Original subtitles

India, a country bursting with colour and vitality.

India has made me feel so alive.

With warm weather all year round...

Hiya. ..and a low cost of living...

20. 30.

..could this be the perfect place to retire?

As they say, the years fell away.

LAUGHTER

Wow, this is superb.

Makes you need to go for a pee.

Inspired by the blockbuster film...

I've lost my stirrups.

..nine famous faces are spending a month in Udaipur.

Oh, lovely.

India's magical city of lakes...

I'm so out of my comfort zone.

..to see if they could spend their golden years here.

The problem with getting older,

we all start getting highly competitive.

About what's wrong with us.

It's too hard.

But will the challenges of India prove a step too far?

Gee-whiz. Oh, that is putrid.

This will be a nightmare, going shopping.

You'll be a wreck when you go home.

Oh, dearie me.

Where are we going, anyway?

Or could this incredible country be somewhere new to call home?

India is chaos.

Which is vibrancy, which is possibility, which is life.

It's a cool autumn morning at Heathrow Airport.

Arriving to meet her fellow travellers is 66-year-old

TV presenter and journalist Selina Scott.

I think I'm the first one here.

I think I can see someone I know.

Good morning. Hello, Bob.

Also on this journey is 69-year-old Grand National winner Bob Champion.

I think it must be 20 years or more.

A long time. It is.

You are looking very good. Not as good as you.

It's nice to see you.

I'm not going to India to sit on a beach for a couple of weeks,

I'm going there to see how I could retire over there.

I think it's one of the biggest adventures I've ever done.

Next to arrive is 74-year-old comedian Syd Little.

Hello. Good morning. All the best, how are you?

I'm looking forward to it.

It's taken me a long time to get organised.

I've been married to my wife for 42 years,

I think it's the longest we've been away from each other.

I've never even tried Indian food in my life.

A good Yorkshire boy, no curries.

Joining them on this Indian adventure...

Hello. Hi. Hello.

..is 67-year-old film and television actress Susan George.

Lovely to see you. Magical Mystery Tour.

This is all very much out of my comfort zone.

There's no question of that.

This is uncharted waters for me.

You know, life is opportunity.

Whatever life throws at me I will take it and grab it with both hands.

Hello, Bob. Nice to see you.

And ex-EastEnders actor, 78-year-old Peter Dean.

Hello, all. Hello.

All right? Lovely to see everybody. Can you manage that? There you go.

I'll team up with you.

Well, I've always wanted to go to India because as I've got older you

become more spiritual.

When I was young people retired to Margate or Bournemouth.

Adding to the party is married couple

and Krankies double act Ian and Jeanette Tough. How are you?

Long time no see.

Little and Little.

I'm rather looking forward to moving in with other people because Jeanette

and I have never really been apart,

so it'll be nice to have other people to talk to.

And 70-year-old stage and screen actress Stephanie Beacham.

I always thought when I was 70

I would be like so ahead of the curve,

I'm not. I'm just normal. I'm 70.

My knees sometimes hurt.

Obviously I hate what I look like.

I mean, it's really tiresome to admit.

Here is another one who looks like a Marigold.

Finally, 77-year-old writer and former politician Stanley Johnson.

Well, well, well.

I'm Stanley. Hi, Stanley.

Hello. We met in a pub.

We've met in a pub.

My thoughts of retirement.

It's a bit like a railway train.

I want to hit the buffers at full speed.

Hello, Stanley.

Nice to see you. You too.

I'm looking at the '80s and '90s

as being as full of adventure as the last six decades have been.

Are we all here?

They are travelling over 4,000 miles to Udaipur

in the northern state of Rajasthan.

Also known as the city of lakes.

The cost of living here is cheap for Westerners

and the climate is tropical,

with hot weather for most of the year.

There we are.

They are being met by Karim,

who will be their driver for the duration of the stay.

Welcome to the city of lakes. Karim here.

Thank you. Lovely weather you've got here.

Hello.

Right. It looks completely different than I anticipated.

Where's the black cab?

Stanley, there is room here. No, no, no.

You go in there. No, you want to go with Ian. It's all right.

I'm not bothered. It doesn't matter, I see enough of him.

Here, take me coat.

See? "Take me coat".

What a performance.

So we are ready to leave for Udaipur city.

Looking forward to it. How far is it?

It will take about 45 minutes.

45 minutes. Yes, and it depends on the traffic.

It looks just like the M6.

Look at this lot here. Unbelievable.

Oh, look, there is a cow in the middle of the road.

If you killed a holy cow on the road, would you be sent to jail?

Yes.

Yes. Seven years.

Seven years for killing the cows.

Seven years for killing a cow.

What if it is the cow's fault?

There's no such thing as health and safety here, is there?

You're telling me. I mean,

you see it on the movies but you think a lot of it is fictional.

But it's not, is it? It's fact.

Well, it's a bit grubby, isn't it?

For the next four weeks,

home will be in the heart of the city on the banks of Lake Pichola,

one of the largest of Udaipur's five lakes.

They will be living alongside the have a million locals to establish

whether this could be the ultimate place to retire.

This is the bypass circle of Udaipur city.

And now we are entering the city.

We are in the city now, are we? Entering the city.

You don't know where to look next, do you?

And wherever you look there's an...

It is all so amazing. There's so much going on.

It's like life happening all the time.

It's vibrant, that's the main thing, isn't it?

The people are coming.

Who is coming? They're taking Ganesha.

Oh, cool. Oh, that's cool.

I think we've got a problem, though.

Before reaching their new home,

the group get an early taste of Indian culture.

It's different.

The Ganesh festival is a public celebration

where Hindus come together to honour the birthday

of the elephant-headed god, Lord Ganesh.

Somebody's birthday. He's going. Oh, he's going.

GUNSHOT Straight away.

Seen as the god of prosperity,

idols are worshipped and paraded throughout the streets.

When you go abroad, you've got to go out and embrace the life,

the way of life that they live.

And in India, that is what I'm hoping for, yeah.

To go and sort of find out the real India.

Yeah, the real people.

The thought of India brings colour, excitement, and energy.

There's lots that is appealing about going to a place

that has all this opportunity to be and do whatever you want.

It's just going to be brilliant encounters, that's what I imagine.

And that was just one of them.

I think if we're open to the encounters, we're going to have a blast.

Now, less than a mile away from their new home,

the senior citizens are travelling

through the gates of Udaipur's walled city,

into the heart of the old town.

This is what I like. This is real life to me.

This is like the old markets years ago, isn't it?

Everything going on.

Oh, look, there it is.

Amet Haveli. I bet that's the one.

For the next month, the group are taking over a haveli,

a traditional Indian town house built around a courtyard.

Oh, my goodness me.

This ancestral home is owned by Mr Prabhu Prakash Singh

and his wife Rani,

and shared by three generations of their extended family.

Hello. How are you?

Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you.

Pleased to meet you. Nice to meet you.

Welcome. Good luck. Thank you so much.

I am prepared to throw myself into most things in life and I think the

Indian experience will be interesting.

I think when you've never been somewhere, you don't know what to expect.

Is this... Who is this? My uncle, I grew up with him. Did you?

Running the haveli is Mr Singh's niece, Swati...

Selina. Hello.

Pleased to meet you. ..and grandson and heir, Jay.

So we have the tea and everything ready there.

You just be comfortable.

THEY SIGH

Tea is all right but it's different.

It might be the milk.

You like green tea now anyway.

It's just a phase I went through.

Oh, that's a good cup of tea.

That's a good cup of tea. It is a good cup of tea, isn't it?

So we'll show you all your rooms.

Three rooms, we'll show you.

And then you can decide if you like.

We'll start fighting like cats.

I think you should just give us our rooms.

I'm OK with a group of people but

I've never been with a group of people

for a full month, usually four days is my limit.

I'm a maharani, am I?

Oh, isn't that beautiful?

It's like Venice.

I guess I have a solitary nature.

And I know that I love my own company.

So that's going to be a bit of a challenge.

Well, you couldn't have given me a more beautiful room.

Thank you. I'm glad you like the room.

Because you have to spend a lot of time with us here.

I'll need a ladder to get up.

Can you get up? Take a run at it.

Oh, you made it. Ta-da! You've burst your flowers.

When we came from the airport I thought, "I hope..."

But then you just come in here and it's just stunning.

Oh, beautiful.

Oh, it's just gorgeous.

Thank you. What a beautiful house you live in.

Oh, yeah.

That's fantastic, that.

Let me feel the pillows.

Oh, oh, yes.

There's only one thing missing and that's the missus.

Oh, bless her.

Hello.

Right, this is...

Oh, golly.

I've just got to think about this.

Be in a calmer frame of mind.

Let's just try it this way.

I think my job insofar as I have a job, I guess, is to be cheerful.

You know, that's the number one.

Isn't that the number one rule in life?

In fact, I may be wrong, but I'm sure rule number one

of the Scouting Manual was,

"A scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties."

We're getting terribly close.

Oh, look at that!

18, 8.

Which is actually my birthday.

Right.

For the next month,

the group will have to learn to live together

as they become accustomed to the Indian way of life.

Isn't this pretty?

What a lovely day.

For some, getting used to the daily curries is just the start.

Oh, heaven. I'll have everything.

Is it chicken?

That'll do, thank you.

So, Bob, first curry?

A little bit strange but very, very tasty.

What's strange, the curry or the first time?

Strange the first time.

To be honest, I don't know why I've never tried Indian food.

You know, I've heard how spicy it is and I'm thinking

maybe I've been frightened to.

What a place to have your very first curry. In India.

Well, I'm having it in the right place, aren't I? You surely are.

I don't know, but something in there blew my tongue off.

LAUGHTER

I'll tell you, when we first came here I must admit

I thought there's no way I could retire here.

Then I get here and see a different world.

I'll think about it.

Can I just say that I would like to know how

we might be able to fit into this society here.

Yes. I think it's important to find out.

And also, I'm single, I don't know about anybody else, so if

I teamed up with an Indian lady, you know.

You looking? I'm looking.

No, I'm just wondering. I mean, how would people accept it?

Someone who landed Peter would be making a real coup. I don't know about that.

This is completely true.

This is not blind Indian date.

Just a minute. Yes.

Living in the historic Amet Haveli on the banks of Lake Pichola,

the group have a month to decide

whether India is a place they could call home.

It'd be a wonderful place to wake up to every morning, wouldn't it?

Look at those buildings.

Spectacular.

If you tell me when you want something,

what you want, and then I'll get it out because I don't want you going...

Yes, mummy.

You would think I was 12.

You're no' very tidy.

With its five famous lakes and bountiful gardens,

rising at dawn to keep fit is an essential part

of everyday life for the residents of Udaipur.

Good morning. Good morning.

Morning. Morning. Keen to embrace the way Indians live,

Stanley is heading 15 minutes north of the haveli to Lake Fateh Sagar.

OK. How are you today? Very well, thank you.

I'm going to have an early-morning swim, I'm looking forward to that.

It's always a good idea to have an early-morning swim.

If the opportunity presents itself, and indeed it has.

But I certainly wouldn't imagine retiring

without being within striking distance

of water of one kind or another.

Stan's not going to swim in there, is he?

I would certainly close my mouth if I was swimming in there.

You would not get me in there.

Fantastic.

Wow.

Hey, hey, hey. Look at this.

It is clean water and mountain views,

for the locals it's a popular spot to start the day.

What a lovely place this is and nice to think

the average Udaipur commuter can pop in here

before he heads off to the office.

Say when. Go, go. OK.

I plunge in, I splash around, I like it,

because it's a way of taking exercise

without having to serve an overarm at tennis.

I don't feel any particular signs of ageing.

Someone said to me the other day, you know, "Can you do a handstand?"

I said, "Of course I can do a handstand", and I did a handstand.

It was a perfect handstand. The only thing was all the money fell out of

my pocket onto the floor.

It's a great place to come, isn't it?

Do you come here every morning?

Not every morning, no.

Yes.

Can I help you? I'm fine, thank you very much. You are fine, OK.

Well done, very nice to see you, sir.

OK, sir. Thank you for your help. Have a good day. Bye-bye.

Back at the haveli...

Namaste.

..the rest of the group are preparing for their morning exercise.

Nice temperature this morning, isn't it?

Welcome to India.

A short walk from their new home on the banks of Lake Pichola,

they're meeting local yoga teacher, Paveen.

Please come. You can watch me easily.

Yoga is all about the health of mind, body and soul.

You remove all the medical conditions, you increase your performance,

you increase your flexibility,

and for this strengthening purpose we start

yoga with the yoga warm up.

A little smile on your face, not too much.

Little, little. Inhale up...

This ancient Indian custom is already a familiar pastime for

some of the group.

When you smile it releases the good hormones,

relieves the stress, relieves the pain.

I love yoga.

Exhale.

I love meditation, and to be encouraged

to do daily meditation and yoga can only be just bliss.

Inhale.

You make better decisions after you've done an hour and a half of yoga.

Inhale.

I started yoga about 30 years ago.

The route to yoga for me was exercise that I enjoyed.

It definitely didn't come into my life by way of umm-ing

and omm-ing and all that.

You any further than me?

I think that's it. Slowly come back.

Relax. I thought you would just come here and lay there and pray or do

something more... God, it was hard work.

If you can, you touch your head on the floor.

I've got quite a few injuries and the majority of the time jockeys

are in aches and pains, actually.

Relax. Relax.

I like that word.

In my era, a couple of brandies would take away the pain,

well, used to help, anyway.

Thank you.

My father-in-law said old age sucks.

And he's right. Might be right there, too.

Thank you.

Right, hands up all those who would do that again?

Me. Me. Would you?

Yeah, I would do it, yeah.

Us three are not sure, are we?

I wouldn't mind doing it again if it was toned down a little bit to begin

with. The older you get you can't move.

If I started early in my life.

It is not a sport, you haven't got to win.

We were not trying to win.

Just trying to do it.

If the group are to consider a life in India...

Namaste. Namaste. Are we going that way?

..they'll need to discover what the local neighbourhood has to offer.

That's good wiring, isn't it?

Just look at it. No wonder we can't get a signal on our phones.

Is there any rules what side we walk on?

No, there's no rules what side they drive on.

Stanley and The Krankies are in need of a few home comforts.

We're looking for a whisky shop.

I think we passed one when we came in in the taxi.

Yes. What was it called? Was it not just called The Wine Shop?

English Wine Shop. English wine shop, well, that would be absolutely fine.

Drinking alcohol is not common practice in India,

which means a trip to

the edge of the old town.

They're doing their washing in there.

Jeanette. What? They're doing their washing.

I know, I saw her.

Unlike first-timers The Krankies,

Stanley is a seasoned traveller to India.

Stan? Would you swim in there? I'm not going to swim here, no.

They're not careful what they put in that lake.

I'll tell you something, being here is terrific.

It brought me back in no uncertain terms to, you know,

the India I have known over what is now more than 40 years.

So, yes, great to be back.

You're never going to get the hygiene

as long as the religion allows this.

The one thing that may upset not...maybe me...

but might upset Jeannette more than me would be the poverty.

I am expecting quite a backward country.

That's a bad word to say, backward, it's not their fault.

But pretty basic.

The donkey carrying all those bricks.

Does that upset you?

Well, it's a very, very, very busy town.

The noise of the traffic, you know, the horns peeping all the time.

Is that the wine shop we passed? No, no, it's not. It's another one.

Oh, my goodness. Traffic coming.

If I was living anywhere here it would have to be out of town.

I don't think... I couldn't live within the hubbub of that.

We're too westernised for that, really, I think.

Hello. Hello, very well. Here we go.

I want some red wine.

If you're going to retire here, Ian.

You're going to have to suss out this wine... That's a Shiraz.

What do you have in terms of whisky?

This is Indian whisky, is that right?

720. 720. I'm going to have the Indian blue,

called something-something blue. There will be a better one.

2,100. 25 quid.

Coming every day? Every day, yes.

Do you deliver? Yes, yes, deliver.

There you go. Home delivery.

Thank you. Quite dear. Yeah, I thought quite dear.

Well, you can't get a bottle of wine for �8 in England now.

You can if you go to Lidl and Aldi.

�4.50 these days.

Not Westminster wine shop.

Oh, that was frightening. It was an eye-opener.

Jeannette went from crying to laughing, to being terrified.

There were a load of donkeys passed. I was in the middle and the traffic came in,

and I was in the middle and these donkeys were...

She was in the middle of them like that, terrified.

It was terrifying. It's when you come through these gates it's so different, isn't it?

It's another world, isn't it? It is just another world.

Back at the haveli, it's lunchtime, and for the senior citizens,

another curry. Thank you.

That's fine.

Now, what's the difference between a maharajah and a maharana?

Maharajah, and maharana, it's the same thing,

it's just the regions call it by a different name.

But I want to know where he's the maharana of?

Over there in that paddock. I know.

LAUGHTER I'm going to slap you.

And you've managed to put up with him for how long?

53 years. 53 years.

I met her in a theatre.

Was it twinkle at first sight?

No. She fancied my brother first.

I don't blame her, I haven't seen your brother but it has to be better.

It's fun, it reminds me of, you know,

going back to school, first term at school,

with a lot of new boys and girls.

Not that we had any new girls when I went to school.

You don't know, you get to know them.

The basic principles are the same.

Rub along with humour and interest.

Have you got a dog?

I haven't got a dog now, because I've been away so much, you know.

Oh, don't.

My poor doggies are endlessly in doggy prison.

What have you missed while you've been here?

I could do with change from curry.

See, I like calf's liver and veal and things like that.

Oh. I don't think you'll get that here, will you? No, I won't.

You know, meat and two veg.

That's how I've been brought up.

Cauliflower, broccoli.

Roasted in the oven. Roast potatoes.

Everything. And mint sauce.

Oh, yes.

Bob, bless him. It's the first time he's ever had a curry here.

He sort of puts on a brave face and says,

"Oh, you know, it was nice, it was nice."

But I don't know if he'll go home and say the same thing, you know.

It would be lovely if we could get something like

a potato and some fish and make fish, chips and mushy peas.

I think he would love that.

I've got no money. I've got some here.

Have you? Yes, yes.

With Bob yearning for a taste of home,

keen cooks Ian and Syd have decided to prepare dinner for the group.

Venturing further afield to the outskirts of the old town,

they're off to Dal Mandi market.

Hello. I've not seen many...

Not seen many spicy...

..not seen many veggie things, have you?

One of the biggest food bazaars in Udaipur,

within yards you can buy spices,

vegetables and meat, at a fraction of the cost of the UK.

I love cabbage. I love cabbage.

Cabbage and... I love cabbage.

Cabbage and cauliflower.

This looks like a market, Bob.

Bob doesn't care, he just went.

He is a jockey, isn't he?

To buy fresh produce at the cheapest price you need to barter like a local.

Who's going to try and find out how much they cost?

That's a good cabbage. Bob is the cashier.

20, not 60, 20.

No, 50. 30.

How much for a cauliflower?

120. 130?

That's dearer than England.

60p for a cabbage.

Potatoes over there, let's try the potatoes.

Ten rupees, one kilo.

One kilo, ten rupees.

That's cheap. That's good.

That's more like it.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Come on, lads.

Jesus.

Watch it, Bob.

With vegetables bought, next stop - the local butchers.

That's mutton. Legs. Only legs like this.

Have you got anything that's got meat on it.

It's got the tail and its testicles and everything.

I'm not eating one of them. Look at its little tail.

Oh, it's frozen, yeah.

No breast.

We don't like...

Lamb chop. Meat.

He'll produce a chicken now.

Well, we could have a chicken.

I don't want to look, I don't want to look.

I'm not going to look. It used to have a head.

Oh, dear. We'll have to have that, now.

We'll just have one. It is still alive, it's twitching.

It's only energy, it's dead.

Oh, there you go. That's better, that's better.

That was alive. What do you think, two of them?

Oh, no.

Oh, no. Here we go again.

I can have a bit of chicken. You're looking forward to that. I am.

Do you think because they're so fresh they'll taste better?

Yes. Will they? 600. 600 rupees.

600 rupees.

Yes, that's not bad.

That's not bad. That's really cheap.

For less than �10 Ian and Syd will be able to feed everyone roast

chicken and all the trimmings.

Hey, whose idea was that?

Well, that was an experience and a the half that was. I mean,

have I gone green? It's really...

Oh, I'm so... I've never seen that before

and I don't think I want to see it again.

THEY CLUCK LIKE CHICKENS

Well, we were looking for lamb.

But we bought two chickens, but they were alive.

Oh, don't tell me.

I can't.

Where are they now, then? In this bag.

But it will be lovely, it will be lovely.

It will be fresh. You'll just have to forget what you saw.

Oh, Syd. I don't think I'll ever forget that.

I think that's awful.

How can I eat...

I don't think I can. We could go into detail, but we won't.

I don't want you to go into detail.

I mean, I know that they've got to kill chickens

and I suppose they must've had a good life.

They weren't the prettiest... Oh, no.

What do you think? I think we should put them on soon and get going.

I should start peeling, yes.

With a roast dinner to prep for the group,

Ian and Syd head to the kitchen.

Syd and I have known each other for years. Casually known each other.

We've done the odd show together, done tours together.

This is giving me a chance to really gel with him.

Is that salt? Yes, that's salt.

You put it all on the floor.

That's another thing you forget,

especially when you're getting older.

That maybe you let a friend go by, and then don't see him enough,

then when you re-meet like this you think to yourself,

"Why did I not keep in touch because this is great fun?

"We really get on well."

Right, Syd. Stock.

Chicken stock. Yes.

This is the chicken stock.

I like it thin, me, don't you? Thin-ish. Oh, yes.

But a bit of body, though.

Tell me what you think. It's not hot, that's why.

I think it needs a bit of salt, don't you?

Talk of a northerner, you see.

This is beautiful. Taste it now.

That's it. The salt did it, the salt did it. Is it OK? Yes.

So this is a curry you've made?

No. We've done a roast dinner.

Fantastic. How lovely is that?

The chickens were alive.

No, why are you... Don't tell them.

What we've got tonight, we've got fresh roast chicken,

you can have a leg or you can have breast.

And roast potatoes and chicken gravy, handmade by me.

Hey, those potatoes look amazing.

That'll be fine. Nice, aren't they?

Potatoes. Lovely.

You're the man. They must have been very chunky chickens, though.

Excited, Bob?

Not one curry powder in there.

I know, it's brilliant. Not one spice.

I must tell you, there is a bit of Worcester sauce in this.

I like Worcester sauce. Oh, well, there you go. That's in the gravy.

I mean, we've made this great effort to find whisky on our first day and

I thought, "Well, this is the moment."

It is. I'm actually glad we didn't get the lamb, really.

Well, it was a goat. It was a goat.

I have nine little goats and I hate the thought of, you know...

I couldn't ever send them to market.

Since I've been here, I've become more aware, haven't you?

Animals in everyday life.

I know. I'm looking at Jeanette, look at your face.

When Ian and I started our act we used to do weekly variety,

and we would be in a different town every week.

So from the very, very beginning of our career

we were able to mix with people and get to know whether

you liked them or whether you didn't like them.

Have lots and lots of laughs, and I think this is about the same.

Used to living alone,

youngest member of the group Selina isn't feeling quite as settled.

I'm not used to being with people.

I'm used to being very much on my own in my...

And I tend to do things where I want to do them and I go off and I do

them. And although I love being with them all, and they are all

interesting, really interesting people,

from a very personal perspective, the group thing is difficult.

The group are three days into their stay in India.

After settling into life in Udaipur,

today they have the chance to head further afield.

I so much want to see some more of India.

Look at it. It just goes on forever.

So I'm going to have a cup of coffee.

One thing that has to be said, the coffee is rubbish.

I've always been greedy, whether

it's show business, or theatre, whatever.

"That's what I want, thank you." And take.

But the last few months I've managed to not quite know what I want.

And I thought, I've got to have some direction.

A new direction. Maybe it's not going to be in the acquisitive way,

maybe it's going to be in a more peaceful way.

Considering a calmer way of life, Stephanie

is heading off with Peter and Syd to an ashram.

It's very simple,

where we're going, because apparently it is like a monastery or

something but you're in a room and, yeah, I'm getting quite...

Not anxious, but you don't know what you're going to get.

Here we are and we've got to go to there.

The others are off to explore Jodhpur, Rajasthan's blue city.

I've never been to Jodhpur before.

Although I have worn Jodhpurs, you know,

as one does in one's pony club days.

Come on, girls and boys.

After you. Thank you.

Taking a bus, they'll be travelling 160 miles to Jodhpur,

where Grand National winner Bob

has been invited to play polo with one of India's oldest clubs.

All my life I've loved horses,

I was brought up with them when I was a kid.

And from about the age of seven, I only wanted to be a jockey.

But, you know, every type of horse always gave me pleasure.

You know, if it wasn't for a horse, I wouldn't be me.

Someone told me it before, is it right that it's Jodhpurs?

Is that where they were made?

Yes, I think it was, actually.

So how many races did you actually win?

500 odd. Wow.

The Grand National and the horse, I can't remember it now,

what was it called? Aldaniti. Aldaniti.

And was it a male or a female?

A gelding. The majority of jumpers are geldings.

Are they? Yes, because if they bang their parts on a fence,

they don't like it. I never thought of that.

Here's another one coming up she's going to miss.

The group are halfway into their six-hour journey.

This will be interesting, won't it?

Are you having a pee?

OK, is it? You've just got to pee in the corner. Oh, dear.

How did you manage, Steph?

I laid my lavatory paper over the seat.

I just want to figure out how if you do a number two...

In a number one.

In a number one, how do you squat down? Virtually impossible.

It is virtually impossible, yeah.

Well, I took a picture of mine but I won't show you.

Interesting. Very interesting.

I'm not sitting down. I'm just going to get some crisps.

Hello. Do you have coffee? One coffee.

This is cappuccino, frothy, Indian-style.

Yes. Thank you.

Hot... Or something like that, I don't know.

I love to try new things but I'm just not sure...

Thank you very much.

I've gone with very simple things, a packet of Ritz biscuits.

That was truly disgusting.

What? I just said that was truly disgusting.

What was it? What was it you had? A packet of crisps.

I mean, I don't eat crisps.

Well, you have now.

While most of the group continue their trip to Jodhpur, Stephanie,

Syd and Peter are travelling 50 miles east of the city

to visit the ashram.

Here we go.

They'll be staying amongst a community

who are searching for spiritual enlightenment.

Welcome. Hello. Stephanie.

They are being met by Shrijan

who helps run the retreat alongside the Guru.

I know nothing of your Guru.

He inherited the title?

Yes, he was elected in this position of saint at aged five.

OK. This is Stephanie.

Stephanie. Hello.

Nice to meet you.

Syd. Syd.

And this is Surajnath Siddh.

Siddh, my name. Oh!

Looking forward. We're also looking forward to meet all of you.

Anything we can do for you to make the stay wonderful, you tell me.

Thank you.

Started over 500 years ago,

Shri Jasnath Ashram is one of the oldest

in the Marwar region and attracts people from

all over the world who are seeking rejuvenation of the body and mind.

We help women and children, we are ecologists and we plant trees,

we take care of the water.

We are helping people. So let me show you your rooms.

I think you gentlemen are in the top floor.

As well as offering a donation,

visitors are expected to earn their keep by carrying out daily chores.

Oh. There you are, Syd.

Which one do you want? We'll leave the middle one in case I snore.

Get you further away from me.

That's the only fear I've got.

Maybe they might have a cure for snoring.

I was nervous about coming here because, you know,

it's totally different to anything you've experienced anywhere else.

Well, it is for me, anyway.

It's OK. What else do you want in life?

I mean, the only thing that I think that's missing...

TV. ..is pictures.

Yes. There's no pictures so...

I think you're supposed to find yourself

so that'll be interesting, if I can find myself.

Whoever that is.

How's your room? OK, good. You let me know if you need anything.

Is that the right greeting, though. Namaste.

So I'm connecting with you here at my heart level,

and I'm connecting with you here at the eye, the intellect level.

So we are connected. OK.

Forever. You are right.

Your eyes are getting bigger. Exactly, it works.

The rest of the group have arrived in Jodhpur.

Twice the size of Udaipur with a population of one and half million,

it is Rajasthan's second largest city.

Hello. Good morning.

Good morning. Searching for riding wear for tomorrow's polo, Bob,

Susan and Stanley are making the most of India's low-cost tailoring.

Hello.

Namaste. How are you? I haven't had a pair of jodhpurs for a very long time.

You have to measure me? You can choose the fabric first.

That looks very nice. That green khaki colour would be absolutely fine for me. Stain resistant.

I think that's great.

Shall I start the measurement? OK.

Jodhpur trousers take their name from the city where they were first

invented in 1890.

You have a very good calf.

Loosely cut at the hip but tight around the ankle,

the comfy fit is ideal for horse riding.

I've always been made to dress smart,

and being a professional jockey in my

era I used to ride out, I always had to be in Jodhpurs, very clean boots,

ties and everything.

That's been the way of life and I don't suppose I've ever changed.

I can be scruffy occasionally if I'm doing things out in the garden.

Mr Bob. Bob, yes.

High-waist? Yes, high-waisted.

Yes, I like to think it's 36 but you're going to tell me it's 38,

aren't you?

38 and a half. 38 and a half. That is very bad.

For around �50 they're getting a bespoke pair made in less than four hours.

I can't wait for it.

And we will see you later. Thank you.

I wish I'd brought more shirts now

because... We're not going out dancing

tonight, Syd. I mean to sweat.

We're doing yoga.

Put it out there, it will be OK in this heat.

That's what I've done back in the... Yeah? Yeah.

At the ashram, Stephanie,

Syd and Peter are embracing the wisdom of the Guru.

OK.

Just bend the right and then place.

If you can, yes. Then long tree...

..and then tree with branches.

And then with exhalation, drop.

When he was doing a chat to us he has such a fantastic voice, you weren't

listening or thinking like,

"Oh, I wonder what's happening back home or that sort of thing."

You were absolutely concentrating on what he was telling you.

Then little bit switch, like you are reaching to something, then drop.

And what he was saying was going in, in there.

Look to the right side.

And then left.

Keep your back straight.

And then we can make the free movement up and down.

With smiling face.

Very good. Now we stop the practice.

I wish I had the word power to explain it.

It's just a different way of life being in tune with nature, people,

everything is in harmony here.

Even the feeling the place has created.

I'll be the scarecrow.

No, I definitely am the tin man.

You're the tin man. You're the lion, then.

It's dawn at the ashram.

And for the community, their daily chores are under way.

You're doing well, I think.

What are these little beasties here?

Oh, they're woodlice. I never thought I'd find woodlice in India.

It's a great journey to go on.

I can see why the Beatles came out here in the '60s at the height of their

career and they found this Guru, like we did, more or less.

They wrote an album and you can hear all the influences.

The sitars and everything else.

It was fantastic.

It's got thorns on it.

So where are you, Stephanie? What brought you here to India?

I reckon I'm three quarters cooked.

I'm probably four fifths cooked.

But I think that I've got to just do the last bit differently.

OK. I've done a lot of success, success, success.

Hard work, hard work, hard work.

I think that I'm needing big regeneration.

Now. There's that now problem.

It takes time.

Keen to make the most of their stay,

the three senior citizens are taking a lesson in self-discovery.

Are we going straight to meditation?

One thing at a time. Stop worrying about what we're doing next.

Ready for meditation?

Oh, I like that.

I've never tried meditation for the simple reason that I can't sit for five

minutes, I've got to be doing something. So you have these or these.

All the same. They both have a seat and a back.

I need to be that. That's...

Rose between two thorns.

There must be something in it because if you can actually just sit down

and clear your head and have nothing in there, that's the hard bit.

You know, how can you not have nothing in your head?

How do you feel? I feel OK.

Meditation, you need not so much movement.

OK. We'll try.

A half-hour meditation class helps to transform the mind

and encourage positive thinking.

Visualise your body, each and every inhalation and exhalation.

THEY CHANT

I was pretending to be calm but the irritation and anger I was feeling

towards these poor flies as they were crawling over my face was so deep.

You can open your eyes or you can move.

I have such aggression in me.

I was wanting to kill flies nearly the entire time.

The flies didn't bother me.

I had pain. In my legs and I thought, "I can't move".

Yeah. I didn't move and it went away.

And breathing is very much connected to your mind.

Because whenever we stress, our breathing pattern gets disturbed.

It's gushed out of me.

A lot of what I think that that sort of anger

and aggression, the needed female force. Yeah.

When that comes up it is sometimes not very pretty. No.

And it comes out fast and messy.

They weren't tears of sadness, it was like a release.

Come into proper reality, Stephanie.

You can laugh at yourself.

Don't layer up all the defences.

And it was a sort of...

"Oh, thank goodness for that".

Now is your moment to celebrate.

Because that means you're one layer away. I don't feel weaker.

I feel stronger for having...

All right, Stanley? Oh, my God, fantastic.

You've been wearing jodhpurs since you were a baby, of course.

Back in Jodhpur, the senior citizens

are kitted out in their newly-tailored riding wear.

Bob's coming out of retirement,

and going back in the saddle accompanied by Susan and Stanley.

Sit here. I'll sit down the middle.

Feet on the front. Yes.

I was very fortunate. I was quite a successful jockey.

Good one! Obviously you have the knack.

Very good. Winning the Grand National was always my dream.

OK. Slowly. Don't worry.

Crossing the line, you know, the first thing I thought was,

"It would be lovely to win it again next year."

I went there the following year, fell at the first fence.

So, ups and downs.

Let's go, come on.

The modern game of polo was started in northern India in the 1850s and

soon became popular with the ruling class.

Now he manages to get it.

Once a game for tribesman,

it's believed to date back over 2,000 years.

That's good.

That's got it.

Jodhpurs, difficult to bend your knee in them.

Thank you.

There we are.

Bit tight. Has anybody got a ball?

Any spare balls?

I missed it. I think it might be a little bit easier

when you're going a little bit quicker, actually, to get behind it.

That's it, and again, please. Oops! So sorry.

I'll be lucky if I hit it at all.

You've got it.

Thankfully, I was hitting the ball, which is the main thing.

A bit of practice I'm sure I could do it.

But I think they're a little bit good and a lot younger than me.

I'm a retired man.

We're trying to gallop home.

No, I can manage.

Oh, God. It is all good.

Thank you very much, really enjoyed it.

Well done. I don't think I hit the ball once.

Thank you very much. See you all.

Madam, may I join you?

Yes, come on. Sit down.

Oh, my goodness, it is hot, isn't it? This is hot. Isn't it hot?

Selina and The Krankies are taking a 200-rupee tuk-tuk ride through

the streets of the old town to see Jodhpur's famous Mehrangarh jfort.

Isn't it fabulous?

I mean, the best market I think I've ever seen. Wow-ee.

I think we might get to a bit of tarmac in a minute.

Driving in a tuk-tuk is obviously a bit of a hazardous experience.

India has one of the highest death rates on roads in the world.

It's about time to tell us.

Just thought you should know.

Oh, deary me.

Believed to once home India's highest Brahmin caste,

many of the Indigo houses still line the city's medieval streets.

This will be a nightmare going shopping every day like this.

You'd be a wreck when you go home.

I mean, I live on a farm and there is a lot of muck around.

Yes. And so I've become more basic, I suppose, as I've grown older.

You get used to it.

You get used to it, if you're here you get used to it.

I really like Jeanette and Ian and one of the reasons is

that I used to live in Scotland and it's just great to immediately...

..you hear that accent and that humour.

Look at the size of those ants.

Oh, my goodness. Don't think you want one of them to bite you.

Jeez-o, there's one on your shoe.

I think they are hilarious, actually, the two of them together.

You know, they've been a married couple for 48 years or something like that.

It's incredible. So when he forgets something,

Ian asks Jeanette to fill in the gaps.

Isn't that wonderful? To have someone who can fill in the gaps of your

life so you don't have to think of names or worry about things like that.

Set 400 feet above the city,

the imposing Mehrangarh Fort dates back to the 15th century

and is known as the Citadel of the Sun.

I mean, to come here in the middle of Rajasthan

and see this, it's just, it's mind-blowing, actually.

You never quite expected it.

Look at that. It's stone and wood and fretwork and...

Just incredible.

Wow. This is just superb.

If we walk up there, sunset. We can see the sunset, yes.

As night falls, Stanley Susan and Bob

join Selina and the Krankies to witness one of

Rajasthan's most spectacular sights.

Oh, my lord. Look, look, look at that.

Look at the blue city. Unbelievable.

It's really mind-boggling, isn't it?

When you think of the wars that were fought,

the fighting that went on here over all those years.

It's intoxicating on many levels.

It's life and colour, in every shape and form.

People shouting, the noise is incredible.

Everything. My first impressions of India, just pure gold, isn't it?

With the sun setting on their stay at the ashram, Syd,

Stephanie and Peter witness the ancient ritual of fire walking.

Dating back centuries,

it's a highly-skilled custom that takes many years of practice.

I hope they don't ask us to join in.

Oh, I mean...

I've had things thrown at me, but not hot coals.

Don't take it personally.

Oh, no. Did you see that?

He's still got it in his mouth.

It's gone all the way round. He hasn't spat it out yet.

It's like, "Children, do not do that at home."

That is faith on a level that I don't know that I've experienced before.

Theirs, not mine. I mean, that was ridiculous.

What can you say? I mean, I'm just flabbergasted.

Did you see his feet? Can I feel?

It's just like ours. Yeah, they're just like ours.

I don't know, I don't think I'll sleep tonight.

I'm so glad I came to India.

I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

It is just an exciting place to be.

All together, lads.

Put your shoes on and don't be so daft.

You just don't know what's round the corner.

You've got to be here to believe what you see.

How do you keep your bum in the saddle?

You're not supposed to have

your bum in the saddle if you're a jockey. All right.

..our nine senior citizens settle into life in India.

Knead. I'm kneading, I'm kneading.

And have you been married? No, I'm single.

You're single? That's why you look young.

HE SPEAKS LOCAL LANGUAGE

Oh, yes. And the group venture further afield to visit one of the

country's holiest cities.

Oh, my lord. Look at this.

It's like the '60s, man. Just like the '60s.