 > 0:41:50And a wonderful joy, you know?

0:41:50 > 0:41:52Bless, you're not so shabby yourself, Brian.

0:41:52 > 0:41:55Oh, please! No, but you really are,

0:41:55 > 0:41:59and I think that's what will sustain you and why you are so popular,

0:41:59 > 0:42:03is because of how much sunshine you bring to the weather.

0:42:03 > 0:42:07Oh, thank you, that's a lovely thing to say. Thank you.

0:42:11 > 0:42:13So, what do you watch now?

0:42:13 > 0:42:14I watch loads of telly.

0:42:14 > 0:42:16I'm a big soap fan, from Neighbours

0:42:16 > 0:42:19to Corrie to EastEnders, watch all of them.

0:42:19 > 0:42:21I like reality telly as well...

0:42:21 > 0:42:23- Oh, really?- ..such as Strictly

0:42:23 > 0:42:25and The Island With Bear Grylls at the moment,

0:42:25 > 0:42:27- that's pretty good as well.- Ah!

0:42:27 > 0:42:28- Yeah?- Yeah.

0:42:28 > 0:42:30- We have to finish now.- Aww!

0:42:30 > 0:42:34But our guest always gets the opportunity to pick a theme tune

0:42:34 > 0:42:36to play us out with,

0:42:36 > 0:42:40so what sort of theme tune, or what would you like us

0:42:40 > 0:42:42to play out this afternoon with?

0:42:42 > 0:42:45How about the theme tune to Top Of The Pops?

0:42:45 > 0:42:47- Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee!- Ga-dang-dang!

0:42:47 > 0:42:49That sounds good to me.

0:42:49 > 0:42:50I meant every word -

0:42:50 > 0:42:56this lady brings a ray of sunshine into the world and we love Carol.

0:42:56 > 0:42:59Thank you so much! It's been an absolute pleasure.

0:42:59 > 0:43:00Carol Kirkwood, ladies and gentlemen.

0:43:00 > 0:43:02Here is Top Of The Pops!

0:43:02 > 0:43:06MUSIC: TOP OF THE POPS THEME