Transcripts For GBN New 20240705

Friendship. In this special friendship. In this special episode, new years day with michael portillo, my interview with leslie caron is shown in. Full its a minute past two. Good afternoon to you. Im out. Armstrong Emergency Services in japan are responding multiple japan are responding to multiple fires up to 30 collapsed fires and up to 30 collapsed buildings after a major earthquake. A 7. 6 magnitude earthquake. A 7. 6 magnitude quake hit the noto region in the centre of the country at approximately 7 am. Uk time. Centre of the country at approximately 7 am. Uk time. No approximately 7 am. Uk time. No casualties have yet been reported , but a government reported, but a Government Spokesperson says its understood people are trapped understood people are trapped under the rubble. Under the rubble. As of today at 6 pm. Local time, there have been numerous calls to the Emergency Services and we have confirmed several incidents of collapsed homes following the earlier earthquake. We will continue to make all efforts to gather information in order to identify all injured persons. The specific details are currently unclear, but we have received reports of six individuals trapped by collapsed buildings in ishikawa prefecture. We do in ishikawa prefecture. We do not have information on whether these injuries are related to these injuries are related to the tsunami, but the details are currently being confirmed with tens of thousands of people have been left without power and evacuation orders remain in place coastal areas. Place for coastal areas. Although a major tsunami warning has since been downgraded and that has eased fears of five metre high waves. Smaller tsunami waves have hit the coastline , but no damage has the coastline, but no damage has been reported from Nuclear Power plants along the sea of japan , plants along the sea of japan, an official the countrys an official from the countrys Meteorological Agency more Meteorological Agency says. More earthquakes expected. A earthquakes are expected. A teenage boy has died after being stabbed on new years eve in london. The 16 year old was pronounced dead shortly before midnight in Primrose Hill, a popular viewpoint where families had gathered to watch the fireworks. A male has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in police custody. Officers have said Primrose Hill was particularly busy at the time of the incident. The was particularly busy at the time of the incident. The number of Channel Crossings in 2023 has fallen by more than a third, compared with last year. The final crossings of the year took place on the 16th of december, when 55 people made the journey from france in one small boat. A bad weather conditions have prevented further attempts. The provisional annual total for the yearis provisional annual total for the year is more than 29,000, bar. Anis, monas husband, says their families being treated like a punchbag and hung out to dry. Doug barrowman says it suits the agenda of the government to scapegoat him and his wife. Now theyre being investigated for their involvement in supplying ppe during the pandemic. Lady mone has admitted she lied when denying connections to medpro , denying connections to medpro, which made profits of £60 million. Labour has called for lady mone to be expelled from the house of lords. The government comment the house of lords. The goverrongoing comment the house of lords. The goverrongoing legal comment the house of lords. The goverrongoing legal. Comment the house of lords. The goverrongoing legal. Caseomment the house of lords. The goverrongoing legal. Case eye1ent on an ongoing legal. Case eye tests may be required for drivers over the age of 70. The Automobile Association is calling for the mandatory screening after the number of license holders, license Holding Drivers over the age of 90 doubled in the last decade. A doubled in the last decade. A record 153,000 britons in that age group held a full licence in november , with no requirements november, with no requirements for additional qualifying or screening. The aa wants drivers to be required to show evidence of regular eye tests once they reach 70, to improve road safety. Meanwhile the Party Continues in the capital as brass bands and dancers celebrate the new yeah and dancers celebrate the new year. Along with this. Going year. Along with this. Going away , kwarteng get away from me i away, kwarteng get away from me yeah, thats the one and only p0p yeah, thats the one and only pop legend Chesney Hawkes greeting thousands of spectators along the two mile route through Central London and families even witnessed a brief invasion. Faux witnessed a brief invasion. Faux pas gundam star. Witnessed a brief invasion. Faux pas gundam star. Whoa whoa whoa pas gundam star. Whoa whoa whoa whoa. Yeah, the 2024 parade, whoa. Yeah, the 2024 parade, which started in 1987, makes its way from green park to the palace of westminster. And, im palace of westminster. And, im told, a 20 foot high Balloon Police officer will also be bobbing along the route. This is bobbing along the route. This is gb news. Were on tv, on Digital Radio and on your smart. Speaker radio and on your smart. Speaker two i hope youre enjoying the new year now. Now it is time for new year now. Now it is time for michael i leslie caron, tell me a little bit about your childhood, please. Where you were born. My grandparents were natural born builders. Builders. They loved to build houses. It was very fashionable in the 20s and 30s. Was so they built an estate in perry busk and a beautiful little villa. In beautiful little villa. In louis, which is on the rich outskirts of paris by the river. And it was the grand life like in the 19th century. But but the cook , chauffeur , everybody had cook, chauffeur, everybody had a private car, even cetera. I mean, and then we used to go in procession to the south of france , to the petit busk. And france, to the petit busk. And thats where i was born, with my brother emery. When were you first aware that you wanted to dance or to entertain. 7 entertain . Well, my mother used to be on the stage when she was a bit older than my father , and during older than my father, and during a holiday , she came to paris. Le a holiday, she came to paris. Le grand vie , and met my grand vie, and met my grandparents family , who also grandparents family, who also loved lagrange. They gave lots of receptions and so on, and so forth, and she she used my father , who was five years father, who was five years younger. My family disapproved. Younger. My family disapproved. In obviously because she smoked and she was she had shown her thighs on the stage. Shed been thighs on the stage. Shed been a dancer on broadway. So that was a no no. However, they had was a no no. However, they had to lump it and she married my father and we were very happy. Father and we were very happy. When was it you first thought that you wanted to dance or to entertain . Well, my mother never stopped talking about pavlova and nijinsky. Les ballets russes, she talked about nothing but what was your relationship like with your mother . Well, she was with your mother . Well, she was more interested in books and playing bridge. She used to give me the money she earned at bridge to buy toe shoes during the. War. For apart from that, the. War. For apart from that, she said children bought her. She said, when youre a star, ill be there. So is that why you became a star . Of course. Yes. Star . Of course. Yes. Of course. She found the best of course. She found the best school for me. And she said, school for me. And she said, well , get on with it. School for me. And she said, well, get on with it. Im not going to come like those mothers every day. And watch you , you every day. And watch you, you know, just get on with it. And i did , and shed come once a year did, and shed come once a year and she said, im not quite good enough. So when you became a star, did you regain your mothers affection . Do you think she refused the first contra pact that was offered to me because by then i was in roland petits company , was in roland petits company, and that was very, very glamorous. It was the best company in europe , maybe in the world in europe, maybe in the world in those days. But she turned down the contract, so she turned down the first contract. Second one was gene kelly, mgm , the leading part. Second one was gene kelly, mgm , the leading part. So she mgm, the leading part. So she said, okay, okay, thatll be thatll be good. And she said, but you know , youve got to look but you know, youve got to look at fred astaire. Fred astaire has the best timing of any dancer. And has the best timing of any dancer. And when i met fred astaire and he wanted to work with me , i made a point of not with me, i made a point of not telling him that as a little girl. My mother said , watch fred girl. My mother said, watch fred astaire for timing. Hes the best. Lets go back a little in time. How was your lifestyle, your grand lifestyle affected by the nazi invasion of paris . Oh ho. 110. No. Food and no heat. No no. Food and no heat. No water. Food and no heat. No water. Most of the day there was electricity and water. Certain time of the day , you had to time of the day, you had to quickly fill up. I remember going to bed completely dressed up. Except for the shoes , the up. Except for the shoes, the coat, the scarf , the bonnet , coat, the scarf, the bonnet, everything. It was so cold dunng everything. It was so cold during that first winter. The germans entered paris drama history. The day of hitlers greatest triumph, the day when all the world except the British Empire thought it must be london. Next in paris, it was desperately difficult. Difficult. We ate fodder for the animals. What was it like amongst french people during the nazi occupation . How did you relate to each other . Did you . Other . Did you . Nasty. Nasty. Nasty . Yes nasty . Yes why . I think the french felt why . I think the french felt guilty. I why . I think the french felt guilty. I think the french. No they didnt. They didnt have they didnt. They didnt have they didnt. They didnt have the courage to say no to the invader. The courage to say no to the invader. They waited much too invader. They waited much too long to start preparations for the war. As soon as hitler was building up rose rhodes and tanks. Building up rose rhodes and tanks. Thats when you have to tanks. Thats when you have to build up. If only to show that you are going to be ready in case. But the french life was too good and people were bitter with each other. Rude. You couldnt ask the time of day. You couldnt ask how to get here and there where such and such a street was. People wouldnt street was. People wouldnt answer you. It was unbelievable. Answer you. It was unbelievable. Really hostile. Really hostile. Were you aware of the holocaust . Holocaust . No , i did notice the stars. No, i did notice the stars. On the left side that jewish people were forced to wear yellow. Yellow. Yes. Yes. Yes. And little by little you saw less and less stars. People people with stars. And then people with stars. And then finally me. You saw none. And we finally me. You saw none. And we had a dressmaker who was called rosa , and she , of course, rosa, and she, of course, i suppose was jewish. And one day i said to my father , papa, why i said to my father, papa, why doesnt rosa come and do our clothes anymore . And he said, oh, no, she had a problem with her passport. And thats all i was told as children took a war. War as a joke. It was another game for us. We used to make nasty phone calls to people taking german accent. Then one taking german accent. Then one day at Ballet School , there was day at Ballet School, there was a girl with big numbers tattooed on her arm and. And one day i said something in front of this girl and she opened her sweater and showed us her arm. And never and showed us her arm. And never did that again. You understood what it meant . You understood what it meant . You understood what it meant . Yes. I think by then we knew what the numbers meant. What the numbers meant. Youve mentioned Ballet School when did you start Ballet School when did you start Ballet School . School . I was about 11, very undernourished, skinny little shrimp. It was extremely hot. I went, my mother said to my family, listen , if shes going family, listen, if shes going to be a ballet dancer , she has to be a ballet dancer, she has to be a ballet dancer, she has to learn every day. You dont take that up once a week like young ladies of a good society , young ladies of a good society, do. You do it every day. If youre going to be anything good. Do you remember the liberation . Liberation . Oh, boy, yes, i do , emery and oh, boy, yes, i do, emery and l, oh, boy, yes, i do, emery and i, we said we were going out in the streets. Everybody was. I the streets. Everybody was. I mean, millions of people in paris , each one holding a bottle paris, each one holding a bottle , kissing, hugging. It just was , kissing, hugging. It just was insanely joyous. Insanely joyous. What was your first starring role in paris . Role in paris . Well , role in paris . Well, immediately all ombati when he saw me, he came to the same class i was going to. Same class i was going to. Thats one thing about ballet. Thats one thing about ballet. Everybody goes to the same class. When youre a beginner, you stand in the back and try to do as good as the ones in the front. So i was in the same front. So i was in the same class and one day there was this miraculous , this god like young miraculous, this god like young man with, you know, attitude and grand attitudes. And madame grand attitudes. And madame kissed him and hugged him and he was all party. And after the bar he came to me. He said, you whats your name . And i had decided to call myself corona, the russian name, because of course, all dancers my mother used to talk about with russian. Used to talk about with russian. So i told the truth. I said, leslie caron , and he said, okay, leslie caron, and he said, okay, come and see me in my office at 10 00 tomorrow morning. I want you in my company. I came rushing home and said to my mother, she said, oh, go, good, good. And she said, you go there by yourself. So i went and he by yourself. So i went and he hired me on the spot to do a little solo as a clown dressed by christian dior. It was orange with puffed out thighs. Here in satin, glittered. And here was satin, glittered. And here was a son. And in the back was a moon. In tinsel. And so the number, in tinsel. And so the number, the ballet was called dance. 13 the ballet was called dance. 13 dancers and so i went through my little number. I did my two turns, and i had this to do, and i thought , oh, god, ive ruined i thought, oh, god, ive ruined it, ive ruined it. I wobbled, gosh , id better go home. This gosh, id better go home. This is it. Ive ruined the ballet. Ive ruined all of. And i nearly ive ruined all of. And i nearly went and i thought, well, the music is continuing. Maybe id better continue. So i finished the number and then there was a song kind of applause. I couldnt understand. And this couldnt understand. And this really like rain was beating on the theatre. Oh, the first time the theatre. Oh, the first time id heard that , it was so id heard that, it was so thrilling. There we are. That thrilling. There we are. That was the first. That i knew had dewbs co weeknights from six. Leslie, what age were you when you first came to the attention of gene kelly . By then i was 17 when he saw a probably the next year , and my a probably the next year, and my leading man was jean babilee , leading man was jean babilee, and gene kelly was in the auditorium that night, opening night, tried to come backstage to meet me , and id gone home to meet me, and id gone home like a good little girl. Like a good little girl. Somebody said , gene kelly was somebody said, gene kelly was looking for you to say hello and to congratulate you. Oh. Who. To congratulate you. Oh. Who. And away. A few days before. And away. A few days before. After i got a phone call. Gene kelly wants to meet you and do you a little , uh, test with you . You a little, uh, test with you . Well, as i was quite polite, i said , oh, okay. So i met him and said, oh, okay. So i met him and he gave me a few steps. I thought, well, thats infantile , thought, well, thats infantile, you know, there were no fortes. And none of this difficult stuff. It was all quite charming. I did it and forgot all about it. Anyway, we received a phone call from mgm saying she is coming to hollywood in three days. You yeah. Amazing. Yeah days. You yeah. Amazing. Yeah did you fly to hollywood . Yeah and they said , well, mother and they said, well, mother has to come with you and mother was quite bored at the idea of going to hollywood. Oh but she going to hollywood. Oh but she came and we had to change planes. We stopped in london and then newfoundland and then new york. Every time changing planes. Something or, you know , it was something or, you know, it was a longest journey in the. World longest journey in the. World 1950. And finally hollywood. We were terribly. Gay. Gaze days. Were terribly. Gay. Gaze days. And by then they put us up. My mother and myself in the Beverly Hills hotel. Well, my mother hills hotel. Well, my mother looked at the bill. It was Something Like. 75 a night. The Something Like. 75 a night. The next morning she woke me up at six and said , honey, were six and said, honey, were leaving. This is too expensive. You we had Something Like 250 between the two of us for the week. So so we left. She took a week. So so we left. She took a hailed a taxi , and we arrived in hailed a taxi, and we arrived in culver city , which is nothing culver city, which is nothing but crew guys and their family very nice gardeners. Also lots very nice gardeners. Also lots of mexicans. And it was by the of mexicans. And it was by the workers entrance to the mgm. She said that to be just fine. Dont have to pay for a taxi. Have to pay for a taxi. This resulted in you getting a part in an american in paris. Is that right . It it didnt result. It resulted it starting to work on the film immediately. Oh, right. Yeah, i was hired from paris. From paris. And where did you film the film . In hollywood or in paris . Film . In hollywood or in paris . Entirely in hollywood. We started working immediately on the piano , and immediately on the piano, and gene kelly was was, uh , doing gene kelly was was, uh, doing choreography with his. Partner, choreography with his. Partner, choreographer for her name was carol haney , and she was a jack carol haney, and she was a jack cole dancer , top dancer, and she cole dancer, top dancer, and she taught me how to dance with my feet straight and not like that , feet straight and not like that, but. And she taught me everything thing. And when i do the little introduction number with a chair , she was so sexy with a chair, she was so sexy when she did that, she , she when she did that, she, she brought the chair. Oh, you know that the censorship came on the set. She said, this is too sexy. Set. She said, this is too sexy. Youve got to tame it down. I was doing what carole taught me i your mother had taught you to look out for fred astaire style. Look out for fred astaire style. Well, what did you make of the style of the menu . Dance with fred astaire , gene kelly . Fred astaire, gene kelly . Well , at first i knew gene well, at first i knew gene and the kind of that kind of dancing which id never seen. We didnt have musicals during the war. We didnt see jazz dance thing. We didnt see any of that. So that was totally new. And i thought, thats thrilling. Bent knees. You know , lots of bent knees. You know, lots of shoulders , lots of charm. And shoulders, lots of charm. And years later, fred asked me to be his partner in daddy long legs. His partner in daddy long legs. My his partner in daddy long legs. My god. And i thought, this is my god. And i thought, this is it. This is it. Its fabulous. And i couldnt stop watching him. And the thrill of dancing with him was something cannot be described. And his sense of described. And his sense of rhythm, which is indicated by a shoulder, by a hand, by a, you know, by a movement of the eyes, Something Like that. His sense of rhythm was remarkable. He had just lost his wife just before the film started , and we closed the film started, and we closed down the rehearsals and, uh , we down the rehearsals and, uh, we thought maybe the film is dismissed because because he cannot take over. Dismissed because because he cannot take over. Continue. No no. After two weeks, he said , i no. After two weeks, he said, i want to come back and work. So we started rehearsing , and when we started rehearsing, and when we started rehearsing, and when we did the first number, i can see the glint in his eye. I can see the glint in his eye. I can see he really enjoyed it because fred was somebody who loved to fool around. His dancing had fool around. His dancing had a lot of humour, a lot of making fun of himself and it just was so much fun dancing with him and watching his tempo. Through. Watching his tempo. Through. For a girl, her hencote come down. And what would he say about you . He chose you as his partner 7 you . He chose you as his partner . Yes. What was it . What was it about your dancing that he liked . 7. I 7 i was on . I was on tempo , is what he i was on tempo, is what he said. He said , well, ginger , you said. He said, well, ginger, you know, shes an adorable girl and i love her and shes great, but. Oh she wobbled. And i must say, oh she wobbled. And i must say, when i see a film of them with them both, i watched the moment when shes going to wobble , and when shes going to wobble, and sometimes she does. But he. He sometimes she does. But he. He said , i used to have to cut the said, i used to have to cut the film. Really fast because shed still be, you know, i mean , fred still be, you know, i mean, fred was. Oh, did you know the rest of Fred Astaires family . Did you know his sister adele . Did you know his mother . Adele . Did you know his mother . I knew his i met his i knew his mother. I met his mother. I didnt know her then, but i met her years later. I came to hollywood for an Academy Award or something, and she said something exquisite. Oh, she something exquisite. Oh, she said, oh. Oh, youre the little girl who danced with my friend. Girl who danced with my friend. And i thought, bless you. And i thought, bless you. What was the origin of gigi . What was the origin of gigi . What was the origin of gigi . Well , that came from me. That well, that came from me. That is to say that i suggested it to the producer. Is to say that i suggested it to the producer. The is to say that i suggested it to the producer. The producer, arthur freed, is the one who had brought me to hollywood for an american in paris. He was the great producer of the best musicals in hollywood. He came musicals in hollywood. He came on the set. I was doing lily , on the set. I was doing lily, playing a little orphan in drab clothes as drab he had no makeup. That was my idea of doing cinema verite. And uh, he said, cinema verite. And uh, he said, look at what theyre doing to you. I mean, i brought you to hollywood. I made a big star out hollywood. I made a big star out of you with a greatest dancer in hollywood. Look at what theyre doing now. Those drab clothes. Doing now. Those drab clothes. This isnt m g m. This isnt what you were brought in for. Listen lets do another film together. Have you any ideas . Together. Have you any ideas . And i said, gigi. Are let me get and i said, gigi. Are let me get back to you on that. Are his back to you on that. Are his proper words and he took about a year and a half to gather the rights. And to get the best rights. And to get the best writer , the best music composer, writer, the best music composer, and the best cast. And the best cast. Gigi is the story of a girl whos brought up to be a courtesan. She did that in those days. That was a real, real problem , a real social problem. So the first script written by Alan Jay Lerner of my fair lady fame as well , was is lerner of my fair lady fame as well, was is quite close to the book by colette. I thought it was a delightful , absolutely was a delightful, absolutely wonderful , was a delightful, absolutely wonderful, but it it was too raw for america. So this is why for america. So this is why arthur freed decided to turn it into a musical that drowned the fish , to soften the edges. Fish, to soften the edges. Yes. Yeah. Were you yes. Yeah. Were you personally shocked by the plot or. No, no. You took these or. No, no. You took these things in your stride. Things in your stride. Well, listen, youve been travelling around the world with a Ballet Company , and those a Ballet Company, and those things happen. Things happen. Believe it or not, mamita, i have a better time with this outrageous brat of yours than anybody in paris. Itll be marvellous fun. Itll be marvellous fun. Were done tomorrow. Will we were done tomorrow. Will we get. Can i watch you play roulette . May i stay up late for supper . Is it awfully, awfully opposition . Youll drive us wild. Youll drive us wild. Youll drive us wild. Stop, you silly child. Stop, you silly child. You worked on that occasion with Maurice Chevalier . Yes. And he was delightful, yes. And he was delightful, but already quite aged and took great care of himself. He had a butler and a maid at his attendance all the time. He kept himself to himself. He wasnt somebody who fooled around with the rest of the company in between takes like we all do. Between takes like we all do. And Maurice Chevalier with his butler and his maid. Had he come from a grand background like you . Like you . Oh, no. No, maurice came from the east of paris , from the the east of paris, from the working class. Yes, he was , and working class. Yes, he was, and thats who liked him. The workers in those days , they were workers in those days, they were serious players for the intellectual and upper class and fun divertissement for the working class distraction entertainment. Entertain. Entertain. Entertain. Yeah. And Maurice Chevalier would sing in those theatres , would sing in those theatres, like at brighton or blackpool. Like at brighton or blackpool. But he was a huge star. I mustnt belittle him. He was a mammoth star and the upper class simply didnt go into that sort of theatre. Theyve learned of theatre. Theyve learned since. Since. Hollywood recently has come under a lot of scrutiny for its very bad treatment of women. Yes did that happen in your day . Im sure it did, but it depended on the girl. The girl. There are girls who let that happen and girls who dont. You happen and girls who dont. You dont believe that Olivia De Havilland ever had trouble with her producer. Do you know she never did. Vivien leigh never never did. Vivien leigh never had trouble with a producer ehhen had trouble with a producer either. Unfortunately it depended on the type you were. Depended on the type you were. If you came in with a difficulty like this and you know , sashayed like this and you know, sashayed into your chair , uh, you could. Into your chair, uh, you could. Be thought to be an easy girl and so on. So it was difficult to play that part on the screen , to play that part on the screen, but be different in life. Sunday mornings from 930 on gb news is i tell me about this gentleman here. That is jean renoirs looking like a russian. Looking like a russian. Yes, oligarch. He was sort of yes, oligarch. He was sort of my father in hollywood. He was my father in hollywood. He was my father in hollywood. He was my father very much. He and isherwood were my two fathers, and his nureyev was it easy to get on with nuria . Oh yes. He was really the sweetest friend in the world. He missed his russia, his family , his mother. Russia, his family, his mother. He he, of course, had moments of exaggeration and drama. But he wanted perfection. He was hard wanted perfection. He was hard working as anyone ever was. He working as anyone ever was. He couldnt understand what was happening to him. He went to his doctor and said, doctor , i dont doctor and said, doctor, i dont know whats the matter with me. Know whats the matter with me. Im so tired. All the time. And the doctor said, rudolf, you have aids. He the doctor said, rudolf, you have aids. He couldnt understand. He was hungry for understand. He was hungry for life after having dance. After life after having dance. After we had supper , after we had we had supper, after we had talked and giggled and so on. He was going to night films. Talked and giggled and so on. He was going to night films. To was going to night films. To educate himself on english language and english style. And language and english style. And he was voracious learner. I he was voracious learner. I adored him , leslie, do you mind adored him, leslie, do you mind me asking what were your experiences of marriage . Experiences of marriage . Did did marriage agree with you . You . Well, i was very catholic. I was brought up very proper , was brought up very proper, properly catholic. So i did properly catholic. So i did believe in marriage and my first marriage was with somebody whose father was a remarkable man, who had started spam. And the great had started spam. And the great pork industry, and he during first world war, had married a french girl. So i really married french girl. So i really married his mother , a french woman. I his mother, a french woman. I felt at home and my first marriage crashed when i discovered i was married to the son, not to the mother , and she son, not to the mother, and she was great fun a bit too much, perhaps , but there was no perhaps, but there was no communication between geordie and i and i discovered that he was hooked on drugs. Yeah it was was hooked on drugs. Yeah it was no communication and i couldnt understand why. I didnt know anything about drugs. I didnt know anything about life. Youre a dancer. Youre showing yourself off. You know. But you yourself off. You know. But you can be as naive as a little girl. My second is peter hall, and that was a great marriage. Only that was a great marriage. Only the trouble is, peter had his vision of his career and it didnt include me. There was a didnt include me. There was a world of difference in peters vision of what a wife should be like in the kitchen. And thats it. Literally you in the kitchen . Literally you in the kitchen . Literally you in the kitchen . Yes. And in those days, thats the way the british saw women. I remember being pregnant women. I remember being pregnant and needing food. Food quickly and needing food. Food quickly and needing food. Food quickly and peter said, well, theres only a powerbars and whats wrong with the pub . Lets go in, wrong with the pub . Lets go in, have a sandwich. And he said , a have a sandwich. And he said, a woman cant get in a pub and we forced our way. And i saw all forced our way. And i saw all the men turning around and looking at a woman in a pub. I mean, you know , the days were mean, you know, the days were very, very different foreigners. I remember trying to rent a house when peter was throwing a plate at brownite hen and looking for a house. I had a nanny for my baby, a cook and a secretary. She and the lady who received us in the little house for rent asked us, your nanny is a french. And your cook . Shes a french. And your cook . Shes german and your secretary . Shes french. Im afraid the house is french. Im afraid the house is not for rent. Not for rent. Its amazing, isnt it . Absolutely amazing. And that was. In the 60s. And that was. In the 60s. And that was. In the 60s. Who were your very favourite people that you came across professionally. Professionally. Christopher isherwood , Jean Christopher isherwood, jean renoir i was lucky. I really had fabulous people around me. I fabulous people around me. I have a picture of ronnie clare , have a picture of ronnie clare, the vine director for comedy. I married a witch. It happened tomorrow. That sort of wonderful fast comedy, witty , witty, witty fast comedy, witty, witty, witty about the insanity of the world. Now look here, jennifer. Now look here, jennifer. I dont like the tone of your voice. Well, i swallowed some smoke last night, and ive just swallowed some now. Swallowed some more now. Thats not going stop swallowed some more now. From 1ats not going stop swallowed some more now. From wantsot going stop swallowed some more now. From wants a going stop swallowed some more now. From wants a drink| stop swallowed some more now. From wants a drink| water. Me from wants a drink of water. Nice cool water. Thank you. Nice cool water. Thank you. Now all i have to say is wally. Wally. And then ill be glad to hear anything you have to say. Anything you have to say. Youll find out that no one named wooley is able to stay away from me. Oh, its just away from me. Oh, its just divine fluff like most of the films of that period before. Films of that period before. Before the second world war. Absolutely delicious with fast , absolutely delicious with fast, modest, disciplined , disciplined modest, disciplined, disciplined. And ill say it again, disciplined. And christopher disciplined. And Christopher Isherwood was the centre point of where everybody from europe landed for dinner , talked and landed for dinner, talked and found comfort , friendship with found comfort, friendship with charm. This is isherwood as quite a young man. Quite a young man. When do you think this was taken . When he was in berlin, i think after oxford, where he was sent down because he wrote his exams in latin , if you please. Exams in latin, if you please. I mean, i think he should have been given a gold medal for that. So this is about the time that he was writing mr norris changes trains. Exactly. Yes. Exactly. Yes. Exactly. Yes. Bryan forbes brown forbes was wonderful. Wonderful. The best of. British knowing the best of. British knowing everything about acting, everything about acting, everything about acting, everything about directing, everything about directing, everything about directing, everything about writing. Having everything about writing. Having been an actor since yates hall. Been an actor since yates hall. And to short to make it as a star, he was just about my size. Star, he was just about my size. Like dicky attenborough. Same both quite short and they started making films together. Started making films together. Wonderful pair and i loved british films. Wonderful pair and i loved british films. I wonderful pair and i loved british films. I loved the way british films. I loved the way it even though at that time films had suddenly slowed down. It was the fault of the actors studio. You had to feel things studio. You had to feel things profoundly before you could emote it, and boy, did they take time. They waited for it to come time. They waited for it to come up. You know , a few days ago in up. You know, a few days ago in kensington, you were walking down the street and you bumped into else from hollywood into someone else from hollywood , dustin hoffman. I was walking , dustin hoffman. I was walking home after dinner with a couple of friends. We were crossing this group. One man with white hair and two women and he said, wait , i think hair and two women and he said, wait, i think you would like to meet this lady. Its leslie, carol. Ah. He went absolutely carol. Ah. He went absolutely insane. Said, oh my god, i was so in love with you. And i said, oh, i never missed any of your films. I see your name. I rush films. I see your name. I rush and go and see it and its always good. Youre fabulous and he said, lets make a film together. You see us . He with white hair. Me to anyway, hes a darling. Dustin whats an actor . Darling. Dustin whats an actor . Yes leslie. Has it been a good life . Life . Oh, yes, a grand life. Its oh, yes, a grand life. Its very hard sometimes it costs a lot. It its like very hard sometimes it costs a lot. It its like being a violinist or ice skater or pianist at rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal, thinking , thinking, rehearsal, thinking, thinking, thinking , practising, thinking, practising, practising, practising thing. But who has that same luck of meeting the great people that i met . Meeting christopher , met . Meeting christopher, meeting renoir and hearing the family story days of jean renoir telling me about auguste and his mother. Absolutely telling me about auguste and his mother. Absolutely fabulous. And mother. Absolutely fabulous. And it was like my home in hollywood. I was able to ring the doorbell and in day of the week , and id be welcomed in week, and id be welcomed in with with a slice of salami and a glass of not a glass, a silver goblet, if you please. Always goblet, if you please. Always for white wine. For white wine. I have heard about your life. Ihave i have heard about your life. I have heard about hollywood first hand, and it has been sensational. Thank you, thank you michael. You michael. Look. You michael. Look. Like things are heating up i boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. Weather on gb news. Hello there. Happy new year. Im jonathan watery here of your gb news Weather Forecast provided by the met office. The last months of 2023 were last few months of 2023 were rather , and the start of rather wet, and the start of 2024 is picking up on that theme because its going to be a very wet end to years with wet end to new years day, with rain in across much of rain spreading in across much of england, Northern Ireland england, wales, Northern Ireland and eventually scotland england, wales, Northern Ireland and second ally scotland england, wales, Northern Ireland andsecondally of scotland england, wales, Northern Ireland and second ally of the otland england, wales, Northern Ireland and second ally of the night. The second half of the night. Thatll colder thatll be pushing into colder air so it will be air ahead of it, so it will be falling higher falling as snow over the Higher Ground windy ground here. Very windy for shetland with gales and also for the coastal gales across southern areas of england. Southern areas of england. Overnight. Well be quite mild in south, up in the south, holding up in double figures, double digit figures, but something scotland something colder for scotland with to kick off with a patchy frost to kick off tuesday rain here tuesday morning. The rain here will slowly push its way northwards, over the northwards, lingering over the northern on in the Northern Isles later on in the day. Eastern southern day. Parts of eastern southern scotland could see some brighter conditions the bank holiday conditions for the bank holiday here, very wet tuesday to here, but a very wet tuesday to come of england and come for much of england and wales. In wales. Some uncertainty in regards exact track of regards to the exact track of this some localised this rain, but some localised disruption possible disruption is possible through the because of that rain, as the day because of that rain, as well winds that well as the strong winds that will be persisting again. Temperatures. Ranging between temperatures. Ranging between 7 and 13 c but feeling a bit colder if you are exposed to the wind. Wednesday , one area of colder if you are exposed to the winrpressurednesday , one area of colder if you are exposed to the winrpressure isesday , one area of colder if you are exposed to the winrpressure is slowly one area of colder if you are exposed to the winrpressure is slowly driftinga of low pressure is slowly drifting off but off towards the continent, but weve still got this one lingering northwest of lingering to the northwest of the uk, and trailing the uk, and this trailing occluded will continue occluded front will continue to bnng bring outbreaks of rain, particularly for the Northern Isles. Windy with isles. Again, very windy with further here. Elsewhere, isles. Again, very windy with furtazr here. Elsewhere, isles. Again, very windy with furta mixture here. Elsewhere, isles. Again, very windy with furta mixture of e. Elsewhere, isles. Again, very windy with furta mixture of sunshine ere, its a mixture of sunshine and showers, showers , most showers, though showers, most frequent the showers, though showers, most frequepushing the showers, though showers, most frequepushing in the showers, though showers, most frequepushing in on the showers, though showers, most frequepushing in on a the showers, though showers, most frequepushing in on a verye showers, though showers, most frequepushing in on a very brisk west, pushing in on a very brisk westerly wind. The winds and the westerly wind. The winds and the showers will slowly ease down as we throughout second showers will slowly ease down as we of throughout second showers will slowly ease down as we of th week, ut second showers will slowly ease down as we of th week, but second showers will slowly ease down as we of th week, but itsecond showers will slowly ease down as we of th week, but its alsod showers will slowly ease down as we oto th week, but its alsod showers will slowly ease down as we oto be neek, but its alsod showers will slowly ease down as we oto be turninth its alsod showers will slowly ease down as we oto be turninth its a. Sod showers will slowly ease down as we oto be turninth its a. By. Going to be turning colder. By. That warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on. Gb news. On. Gb news. I think the most exciting bit for me is talking to people. For me is talking to people. People who i think are ignored often by the major news channels. Channels. Were going to give news they want to hear. Theres a voice needs to theres a voice that needs to be the chance be heard. I think the chance here for diversity of opinion here for a diversity of opinion to which dont to be expressed, which you dont find elsewhere. To be expressed, which you dont find elsreallye. To be expressed, which you dont find elsreally exciting. Its really exciting. Its really exciting. Hold back. Its really exciting. Are hold back. Its really exciting. Are free ld back. Its really exciting. Are free to back. Its really exciting. Are free to say its really exciting. Are free to say how we are free to say how decisions that are taken here affect us all around the country. Only on gb news, the peoples channel only on gb news, the peoples channel, britains news channel. Channel, britains news channel. Your weekend starts here with friday night live with me. Mark dolan, eight till nine on gb news big stories, big guests and big laughs as we get you ready for a cracking weekend. Thats free way. Good afternoon and a very happy new year to you. Its 3 00. Im martin daubney. This is gb news weve got a cracking year ahead in politics. 60 countries going to the polls , including the uk top the polls, including the uk top story. Who will be the next conservative leader . It seems the tories are heading to be toast at this general election. It might be mid may, it might be mid november. But could this woman lead the party back from the wilderness . Well a new poll says kemi is the woman for the job. Do you agree . Next story. Job. Do you agree . Next story. Its been a huge series of earthquakes in japan. Over 50 earthquakes in japan. Over 50 earthquakes to date, 3030 buildings have collapsed. The country is on a tsunami high alert warning. Well have all the expert analysis. Youll need to bring you up to date on that story. Next the uk is ready to act over Houthi Rebels in the red sea. Defence secretary grant shapps talking tough, saying that these terrorists are drinking in the last