11 Uniquely British Things You'll Only Find In The UK!

[@SteveMikre44]

If Mr Blobby lived in the US he'd be considered a leading 2024 Presidential candidate...

[@garypltn69]

yes

[@atorthefightingeagle9813]

Blobby doesn't fall over as often as Slippy Joe.

[@chrisshelley3027]

This is too funny but sadly true 😂

[@JohnJames-kw5de]

But also has a canny likeliness to Boris Johnson though Blobby has more integrity….

[@ImOk...]

No wonder the UK has a drinking problem, that’s some childhood trauma right there

[@patriciachirgwin3238]

I’m a Canadian that’s been living in the U.K. for 36 years and I love Mr. Blobby! He’s quirky, like so many British things - British eccentricities are brilliant! I hate paying for a T.V. licence, because there’s advertising on independent television and the BBC has its own version of advertising too, so I don’t agree with that either. I think roundabouts make sense as when it’s not busy, you don’t have to wait for the traffic light to change, you simply move through. And they’re putting traffic lights on some roundabouts that are busy, so everyone has their turn. It just makes life easier. I guess living in Britain just takes some getting used to - and it certainly isn’t as ‘foreign’ now as it was when I moved here in 1986! Stick around, you’ll love it!

[@fatbelly27]

The winning argument in the jaffa cake court case was that a biscuit goes soft when it gets stale while a cake goes hard. A stale jaffa cake is hard, therefore it is a cake.

[@Rocket1377]

The baking process is also just like a cake. McVitie's even made a giant version to prove their case.

[@dabe1971]

Indeed. The only properties shared by cakes and biscuits are that they are round.

[@martineyles]

@@dabe1971 Not all cakes or biscuits are even round.

[@Brian3989]

There are different flavour Jaffa cakes, original orange and now also cherry and blackcurrant.

[@63mckenzie]

I worked for HMRC when this case was going on. Some people took it very seriously because there was a lot of tax money riding on it..

[@DavidCloud-t9v]

Ive been in the uk since i moved from my native American Choctaw nation at the age of 13, and i love it , great education system great history and culture, great people , funny great sense of humour and banter

[@fatbelly27]

We should always celebrate Guy Fawkes - the only person ever to enter parliament with honest intentions.

[@craigpimlott204]

Certainly was ..

[@paulwilson2651]

Wrong the SNP are the same.

[@KaiXx751]

@alastairwallace6153 And Abraham Lincoln was a Republican. Parties and what they stand for can change over time...

[@sophiejones8813]

Do you mean that you support terrorism , can I go to your government and plant a bomb ?

[@julesburton4649]

He just wanted to replace one set of corrupt royals with another set of corrupt royals.

[@slubbberdegullion]

"...Yeah, she was knocked unconscious for a little bit of it...but she won!" That's the spirit! There's not many events in the Olympics that you can say that about. Love it.

[@davebirch1976]

Even more British than the jaffa cake court case was the Cuthbert the caterpillar cake court case 😂

[@TheYorkRose]

Honestly the ongoing banter about it on Aldi's socials is still incredible

[@davebirch1976]

@@TheYorkRose my favourite at the time was "This isn't just a court case..... It's an M&S Court case" 😆😆😆

[@chrissampson6861]

Free Cuthbert!

[@solidflyer286]

M&S argument came down to either Our customers are stupid and don’t know the difference Or They’re the same except the price and we don’t want to admit it

[@davebirch1976]

@@solidflyer286 the thing is, there are other stores also doing similar cakes, but Aldi were getting more exposure because of it, and therefore got free advertising at the expense of M&S, and I think that's what M&S didn't like.

[@johnhargreaves6264]

On your picture of the Swindon Magic Roundabout, the building at the top left is the Wiltshire Fire Brigade HQ and 4 Engine Fire Station. The Magic Roundabout is at it's most exciting when a couple of Fire Engines suddenly burst onto it, sirens blaring...

[@Wizerud]

Yes we remember how you feel about Jaffa cakes. And you’re still wrong 😂

[@PhilR0gers]

In England, "dumb" always used to mean unable to speak, or mute. People were sometimes referred to as "deaf and dumb". Dumb meaning stupid is an Americanism that has taken hold over here. There was probably a mute woman who lived on that lane.

[@boriscj]

The TV license drama in our family was funny. The TV was in my dad's name but my grandmother got the TV license. The TV licensing people sent my dad a letter about getting a license and he ignored it. A month later another letter arrived with "please read" written on it. He wrote "have read" and sent it back. This went back and forth for a few months until my grandmother realised that all he wanted was to be taken to court over the TV license at which point he wanted to ask "did you check for licenses at the address?" She called them and got it all sorted out but denied my dad the chance to bicker with the licensing lawyers in court.

[@solidflyer286]

I’ve spent 15 years trying to get them to take me to court 😂

[@sugoruyo]

@@solidflyer286 yeah, they're all bark and no bite.

[@nuttycommuter3718]

@@solidflyer286 they took me to court because I happened to open the door at my mate’s house when they knocked. I haven’t had as much fun before or since

[@bindy5443]

In June every year, South Petherton, a village in Somerset has a FolkFest (multi-day = festival, single day = fest) with the ceremony of "Clipping the Church" when the church clergy lead the village members to hold hands around the whole Church & bless the community for another year). There's also morris dancing, cider, hog roast, hay bale seats & all other Somerset 'things'.

[@frankmitchell3594]

TV licences are paid for in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Germany. In Italy it's now included in the electricity charges. I France it was abolished last year. In Sweden it was changed into part of the general taxation a few years ago. And there are other countries too. So, yes, other countries do charge for TV viewing.

[@MultiMidden]

Plus there's no such thing as free TV anyway as you indirectly pay for 'free' TV channels whenever you pay for goods/services that are advertised on TV.

[@catherinebutler4819]

Also a very similar system in Japan.

[@PastPresented]

Canada's one of the sneaky countries which pay their equivalent of the BBC from general taxation (and even more sneakily, also allow it to run some commercials, so it looks more like a "normal" broadcaster)

[@bordersw1239]

It’s added to local taxes in France, not abolished.

[@waynegray2284]

You only have to pay for a TV licences to watch or record anything what is live undstand

[@LucklessPaul]

On the topic of festivals there's one that happens near me in the UK called a scarecrow festival where an entire village sets up scarecrows outside their houses... but not really at all to scare away any crows. Instead they are for decoration and some make them look like certain characters from tv/film/media, like an arts & crafts kinda thing! So when it happens you can drive through the village and see them all, i'll be honest i've only been once because I personally can't drive but it's nice to observe once or twice and people are very creative with it iirc. Ooohh and one other my family goes to more often that's a little less niche I think is a balloon festival where the main spectacle is a bunch of hot air balloons all taking off at once, all different colours and sizes, it's beautiful when the weather is nice and they're all spread across the sky :)

[@Theinternalrewrite]

Alanna just said she's from Kent. She's finally gone native. We can claim her as one of us. Hooray!!!

[@clivebrealey6795]

Not quite - not until she likes Jaffa cakes and Marmite!😄

[@dcallan812]

@@clivebrealey6795 And Newcastle brown ale.🤣🤣😂😂

[@anne-mariemarshall]

Peachy😂😂😂

[@jamieandtherandomstuff]

The pilchards aren't staring at you, they're gazing at the stars!! 😂😂

[@TCHorwood-xq7mw]

If they're gazing at Alanna then she must be a star.

[@DerekLangdon]

It’s actually called starrygazey pie!. And only the ship inn at mouse hole in Cornwall can commercially sell it. The dish which is not to my liking, contains a variety of fish not just pilchards.

[@ianhill4585]

Perhaps they've read Oscar Wilde .😁

[@WolfricLupus]

@@DerekLangdon Mousehole (one word) - It's not pronounced like "mouse - hole" but is pronounced - "Mow (like cow) - z'll" or "Maouz'll"

[@graceygrumble]

Ludicrous festivals and bizarre pastimes, followed by the pub. What's not to like? We know how to live. Keep up! 😂

[@ruk2023--]

The best bit about living in the UK in my opinion is that you often think you have seen the weirdest thing ever until you see something even weirder. I'm 43 and have been British all my life and I'm still finding something weirder than I thought possible at least once a year. P.S - When I was doing mobile djing Mr Blobby's song was big. I had to play that sodding thing at least twice a week (I was djing in my teens if anyone is wondering how the age and career can map up).

[@djashley2002]

If you're looking for festivals and celebrations then you'll have to include the Lewes Bonfire Night Celebrations. They've now become so famous that they've started streaming them live on KZbin.

[@kathnunan641]

1 agree The biggest bonfire celebration in the world been there many times

[@AfaqAhmadAhmad-fp2sy]

❤

[@deja-view1017]

I grew up there and still miss it but I'm not far from Ottery St Mary so I have second best.

[@Halfdanr_H]

There’s a few things that resonate with me in this video: 1. Mr. Blobby and Jaffa Cakes are both amazing, and a Mr Blobby cake with orange Jaffa jelly filling is incredible; best birthday cake EVER! 2. I have a friend from Iran, and he offered me a biscuit with my cuppa tea. I politely refused twice but then on the third time I accepted the biscuit. It was just like how Alana explained it. He then told me about an Iranian tradition called Taarof. It’s basically the same thing, you politely refuse to take something twice, then on the third offer you may accept the food/drink. It’s all to do with behaving in a polite and civil manner. So there you go, Brits and Iranians have at least that much in common. 3. My partner is originally from Lithuania. We had a large group of visitors one day, so I put on an afternoon tea complete with cucumber sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, a selection of cakes, and a selection of biscuits. She thought it was the best thing she’s ever had, apart from the Sunday roasts that she insists I make every weekend. About a month later, we’re at an antiques fair, where she buys a 200 year old porcelain tea set, and now ANY time we have guests she puts on an afternoon tea. People used to think it was me doing it out of some misguided attempt at patriotism, but it’s my Baltic girlfriend insisting we do ‘British’ traditions.

[@porthesia]

Stargazy pie is very special to the seaside village of Mousehole and the legend of the fisherman who saved Mousehole. Lewes is the home of the bonfire celebrations

[@funkyfender1]

I’m waiting to hear Alana attempt to pronounce ‘Mousehole’ !

[@IamtherealDodger67]

​@@funkyfender1Don't be cruel. 😂😂😂

[@chrisspere4836]

No explanation to "stargazy pie" so can't react.

[@porthesia]

@@chrisspere4836 Its a pastry pie and the fish heads stick out of the crust. Never fancied it myself

[@chrishodges2911]

I can highly reccomend the Tewkesbury medieval Festival on the 8th and 9th July. I can absolutely guarantee you that you will love it. It is the biggest medieval festival in Europe.

[@robertpetre9378]

Also, the Loxwood joust in West Sussex is really good

[@susangrant365]

Hi Alanna, if you're looking for weird festivals you won't go wrong with "The World Gurning Championships" at Egremont Crab Fair celebrations. Started back in 1267. I guess it's what folks did before they needed a TV licence 😂

[@raybenstead2548]

Don't forget Bog Snorkelling.

[@maneatingsquirls]

As an American from Minnesota whom has lived in the UK for 20years now, everything you have brought up is definitely everything all my friends and family from home always question 🤣 especially the whole being too modest concept, you have to scream at brits to accept a gift or any kind of offering….unless it’s a cup of tea 🤣

[@readingroomcafeproject]

too right! we'll never say no to a brew

[@scobra5941]

Oh yeaaaaah... gimme that bloody tea- gimme gimme gimme and do it yesterday.

[@borderreiver1555]

One level sugar splash of milk leave the bag in

[@matthewbartlett1977]

Mentioning the Jaffa Cake court case, reminded me of Subway in Ireland. Due to the amount of sugar in the bread, the sandwiches are deemed to be a discretionary indulgences and not a staple foods so wasn't exempt from VAT

[@KernowWarrior]

They also can't legally call it bread. It's technically cake.

[@Veni_Vidi_Vortice]

Still selling indulgences huh? How very Catholic.

[@BooBaddyBig]

@@KernowWarrior They can call it bread, it's just taxed as cake, it's not a big deal.

[@chrismarshall3430]

We pay for a TV licence in the UK because that fund's the BBC. The BBC does not have commercials or adverts so you watch the BBC channels without any interruptions. But because your TV or receiver can show BBC even if you don't want to watch it ,you still have to have a licence

[@jackybraun2705]

In Germany we have an equivalent thing to the TV license. It's called the GEZ. In recompense we get TV without adverts, high quality documentaries, dramas and Detective series, pretty unbiased news and informative children's programmes.

[@eloquentlyemma]

Yes. That’s what the tv licence gives you in Britain, along with radio, as well.

[@tangfastic7075]

​@@eloquentlyemmaThe BBC is not unbiased. Its very left wing. That's why the TV license is being phased out. It's very unfair that the BBC can't provide a balanced stance when they're taking everyone's money irrespective of whether the public watch or agree with their views.

[@davedavids57]

We have a licence fee here in Austria too. GIS. It's like 380 euro for a tv with a tuner and about 80 euro for a radio (it's the most expensive in europe). Even if you don't use it you have to pay if you own it. It's changing in December when everyone will have to pay, no matter if you have a tv or not. Unfortunately OERF is rubbish.

[@alangknowles]

The BBC is always advertising their upcoming shows. Currently they have a nonce programme following all their Peter Phyle employees. Schofield is considering it for his next job.

[@dunebasher1971]

@@alangknowles Surely you understand the difference between trailers for other programmes, and commercial advertisements for products? And of course, the BBC only plays trailers *between* programmes, while commercial TV plays adverts *during* as well as between programmes. A one-hour show on commercial TV will actually be about 50 minutes, with 10 minutes of adverts, whereas on the BBC a one-hour show will run about 58 minutes.

[@davidholmes2283]

I live less than 10 miles from Wigan. The thought of a Pie Barm used to repulse me. That was until my work colleagues persuaded me to try a steak pie barm. I was pleasantly surprised how good it was. That became my treat whenever I worked Saturday mornings.

[@ukfamilylife]

pasty barm is the best

[@paulpaintshop103]

Beltin,👍👍

[@Jinty92]

I know they're really popular in Blackpool and St. Anne's area. Makes me smile walking past a bakers on holiday seeing the sign outside advertising barm. We call them baps.

[@kevinparkes417]

Brilliant. Loved it. Makes me proud to be British. But the thing is that most of these weird and whacky things and traditions (except Blobby which was just an abomination invented for TV) are rooted in something quite normal or serious. It's always fun finding out.

[@clive_the_fat_cat]

I have never seen or would never like to see a pie with fish heads popping out of it.!

[@grantparman4705]

As an American living in the US, I've never heard of Mr. Blobby. I'm laughing out loud at your commentary of him 😅

[@AdventuresAndNaps]

He's crazy 😂

[@brianwhittington5086]

​@AdventuresAndNaps I know the feeling about avoiding Mr Blobby, that thing was everywhere in the 90s. An adult friend was obsessed with it, and all the Mr Blobby collectable merch back in the day. I wouldn't have revealed you don't like him, that's the cue for folks to dig out their dusty old Mr Blobby Christmas Annuals to send you. 🤣

[@unitedkingdomoffiveeyes9765]

He used to beat up the guests on the show he was on....make them feel uncomfortable , funny shit in the 90s anyway

[@Brian-om2hh]

You never heard of Mr Blobby? You have no idea how unbelievably lucky you are.....

[@dannydorito9134]

Mr Blobby is from an old TV show in the 90s called Nole Edmonds House Party if I remember correctly

[@Terry.W]

Come up North we love our unique ways Egg rolling on Good Friday..we love strong tea ( kettle is always on ) full English breakfast with black pudding ..and always talking about the weather.😊

[@primalengland]

I live in Wigan. We call the pie thing a ‘Slappy Butty.’ We had them occasionally as kids. Didn’t know people still ate them.

[@scottlarrabee9527]

I thought that was called a Wigan kebab.

[@primalengland]

@@scottlarrabee9527 Wigan is a place of many cultures, ideas, diverse opinions and idiots……… Lots of idiots. I now live on the very edge of Wigan, although I can still sense it. A bit like Mordor from Hobbiton.

[@davidhurcombe6505]

There's another channel I watch regularly here on KZbin called Sorted Food and they had been doing global food challenges by randomly picking countries beginning with A B C and so on and somehow it to E and when they spun the wheel it landed on England. They got the viewers to suggest a traditional English dish and the Wigan Slappy was what the audience chose for them to make.

[@primalengland]

@@davidhurcombe6505 Just watched it. That was great. Thanks. And I subbed.

[@katashworth41]

@@scottlarrabee9527 with a butter pie it’s a Preston Kebab.

[@markdermody9698]

A Stargazy pie was created in the South West of Britain in particular it originates from Mousehole in Cornwall, it is made using baked pilchards, with eggs and potatoes, covered with a pastry crust. It is traditionally eaten during the festival of Tom Bawcock's Eve to celebrate his heroic catch during a very stormy winter! The heads and sometimes even the tails of the Pilchards (Sardines) protrude through the top of the pies Pastry Crust so they appear to be gazing at the stars, hence the name of the pie!

[@ajorngjdonaydbr]

Also, there is Sausage Roll Baps, very popular in Belfast, two sausage rolls (from a local bakery, NOT GREGGS) between a buttered bap/bun. Most people have it with Ketchup or HP Sauce. God they're good!

[@fayesouthall6604]

Sounds fantastic and a carbs overload.

[@Elwaves2925]

I might have to try that. Are the sausage rolls usually hot or cold?

[@fayesouthall6604]

@@Elwaves2925 I’d say hot/warm

[@Elwaves2925]

@@fayesouthall6604 Thanks, I always go for the 'authentic' version first before trying variations.

[@tiggerwood8899]

​ Hot, same for pies and pasties

[@hazelmaxim3913]

I am British born and raised and I have never heard of most of what you say is strange new to me and I have always lived in uk

[@xneurianx]

Two Sussex festivals spring to mind; Burning the Clocks in Brighton Lewes bonfire night Everywhere has bonfire night, but not everyone has LEWES bonfire night. Up Helly Ah in Shetland is great too! Very viking inspired due to the Norwegian influence in Shetland.

[@dirtyden1]

You can opt out of TV licence btw. As long as you don't watch any BBC channels you can opt out and honestly you wouldn't really miss it especially with the days of Netflix and so on.

[@howardkey1639]

There are so many little odd things here in the UK you could go on for hours about them. May be you could start the Great Naps festival or village fete that combines a load of weird things in one place like Jaffa cake throwing, The Big Train spot, The great biscuit bargaining event and racing Alanna to grab the last piece of cheese on the plate. It would become another great British Summer tradition. ☺

[@docostler]

Sounds good. Of course being a summer event it will be a strict BYOB festival: Bring Your Own Brollie.

[@thetragicyouth]

- and something involving the purple ones from a tin of Quality Street!

[@spudnickuk]

My favourate UK nosh is A pudding with gravy on it, Yep a Yourshire Pudding Nom Nom!

[@dave93x]

I LOVED Mr. Blobby! He was so funny as a kid, just turning up and wrecking everything. On a constant tear of destruction. It's basically just an extreme form of slapstick.

[@matthewwalker5430]

In Devon they have the crumpets before having their haircut, but in Cornwall they have them afterwards. Londoners have Crumpets during their haircut because we are simply uncouth

[@davidcooksey1390]

Royal Shrovetide Football in Ashbourne, Derbyshire is well worth Googleing .The fact that they board up the shop fronts where it is played gives some indication how wild things can get.

[@chrisspere4836]

Funny reading this as the football in the sea was on TVs Points West just yesterday.

[@fionaparkinson3821]

Near where I grew up we had a festival called “up the pole”. It was basically a Remembrance Day celebration but combined with a picnic and a hike. There’s a hill near were I grew up that’s just a big bit of geography. Unfortunately it meant that a lot of planes flew into it during the war. German, Polish, British, it doesn’t really matter, we just like to have a little ceremony to remember them all. They were just young men after all and it really doesn’t matter this side or that. We just like to remember them and celebrate that we’re not fighting now.

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

There are traditions in Canada that definitely predate the Middle Ages, but depending on where you are - and what your exposure is, people may or not be aware of them. In the UK it is typical for schools to have special days - often described as 'open days' or ‘fêtes’ especially junior schools, these are planned well in advance and invitations are sent and responded to. This is the same in Canada, but in some areas - the school my ex-wife teaches at is a good example - these days take the form of potlatches. It is considered rude to invite people to a potlatch, or ask whether they can attend. The culture means that if you have heard it is happening, you are invited. Every year they used to have trouble with Fire Marshall’s etc, because they could never estimate how many people would be in attendance, an event in the area like a powwow or canoe racing could double the number of people in attendance.

[@twigletz7384]

I'd be interested to know where you last saw stargazy pie on any menu anywhere in the UK. Lived here all my life and I've never ever seen it as an option on a menu anywhere. Travelled to most parts of the UK - seen copious scotch eggs, pork pies, pasties, fish dishes, delicious cakes, scones with clotted cream and jam - but never stargazypie 🤣😂

[@tomclifton1607]

Never seen stargazy pie either, except on the internet. And this is the first time I've heard of a Wigan Kebab. I have heard of a pie butty, but never actually seen one.

[@rodjones117]

I think it's traditional on a certain night of the year in Mousehole, Cornwall.

[@paulpaintshop103]

​@@tomclifton1607Wigan kebabs are a real thing, believe me

[@aloluk]

@@tomclifton1607 Wigan biscuits were covered on "Sorted food" channel

[@tomclifton1607]

@@paulpaintshop103 that's good to know. Probably not well known outside Wigan though.

[@kieranmccarthy4407]

A few of the many festivals festivals you might like to look at are; Lewes Bonfire Night celebrations, the Furry Dance in Helston, the 'Obby 'Oss festival in Padstow, the Burryman's Parade in South Queensferry near Edinburgh...

[@ftumschk]

The Padstow 'Obby 'Oss scares the bejeezus out of me, and I'm not afraid of admitting it!

[@Anglo-In-America]

These videos are really cathartic to me as an Englishman living abroad.

[@dancroft8387]

As you're a Kent resident, I can't believe that you didn't name the World Custard Pie Championships in your weird festivals - it must be your most local one!

[@MichaelJones-ni5pb]

Also, is she a Kentish woman or a woman of Kent?

[@Fizz-Pop]

I also live in Kent. I'm also part of Greater London. I'm only just starting to wonder what I missed. London life was all I heard. Frankly I wish I'd been deeper into Kent.

[@pammoore3447]

As a Canadian who is a dual citizen, you have highlighted so many of the great things I miss about the UK. I can't wait to move back.

[@naitchb16]

I guess I loved Blobby and Noel’s House Party at the time. The Gotchas were hilarious at times, even pre-Blobby. EDMONDS! YOU ARE A DEAD MAN! This vid was a brilliant watch. Loved how you played out the biscuit dance 😂😂 Cheers, Alanna!

[@AdventuresAndNaps]

Thanks so much!

[@WolfricLupus]

We have shin-kicking contests too. Yes, it is what it sounds like.

[@enemde3025]

BISCUIT = goes soft when stale. CAKE = goes hard when stale. Therefore, Jaffas are CAKES !

[@Wabbit_Hunta]

Also cakes are sponge based, biscuits are not

[@GAMcIlwraith]

Alanna - spot on about street names in Canada. My town in Ontario has a Main Street, King Street, Queen Street, Coronation Blvd (autocorrected to Coronavirus since 2020) and both a Concession Street and Road that are no where near each other.

[@Dan-B]

*Everyone not from the UK:* “Mr Blobby is terrifying, I hate it” *Me from the UK:* “Mr Blobby is an icon, he’s the moment, I’d take a bullet for that agent of chaos”

[@atorthefightingeagle9813]

Me too!

[@AlexanderLund]

He's a national treasure

[@johnboy2562]

​@@AlexanderLund He's a treasure alright, he should be buried deeply in the ground.

[@mickc7388]

Blobby, Blobby, Blobby the last funny thing on UK TV.

[@johnboy2562]

@@mickc7388 You need to check your spelling, you missed out the 'e' in least.

[@DrDaveW]

In Mousehole (pronounced "mowzel") where Stargazy Pie originated, the local pub has made it a bit more palatable. It's a regular white fish pie with a few fish heads stuck into the pastry. Just macabre garnish, basically.

[@craigpurcell6432]

Good tip for roundabouts, as someone when a new driver struggled with: As you approach, prepare to stop well before the line, crawl to the line; this allows you to accelerate in, if possible. I still don't like roundabouts, and doesn't work in queues, but this piece of advice did allow me to have more successful roundabout experiences, which did ease my tension overall. Plus it operates as a distraction, i.e. your thinking about the current action rather than the impending one. Fellow roundabout survivor.

[@timothyp8947]

The first time I saw a friend of mine turn a meat pie into a sandwich I was very surprised! An alternative to your experience of Brits always needing to be offered something like cake at least two or three times is: some of my older family members used to say, ‘I know I shouldn’t, but…'

[@sregan5415]

If I discovered him as an adult, I'd probably hate him too, but I adore Mr.Blobby as he brings back childhood memories/nostalgia. I love that he's an adult toy for kids like Barney the Dinosaur, but instead of being a loveable mascot, he's a maleovolent destroyer. I love the demented smile on his face as he plows into things. *Blobby blobby blobby* 😂😂😂

[@chipsthedog1]

I agree with you about Brits never accepting a first offer except of course in a pub or anywhere else where alcohol is on offer 😊 Hope you are enjoying this little heat wave.

[@Volkuth]

Well, you've never met me then. If it's offered, it's gone 😂

[@Angel-tn5ho]

Try a fish finger sandwich as well as a chip butty. Ultimate end of school day comfort food.....works pretty well for adults also.

[@josephmwilliams6754]

Hi Alana , loved the content. Mr Blobby was pretty tame when first in Noel's show but took on a life of its own , got pretty outrageous ! Couldn't eat anything that was looking at me ! I will avoid Swindon completely

[@charliebrown1184]

I currently live in Swindon, and I promise you're not missing anything! 😂

[@applejuice5272]

@@charliebrown1184 Except for living in Slough (I don't)

[@wendymarsden8383]

We have 'Pace egging' at Easter where people paint hard boiled eggs and roll them down a hill. The one that travels furthest wins the race!

[@iainmalcolm9583]

UK is home to the biggest arts festival in the world (Edinburgh Fringe) and another worth checking out is Shetland's Up Helly Aa (The one where they set fire to Viking Longships).

[@ftumschk]

Not forgetting the National Eisteddfod and Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales.

[@typicalsomeone5073]

We also have a large morris dancing festival probably more drink then anywhere else

[@piggypiggypig1746]

You don't have to go all the way to Devon for a blazing Bonfire Night. Edenbridge in Kent where I'm from has a torch led parade and Lewes in East Sussex has one of the best in the country.

[@DerekArmsden]

I'm Australian. Decades ago I went to England to, among other things, attend the British Grand Prix. I bought a hand held TV from Argos which I then returned on Monday for a refund. Dodgy but a fun and effective bargain. Months later, back in Australia, mail was forwarded to me that I was being fined for not having a TV license. It was really threatening! I wasn't even in the country!!

[@SimonWakefieldUK]

By hand held do you mean battery powered? Those battery powered hand held TV's you used to get back in the day before phones killed them off were actually exempt as so you shouldn't have got such a letter. Argos are required to inform the TVL company of all TV sales but they shouldn't have for that

[@DerekArmsden]

@@SimonWakefieldUK That's what it was.... but they must have done so anyway. **Shrug** I actually sent back a reply explaining that I only owned it for a couple of days, returned it and had since left the country. Never heard back after that.

[@chrisspere4836]

It is the BBC service we pay for and because that thing picks it up they'll chase ya for dosh.

[@swanvictor887]

....so that's why there's an arrest warrant for you waiting here ....! lol.@@DerekArmsden

[@TransDragon]

That weird fish pie at the end, I've never seen that before in my life

[@Alcogod]

"Goth Weekend" at Whitby is kind of like a festival, where people dress up as goths or vampires for a day out. Also "dumb" means someone who can't speak, so it was probably a woman incapable of speech who used to live in a cottage down that road a few hundred years ago.

[@-Pol-]

Likewise the Lincoln "Asylum" Steampunk weekend.

[@HopeBeda]

I’ve never heard of a pie between 2 pieces of buns (bread). Since you are in Kent (my home county), you should try a gypsy tart, you can only buy then in Kent, that’s one thing I do miss from there, I live in Northern Ireland now, so only get them when I visit family in Kent.

[@Nimmo1492]

Our ridiculousness isn't limited to merely street names. In the North-East there are towns called Pity Me and No Place.

[@simonh6371]

That's nothing, in the Midlands there's a village called Bell End.

[@tonyjefferson3502]

part of Newcastle called spittal tongues

[@applejuice5272]

@@simonh6371 Cocking too

[@speleokeir]

In South Wales there's Three Cocks. It's near Lord Hereford's Knob and Fan Y Big.

[@saxon-mt5by]

@@applejuice5272 Derbyshire has Clowne, and Lincolnshire has Mavis Enderby

[@trampertravels]

There is also nettle eating contests, worm charming contests, well dressing, Spring Festivals, Harvest Festivals and so on.

[@lancastrian123]

Two other strange events you should look at are "Bog Snorkelling" and the Lewes Bonfire Societies.

[@andrewgarrett7100]

Tea and crumpets? Very nice. Tea and scones with jam and clotted cream (which you showed)? Also very nice but which were you talking about?

[@johnboy2562]

I would love to have seen the look on your face if you'd ordered Stargazer Pie in a pub without knowing what it was, and then THAT turns up!🐟

[@RevStickleback]

You would have a very hard job finding anywhere that serves it though.

[@carlruss6421]

Afternoon tea before a haircut? Never heard of it and I am from here and have traveled the UK.

[@davebirch1976]

You've never seen a British person take something on the first offer.......unless it's alcohol or a cup of tea 😂

[@AdventuresAndNaps]

😂

[@Warlock_UK]

An offer often is responded with "are you sure?", we seem to ask if the person offering is sure they want to give us a thing. It's probably similar to the Arabic thing of refusing things three times, but we're not aware we're doing it. :D

[@davetdowell]

I said it at the time and I still think we should have entered Mr Blobby as our entry into Eurovision. Oh and as if it wasn't obvious, I love him.

[@ravenmad9225]

He did have No.1 record in the singles charts.

[@anne-mariemarshall]

Blobby blobby blobby😂😂😂

[@BikersDoItSittingDown]

Hi Allana, Lewes has the biggest bonfire celebration in the UK and is not far from Kent. (near Brighton) They used to roll a barrel of burning tar down the hill. I am not sure if they still do.

[@ratowey]

As a 58 year old Brit I`d never heard of the pie in a roll.

[@raybenstead2548]

I'm almost 80 and neither have I.

[@guypainter]

Me neither. Sounds like a windup to me.

[@wildmanski1]

Pie barm is definitely a thing. Maybe it's regional? I grew up in the NW

[@deborahconner2006]

I also live in Kent and I've never seen a pie in a buttered bun that's just weird😂

[@sangfroidian5451]

I've never seen a stargazey pie outside of youtube videos searching for 'quirky UK things' and a rare mention by specialist chefs like Rick Stein. Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie, lark's tongues and lamprey pie would be just as absurd.

[@Dave.Thatcher1]

Ditto.

[@SleepingWeasel67]

Stargazey Pie is a speciality of Mousehole (pronounced "Mow-zul") in Cornwall, so might not be that common outside the area. Blue Peter did a segment on it when I was a kid (in the '70s)

[@knightwish1623]

After watching your video and your comment on street names I decided to have a look at street names here in Germany. Top of the list is of cause Hauptstraße (Main street) 6,114 times. Germany has a total of 1,220,441 roads and looking through the list I noticed that the top 200 most used names are names of importent people as Bismarck, Goethe, or Trees, Birds or buildings as Schulstraße (School street) Kirchstraße (Church street) Bahnhofstraße (Station street, mainly train station).

[@blue_tree_meadow]

Isle of Wight garlic festival! Brilliant 😁❤

[@theotherside8258]

I bet Canada or the States does not have an weird organisation for answering questions about eggs such as which is the right way up = British Egg Advisory Service

[@raystewart3648]

This is one of your best - really really enjoyed it. Mainly because although I have lived here all my life 4+ decades I have not heard or seen the Flaming Bowl event nor seen that Fish Head Pie, funny how one can live somewhere for so long and not know about traditions that happen every year.

[@trish8765]

Omg🤯 can't believe you have been here 7 years and not had a chip buttie. Any good traditional fish n chip shop will serve chip butties. You won't regret trying one. We grow up making them at home too. plate of chips (home made are way better than frozen) and a couple of well buttered slices of bread on the side. Then make your buttie, the butter melts because of the hot chips. Mmmmm delicious😋😋😋

[@sylviared]

The weirdest I can think of is bog snorkelling, it is a thing that’s held annually.

[@JenniferRussell-qw2co]

Perhaps you should have mentioned that 'bog' in this context isn't the alternative word for 'loo' that would be weird!! 😳🤪🤪🤪 To say nothing of gross 😅

[@eldrad142]

Loved the video Alanna. Glad you enjoy sampling different aspects of British life. You should really take a look at at the Royal Shrovetide Football in Ashbourne, here in Derbyshire. It's like no other football match you've seen. It's last two days and spans the entire town. One gola post is at one end of Ashbourne and the other goal post is at the other end!

[@RevStickleback]

Many from North america seem to struggle with Jaffa Cakes, and orange/chocolate mixes in general. I've seen Stargazer Pie listed frequently in lists of unusual British foods, but you'll almost never find it. It turns out it's served in one pub, in one tiny village, on one day of the year, due to some local tradition.

[@Ionabrodie69]

Yes the Ship inn in Mousehole..(or to aid pronunciation …Mowzel 😂) 🇬🇧

[@hjones451]

There's a street on the Scilly Isles called 'No Place' - Also in Kent the places of 'Ham' and 'Sandwich' are close together (Just in case you get peckish?) - Best I've seen up here is a road sign to two villages - It says 'Homer' and 'Wigwig'.

[@seax_miniatures]

Hey Alanna! For your festivals episode you should take a look at Hasting's Jack in the Green festival that takes place every May.

[@angielotl]

Have you had the absolute delight of seeing our plane ✈️ spotters yet? You can find them near Gatwick Airport in a field nearby with cameras and tripods. I should imagine you can also find them at other airports too.

[@Jinty92]

As a Scot, I thought you were sure to mention our Highland games with the Welly throwing contest and the Toss the Caber. A lot of Scots have emigrated to Canada so possibly took the weirdness with them.

[@davidhamm7909]

You’ve got it spot on about the TV Licence. So many people think you need a licence to own a TV and TV Licensing like you to think this. But you can watch any catch up service (except iPlayer) plus Netflix, Prime video etc without a licence as long as you don’t watch as it is being broadcast. You do need a licence to watch live on a computer, phone or tablet though.

[@davidhamm7909]

Also, if you get a visit from an “enforcement officer”, you don’t have to let them in. Just say “No thank you” and shut the door. They can’t do anything about it.

[@trixifield7925]

Never come across stargazy pie and I'm british . Where would you get that?

[@mjheffy44]

I'm 55 years old and I've traveled the length & breadth of the UK, (best 3 days of my life ! 😅) I have never heard of it either, I hope it's not as creepy as that bloody Caterpillar cake.... that thing is tasty but always looks totally stoned

[@LastValkirian]

ok lived in the uk all my life, mostly the very north of Scotland or the south east of England and i had no idea that putting a pie in a buttered roll was a thing.

[@petertyson4022]

My uncle used do the cheese and Barrow race's. I still think morris dancing is weird. Even I was born here, done it at junior school , and know the history. But still fun to watch. 👍😊

[@tonyt6592]

i live close to Ottery st Mary and have gone to the tar barrels every year for the last 8 years, it's a great evening, they have children's, women's and men's events (obviously the barrels vary in size), and the barrels tend to be carried by a few families that have live in the town for many years.

[@terrystewart1973]

I've never, ever, ever seen the attraction of Mr. Blobby - or Noel Edmonds either for that matter. For the great biscuit vs cake debate, if it's soft but becomes hard when it goes stale it's a cake, but if it's hard but goes soft as it gets stale it's a biscuit. Jaffa cakes are indeed cakes on that basis