C1 Online - 22/07/2024

Today's lesson:

ZOOM Link

- listening task: Butlins

- video: The Butlins Story (watch till 11:06)

- listening: "Summer Town Showdown"

   > part 1

   > part 2

Transcripts: 

Intro:

Still to come on the show this morning, we are celebrating the UK’s holiday destinations – because of course it is the summer holidays – with something that we’re calling The Summer Town Showdown. Yeah, we’ve thought about that long and hard and that’s what it’s called.

We’re gonna get a representative on the phone from two of the UK’s top summer destinations. We will ask them a series of questions and determine once and for all which is the best summer town in the country.

 

 

Summer Town Showdown:

The summer holidays are here, and although we can’t always rely on the weather here in the UK, we can rely on the seaside town of the UK to make the most of it. And this morning, we’re celebrating the UK’s holiday destinations with something we’re calling The Summertown Showdown. Here is how it works:

We’re gonna get a representative on the phone from two of the UK’s stop summer destinations. We’ll ask them both a series of questions and determine once and for all which is the best summer town in the UK. That makes sense, Jay.

Summer Holidays Top Trumps.

Exactly that. Okay, this morning it’s Blackpool versus Eastbourne. And playing for Blackpool, and fresh from a weekend-long stag-do – oh gosh, oh-oh – it’s James! James, welcome to Heart Breakfast.

Hi.

How are you feeling? That’s the first question.

Hi, yes, good thank you, good yes. A heavy weekend, but back in the swing of things now, back to work on Monday.

Was the stag-do in Blackpool?

It was in... I left to go to Newcastle, unfortunately.

Equally as... chaotic, maybe? Equally as fun?

Yeah.

Brilliant. Okay, Welcome to the show, and thank you so much for playing this morning.

What do you do in Blackpool, James?

I’m the marketing director at Pleasure Beach, a bit of a vested interest to say how good Blackpool is.

Ok. And give us... in your opinion, what is the best thing about Blackpool?

I would say Pleasure Beach, but we’ve got it all, we’ve got – you know – the tower, three piers, illumination, air shows, fireworks, everything, literally everything.

Now James, I’ve never been to Blackpool, but you’re already selling it to me.

Good, good, you should come! You’ll have a great time. We literally have everything for the perfect family holiday, you know, there’s so much to do and so much to explore.

Okay, well, if you win today, you’re on.

Up against Blackpool this morning is Eastbourne! And representing Eastbourne is Luke. Morning, Luke!

Good morning from the Sunshine Coast!

I see what you’re doing there, Luke!

Luke, what is it that you do in Eastbourne?

I’m the chief engineer of the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway.

Now we’re talking.

Oh, there we go. And do you actually drive the trains, Luke?

Yes. We go with the trains, we maintain the trains, we run the whole place.

I do think that it’s important I point out that I do have some vested interest in this, having spent many hours on that railway as a young child.

Same, actually.

Oh, really, yeah? Oh, fantastic!

And my first love was... went to Eastbourne College.

Oh, great.

Why are you looking confused about that?

Well, we’re celebrating our 32^nd year this year, so we’ve been here a while now.

And what’s the best thing about Eastbourne, Luke?

Well, I think, obviously the Eastbourne Miniature Railway, but apart from that we’ve got a fantastic sea front, we’ve got great events on through the summer, we have vintage car events on the sea front, we’ve got a big air show going on in the holidays, and it’s just a great place to come for walks and everything like that.

Well, I’ve got a feeling this is gonna be quite a competition...

This is gonna be very hard...

... head to head.

 

Blackpool vs. Eastbourne, let’s kick things off. I’m gonna start with your pier. So, James: How long is your pier?

500 metres.

500 metres! How long is your pier, Luke?

Sadly, it’s 300 metres.

Oh, well, so point to Blackpool.

Okay. Here we go, question two: How many people visit your town every summer, James?

20 million.

Whoa! Okay, yeah, come on, Luke?

Well, 5 million, but I expect it’s probably more than that.

Okay, but it is actually just 5 million. Okay, five. So another point to Blackpool.

According to Google, how many Fish&Chip shops are in your town, James?

So, Google says 18, but I’m sure I’ve eaten in at least 20.

So we’re gonna go with 18...

...we’ll go with Google.

Luke?

According to Google, it’s 19.

Yeah, it’s a point for Eastbourne, it’s 2-1...

Eastbourne is back in the game. Alright, question four: What is the temperature right now, James?

A ‘tropical’ 16 degrees.

Okay, what about you, Luke?

Oh, even more ‘tropical’ 17 degrees!

Oh, it’s two all.

Warmer on the south coast.

It really is tense!

Which means we go to a decider, and this one’s all about the beach: James, how long’s Blackpool Beach?

Seven wondrous miles.

Luke?

Three and a half miles.

Which means that we have a winner this morning, and it is Blackpool!

Come on, Blackpool!

Congatulations to Blackpool. Luke, thank you so much for coming on and representing Eastbourne this morning.

Oh, you’re very welcome.

I can absolutely vouch for your miniature railway, it’s very special.

Oh, brilliant.

James, Blackpool on top, how are you feeling about that?

That’s where we need to be, isn’t it? I think. I think that’s the right call.

Okay, so as it stands Blackpool is at the top of our leader board. If you wanna come on and represent your seaside town tomorrow, all you need to do is text us now on 82122. If you think you can beat Blackpool, come on and give it a go in our Summer Town Showdown.