Episode 3 Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman

'Childhood holidays? Oh, the anticipation seemed endless.

'The holiday itself? Well, it was over too quickly.

'So in this series, I'm going to be

'reliving those wonderful times with some much-loved famous faces.'

THEY SCREAM

'Every day, I'll be arranging a few surprises

'to transport them back in time.'

Oh, look! It's just as I remember! Ha-ha-ha!

'We'll relive the fun...'

THEY LAUGH

'..the games...'

Yes! We got them!

'..and the food of years gone by...'

-Yummy!

-Welcome to 1959!

-Total happiness!

-Yes, perfect.

'..to find out how those holidays around the UK helped shape

'the people we know so well today.'

Bruce Forsyth?

Yes, marvellous, Len, you're still my favourite!

'So, buckle up for Holiday of My Lifetime.'

I'm quite enjoying being on me holidays with you.

'On today's trip down Memory Lane,

'I'm heading to an historic university city

'and I'm picking up my mystery holiday-maker

'in a classic 1988 Mini, just like he used to drive.'

I'm in this sporty little number

to meet today's guest, who's also a sporty little number.

Here he is as a young pup.

He was born in 1971 into a footballing family.

So, you could say sport was in his blood.

But by the looks of things,

he was more used to batting a ball than kicking a ball.

Between 2005 and 2012, millions of people joined in for Breakfast

and to get a taste of the latest news.

More recently on telly, he's been inspecting food

and is a bit of a Watchdog.

On one special evening, in 2009, he made the headlines himself

when he got victory on Strictly Come Dancing.

It's the man who can, it's the man who can do the can-can.

Oh, yes, it's Chris Hollins!

And I'm going to pick him up in more or less the same car

that he used to whizz around in when he went on his holidays.

Oh, I can't wait to see his face when I pick him up

in this little beauty, I'm telling you! Oh, yes!

Chris was born in an affluent suburb of Bromley in Kent 43 years ago.

His dad John was a famous FA Cup winning footballer for Chelsea

and his mum Linda looked after Chris and his younger sister Elizabeth.

A sports fanatic, he played cricket for Kent Juniors

and later represented Oxford University.

He's even played at Lords!

He joined the BBC in 1999 to present the sport and never looked back.

Oh-ho-ho-ho!

Len, Len, Len!

You little beauty!

-How are you, mate? Nice to see you!

-Good to see you!

Let me get out of here. Oh-ho-ho-ho! Ha-ha!

-Bit of a tight squeeze, isn't it?

-Yes. Oh, Chris! Do you recognise it?

-I've got little goosies.

-Ha-ha-ha!

It smells the same, as well. Oh, yes!

-So this is pretty close, eh?

-Yeah, frightening, actually.

Because it's got a go-faster stripe, the red one. I had two.

A red and a silver one. But just look at it. Doesn't it look small!

It's tiny! It really is tiny. So, Chris, where are we going?

-We are going to Oxford.

-Oxford?

-Yeah.

I know it's not a normal holiday town,

but I'm going to one of my favourite-ever trips.

I'm 17, I've got my Mini and we are going to a cricket festival.

Fantastic!

-And what year is it?

-It is 1988.

It was independence, probably for the very first time.

-And that's probably why I remember it so clearly.

-Freedom.

-Freedom!

-Yeah!

-Now, let me tell you this, normally, I would drive,

but seeing as you're here, this was your car

and you don't need so much legroom, I'm going to pass the keys to you

-and I'm going to let you drive.

-Oh, you little beauty!

-And this is your cricketing gear?

-Yeah.

-It was always a bit of a problem.

-It's a challenge, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It was always a bit of a squeeze. There we go.

-Are you sure?

Come on, come on. Ease it in. And away we go.

Here we go! Yay!

In the south-east of England,

90 minutes' drive from London,

Oxford sits on the banks of the River Thames.

It is home to 150,000 residents,

but the population of the city expands during term time,

thanks to the 30,000 students who come to learn

at one of the most famous universities in the world.

Known as the City of Dreaming Spires,

Oxford has existed for over 1,000 years.

And its ancient buildings entice nearly 10 million visitors a year.

Today, I'm taking Chris back to relive those heady days

when he came here as a 17-year-old.

-Howzat!

-Oh, hello!

Enjoying his first taste of freedom as a young adult.

CHRIS COUGHS

I thought you were a gent.

And we'll see just how important that week in Oxford really was.

You didn't take it for granted, you thought, "I'm a lucky little boy."

Before any holiday truly begins, first you must set out on a journey.

Whether by plane, train or automobile,

we've all experienced those hours of anticipation,

just waiting to get to the promised destination

you've been dreaming of all year.

For Chris, in 1988, his journey to Oxford took an hour and 45 minutes.

It was a seminal time, when he set out on the open road

with his best mate, leaving his mum, dad and sister behind.

Your dad was a professional footballer,

so you really were a sporty family.

It was in the genes, it was in the genes. Not dancing, playing sport.

Dad, um...grew up in a very sporting family himself.

His dad was a goalkeeper and he was probably manager of Chelsea, by then.

-So there you are, it's 1988, you're 17...

-Yes.

Where were you heading from to get yourself here?

Well, my family lived in Kent.

I was playing cricket for Kent in this festival.

I would probably make my way to Sevenoaks.

Might pick up my mate, Dave.

-Who was Dave?

-Dave Penfold.

He's a mate I've known since I was five years of age.

We went to school together.

Fortunately, he was a good cricketer, as well,

so from about ten years of age, we travelled all over the country.

We went all over the world, in the end, playing cricket together.

It was brilliant. Then, he became my best man.

And he's still my old mucker.

-There's you and Dave.

-Yeah.

Two likely lads, 17, driving about in this...

-I know where you're going with this.

-Yes.

You must have had some times, really.

You can imagine what it was like down the M40, you're making your way,

you've got your best mate in the car, cricket kit,

you know you're away for a week and it's, like, "Ho-ho-ho-ho!

"What are we going to get up to this week?"

When I think of you, 17, you and Dave must have been... Your new car!

It's the first time we can smell independence.

We can do EXACTLY what we want.

So, this is it, we are now in the middle of Oxford.

This was my first taste. Because obviously, 17, you're thinking,

"Do I want to go to university? What do I want to do?"

-Come here and you say, "I want to go to university!"

-Yeah, yeah.

-And here it is.

-Course you do.

-I mean, look at this beautiful building!

-Beautiful.

Chris' experience in 1988 inspired him to return to Oxford University

to study for a diploma in social studies.

But today's trip is all about those heady teenage days

on his first holiday away from his parents.

Back in 1988, Britain was a very different place.

Edwina Currie was the Junior Minister For Health.

And when she said that most British eggs

had been affected by salmonella,

sales dropped by 60%.

Edwina was left with egg on her face and she had to resign from her post.

The nation enjoyed a good laugh.

And all for a good cause,

when Rowan Atkinson helped launch the first-ever Comic Relief.

3.5 million red noses were sold

and £15 million was raised for charity.

And the world of pop was dominated

by producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman.

Neighbours starlet Kylie Minogue walked away from Ramsay Street

into the music charts, releasing this little ditty.

# I should be so lucky

# Lucky, lucky, lucky

# I should be so lucky in love...#

It was one of the best-selling songs of '88.

She should be so lucky, indeed!

To start Chris's holiday of his lifetime,

I've brought him back to the setting of his cricketing festival,

the historic Wadham College.

It's here that the likes of broadcaster Melvyn Bragg

and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams once studied.

With its 400-year-old buildings, it must have been a world away

from your average summer holiday when young Chris showed up in 1988.

Chris! Chris, this is a place, ain't it?

This is Wadham College.

This is certainly my first taste of Oxford University.

You must have been so excited.

-Come on, let's go in and have a look.

-Come on.

And would you believe it, Chris and his team mates even stayed here!

Part of the magic of any childhood holiday is the excitement

of staying somewhere different.

The sights, smells and the thrill of having a new bed to lie in!

In 1988, Chris came to Oxford as a junior cricketer

for the county of Kent.

He stayed in the 17th-Century grandeur of Wadham College,

much more glorious chateaux than dingy chalet.

-Here we are.

-Look at it.

You come in there, really noisy and then you come here,

-(and this place makes you whisper, doesn't it?)

-It's like a library.

You feel as if you could be back in the 17th century.

Yeah, it is truly a posh place, I've got to say.

You were a posh family.

No, Christopher...

No, I was very fortunate.

I'm the son of a footballer! So, we're nouveau riche.

So, we were coming in and going, "Hey, hey!"

CHRIS CHUCKLES

The great thing about this particular experience

is that you knew you were lucky.

You didn't take it for granted. You thought,

"I am a lucky little boy here."

I wonder if we could find the actual room.

Now, have you got a clue? Was it over that way?

-I've got a feeling it's left.

-Shall we try and find it?

You know what, I would love to do that. I left a sock there!

In the summer of '88, Wadham's resident students were away

for their holidays, so Kent County Cricket Club were able

to put up their junior team in impressive surroundings.

Ha-ha! Is this it?

Oh, yeah! I don't if this is exactly the same one, but I tell you what,

there's a massive difference. If I go over here - only one bed.

We used to put two of us in here, crammed in,

and the first thing you had to do was go, "That's my bed!"

And I used to always like the one on the inside, because,

less of a draft there!

-Great rooms, though.

-Look at that.

Wash your face, brush your teeth, away you go!

I'm going to check the chair out. I could do this.

Have a sit down. Relax.

You see yourself as a student now, don't you?

You know, the thing is this.

I never fancied it. I left school and I went to work,

and you know, my university was the university of life.

Remember, this is one of the best universities in the world.

-Bear in mind.

-That's right.

The colleges here are fantastic.

But imagine turning up here as a 17-year-old thinking,

"This is where we're going to stay."

So, when you came here in '88, for that one week,

did you think to yourself, "I'd like to come back here?"

As a student?

Yeah, because you look around and you think, "This is me,

"full of tradition, wonderful things to do in the city."

You go look at the cricket pitches, all the sports facilities,

and they're not just for anybody, they're for you. A student!

-And I thought, I would love to be able to get here.

-Sounds terrific.

My dad played football for Chelsea, Arsenal, England,

travelled the world playing, and then he'd come and see you at University

and see the things you're getting up to

and he'd say, "I'd love to have had a taste of that."

Despite playing in front of hundreds of thousands,

playing against Pele... He still would've loved to have done that.

With its imposing buildings and grand design,

Wadham College had a massive impact on 17-year-old Chris

on his first holiday away from home.

The college was founded in 1610 by Dorothy Wadham.

Its most famous alumni has to be Sir Christopher Wren,

the man who designed St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Local historian Oliver Cox knows all about the history

of this venerable institution.

The University of Oxford is the oldest

educational institution in the English-speaking world.

As a consequence, it goes back

to the early 12th, some say, 11th century.

The buildings at Wadham College are a fantastic example

of the collegiate architecture of this city.

You have the dining hall, which we're standing in now,

which is where all of the students, all of the faculty

would have meals, communally.

You have the chapel, which provides religious nourishment,

and you will also have a library.

And then, around these three main parts of a college,

you will have accommodation for students and for the tutors.

So, we have a central quadrangle around which the variables

of library, chapel and hall are clustered,

and the other advantage of the quadrangle is you can see everything

- you can see who goes in and who goes out.

You can keep tabs on your students very easily.

Chris and his team-mates' food and board was paid for

by the cricket club, costing £30 a night.

And he got to eat like a king,

here in the magnificent dining hall at Wadham.

This is not a bad canteen, is it?

I tell you what...

CHRIS LAUGHS

..this is fantastic, it really is.

-Can you imagine coming here for the first time?

-You're 17.

All your mates are sitting around... oh!

I've got goose bumps even now,

because you just think... This is not just a canteen, just a dining room,

this is this incredible room, and on top of that,

you've got your best mates there, you're going to play cricket

and you got loads of stories to tell and we have a week of it.

No holiday experience is complete without sampling the local food.

No matter how far from home, everything tastes better

when somebody else cooks it up for you.

Whether you're crashing out on a campsite or surrounded by splendour,

the best start to your day is a hearty, full English breakfast.

In 1988 Chris and his team mates would fill up

in order to see them through a long day in the field.

What have you got, coffee or tea?

Normally, tea, but I feel as though I need bucking up a bit,

so I've gone for the coffee.

I've gone for tea with my fry-up.

Oh, don't do it! Look at...

Oh, it's the full bifter, beautifully presented.

Beautiful. Bacon, perfect. I didn't always make breakfast.

As in, I might have had an extra ten minutes in bed.

But I remember when we did come down, my goodness, it was worth it.

I've got to know, how did you get from being a player of sport

to a presenter of sport?

I got to about 22, 23, I played a bit of first-class cricket at University,

but you know when you sense that you're not quite good enough,

or in the right place, right time,

so I was fortunate to have played against the likes of Mike Gatting,

Brian Lara, David Gower.

The top... The best in the world.

You watched them play and you'd think,

"They're actually playing a different game to me."

And I suddenly thought, "That's not going to happen."

-And I went for an interview at an accountancy company.

-Right!

Final interview, and I thought, "This is good", my mum was so pleased.

At the same day, I wrote off to a television company

saying, "Can I come and watch how you make television?"

And they said, "Yeah, come along." And I took that job.

And my mum, some 20 years later,

is still very unhappy with that decision!

From its days as a medieval military town, Oxford has grown

into a bustling modern city, still brimming with reminders

of bygone glories.

There's so much to discover here, I've picked ten must-sees.

Oxford is, of course, home to the oldest university

in the English-speaking world, dating back to the 11th century.

The university itself comprises 38 individual colleges,

the oldest of which is Christchurch.

This college alone produced 13 future prime ministers,

the most famous of which was Sir Robert Peel,

who created the idea of our police force.

That's why we call 'em bobbies.

Oxford is home to Britain's oldest Botanical Garden.

Founded in 1681, in order to further the study of flora and fauna,

it's grown to cover four and a half acres

and today, features over 8,000 different species.

The gardens provided inspiration for author Lewis Carroll,

who taught at Oxford while writing Alice's Adventures In Wonderland.

Carroll was a member of the Oxford literary group

known as The Inklings, which also included JRR Tolkein,

author of The Lord Of The Rings.

During the first half of the 20th century,

the group would meet in Oxford's Eagle & Child pub

to discuss unfinished works.

Cricket is Chris's major passion

and it brought him to Oxford in 1988, as a wide-eyed 17-year-old

with dreams of representing his country in the whites of England.

So, I'm taking him back to where it all began -

here on the very same cricket field of Wadham College.

-You know what? I even fancy a game myself.

-Oh.

-Oh, a brand-new cherry.

-How's that for you?

-That's beautiful.

I'll tell you what's good, when you come in here, suddenly,

-this got serious.

-Yeah.

-Cos this was why we were here.

-I hope you've got a box.

-I do have a box. I've got everything else here.

-What you got? A helmet?

-Got a helmet, don't think I need it.

No, you won't need a helmet.

Were your parents a bit disappointed, your dad, you know,

that you didn't go more into soccer and cricket became your first love?

You know what?

It's probably the opposite, cos Dad always wanted for me

to have stuff that he never had so, for example, a good education

and he wanted you to have the opportunities that he never had

so, suddenly, I could play cricket properly

and he loved it just as much as football,

cos he was learning about the game and, when he had the time, he used to

always come and watch, always see me get nought or three, but he loved it.

So, I played Second XI for Kent so county second XI and I played

first-class cricket when I eventually got to Oxford University.

I was there about '94, so I played at Worcester, I played at the Oval

and, of course,

I played in the Varsity Match at Lord's, which was just fantastic.

And in the Varsity Match at Lord's, you scored over 100.

I must admit, I did, yes.

I always feel embarrassed talking about it

but I made 131 in the Varsity Match.

-At Lord's?

-At Lord's.

-The home of cricket.

I'll tell you what, if you never did anything for the rest

-of your life, you've got to say that...

-Exactly.

And do you know what? And I remember, more than anything else, my grandad.

He came to see me play at Lord's and I made 100

and when I came off the pitch, he was in tears.

And I will never, ever forget that, ever.

Right, come on.

Go on, get yourself out there. Warm up!

He doesn't know it, but we've got some of his old cricketing chums

just hiding round the corner.

When we get out there, I'm going to call them in. Oh!

-So, are you ready?

-As ready as I ever will be.

To be honest, you know, it's going to be a bit awkward fielding

-and this, that and the other with the two of us.

-Yeah.

I wonder if we could rustle up a few people to join us?

Have you got anyone?

LEN WHISTLES

CHRIS LAUGHS

You are joking me!

You've still got your kit, as well! Look at you boys.

-Now, these are proper cricketers, Len. Butters!

-Good to see you.

How are you? Oisty, how are you? And Mr Myers, how are you?

I have to say, boys, it's unbelievable.

THEY CHUCKLE I can't believe that.

It is unbelievable.

Actually, not only to see you, but to see you in whites, as well.

It's the original jumpers, as well.

Well, you all went on a tour then, to New Zealand and Singapore?

We did six weeks, when we were 17.

-Oh, you've had a bloomin' time of it.

-I've had a great time.

'In 1988, Chris hit a half-century on this very wicket,

'but I'm determined to make sure that feat isn't repeated today.'

Ed's going to bowl. Come on, get him out.

MUSIC: "Soul Limbo" by Booker T and the MGs

-Ed, Ed, Ed. No.

-Really?

-No. You ain't got the speed, the line.

-Fair enough. I'll go over here.

-Get over there.

-OK, now watch it, sunshine.

-Right arm over.

I'm just warming up a bit, a couple of plies

and a little bit of balletic movement.

Careful, Len.

-Oh!

-Good ball.

-Oh! See? See what I did there, boys?

-Oh, no runs, there.

You know, he never did have good footwork on Strictly,

if I'm honest, and it's showing up here in his cricket.

His footwork is atrocious.

Flat-footed, doesn't get to the line of the ball,

doesn't get his weight forward. You're in trouble now.

-Right, come on, then.

-Might be a beamer.

You know what I'm going to say?

Exactly what you said to me on Strictly.

Your technique is poor, but you should never knock a trier.

-And, Len, you are a trier.

-I am a trier. Thank you.

LEN LAUGHS

Chris' cricketing tour and holiday have given him friends for life.

He shared his 1988 trip to Oxford with his best mate Dave

and I hear they have had a bit of sporting rivalry that's been

going on since they were boys.

-Tell me about you and Dave and the Century Cup.

-Oh, God.

Well, when we were 12, we were at a little junior school

and they had this Century Cup, ie for someone who made 100 in a match.

And it hadn't been won since 1948 or something like that, 1949.

And then, one week, Dave made 109, and I can remember the moment.

He was like, "Oh, this is brilliant" and the school went mad.

"This is fantastic, great moment for you, Dave."

And then, the very next week, I made 113.

-Mates are going, "Yeah, really pleased for you. Really pleased."

-Oh.

And so, hadn't been won since 1948,

and then two of us have got to share it.

And then, I had it first year, then he got it back, then I had

it for about 15 years, cos I kept forgetting to give it back to him.

So, who's got the Century Cup now?

I gave it to him at his wedding

and then I got married five or six years later and I think he gave it

back to me, but as you ask me, I think I might have left it there.

I think he's still got it.

-The best man better have picked it up.

-You better get it back.

-Yeah, it's about my turn, isn't it?

-Yeah.

With Oxford's beautiful architecture and ancient attractions,

there are fascinating things to do at every turn.

In the city's Holywell Street stands the oldest custom-built

concert hall in Europe.

Designed for chamber music, but often used for classic recitals,

it's staged musical performances for more than 250 years.

Older still is the medieval Oxford Castle.

First built in the year 1071,

the mainly-wooden structure was replaced with stone.

But its military value faded

and, from the 14th century to the 20th,

it was mainly used as a prison.

Today, it's a museum, with visitors able to explore

the 900-year-old crypt

or climb St George's Tower, one of the oldest buildings in Oxford.

A significantly-younger attraction

can be found ten miles outside the city.

Inside Furze Brake Woods are over 40 different obstacles

including swings, rope bridges and a 126m zip line,

on which visitors reach speeds up to 25mph.

Not for the faint-hearted. And not for me.

While most 17-year-old boys

would be looking to head abroad on a lads' holiday,

Chris came to Oxford to play cricket for five straight days.

Once the match was over,

the team would head off, in search of a hot curry

and a plate of extra chillies.

They must be mad - I've never had a chilli in my life!

Ah, lovely. Lovely here.

-Cheers, good health.

-Cheers, good health to you.

-This all looks good, these have got a bit of chilli in here already.

-Yeah.

But the thing that's frightening me is that.

This is exactly what Chris would have eaten 26 years ago.

And while tucking into his favourite curry,

Chris and his pals would indulge in a variety of games.

His favourite was called Spoof.

-Do you know the rules?

-I know you've got to have three coins.

-Yeah.

So, what happens is you've got three coins, I've got three coins

and then I make a decision under the table, I either put three,

two, one or no coins in my hands

and then you have to guess the total number of coins in a hand.

-And whoever loses...

-Yeah.

-..has to eat that?

-Yeah.

I've been there, I'm ready for it. Go on. Hand in the pocket.

I'm just hoping I've got enough. Yes, I've got three.

Right, OK, so you make your decision under the table.

-So, you've made your decision?

-Yeah.

-You fancy your chances, do you?

-Yes.

I say the total is two.

I say it's...three.

There's two here. What have you got?

Oh, God. Oh.

Ah! I hate this game!

THEY LAUGH

So, does that mean I'm the winner?

You're the winner and I'm the sorry loser.

-So, open wide.

-Oh, my word!

CHRIS COUGHS

I thought you were a gent.

'I think he's very brave. Or very silly.

'But I suppose boys will be boys.'

-Do you mind if I help myself?

-No, please.

Get rid of that chilli in my mouth.

This looks more like pears and custard.

That'll be really sweet,

-so there's like coconut-y flavours in that one.

-Mm.

-You'd like that.

That one not so much, I don't think, that one's beautiful,

but it's an acquired taste.

Just so you don't feel alone.

-You've never tasted a chilli, you've never touched a chilli before?

-Never.

Well, I'm warning you, it's going to be hot.

Your hair, as immaculate as it will be, will get curly.

I'm going to try it.

That's like a runner bean. It's like a hot runner bean.

-Oh, when you swallow it. Oh, my.

-Yeah.

-Oh, yeah.

-Aren't you glad you won Spoof?

-Oh, yeah, that is hot.

-It won't cool down.

-No.

-Now, it's burning.

Chris may have liked spicing things up when he was a youngster,

but I want to know if any of that's changed since then.

Chris, how do you think you've changed

since the 17-year-old in 1988 who came here?

Well, I've looked at the photographs of me at 17

and I always want to grab that bloke and go,

"You silly boy" because you have the whole world ahead of you,

you can do anything you want at 17 years of age,

but I thought I was going to do it easily.

I thought I was going to play for England. I'd just have to turn up.

All I have to do is knock a few fours and stuff.

And I didn't put the dedication in that I should have done.

You get nothing for nothing. Life's a challenge.

-You only get out what you put in.

-Yeah. Now, you work hard.

If someone says, you know, an opportunity,

I will fire everything that I have at it.

But if only I could tell that 17-year-old that I see in the photos,

"Mate, give it a go now, cos you'll never get this opportunity again."

Oxford made such an impression on 17-year-old Chris

that he decided to return here to study.

So, in 1993 he came back to complete

a diploma in Social Studies at Keeble College.

Once again, he picked up the cricket bat.

Now, I want to know what imprint

he left on the Oxford University record books.

This...is the pavilion for the university cricket team.

Look at that, eh?

We used to play all our first-class games out there and then,

if you managed to get into the Oxford team for the Varsity Match,

you got your name up on the board. And there it is - 1994.

-There you are. C J Hollins.

-That's it.

-That's incredible.

That appearance at Lord's brought Chris his proudest sporting moment.

When he finished representing Oxford,

he had a fantastic batting average of 51.

And then, you see, is it 1954? The great Colin Cowdrey up there,

you know, suddenly you think, "Hey, I'm part of history here."

-Well, you are.

-Yeah.

You know, you can look up there, 1994, and there you are.

But you can look round at some of them - 1843.

You know, this is such a wonderful legacy of cricket and history.

Oh, I tell you what, I'd give up something to have my name up there.

C J Hollins, 1994, I salute you.

There's much more to Oxford than a university.

Industry and commerce has played a big factor

in the growth of Oxford, as historian Oliver Cox explains.

So, we think of Oxford as a medieval academic town, but actually,

it's the birthplace of the modern British motor industry.

A young Oxford bicycle mechanic, William Morris,

strapped an engine to his bike, created motorbikes.

Add an extra two wheels

and, by 1914, was producing 100 cars a month.

So, Morris creates the first mass-market car, the first car

that really frees up the British to drive round their countryside.

So, from humble beginnings, William Morris,

the Oxfordshire bike mechanic,

went on to become the richest man in England

and also one of the most generous philanthropists of the 20th century.

And the city of Oxford is dotted with buildings bearing his name.

Aside from the Morris Minor, other renowned classic inventions

have been born here on the banks of the Thames.

In the mid-19th century,

local tradesmen fashioned a new design of boat,

in order to transport cargo along the shallow river.

These square-cut, flat-bottom boats were known as punts

and are pushed along using a five-metre-long wooden pole.

Today, they're mainly used for leisure pursuits.

And it would be rude for Chris and I

not to take to the water, in keeping with Oxford traditions.

-Chris, I fancy one of these for the river.

-Go on.

Yet again, you look the part. How about this?

-Yeah, I don't think we'd better.

-No?

-No, no.

-I've never been a Viking, really.

-No.

We might look as though we know what we're doing.

Well, I know you probably didn't do much punting in '88,

when you were only here for a week

but when you were at university, did you get yourself out on the river?

Yeah, I tell you what, it's a fantastic waste of a day, isn't it?

I mean, look, here we are,

-we're going to see the best of Oxford from the boat.

-Yeah.

What a day.

And now, you're a happily-married man with a lovely newborn baby.

-I know.

-How's that?

Life is fantastic, actually.

My wife and I have always wanted to be parents

and now we have a big, bouncy boy called George. It's great, actually.

And what did your wife think of you doing Strictly?

Do you know what? I was a last-minute entry, you probably knew that.

Someone dropped out and we'd just gone on holiday

and I had to say to her,

"Look, you'll never guess, I'm going to do Strictly"

and she said, "That's brilliant.

"Your partner better not be a fit, good-looking girl."

And you got Ola Jordan!

And then I had to phone her and say, "No, she's not much."

But, yeah, it was Ola Jordan.

APPLAUSE

-Fantastic.

-Well, fantastic now.

-Yeah.

-At the time, it was...

-Ooh, hello.

And you know what probably made it worse, in a way,

was that the judges and other people said,

-"Oh, Ola and Chris have got such great chemistry."

-You, specifically,

kept saying, "The chemistry works." What did you call us?

-Two little hobbits?

-Two little dancing hobbits.

-Yeah, exactly.

Do you think, being a sportsman,

do you think that helped you a bit with your dancing?

Cos I'm always wondering why sportsmen generally do quite well.

Well, I have a theory,

it's not necessarily that they have got good feet

or anything like that, cos I've seen a few rugby players haven't got

good feet and myself, very clumsy, but what we do, sportsmen

and women, is that you're used to training hard.

So, they're used to going in, they're used to someone saying,

"You're useless, pull your socks up, try harder," so you're used to

that and you're also used to pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone,

cos that's what they do every day.

Well, we know Chris can bat, we know he can dance,

but can he punt? That's what I want to know.

-I think you've got to go this way a bit.

-Oh, what are you?

Some sort of back-seat driver, Len?

I've been on a punt before, I know the technique!

-We're going the wrong way, aren't we?

-Len, give me a second.

-I'm not competitive or anything but I want to do this right.

-Sweep, sweep.

-Yeah, sweeping.

-You're about as good at this as you were at the foxtrot.

Yes.

-You're not going to mark me after this, are you?

-No, don't do that.

-Don't do it. Sit down, you're rocking the boat.

-Wahey!

-Wahey!

I could dance to that.

Visitors flock to Oxford from all around the globe.

It's the seventh most popular city

in the UK for international tourism.

And the Ashmolean Museum is one of the reasons they keep coming.

It's the oldest public museum in Britain,

arguably, in the world.

Named after the 17th-Century antiquities collector

Elias Ashmole, it houses the world's largest collection

of works by the Renaissance painter, Raphael.

There are some ghostly goings-on in Oxford,

as restless spirits are said to walk the halls of Brazenose College.

And legend has it, the library of St John's College

is haunted by the headless spectre of Archbishop William Laud.

Specialist tours wander the city every night,

treating visitors to all the full horror of Oxford's spooky past.

Far less spooky,

but equally enjoyable, are the pedicabs or rickshaws,

which bring Victorian Oxford to life with the help of a vintage map.

Top of the tree and the jewel in Oxford's crown is Blenheim Palace.

Designated a World Heritage Site,

this magnificent baroque building was completed in 1704.

Our great war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill

was born here in 1874,

and the palace houses a permanent exhibition celebrating his life.

Chris Hollins is one of the most familiar faces

on British television.

From his days bringing us the sports news,

to winning Strictly Come Dancing,

he's proved himself one of the most lovable faces on the telly.

But after spending the day hearing all about his japes

as a 17-year-old cricketer, I want to know more about his family life.

So, growing up, who was your inspiration? Who inspired you?

I think my mum and dad were the ones that drive you forward.

Dad, obviously, did it more by actions, by going out

and doing what he was doing, but Mum was always there,

so she would push you. She was the guiding light.

What was it like going to school and your dad is this famous footballer

for Chelsea and Arsenal and so on?

For me, he was Dad who got moaned at for not putting the bins out,

he was Dad who was moaned at for not picking you up on time

and he was Dad that you messed around with at home, you know.

It was great and, every now and again, it would

hit you that he was famous, so you'd go out for a pizza

and someone would go, "John, good luck Saturday!" And you'd think,

"Oh, yeah, you're a footballer, aren't you?"

And not only that, your uncle was a footballer.

Uncle Dave was a footballer, not many people know that they were,

probably, the only brothers to play for different countries.

Uncle David played for Wales in goal and Newcastle United

and my dad played for Chelsea, Arsenal and England.

So, since you've left Strictly, have you ever done a bit of dancing?

Not really, cos when you've danced with Ola, Blackpool Tower

and all that, there's only one way and that's down.

But every now and again, you'll have to tell me which steps,

in a supermarket when no-one's looking, I do find myself doing...

-Ooh, a lock step.

-And what's that one?

-And a chasse.

-Yeah.

And then you go back to doing your shopping.

But it all comes back. Or if you hear the music in the car...

Now, don't do that.

CHRIS LAUGHS

I'll have to get my paddles out.

Now, listen, going back to 17, 1988, week in Oxford -

did that have any influence on your life?

It definitely did, cos I said to myself,

"I want a bit of this, I want to go to university,

"I want to experience this lifestyle", so that pushed me

forward to do A-Levels and try and get to university,

but probably, more than anything, I made some great mates.

-And that's the magic, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-I love it.

-Yeah.

It's been fabulous to bring Chris back to Oxford,

the scene of his influential trip

with Kent Cricket Club's junior team...

What are we going to get up to this week?

..witnessing first-hand the sporting aptitude

he inherited from his father.

It's been fascinating to see

just how much this historic English city means to Chris.

I've got a little thing here. It's a little keepsake for you.

-It's a little scrapbook of your Holiday Of My Lifetime.

-Oh, great.

A photograph album from the wonderful day here in Oxford,

a place that holds such fabulous memories for Chris.

His five days here in 1988 shaped the rest of his life

and so I've got just one more surprise for him.

-There's something else.

-Right.

Because I was wounded

when I heard that Dave has still got the Century Cup.

This is a replica.

However, this is the Holiday Of My Lifetime Century Cup.

-Chris Hollins, Oxford, 2014.

-Well, you're meant to do that, aren't you?

Len, thank you so much, indeed.

-That is right next to the glitter ball now.

-Really?

-Yeah.

It's as big as that?

It's as big as that, right in the study, glitter ball.

Thank you very much. Nice to win a cup for a change, isn't it?

So, farewell, Oxford. With your colleges, curries

and cricket grounds, you'll always hold such special memories

for Chris Hollins.

-Shall we do it again tomorrow?

-Yeah, where shall we go?

-You went to New Zealand?

-New Zealand and Singapore, for six weeks.

-Fancy that?

-See you at Heathrow!