‘Welcome to the live edition of What Happens in… It’s Tuesday evening and we’ve reached the end of day two in the contest. Who will be sent home today and who will continue their journey in France? We’ll find out in a moment. The teams are gathered beside me in the gorgeous city of Rennes, known for its beautiful half-timbered houses and its magnificent cathedral, on a gloriously sunny evening. What a day it’s been! The contestants have been on a lengthy treasure hunt that saw them cover 256 kilometres and take in some wonderful sights this outstanding region in France has to offer.’
David Potts was doing what he did best – schmoozing the audience. Roland and the crew were watching him, faces tense in case he made any errors, but tonight Professor Potts was on form. All the contestants were lined up in front of him, waiting to learn the results. A crowd of locals had also gathered on the square where the filming was taking place and were watching the proceedings with interest.
‘It’s been a day of drama, tears and tantrums. We’ve seen laughter with Jim and Oscar when Oscar’s dog, Biggie Small, decided to chase after a poodle, and witnessed Nicola and Donald’s full-blown row outside Vannes, which saw Nicola hitching a ride with a rival team from Grand Maison Bretagne, Evan and Thomas – our dynamic Welsh duo. Tonight, all the teammates are back together and waiting to discover who won the treasure hunt challenge, and who will be going back home tonight. Those who stay will be treated to a top meal at the fabulous Galopin restaurant here in magnificent Rennes… and the losers, a sandwich on a Ryanair flight back home.’
He smiled affably at the contestants, his eyes resting on Bryony a fraction longer than on anyone else. ‘Without further ado, let’s find out who won today’s challenge.’
He pressed a finger to his ear and spoke. ‘Nicola and Donald…’
Nicola swallowed back tears.
‘You are… staying in France.’
Nicola sobbed loudly and threw her arms around Donald’s waist. ‘Sorry I lost my temper,’ she said.
‘It’s fine. It’s okay,’ Donald replied, hugging her fiercely.
‘Terri and Hugh. You are also remaining on the show.’
The contestants from the islands in Scotland, dressed in striped jumpers and both wearing false moustaches jumped up and down in delight and one broke into a Highland dance at the news.
Potts beamed his bright gaze onto the next team. ‘Deepan and Mira... you are… staying!’ The young, quiet couple beamed and high-fived each other.
Potts turned towards Oscar. ‘Oscar and Jim, and Biggie Smalls, you are…’ He lifted his head and waited several seconds, allowing the tension to mount, before he finished his sentence. ‘Staying.’
Lewis edged closer to Bryony. The warmth rising from his body did little to comfort her. They’d done everything possible. They’d collected their treasures and got their clues correct. Had it been enough?
‘Evan and Thomas…’
Her stomach flipped. Surely not? She reasoned if Nicola had joined them after leaving Donald, they might have had help interpreting the clues and beaten her and Lewis. Was that fair? She ought to challenge it even. Beside her Lewis was holding his breath. Potts continued.
‘I’m sorry to say, you will not be staying tonight. You must return to the hotel and pack your bags. Bon voyage. Give my love to Wales.’ He waggled fingers at the disappointed pair before facing the camera and revealing his white teeth again.
‘We now have six teams remaining but which of them won today’s challenge. Let’s look back over the highlights of today’s challenge as the contestants raced around this wonderful region, and then I’ll reveal all.’
‘Cut!’
Nina charged forward with a bottle of water for Potts. He swigged it greedily then shouted, ‘Make-up! I need some of this sweat wiping from my brow. Christ, it’s bloody hot here. How long have we got?’
‘Five minutes.’
‘Mattie!’ Potts bellowed. She raced forward and powdered his face.
The contestants shuffled from foot to foot. It was impossible to speak with microphone packs on. Lewis stepped forward and shook Evan and Hugh’s hands. The others followed suit, wishing them a good journey. The pair left the set with Nina.
‘Back to your places please. We’re going live again in a minute.’ Laura’s voice was loud.
Bryony glanced around her. The park was huge at about ten hectares but retained an elegant, romantic feel with immaculately landscaped gardens, awash with colour. Ahead was a bed of vibrant oranges, yellows and reds – plants and flowers she didn’t recognize – and set between them, exotic grasses and yuccas. The grey blue lamppost adjacent to them was from a bygone era and she found herself wondering what it would have been like to have visited the gardens in the nineteenth century, attended the open-air theatre here, or listened to a concert while seated around the ornate bandstand. Her mind drifted to an image of ladies in crinoline dresses with bouffant hairstyles. Laura’s voice brought her back to the present.
‘Four…three…two… Live!’
‘Today, our teams were on an elaborate treasure hunt that saw them collecting objects and clues. It’s been tricky adding up all the scores in such a short time, but our production team have managed it and I can reveal that it was close – very close indeed, and the winners are… Oscar and Jim!’ Potts pointed at the pair and applauded.
Laura’s eyebrows furrowed and she whispered something into her microphone. Potts pressed a finger to his ear to hear what was being said in his earpiece, shook his head slightly, and then glided forwards to congratulate the teammates. Oscar leapt up and down, clapping his hands together before grabbing hold of Jim and wrapping him in an embrace.
Lewis squeezed Bryony’s hand. ‘Can’t win them all,’ he said.
The recording ended and as they handed in their microphone packs, Bryony noticed Laura stalking towards Potts. Although she couldn’t hear what was being said, Laura was clearly annoyed with Potts who lifted both hands in a submissive gesture and kept smiling and shaking his head. In the end Laura stormed off, clipboard under her arm.
‘Come on. Let’s go and join the others for dinner. At least we’re still in the game,’ said Lewis.
Bryony nodded. She’d have to try harder the following day if she wanted to get in front of that camera again. They meandered across to the other contestants, waiting to go to the restaurant. ‘Did you hear the goss?’ said Deepan as soon as they joined them.
‘Hear what?’
‘Potts screwed up the results. One of the technicians told me. Apparently the top two teams were extremely close – there was only one point in it, and Potts gave out the wrong result.’
‘Who was the other team?’
‘No one knows. Potts said it was an honest mistake and the production team are going to have to let it go because it was broadcast live, but Laura is furious with him.’
‘I don’t suppose it matters who won,’ said Mira, a gentle-faced woman with wide amber eyes and dark hair scraped from a beautifully calm face. ‘We all got through. It’s only a few minutes in front of the camera. It’s not like we lost the money or anything.’
Deepan shrugged. ‘True but let’s hope he doesn’t get anything else wrong.’
Oscar and Jim returned to the group. ‘The Prof let Biggie Smalls say hello. He waved a paw at all his fans! It was so exciting, wasn’t it, Biggie?’ The pug wrinkled his eyebrows. ‘And Jim said hello to his grandchildren and wife. I’m sure they’re very proud of him.’ Bryony smiled. Mira was right. The winners only got a few minutes camera time, and Oscar had clearly relished his time in front of the lens. It was just a shame she hadn’t had another opportunity to mention Hannah.