the-challenge

The Challenge

Here’s how Pat described The Challenge for a magazine article published in 2009

blusters John Warnett.

"I've got you this time Marshy!" He cries, brandishing a crumpled piece of paper. There is a wicked glint in the

journalist's eye as he launches himself into the chair opposite Pat and before you know it, another countywide

challenge is under way.

"The challenge is something that grew out of a feature we launched on the show a couple of years ago called

Kent Connections," explains Pat. "Each day we would randomly choose a famous person who was celebrating

their birthday and simply invite listeners to call in if they had ever met them. Laura and I realised within the

first couple of days that we had tapped into a rich seam of Kent stories."

"We heard how Steve from Medway, an ex-detective, found himself working at Rochester Cathedral when

John Lennon and Yoko Ono were due for a 24-hour sleepover with the homeless of Kent. Steve told us how

the couple duly arrived with their entourage of security men and body guards. They stayed for various press

photos but as soon as it started to rain - a limo turned up to whisk them away!

Daisy from St Margaret’s phoned to recall working as a waitress in a local golf club. Her finest hour came

when she tripped whilst delivering some drinks and tipped a pint of beer all over the guest of honour - Rod

Stewart!"

Add to this John from Keston who sold Bob Monkhouse his first house; Mike from Tonbridge who helped

Diana Dors change a flat tyre on her blue Cadillac; and Maggie from Shepway who was on shift as casualty

nurse when Yul Bryner was rushed in after a nasty fall on a film set. Maggie treated him and even got to

shave his leg! "She used his head as a template," chuckles Marsh. Pats new daily challenge takes everything up a gear, you'll still hear those brushes with fame but the whole

thing is much more spontaneous now. "By the time 10 o'clock comes Warnett is firing on all cylinders - he's

been on air for three hours and has spent the last part of his programme cutting off callers and putting the

world to rights," says Pat. "He then has less than five minutes to confer with his executive producer, Paul

Hasler, to come up with a list of challenges designed to stump the county. Bear in mind he does ask for the

most obscure stories." One morning Warnett was keen to hear from listeners who had been shot - it was the anniversary of Ian Beale

being shot by a hit man in Eastenders. "I didn't think we would get many calls but the switchboard went into

meltdown," confesses Pat. "My favourite story came from Gordon Harris who, as a youngster in the early

forties, arrived home to find his brother had built a bonfire in their back garden."

"As Gordon wandered up to the fire he noticed that his brother and his mates had retreated to watch from the

safety from their bedroom - unbeknown to Gordon they had been collecting stray bullets from the streets of

war torn Kent and had buried them deep inside the bonfire. Gordon heard an enormous crack, felt a searing

pain in his leg and fell to the ground. Incredibly he'd been shot by his own brother and still bears the scar to

this day!"

Just lately we've had a spate of childhood admissions on the programme including Rob who cheerfully told

tens of thousands of listeners of his fixation with Mary Poppins. Convinced that he too had magic powers he

once climbed out onto his parent's roof, opened his umbrella and jumped. Needless to say he fell like a stone

and to add insult to injury, he stabbed himself with the brolley.

Not all of our challenges end in a shoot out or stabbing. Just a few

weeks ago John asked for connections to the Wizard of Oz. And the

result was some amazing stories.

Alan called from Sidcup to tell us of his uncle who was one of the

original munchkins in the movie. He also mentioned that there was

apparently a photograph of his uncle's big scene with Judy Garland.

Before you could click your heels and shout Toto, listeners had not

only tracked down the photo in question - but emailed it through to our

website gallery page so that everyone could enjoy this little piece of

Hollywood history.

That's also the day we spoke to Karl, now living in Dover, but

originally from Kansas who was caught up in a tornado - life imitates

art!

"The unpredictability of the challenge is its big strength," says Pat. "I enjoy it most when we go off on a

complete tangent. On Lionel Richie's birthday, for example, we compiled a list of Kent's favourite wedding

songs - you will not be surprised to hear that they were:

1) Commodores - Three times a lady 2) Joe Cocker - You are so beautiful

3) Bryan Adams - Everything I do

4) Whitney Houston - I will always love you

5) Celine Dion - My heart will go on

But you might be surprised to hear that listeners were keener to vote for their favourite alternative wedding

songs. Topping the charts was: 1) Jim Diamond - I should have known better

2) Connie Francis - Who's sorry now?

3) Tammy Wynette - DIVORCE

4) Shirelles - Will you still love me tomorrow?

5) That country classic - I only have eyes for you but you should see what I've got for your sister

Just lately the challenge has taken on an international flavour and we've spoken to a flying doctor in Australia,

Richard from Tunbridge Wells put us in touch with his son who was installing cables in the New York subway

and we chatted with Julie from Hextable who had wrestled with a crocodile in

Sri Lanka. "It was only a foot long though!" laughs Pat.

"I think the thrill for me is hearing the stories that wouldn't usually be told

outside of family and friends," says Pat. "You can hear the pride with which

the tales are told - everyone knows it's only a bit of fun but it's a rich

reflection on the diverse county of Kent."

The challenge has held some rather usual perks for Marshy. On Sir Clive

Sinclair's birthday Pat got caught up in the fevered excitement of tracking

down a Sinclair C5 in Kent and was doubly delighted when a listener put

him in touch with a woman in Sevenoaks who happened to be selling hers.

Despite his better judgement Pat bought it, sight unseen and within the hour listeners had organised

collection, transport, repair and a complete body spray in Ferrari red for his new acquisition.

When you get a day like that on air ,it's good to know that in the upper offices of the Great Hall ,Warnett is

quietly seething away as he listens. But there's no room for complacency - you can bet your bottom dollar he'll

be plotting twice as hard to catch us out next time!