0:00:02 > 0:00:05'Childhood holidays, ho-ho, the anticipation seemed endless.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09'The holiday itself? Well, it was over too quickly.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13'So, in this series, I'm going to be reliving those wonderful times
0:00:13 > 0:00:15'with some much-loved famous faces.'
0:00:15 > 0:00:17This is a memory I will treasure.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20'Every day, I'll be arranging a few surprises
0:00:20 > 0:00:23'to transport them back in time.'
0:00:23 > 0:00:25I feel as though we're about to go over the edge.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Well, don't say that.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29'We'll relive the fun...'
0:00:29 > 0:00:31- BOTH:- Oh! Wow!
0:00:31 > 0:00:32No! No!
0:00:32 > 0:00:33'..the games...
0:00:34 > 0:00:37'..and the food of years gone by...'
0:00:37 > 0:00:40That is a little taste of childhood, right there.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43'..to find out how those holidays around the UK
0:00:43 > 0:00:47'helped shape the people we know so well today.'
0:00:49 > 0:00:51Whaa! Hah-ha-ha!
0:00:51 > 0:00:53'So, buckle up for Holiday Of My Lifetime.'
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Oh, yes. We're going to get the water-skis out in a moment.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04LEN CHUCKLES
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Hey, you're not going to guess who this is.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09It's a well-known TV face
0:01:09 > 0:01:13who's been a family favourite since the '60s.
0:01:14 > 0:01:19She was born in 1937, in Hertfordshire.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Ho-ho! Look at that little face.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Ooh, I'd like to pinch those cheeks!
0:01:23 > 0:01:30In 1962, she sailed into children's living rooms on a very famous ship.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36And in 1994, she received the ultimate badge of honour -
0:01:36 > 0:01:41an OBE for services to children's television.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45HE HUMS BLUE PETER THEME
0:01:45 > 0:01:47You got it?
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Yes, of course you have.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50Here's one we made earlier -
0:01:50 > 0:01:55it's Blue Peter and broadcasting legend, none other than...
0:01:55 > 0:01:57Valerie Singleton.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02Valerie, hold your horses, here comes Lenny.
0:02:02 > 0:02:07Valerie Singleton was born on 9 April 1937.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Her dad, Dennis, was a wing commander in the RAF
0:02:10 > 0:02:13and her mum, Catherine, was a trained violinist.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17As a young girl, Valerie had her heart set on becoming an actor
0:02:17 > 0:02:19and a dancer - she even attended RADA.
0:02:19 > 0:02:25But then along came an opportunity that was just too good to turn down.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27And the rest, as they say, is history.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29We thought perhaps we ought to start getting used to elephants
0:02:29 > 0:02:32and John and Peter are having quite a handful
0:02:32 > 0:02:33trying to bring in this little one.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Whoa-eh. Here we go.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40Well, this is Lulu, she's from Chessington Zoo and she's being...
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Well, she's leading in her keeper, Alec,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46and she's also leading us in as well.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Her ten years at the helm of Blue Peter
0:02:49 > 0:02:53not only made her one of the most recognisable faces on television
0:02:53 > 0:02:56but also took her on adventures all over the world,
0:02:56 > 0:03:03including a very memorable Kenyan safari with Princess Anne in 1971.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Following that, Valerie had successful stints
0:03:06 > 0:03:08on the popular consumer show Nationwide
0:03:08 > 0:03:12and BBC bosses banked on her popularity
0:03:12 > 0:03:14when they asked her to front the long-running series
0:03:14 > 0:03:16The Money Programme.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20And I can't wait to say... Hello!
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Oh, wow! Look at that divine car.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28- Valerie.- Hello.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29Oh.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32- How lovely to meet you. - Lovely to meet you.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36- Really good. That is such a... - Look at it!- I know, it's beautiful.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39- This was your...- I think it's probably a little bit cleaner
0:03:39 > 0:03:41than the one we had.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44This vintage gem is a Morris Eight,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47part of a range that was so popular when it was released,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50it actually helped Morris Motors reclaim the title
0:03:50 > 0:03:53of Britain's largest car manufacturer.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56So, where are we off to?
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Well, we're going to a caravan park...
0:03:58 > 0:04:01- Right.- ..which is on the Jurassic Coast.- Lovely.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Although I have to admit that when we were there,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- I didn't really know anything about the Jurassic Coast.- No.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08- I was a bit innocent about that. - Yeah.- I know a bit more now.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13- So, what was the year?- Oh, it's an awfully long time ago - 1952.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16- 1952. Bill and Ben...- Really?
0:04:16 > 0:04:18- ..they started in '52.- Oh, wow.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20- And do you know what the big movie was?- Erm...
0:04:21 > 0:04:23- Tell me.- Singing In The Rain.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25- Oh, fantastic. That was my favourite movie.- And mine.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27I loved that movie.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Here we go, your carriage awaits. Look at this, beautiful.
0:04:30 > 0:04:31- It's so beautiful. - Isn't it beautiful?
0:04:31 > 0:04:35MUSIC: Singing In The Rain by Gene Kelly
0:04:37 > 0:04:39# I'm singing in the... #
0:04:42 > 0:04:43Lovely.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46The holiday of Valerie's lifetime
0:04:46 > 0:04:48took place on the south coast of England
0:04:48 > 0:04:53in the very picturesque Ladram Bay area of Devon.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57Situated midway between the towns of Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01this secluded cove is the ideal place to sit back,
0:05:01 > 0:05:05relax and forget all about the hustle and bustle of modern life.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09The sheltered nature of the bay makes it ideal for water sports
0:05:09 > 0:05:12and fishing. But if that sounds like hard work,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15you can always indulge in a spot of sunbathing.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18There's no time for taking it easy today, though,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21because we're visiting the very campsite
0:05:21 > 0:05:24where Valerie would have holidayed as a child.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27- Did all four of us get into that? - How did you get in there?
0:05:27 > 0:05:31'We'll also be winding back the years to her dancing days.'
0:05:31 > 0:05:32Whoop-sa!
0:05:32 > 0:05:36'And I'm going to net Valerie a meeting with a salty old sea dog
0:05:36 > 0:05:38'who she might actually have encountered
0:05:38 > 0:05:42'when she first visited Devon over 60 years ago.'
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Well, you and I might have played on the beach together.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- More than likely.- Wow. I wonder if you're in any of my photographs.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Before any holiday truly begins,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57first you must set out on the journey.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01And for Valerie and her family, that meant packing their cases
0:06:01 > 0:06:04and hitting the road in a car just like this one.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06What a beauty.
0:06:06 > 0:06:101952. So, you could have only been a little girl.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- I was 15.- Ooh!
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- 15.- And where were you driving from?
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Well, we were living in London then in...quite near the Fulham Road.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25So, to come right down here to Devon must have been a real,
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- you know, a real adventure?- Yes.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30But don't forget, of course, in 1952,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- there would have been hardly any traffic on the roads.- Yeah.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35And in those days, you know,
0:06:35 > 0:06:37I remember when I came back from school...
0:06:38 > 0:06:41..we'd pack a picnic and we'd go off and have a picnic in Richmond Park.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44- Right, yeah.- And, you know, some of us would drive out for the day
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- quite a long way. You never got stuck in traffic jams then.- No.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51And did you have a picnic on your way...? You must have stopped.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53- I think we did stop on the way down, yes.- Yeah.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57My dad was very into cars, he loved cars and he loved driving.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59I've got a lovely picture of him somewhere
0:06:59 > 0:07:01- in a lovely little open-topped sports car...- Right.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03- ..which I think he had to woo my mum.- Oh, yes.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Well, an open-topped car would woo any girl.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09- Isn't this countryside gorgeous? - Gorgeous.- Oh, it's so beautiful.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12And how many of you were there in the car coming down?
0:07:12 > 0:07:15There was Mum and Dad, me,
0:07:15 > 0:07:20my brother, who's four years younger than me, and our collie...
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Well, not collie, she was a sheltie, called Paddy.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26So, there was the four of you -
0:07:26 > 0:07:29your mum and dad, you and your brother, plus the dog,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- plus the luggage...- Yes. - ..all in this car?- Yes.
0:07:32 > 0:07:33I don't know how we did it.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40This is the most pretty village we're coming to now, Otterton.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- It's really, really charming.- Yeah.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46- If you look at the houses, it's all...- All thatched.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49- It's just lovely.- Certainly, I must say you're right.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52I love this little village. I remember we came here once or twice.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53- Yeah.- Very sweet.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56And it's just so... Look at these cottages, aren't they beautiful?
0:07:56 > 0:08:00- It is truly beautiful. - I love this, it's really nice.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06It's a good job that Valerie and her family
0:08:06 > 0:08:08chose to take their holiday in the summer months
0:08:08 > 0:08:14because in 1952, Britain experienced one of the worst winters ever.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Other stories hitting the headlines that year included
0:08:17 > 0:08:21a landslide victory for Dwight D Eisenhower
0:08:21 > 0:08:22in the US elections
0:08:22 > 0:08:25and the announcement of the coronation
0:08:25 > 0:08:27of Queen Elizabeth II.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29God save the Queen.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31- God bless you, ma'am. Hip, hip... ALL:- Hooray!
0:08:31 > 0:08:35And if you turned on your wireless back in 1952,
0:08:35 > 0:08:40one of the new releases you'd hear was Jo Stafford's You Belong To Me.
0:08:40 > 0:08:46# You belong to me
0:08:46 > 0:08:48- # And remember... # - It was a song that would go on
0:08:48 > 0:08:53to become the first-ever UK number one recorded by a female.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Oh, beautiful.
0:08:56 > 0:09:01# Belong to me. #
0:09:01 > 0:09:04But it's back to the present day now and I've spotted something
0:09:04 > 0:09:08that always is a sight for sore eyes on any long drive to the coast.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Oh, the sea! Oh...
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Oh, you beat me to it - the first person to see the sea.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15- Yeah, there you are.- Look at the sparkle on that sea today.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Doesn't that look glorious?
0:09:18 > 0:09:20- And that's what's lovely with Devon, it's nice and hilly.- Yeah.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23I remember this. Now, coming down the hill.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Now, there used to be a farm...
0:09:25 > 0:09:27- SHE GASPS - Oh, my gosh!
0:09:29 > 0:09:31- EMOTIONAL:- I don't believe it. Oh, heck.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Isn't this fabulous?
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Well, yes, but there's a lot more caravans than there were
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- when we were here.- Yeah, well, you know.- Oh, my goodness me.
0:09:41 > 0:09:42'And here we are,
0:09:42 > 0:09:46'the holiday destination of Valerie's childhood dreams.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51'It's the first time in more than 60 years that she's been here,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54'but I don't think it'll take long for all those memories
0:09:54 > 0:09:56'to come flooding back,
0:09:56 > 0:10:00'especially when the scenery is as stunning as this.'
0:10:00 > 0:10:04This is heaven, isn't it? It's absolutely fantastic.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07- We were in this field here...- Right.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09..literally on the top of the cliff...
0:10:09 > 0:10:11- Just over here? - ..just where those are.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14And our caravan was, sort of, back up in a corner.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- Really? Yeah, that's the prime spot. - And then we would walk all the way
0:10:17 > 0:10:18along the cliff.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21- I suppose you could walk... - Beautiful walks.- Lovely walks...
0:10:21 > 0:10:23- Oh, stunning walks. - ..right along the cliff tops.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25'The cliffs in this cove are stunning
0:10:25 > 0:10:28'and I can't resist the opportunity to take a closer look.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32'Who knows, I might even spot the odd bird or two.'
0:10:32 > 0:10:34- Oh, there's a naked lady! - Good heavens.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37There's a naked lady just laying there, exposed...
0:10:37 > 0:10:41- I think that's wishful thinking, Len.- Have you got another 20p?
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Wicked.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54There may have been far fewer people around when Val visited,
0:10:54 > 0:10:58but this area has long been a popular vacation destination
0:10:58 > 0:11:02with holidaymakers enjoying all it has to offer -
0:11:02 > 0:11:07beaches, cliffs and a heritage that stretches back millions of years.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13It's the first and only natural World Heritage Site in England.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17It's 95 miles of coastline and it goes...
0:11:17 > 0:11:18It spans the history,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21up to 250 million years ago
0:11:21 > 0:11:23with the Jurassic area, which we're in here.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26We have behind us some very steep red cliffs,
0:11:26 > 0:11:30with the stacks off them, and these date back all that time.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33With such a rich history, it's no wonder this place
0:11:33 > 0:11:35is so popular with holidaymakers.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39And it's not just the hoi polloi that have visited over the years.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43The Royal family led the charge into the sea at Brighton and that spread.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46So, I think the people of the day, the nobility, felt
0:11:46 > 0:11:48if the Royal family felt sea bathing was good for you,
0:11:48 > 0:11:50then they would do it.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53And that's how places like Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton
0:11:53 > 0:11:54became so popular.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Childhood holidays are often defined by the accommodation
0:12:02 > 0:12:03you get to stay in,
0:12:03 > 0:12:08whether that's a static in St Ives or a pit stop in Perth.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13For Valerie, though, the best room in town was a four-berth caravan,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17and I've managed to track down a vintage 1950s model,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20like the one she stayed in all those years ago.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23- Look at that little beauty. - It's very sweet.
0:12:23 > 0:12:24I love the way it's painted.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26That's exactly what it was like.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30And also, in those days of course, it was almost like that on its own.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33- Did all four of us get in to that? - How did you get in there?
0:12:33 > 0:12:35- Now...- Can we get in?
0:12:36 > 0:12:38- Oh, clever you.- Oh, yes.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42- Would I bring you here and not let you go in?- Wow.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Well, here we are.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46- Are you going to carry me across the threshold?- I don't think so,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- but I'll give you a leg up. - Look at this.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51- Isn't that amazing?- Eh.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Wow. Gosh.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55This is what it was like.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59- God, I can't believe it.- You can't imagine people living here, can you?
0:12:59 > 0:13:01I mean, that must have been my mum and dad's bed,
0:13:01 > 0:13:03- those big bunks there. - Yes, of course.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Back in 1952, a caravan like this
0:13:06 > 0:13:09would have been the height of holiday luxury.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11But with two adults and two kids and a dog,
0:13:11 > 0:13:15it must have been a bit of a tight squeeze for Valerie and her family.
0:13:15 > 0:13:21So, was caravan holidays popular then, as you remember?
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- Well, I think it was because nobody went abroad.- No.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- You know, you didn't do the Spanish holiday then.- No, no.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28I didn't go abroad and have a proper holiday
0:13:28 > 0:13:32until it was skiing with a few friends when I was about 20.
0:13:32 > 0:13:33Yeah.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36So, I suppose that the sleeping arrangements,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39as we look at this one, would have been your mum and dad...
0:13:39 > 0:13:41- Yes.- ..and then that little one up there
0:13:41 > 0:13:43would have been for you and your brother?
0:13:43 > 0:13:45I'm wondering if it pulls out and maybe becomes a double
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- or maybe goes up and so there's one above the other?- Yeah.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- But it might be that we had friends who caravaned...- Yeah.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53..and suggested coming down here, cos I know we had friends...
0:13:53 > 0:13:56So, I never quite know whether they were friends before we came
0:13:56 > 0:13:57- or we met them here.- Yeah.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59- And there were really very few caravans then.- Yeah.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03I mean, it was very peaceful on the beach, swimming,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05walking the dog, walking along the cliff tops, riding,
0:14:05 > 0:14:07going up to the farm.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10What is wonderful, there's so many things to see and do.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12Do you know what, Valerie, I think we should go and do
0:14:12 > 0:14:14- a little bit of investigating.- OK.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21And if you're looking for things to do in this part of Devon yourself,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24I've picked seven of the best local attractions to tell you about.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28This observatory in Sidmouth was built
0:14:28 > 0:14:31by the great British astronomer Sir Norman Lockyer,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34whose claim to fame was the discovery of helium on the sun.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36The observatory was built when
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Lockyer retired as a director
0:14:38 > 0:14:40of the Solar Physics Observatory,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42in London.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46In those days, the skies were getting very smoggy
0:14:46 > 0:14:47and light-polluted,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50so he decided to move the Solar Physics Observatory
0:14:50 > 0:14:52to Cambridge.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56Lockyer was in his 76th year, he was due for retirement.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00He didn't particularly want...agree for them to be moved to Cambridge,
0:15:00 > 0:15:05so he retired here where his wife owned a lot of property in Sidmouth.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09And now, here in Devon, you too can gaze into the far-off galaxies
0:15:09 > 0:15:15using the very same telescope that Lockyer did back in the 1860s.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Now, if you like llamas and you like walking,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21then you'll love walking with llamas.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24They are friendly, gentle and intelligent animals
0:15:24 > 0:15:27that make ideal walking companions.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29There'll even carry your refreshments and waterproofs
0:15:29 > 0:15:33for you. Be warned, though, they're not very good at map-reading,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37so make sure you know the route before you set off.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41There are no llamas today, but I want to take Valerie
0:15:41 > 0:15:42for a little walk
0:15:42 > 0:15:46down a path that hopefully leads to some lovely childhood memories.
0:15:46 > 0:15:47So, Len, where are you taking me now?
0:15:47 > 0:15:50- Well, we're going up to the farm... - Oh!
0:15:52 > 0:15:56..where you used to go, I guess, with your brother.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- Where I used to go for the milk. - Yes. Do you recognise this?
0:15:59 > 0:16:02I do. What a lovely farmhouse.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07Isn't it fabulous? So, were you to come up here to get some produce?
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Well, we would come up every morning to get fresh milk...
0:16:10 > 0:16:11- Yeah.- ..with our milk churns -
0:16:11 > 0:16:13you know, those lovely silver little milk churns -
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- literally fresh from the cow, warm, still warm.- Yeah.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18I mean, you could do that in those days.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20You'd have had to hold it above your head, I suppose,
0:16:20 > 0:16:22so it was past-your-eyes.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Oh, dear. How long have you been practising that one?
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Just thought I'd slip that in.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29..and eggs. Have you got one about eggs as well?
0:16:29 > 0:16:30- No, nothing about eggs.- OK.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Fish, we'd have probably got from the fishermen when I came here...
0:16:33 > 0:16:35- Yeah.- ..so, we'd have had that for supper.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38- So, I think it was mainly eggs and...- Yeah, maybe some vegetables?
0:16:38 > 0:16:41..and vegetables as well, yes. It was all local produce.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Either that or we would have driven in to Ottery St Mary or...
0:16:44 > 0:16:45- Yeah.- I can't see anybody around,
0:16:45 > 0:16:48do you think it's a private home now or do you think it's still a farm?
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- Valerie...- I want a cow. - Valerie, listen carefully.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- I've got a lot of pull in the country.- OK.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58- So, you've...- I'm going to say let's go in, see what we see.- OK.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- What do you reckon? Come on.- OK, OK.
0:17:01 > 0:17:06'Seaview Farm has been in the same family for more than 70 years now
0:17:06 > 0:17:09'and I've arranged for Valerie to meet with some special people.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13'It was current owners Zoe and Francis' parents
0:17:13 > 0:17:16'that owned it back in 1952.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18'In fact, Francis would've been around
0:17:18 > 0:17:22'when Valerie used to visit, all those years ago.'
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- So, all this and the caravans... - Yeah.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27..ever since those days has actually been with your family?
0:17:27 > 0:17:30- That's right, with Dad.- Wow. So you've...- 70-odd years, isn't it?
0:17:30 > 0:17:32- Incredible.- Yeah, it's been in the family 70 years.- Yeah?
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- And you've seen it expand the way it has?- Absolutely.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37So, you must have rented the caravan to us?
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Well, my mum would have, yes. She'd have been down there, yeah.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43So, there you are, you're 15 years old.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47- That is fantastic.- ..up you come... - Yes.- ..with your tin.- That's right.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51- And probably Bill was milking the cows in here...- Yes.- Yeah.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53..and then the churns would have been out there,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55- cos we used to put big milk churns out.- Yes, that's right.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- It was all lovely and warm.- It used to get delivered down the lane.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01- And were there eggs here?- Eggs and chickens.- There were eggs, yes.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05We had big, sort of, poultry out the back, a big shed full of them.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08I went riding, Len. So, would I have got the horses from you, too?
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- Yes, we had ponies.- Do you know, I think I've got a picture in my album
0:18:11 > 0:18:13- of me on one of your horses. - Oh, that would be lovely, yes.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15So lovely to meet you again,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17I can't believe you're still here after all these years.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19- And it's hardly changed, it's beautiful.- It's lovely.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21- It's a proper farm. - It's a proper old farm, yeah.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Yeah, it's just great.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- Amazing to think you were here all those years ago.- Yes, it was...
0:18:26 > 0:18:28You might even have come and played with us on the beach.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31I'm sure we did cos we always looked forward to people arriving
0:18:31 > 0:18:33in the summer and we'd come down and meet whoever's there.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- So, yeah, it was part of our life, really.- And I've come back.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- We've got... To be honest, it'd be lovely to chat...- Yes.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41..especially here in the sunshine, but we've got a lot to do.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43- A lot to do.- So, thank you. - Good to see you again.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Thank you for a bit of enlightenment.
0:18:45 > 0:18:46Thank you very much. No cows now, though?
0:18:46 > 0:18:49- BOTH:- No, no cows. Just horses.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53- Lovely to meet you again. Bye!- Bye!- Bye!- Bye!
0:18:53 > 0:18:57'And while I whisk Valerie off to more trips down Memory Lane,'
0:18:57 > 0:19:00here are some more of my seven attractions
0:19:00 > 0:19:03that could be right up your street.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06The Fairlynch Museum and Arts Centre in Budleigh Salterton
0:19:06 > 0:19:10is located in such an attractive building
0:19:10 > 0:19:12that you might want to stay in the garden
0:19:12 > 0:19:14and admire its splendour from the outside.
0:19:14 > 0:19:19But if you do that, you'll miss out on some 4,000 items
0:19:19 > 0:19:21of men's, women's and children's clothing
0:19:21 > 0:19:25dating back as far as the early 1700s.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29If that's not enough for you, there's the local history room,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33full of information on life in Budleigh Salterton through the ages.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Now, if you like a nice glass of wine with your dinner,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39this next attraction is the one for you.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Under the watchful eye of co-owner Faye Pratt,
0:19:42 > 0:19:47this vineyard produces up to 5,000 bottles of vino every year.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50We grow Bacchus grapes,
0:19:50 > 0:19:54Rondo grapes, Pinot Noir Precoce,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Seyval Blanc, and this year we'll have another harvest,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01which will be our Reichensteiner grapes.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04But don't worry if you don't know your Beaujolais from your Blue Nun,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07this may be an award-winning vineyard,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10but there are no airs and graces here.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Our tasting room is literally in a stable.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17It's a lot tidier now than when my horse was there,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20but people are quite charmed
0:20:20 > 0:20:23by the fact that everything is very low-key.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28There's nothing particularly commercialised. It's...
0:20:28 > 0:20:30We are who we are.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36'From fine wine to more magical memories now,
0:20:36 > 0:20:40'because a little bird tells me that when she was holidaying here
0:20:40 > 0:20:44'as a little girl, Valerie would be up at the crack of dawn
0:20:44 > 0:20:48'to come to this very spot for a very special reason.'
0:20:48 > 0:20:51This is where you'd sneak to first thing in the morning
0:20:51 > 0:20:53and meet the fishermen?
0:20:53 > 0:20:55- You've still got all the fishing tackle here.- Yeah.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58I'd go out very early in the morning and lay the nets with them,
0:20:58 > 0:20:59right out at sea.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04Well, there's a gentleman here that I want you to meet...
0:21:04 > 0:21:06- Who's that? - ..who's an old fisherman.- Wow.
0:21:06 > 0:21:12- And it may be that you knew his dad cos he used to fish from here.- Gosh.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- So, come with me.- That does make me feel old.- Well...
0:21:16 > 0:21:17- OK.- Who are you introducing me to?
0:21:17 > 0:21:20This young gentleman is Stan.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23- Hello, Stan.- And he's been a fisherman all his life.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Nice to meet you.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28- Yeah.- Were you a fisherman here when I came on holiday?
0:21:28 > 0:21:30- I was a young boy then with my father.- Were you?
0:21:30 > 0:21:33- He was a fisherman, and my grandfather.- Well, you and I
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- might have played on the beach together.- More than likely.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Wow. I wonder if you're in any of my photographs.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Now, who were the fishermen you knew?
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Well, there was Goofy...
0:21:43 > 0:21:46..Charlie, Bill... And what was your dad's name?
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- Was your dad Robert?- Bob.- Bob. That's right.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51- Bob.- And you know, I used to go out very early in the morning,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54- I used to come...- That's correct. - And I used to come down from the...
0:21:54 > 0:21:56- That's right.- Did you come out, too? - Yeah, I did.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58- When we used to lay the nets?- Yeah.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Do you know, I think I've got a picture in my album
0:22:00 > 0:22:04of me on the beach helping your dad mend a fishing net.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Now, let me have a look at that. This is...
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- I suppose this is a bit of the old net?- That's part of the troll.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- Part of the troll. - That's part of the wooden troll.
0:22:12 > 0:22:13Let's have a look at this.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16I think this is a thing I was helping your father mend.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18- That's right.- Now, when you were fishing...
0:22:18 > 0:22:21You know, nowadays, you see on the news,
0:22:21 > 0:22:22they catch fish
0:22:22 > 0:22:25and they're not the EU right size and they have to chuck them back in.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28- I've known someone to throw all his fish back.- Really?
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- 17 years ago he had to throw it all back.- Why?
0:22:32 > 0:22:35- It was the wrong fish or...? - Wrong fish for the wrong people.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39- Ridiculous.- I think this could do with a bit of a Blue Peter makeover.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41I think it could as well.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43So, is there still a lot of fishing goes on?
0:22:43 > 0:22:47- My brother and his son still working seven days a week.- Really?- Wow.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48And he's 60...
0:22:50 > 0:22:52- He's 69.- Right.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56And his son's about 50 and they're still working seven days a week.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59- Gosh.- Right, still going out.- Four in the morning till seven at night.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02- Blooming 'eck. And where do they fish from?- Here.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- Fantastic.- And what's their main catch? What do they catch most of?
0:23:05 > 0:23:09They catch Dover sole, plaice, skate...
0:23:10 > 0:23:12- ..mackerel...- Right.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15- I love mackerel, it's my favourite fish.- ..crabs, lobsters.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18- What's your favourite fish, Stan? - You name it, I like it.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21- I'm the same, I love fish.- So do I.
0:23:21 > 0:23:27Well, Stan, I love to talk to you because you are a character.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31- I hope so.- You really are, you're a proper character
0:23:31 > 0:23:33and you look like a fisherman.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- I feel it, too. - How long have you had that hat?
0:23:36 > 0:23:39- 300 years. - LAUGHTER
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- Stan, thank you very, very much. - It's quite all right.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44- It's been lovely to chat. - It's quite all right.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47- We're going to have to move off.- OK. - We're going round the side here,
0:23:47 > 0:23:49- do a bit of courting. - All right, lovely.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58The rocks and the beach might not have changed much
0:23:58 > 0:24:03since Valerie used to holiday here, but the caravan park certainly has.
0:24:03 > 0:24:04In the early '50s,
0:24:04 > 0:24:06there would have been one small camping field
0:24:06 > 0:24:10where people used to bring their touring vans or pitch a tent.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Very low-key, no amenities, no facilities,
0:24:13 > 0:24:17no shops. And gradually, the park's evolved from there.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19I think just from looking at pictures of what it was like
0:24:19 > 0:24:22back in the '50s and '40s, when Grandad first came here,
0:24:22 > 0:24:24it's just evolved so much.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28It's recognisable in that it's still Ladram and it's beautiful,
0:24:28 > 0:24:29and the area.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32But I think in terms of facilities, it's just grown so much.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35And one of those new facilities is this clubhouse.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Word has it, it even has a dance floor.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42'And if there's one thing that I can't resist,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45'it's leading a lady on a merry dance.'
0:24:45 > 0:24:46Walk. Walk.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48One-two, walk.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Walk, side, close.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Walk. Walk.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Walk, side, walk.
0:24:55 > 0:24:56Walk, side, close.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Ah-ha, ah-ha,
0:24:59 > 0:25:01yep-a-wop,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03ye-pa-pa.
0:25:03 > 0:25:04Yep, yep,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06ye-pa-wo.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09'It's easy to see that Valerie was no stranger to the tango
0:25:09 > 0:25:11'when she was younger.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14'And I'll tell you what, the girl's still got it.'
0:25:14 > 0:25:15Thank you very much.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17Thank you. That was lovely.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20- What a marvel.- To dance the tango with such a...
0:25:20 > 0:25:23- Well, no, don't.- ..fantastic... - Don't say it. I know.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26- Was I OK? I didn't keep my head... - You were better than OK.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29You had that nice sharpness in your head.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31- I enjoyed it.- Points? Score?
0:25:31 > 0:25:35- Pardon? A score?- Score?- I'm going to give you a SEVEN.- Thank you.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37- Now, if we practice it a bit longer...- Very special,
0:25:37 > 0:25:39- my own seven.- ..you'd probably end up with a ten.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42- However, would you like to have a little bit of lunch?- Yes.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46- So would I.- That was great fun, thank you so much.- Off we go.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50- Very special.- What a partner.- Wow. - Lenny and Valerie.- Wow.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58For most people, eating out is a big part of any holiday experience.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02And while there'd be the occasional trip into town for dinner,
0:26:02 > 0:26:03for Valerie and her family,
0:26:03 > 0:26:07most meals would have been cooked back at the caravan.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- I've just been up to the farm shop, Valerie.- Yeah.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- And I've got us a few eggs and bacon.- Oh, my gosh.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17Now, I remember you on Blue Peter...
0:26:17 > 0:26:20- Yes.- Quite often you had to rustle up something or other.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Well, I used to have to make things out of old egg boxes.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26- Well, after we've finished, you can probably make me up a...- No, sorry.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28..a woolly jumper.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32- Do we have any oil in there? - Yes, we do.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35- This is brilliant.- I'm going to put the bacon on.- And it's warm.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Yeah, you could... Yeah.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40- Snuggle round it.- Do you like bacon?
0:26:40 > 0:26:43- I love bacon.- Bacon sandwiches.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47- Bacon sandwich is one of my favourites of all time.- Me too.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50- And you?- Yes, I love bacon.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- Now, you're 15 years old.- Right.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Did you have any idea what you wanted to do?
0:26:55 > 0:26:57You know, what your future held?
0:26:57 > 0:27:01Did you think, "Well, I want to be a nurse," or whatever?
0:27:01 > 0:27:04No. I was at a dancing school and I was going to be Doris Day.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07You were singing and dancing and in the musicals?
0:27:07 > 0:27:09I was at the Arts Educational School
0:27:09 > 0:27:12and I've got all my little medals saying I've done my foxtrot
0:27:12 > 0:27:15and my different dances and my waltz, you know?
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- So, your plan...- I trained as a dancer.- ..was to be
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- in musical theatre or whatever? - Yeah.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Carry on, I'm just doing a bit of cooking here.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Oh, look, it's going to be really... Do you want another bit?
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- Well, we can do if... - And then I discovered
0:27:28 > 0:27:31- I didn't have long enough legs to be Doris Day.- No.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34And I followed a girlfriend at the school to
0:27:34 > 0:27:36the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
0:27:36 > 0:27:39- Oh, right. So...- ..and moved on from...- ..the television
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- wasn't in, you know...- No. I was going to be an actress.- Right.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45But then with Blue Peter, you see, a lot of the things we did
0:27:45 > 0:27:50- was dressing up as the characters - Jane Austen, Marie Antoinette.- Yeah.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53But there must have been over all those... Cos you were on it,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55I don't know, was it ten years or more?
0:27:55 > 0:27:58I was on it just under ten years, yes.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01- I'm going to turn that...- This is smelling very good.- Then it's...
0:28:01 > 0:28:04- Well.- You need a bit of... Here. - People think I can't cook, but,
0:28:04 > 0:28:05you know, look at me.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08It's so nice to have somebody doing the cooking for me.
0:28:08 > 0:28:09Well, I was hoping you'd do it,
0:28:09 > 0:28:11but to be honest, I don't trust you, really.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13SHE LAUGHS
0:28:13 > 0:28:15Are you going to do it sunny-side up for me?
0:28:15 > 0:28:16Look, you'll get what you're given.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18- OK?- Sorry!
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Now, I'll tell you what I'm going to do.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22I'm not messing around with you today, Valerie,
0:28:22 > 0:28:23as much as you'd like me to.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27I'm going to now do something.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Because I'm going to chop that bit off...
0:28:30 > 0:28:33- ..because that's not, you know... - It's getting a bit brown.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35But this bit is delightful. Now...
0:28:37 > 0:28:39I'm going to do you first.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Hmm. This is lovely.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45Look at this view, it's so beautiful.
0:28:45 > 0:28:50There's a lovely bit of bacon there, fresh from the farm.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54And now...
0:28:54 > 0:28:56Just hold that knob. Thank you.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59Get up. Get up and don't be...
0:29:00 > 0:29:04- Marvellous.- Ainsley, if you're watching this...
0:29:05 > 0:29:08..perfection on a plate, that's what you've got here.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12I've never eaten a fried egg with a fork before.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14- No, you've got a knife. - Oh, look, isn't that lovely?
0:29:14 > 0:29:17- And it's actually done beautifully. - I've done it to a...
0:29:17 > 0:29:20- Whatever they call it.- This is lovely. Are you going to have yours?
0:29:20 > 0:29:22- Of course I am.- Can I start, please? - Please start while it's hot.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Oh, wow. Look at this.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26Here comes mine.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28Hmm, delicious.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30Delicious. Val...
0:29:31 > 0:29:32Can I have the camera?
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Valerie has just said, "Delicious."
0:29:37 > 0:29:39Hmm.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43Very good.
0:29:51 > 0:29:52Lovely.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55Well, my stomach may be full, but I've still got an appetite
0:29:55 > 0:30:00to explore more of the places where Valerie played as a young girl.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04So, it's down to the beach. And what better place to quiz Valerie
0:30:04 > 0:30:09a bit more about the role that catapulted her to fame?
0:30:09 > 0:30:12Tell me, how did you get onto Blue Peter?
0:30:12 > 0:30:17There you are, you want to be, you know, a singer and a dancer
0:30:17 > 0:30:19and you did a bit of acting.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22Then how did Blue Peter, come long?
0:30:22 > 0:30:26Well, people think that my career started with Blue Peter,
0:30:26 > 0:30:29but I was 25 when I started Blue Peter.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33So, in fact, when I left drama school, I did a year in Bromley Rep,
0:30:33 > 0:30:37I did the Theatre Royal, Bath, The Arts Theatre in Cambridge,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40number one tour, television, all sorts of different things.
0:30:40 > 0:30:41Voice-overs for commercials,
0:30:41 > 0:30:44a lovely film for Ford Classic in Greece,
0:30:44 > 0:30:45advertising their new Classic car.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47And then a friend said, "Why don't you write
0:30:47 > 0:30:49"and try and be a continuity announcer?"
0:30:49 > 0:30:53I got an audition, I got the job, did that for about a year,
0:30:53 > 0:30:55bumped into a guy called Chris Trace.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57He said, "I do something called Blue Peter.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59"We're looking for a girl." I thought,
0:30:59 > 0:31:00"Well, I've got a job on the fourth floor,
0:31:00 > 0:31:03"I might as well go and audition." That's how it started.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05- And you got the job. - I got the job. And for a while,
0:31:05 > 0:31:09- the continuity announcing and the Blue Peter ran together.- Yeah.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Then Biddy Baxter arrived. And suddenly, it became twice a week,
0:31:12 > 0:31:16we got the dogs and the appeals and the albums and they said,
0:31:16 > 0:31:18"You can't do both - decide."
0:31:18 > 0:31:20And my parents were very upset because I decided to do Blue Peter.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24- Yeah.- They said, "Are you sure? Nobody knows about this programme."
0:31:24 > 0:31:26- Yeah.- Continuity announcing, that's really something.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29- Who knows about continuity announcers now?- Yeah, no-one.
0:31:29 > 0:31:30- So, the rest is history.- Yeah.
0:31:30 > 0:31:36And it's amazing that, you know, you've done so many other things
0:31:36 > 0:31:39before and after, and yet it's...
0:31:39 > 0:31:43- Still that.- ..Blue Peter that is the thing that everyone remembers.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Yes. But it's very nice. I remember listening to somebody
0:31:46 > 0:31:49quite well-known who was being reminded about something
0:31:49 > 0:31:52that they'd done, and he said how lovely that it was a good programme.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55- Yeah.- It would be awful if you'd done something bad.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57- Yeah.- ..and it'd been sort of slated.- Yeah.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00But to be remembered for something that had so many accolades
0:32:00 > 0:32:02- and that so many people have... - Yeah.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04I mean, I met somebody the other day and it was a little shop, she said,
0:32:04 > 0:32:06"I'm doing this because I watched Blue Peter."
0:32:06 > 0:32:09I've met people who've said they've taken up interior design
0:32:09 > 0:32:11- or hat designing or something... - Right.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15..because they watched Blue Peter, which is very rewarding.
0:32:15 > 0:32:21I can remember the fantastic things you made out of egg boxes
0:32:21 > 0:32:24and toilet rolls, you know, the centres, and this and that.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27There must have been a few that really went pear-shaped on...
0:32:27 > 0:32:29Yes, there were quite a few.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32I remember there was one day when we had, I think,
0:32:32 > 0:32:35the Duchess of Kent there and I just couldn't get something to stick,
0:32:35 > 0:32:38and eventually I said, "Oh, use a bit of spit."
0:32:38 > 0:32:41And, of course, she was watching, came down
0:32:41 > 0:32:43and sort of roared with laughter that I'd used spit.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45No, there were quite a few things that went...
0:32:45 > 0:32:48But we had this wonderful person who came up with a lot of the ideas.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51- I mean, if I'd actually made something...- Yeah.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53- ..it would have taken up a whole Blue Peter...- Yeah.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55- ..but we had all the different stages.- Here's one I made...
0:32:55 > 0:32:57"Here's the one I made earlier," exactly.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59Was you on it the time the elephant did a whoopsy?
0:33:01 > 0:33:05So, I will be looking for working elephants when we're out in Ceylon.
0:33:05 > 0:33:06And they use these great trunks
0:33:06 > 0:33:08to carry wood around in the jungle.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10They even work on building sites.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12- Who knows, we might see some working there.- Yes, you never know.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15Thank you very much indeed. Can you...?
0:33:15 > 0:33:17Maybe I'll just stand back a little bit. Oh, dear.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Well, I think we're going to see...
0:33:20 > 0:33:23- Oh, she wants to stay.- ..all sorts of very exciting new and different
0:33:23 > 0:33:25things when we're in Ceylon.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29- Here she comes again.- She doesn't want to leave us. Hello!
0:33:30 > 0:33:32- Off you go.- Bye-bye, Lulu.- They do say it's lucky, don't they?
0:33:32 > 0:33:36As I was saying, we'll see all sorts of very exciting things...
0:33:36 > 0:33:39- KEEPER:- Martin! Martin!- Let it go that way. Let it go that way.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41- I should leave her here to have a drink.- She's all right.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44- She'll be all right.- But one thing we must do, one very important thing
0:33:44 > 0:33:46before we leave, and that is to make sure that our animals
0:33:46 > 0:33:49- are going to be as happy as we're obviously going to be...- Martin!
0:33:49 > 0:33:53- ..when we're on holiday.- Oh, get off me foot!- Martin!- Thanks very much.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55- 'That was pretty funny. - That was amazing.'
0:33:55 > 0:33:57And do you know, the very next day, I went in -
0:33:57 > 0:34:01I never go into Harrods, but I went in to get some perfume or something,
0:34:01 > 0:34:02it was the only place they sold it -
0:34:02 > 0:34:06and suddenly in this very, sort of, upmarket perfumery section,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09the assistant started falling about with laughter and I said,
0:34:09 > 0:34:11"I'm terribly sorry, have I said something funny?"
0:34:11 > 0:34:13She said, "I was watching Blue Peter yesterday,"
0:34:13 > 0:34:14and she'd seen the elephant.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17That was the first time I realised just how funny this was going to be.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20- Yeah.- And there are still people who haven't seen it,
0:34:20 > 0:34:21- that's what's so extraordinary. - Really?
0:34:21 > 0:34:24You still meet people who say, "I've never watched it."
0:34:24 > 0:34:26- I think it must be on YouTube, though.- I remember it, yeah.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28- Well, we've got to make our way up that hill.- Right.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31- We've got more to do, more to see. - OK.- Here we go.
0:34:33 > 0:34:34Bye-bye, beach.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43And if you're looking for things to do on a day out in Devon,
0:34:43 > 0:34:49in true Blue Peter fashion, here are some ideas that I prepared earlier.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51That's right, it's time for another selection
0:34:51 > 0:34:55from my seven things to see and do on the coast.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58At number three, a family attraction where you can do
0:34:58 > 0:35:02a little Dr Doolittle and talk to the animals.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Or you can check out the largest collection of vintage vehicles
0:35:05 > 0:35:08and steam engines in the southwest of England.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11And there's plenty for the kids to do as well.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17On the River Otter, Otterton Mill is the ideal place to find out
0:35:17 > 0:35:20about the art of traditional baking.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23But if you ask me, the idyllic Devonshire buildings
0:35:23 > 0:35:25are worth a visit alone.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28The mill is featured in the Domesday Book,
0:35:28 > 0:35:30so we know that there's been milling on-site here
0:35:30 > 0:35:33for just over 1,000 years.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36Although the buildings that we're currently surrounded by
0:35:36 > 0:35:40have probably been here since Tudor times, so around 500 years old.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43And it's not just the bricks and mortar that are full of heritage
0:35:43 > 0:35:46here, so is the way the flour is made.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49The current milling process probably hasn't changed for about 400 years.
0:35:49 > 0:35:53And a little bit unusual relative to other mills in the UK
0:35:53 > 0:35:56because the wheels themselves are inside a building
0:35:56 > 0:35:59and there's a stream running right through the middle of the building.
0:35:59 > 0:36:04But for me, the best thing about this place is the on-site cafe,
0:36:04 > 0:36:08where you can taste what they make in the bakery.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Hmm! Lovely!
0:36:10 > 0:36:14But sailing away with my number one spot is this -
0:36:14 > 0:36:17why not leave the car behind for a few hours
0:36:17 > 0:36:19and hop aboard a cruise boat?
0:36:19 > 0:36:22You'll see some stunning scenery and wildlife, too.
0:36:22 > 0:36:28In fact, the River Exe is home to thousands of migrating winter birds
0:36:28 > 0:36:30and year-round residents.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34WATER great way to see the coast.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40Our delightful day out on the south coast is coming to an end,
0:36:40 > 0:36:44but I'm not travelling all this way without sampling the delights
0:36:44 > 0:36:46of a Devonshire cream tea.
0:36:46 > 0:36:47Woohoo! Lovely!
0:36:48 > 0:36:52OK, we know all about Blue Peter, but then there was a period
0:36:52 > 0:36:58- when you did things about consumer affairs and so on.- Hm-hm.
0:36:58 > 0:36:59How was that?
0:37:00 > 0:37:02Well, I never quite know how that came about
0:37:02 > 0:37:06because I'd just left Blue Peter to do special assignments,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09which was all the different cities in Europe, which was lovely.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12And at that moment, Nationwide hadn't been on very long
0:37:12 > 0:37:15and a young producer called Bernard Wiggins was apparently
0:37:15 > 0:37:17coming out of the seventh-floor gents' loo
0:37:17 > 0:37:19with the editor, Michael Bunce.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22And Michael said, "We've got this new consumer unit programme,
0:37:22 > 0:37:24"who shall we get?" And Bernard apparently said,
0:37:24 > 0:37:27"Well, I hear Val Singleton's just left Blue Peter,
0:37:27 > 0:37:29"shall we talk to her?"
0:37:29 > 0:37:32And then there was a time when you were doing international affairs.
0:37:32 > 0:37:36Oh, gosh. Yes, I went off to Iran to film
0:37:36 > 0:37:38just after the ayatollah had come back
0:37:38 > 0:37:40to film how the women were getting on in Iran.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43And we got arrested by revolutionaries cos we were filming
0:37:43 > 0:37:45without a permit.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48And then another morning we were filming a mullah's funeral -
0:37:48 > 0:37:50not the ayatollah but quite a high-powered mullah -
0:37:50 > 0:37:53and we'd been told to meet in the university grounds.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56And suddenly, we were sort of caught up in this tsunami
0:37:56 > 0:38:01of young revolutionaries all with carnations in the top of their guns.
0:38:01 > 0:38:06And we were just been swept along. And I just remember thinking,
0:38:06 > 0:38:09"Whatever happens, I mustn't fall over," cos I knew if I fell,
0:38:09 > 0:38:11- I would have been trampled. - Yeah, you'd be trampled.
0:38:11 > 0:38:14I knew. And my producer was being split up from me over there
0:38:14 > 0:38:17and the sound recordist. And we kept saying, "Alan, where are you?"
0:38:17 > 0:38:18And "Bob, where are you?"
0:38:18 > 0:38:22- And incredibly, some Iranians in the crowd saw what had happened...- Yeah.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24..and managed to get us out to the side,
0:38:24 > 0:38:26because I think where the mullah was being buried
0:38:26 > 0:38:29- was about another two or three miles.- Right.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31That was a pretty scary moment, actually, but very interesting.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34I mean, I love doing things like that, really interesting.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38Do you think television in general has got better since, you know,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41when you were doing Blue Peter? Or do you think it's got worse?
0:38:41 > 0:38:43- Or do you think it's the same old stuff?- No, no.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45I think it's much more varied
0:38:45 > 0:38:48and there's a huge amount of people on it
0:38:48 > 0:38:49and a huge amount of programmes to watch.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51And I get very upset when people say
0:38:51 > 0:38:53there's nothing interesting to watch on television.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55- There are some fantastic programmes. - There are.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58And the lovely thing now about these history programmes is that
0:38:58 > 0:39:01whereas in the past somebody like me would have presented
0:39:01 > 0:39:03somebody's history programme, now you've got the people who
0:39:03 > 0:39:05- are the experts.- Yeah. - The Simon Schamas
0:39:05 > 0:39:07- presenting it themselves. - The proper people.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09They really, really know their subject. This is lovely.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Thank you for a lovely day, Len. It's been really fun.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14- Can we say cheers to each other? - We can. We can indeed.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19'Valerie Singleton, a true TV legend.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22'And what a lovely lady, too.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26'It's been an honour to relive her favourite childhood holiday
0:39:26 > 0:39:28'here on the south coast.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30'We've followed a path down memory lane...'
0:39:30 > 0:39:32We're going up to the farm.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34Where I used to go for the milk.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36'..talked Blue Peter by the sea...'
0:39:36 > 0:39:39Was you on it the time the elephant did a whoopsy?
0:39:41 > 0:39:42That was pretty funny.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45'..cooked up some very special memories of our own...'
0:39:45 > 0:39:47- Hmm.- Eh?- Delicious.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50Delicious. Val...
0:39:50 > 0:39:55Can I have the camera? Valerie has just said, "Delicious."
0:39:55 > 0:39:57'..and now we've topped it all off with a Devonshire tea.'
0:39:57 > 0:40:00This has been a delight for me
0:40:00 > 0:40:04because I had never been to this area,
0:40:04 > 0:40:08and it is beautiful. And I will never ever, as long as I live,
0:40:08 > 0:40:13forget coming over that hill in that little car
0:40:13 > 0:40:18and then going down and we see the sea and the cliffs.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20It was just magic.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22It was absolutely stunning, you're right.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25'Well, the food is SCONE but not forgotten.
0:40:25 > 0:40:30'And as I know Valerie used to love horse riding on her family holidays,
0:40:30 > 0:40:33'our last port of call is a local stables
0:40:33 > 0:40:36'where I want to hand over a few souvenirs
0:40:36 > 0:40:38'to remind her of our time together.'
0:40:38 > 0:40:41It's been the most enjoyable day,
0:40:41 > 0:40:44- it really has.- I've had a lovely time. Thank you, Len, very much.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47- I'd like to give you this. This is a little...- Wow.- ..scrapbook.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51- Oh, it's lovely. - Holiday Of My Lifetime.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54Just as a few memories and photographs and things.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57- Oh, how super.- So...- Oh, lovely.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59'A photo album full of memories from
0:40:59 > 0:41:02'our delightful day out in Devon.'
0:41:02 > 0:41:04And that's really nice.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07- Thank you so much.- You're welcome.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09'And that's not all I've got
0:41:09 > 0:41:10'for the lovely Valerie.'
0:41:10 > 0:41:16Now, knowing how great you were on Blue Peter at making things,
0:41:16 > 0:41:22here is build-your-own 1950s caravan kit.
0:41:22 > 0:41:23It's all in there.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26And I know what, you want me to make it up and then get in touch with you
0:41:26 > 0:41:29- in a couple of weeks and... - Photograph.- Photograph, OK.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33- Look at that. - Build-your-own 1950s caravan kit.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35Well, at least today, having seen that one, I know...
0:41:35 > 0:41:38- You've got the clue.- I've got a clue, I know what it looks like.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41Well, in the tradition of Blue Peter...
0:41:46 > 0:41:50- ..here is one I did earlier. - Oh, look at that.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53- SHE LAUGHS - That's gorgeous.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55Very, very sweet.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58- That is so nice.- All hand-painted.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00It's even got the little beds inside, look at that.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03It took me hours upon hours.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08- What's it made from?- It's made from tender loving care and patience,
0:42:08 > 0:42:11- that's what it's made from. - It's gorgeous. Thank you so much.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13- And do you know, it's all the colours I love.- There you are.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17- I love lime green. - And pastel shades.- It's sweet.
0:42:17 > 0:42:22'And there's one final thing for Valerie in Goodman's goody bag.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24'Oh, look at this.'
0:42:24 > 0:42:26- Ladram Bay.- Ladram Bay. - That's beautiful.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29- In the days when I was there. - There it is, yes,
0:42:29 > 0:42:30and you can see how little there was.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33That is absolutely fantastic.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35That's what it was like when I was there before.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37- Yeah, there's your car, that could well be you.- Yes, absolutely.
0:42:37 > 0:42:42- It probably is.- Yeah.- Look, the cars are all the same, aren't they?- Yeah.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45- All black and all... - It's very lovely. A wonderful gift.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47- Well, these are all memories... - Thank you so much.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50And I hope you've had as much fun as I have because...
0:42:50 > 0:42:52- I have. I've had a lovely, lovely day.- ..it's just been great.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55- Big kiss. Thank you very much. - No, thank you.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57It's been really, really nice, I've enjoyed it enormously.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00- Come on, I'll take you back to your car.- OK, OK.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05- Wow, what a day.- What a day.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08So, it's time to wave goodbye to the rugged rocks
0:43:08 > 0:43:12and say so long to the sea views that helped to make
0:43:12 > 0:43:16the holiday of Valerie Singleton's lifetime so special.