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Episode 6

Showcasing events in Scotland. Fred MacAulay previews the plans for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Martel Maxwell visits the Covesea Skerries lighthouse in Lossiemouth.

On this week's On the Road 2014, Fred MacAulay gets an exclusive look at what's planned for the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Glasgow. Fred also heads to Brechin to join Scotland's motorbike enthusiasts at 'Harley Davidson in the City', a celebration of all things touring bike and finds out about why Scotland's next big motorbike festival in Aviemore in August, 'Thunder in the Glen', is a must-see. Martel Maxwell visits the Covesea Skerries lighthouse in Lossiemouth to reveal the history of this stunning Stevenson lighthouse that's about to open regularly to the public for the very first time. Muriel Gray gets a sneak preview of 'The Tin Forest', the National Theatre of Scotland's ambitious performance piece, which will mix puppeteering and high-tech digital mapping to tell a story of regeneration. And comedian Phill Jupitus reveals his plans for his new art show, 'Sketch Comic', as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at Scotland's National Galleries.

30 minutes

Last on

Mon 21 Jul 2014 19:30

Thunder in the Glens

Thunder in the Glens
Fred MacAulay dons his leathers and joins a very special Ride-out to a place of pilgrimage to lovers of two motorised wheels.
Now in its 18th year, hosts the UK’s biggest motorbike festival where upwards of 1,500 bikes and riders descend on the town to party and ride from 22nd – 25th August.Ìý
This year promises some very special guests for all lovers of the world’s most iconic motorbikes: Harley-Davidson.Ìý
Fred meets the men and women living the two-wheeled dream and takes part in an organised Ride-out. He then visits a very special cottage just outside Brechin in Angus, from where the grandparents of the Davidson brothers emigrated to America. Fred discovers the fascinating story of how Scottish and English descendants went on the create one of the most famous motorbike companies in the world.Ìý

Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

Fred MacAulay goes behind-the-scenes of the hush-hush preparations for this highly anticipated multi-media event. Fred meets the hard-working volunteer performers, sworn to secrecy, and one of the creative minds behind the ceremony.

On the 23rd July 2014, an estimated 1.5 billion global TV audience will watch the Opening Ceremony for Scotland’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, before a live audience of 40,000 people in Celtic Park. Exactly what this opening ceremony entails has been a very closely guarded secret until now… Fred slips behind closed doors to join in rehearsals and… of course… ask some very awkward questions.Ìý

Phill Jupitus on Art

Professional comedian, and illustrator, takes us sketching at the in Edinburgh.

Stand-up comedian and veteran of ‘’, Phill Jupitus has been bringing his live show to the Edinburgh for nearly 25 years. But unbeknownst to even his most loyal fans, Phill is as captivated by drawing as he is by comedy.

A keen fine art lover, Phill spends his spare time in galleries, sketching the works of the great masters. He authors his own candid ‘On The Road’ film about what brought him to this as an idea for his new Edinburgh Fringe Festival Show. Phill also explains that he wants us all to join him. With a regular morning show at this year’s Fringe, and a talk on each Thursday, audiences can follow Phil around , Edinburgh, join in the sketching and chat – very quietly – about the paintings.Ìý

Phill Jupitus’ other shows

Chainsaw Carving in Carrbridge

Journalist joins in an outsized craft discipline that requires brawn as well as brains and creativity.Ìý

Each year, in the Cairngorms ups its population from around 700 people to over 3,000 as the annual chainsaw carving competition takes over. Now in its 12th year, competitors begin with an 8-foot trunk of wood and are given four hours to create a carved sculpture using only chainsaws and a blow torch (for shading). Cat meets Alice Buttress who is a past master of the competitions and joins her for a master-class in creating striking wood sculptures with the most unusual of tools. This year’s event takes place on Saturday 30th August in Carrbridge.Ìý
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Lossiemouth Lighthouse

Martel Maxwell finds her sea legs with the fascinating story of an iconic structure on the Moray Firth, and discovers the new purpose; plane-spotting.

The Covesea Skerries Lighthouse was built, following a public petition in 1826 to save those in peril on the sea, in the . Almost two centuries later, the locals of Lossiemouth have come to the rescue again. But this time to save the Lighthouse itself. With a grant for renovation works and plans to create a heritage centre on-site for the Lighthouse’s next-door neighbour RAF Lossiemouth, Martel meets the passionate locals pulling this project together and witnesses the thrill from the top as RAF fighter jets take to the skies above the lighthouse.Ìý

The Tin Forest

Author and broadcaster gets VIP access to The Tin Forest Puppet Theatre Experience; a new interactive multi-media performance taking place in Glasgow’s South Rotunda and based on the popular children’s book ‘The Tin Forest’ by Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson.Ìý

Performances begin as part of on Thursday 24th July – through to Sunday 3rd August, but as preparations go into overdrive Muriel gets her own experience of the set, the puppet stars and the cutting edge technology which digitally maps the interior of the performance space to create an unforgettable digital finale to the show.Ìý

The set was constructed off-site to keep its details secret, but Muriel is invited to sample snippets of what’s in store for the coming audiences who will walk through the set, rather than take a seat. Plus, Muriel speaks to Paul Chapman from Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design Studio, the man behind the digital map.Ìý

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Martel Maxwell
Presenter Fred MacAulay
Series Producer Dani Carlaw
Executive Producer Eileen Herlihy

Broadcast