Interviewer: Today we’re talking to Amanda, the manager of Madame Tussauds in London, about the way the wax figures are created and taken care of. Amanda, how does the process of creating a figure begin? 

Amanda: Well, it starts with a sitting. This is when all the measurements of the celebrity’s body and musculature are recorded. We take around 500 measurements in a traditional way but our artists also take thousands of pictures, record video footage and even use scanners to capture a 360-degree image of the celebrity in an agreed pose. During the sitting the celebrity’s eyes, hair and skin are also colour-matched from samples, so that the team doesn’t face any problems in the following stages. 

Interviewer: And how are the figures actually created? 

Amanda: After all the relevant measurements are obtained, a clay mould is created. Because wax shrinks, the mould must be 2% bigger than the actual measurements. Once a head cast is created, melted wax is slowly poured into the mould to avoid air bubbles which would spoil the final look. The body of each figure is moulded in the same way. However, it is made from fibreglass instead of wax for durability. Then, strands of real human hair are inserted individually into the wax head, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Next, the hair is cut and styled to match the desired look and the teeth and eyes are added. Finally, skin colour is established on the figure by the application of 10 layers of paint. 

Interviewer: And the last question. Does your work finish the moment you put the figure on display? 

Amanda: As we don’t cordon off our exhibits from visitors, occasionally some minor damage does happen. That’s why our artists constantly monitor the figures. Every morning they go from sculpture to sculpture to check the condition of our exhibits. When necessary, they paint skin or curl hair. Outfits require regular steaming or dry cleaning. Our artists must also update the figures by introducing all the changes in the celebrity’s appearance that are reported. So, for example, when a celebrity has a new tattoo done, it is subsequently carefully reproduced on the figure. We can even age a celebrity’s likeness by carving crow’s feet or shading the skin to replicate the merciless passage of time. When it comes to the sculptures at Madame Tussauds, the artists’ job is never done. 

Interviewer: Amanda, thank you for talking to us.

It was a sunny day in July and I felt as though I was standing on a film set. The whistle of the steam train sounded as I set foot on the impeccably preserved Victorian platform at the station in Alresford. The pale yellow and green station palette, barley twist lamp posts and original signage was virtually the same scene as 100 years ago, and colourful blooms amplified the serene setting. The sound of the train marked the beginning of my journey back in time to when the county’s famed watercress began to spread nationwide. 

Although watercress may not be a plant frequently used worldwide, in Britain, where it’s been grown commercially for hundreds of years, it is still commonplace at mealtimes. Its Latin name is aptly translated as ‘nose twister’, to which anyone crunching on its punchy, peppery leaves can attest. These days it’s mainly used as the base of watercress soup or to perk up salads and sandwiches, while more fancy uses in classy eateries include watercress pesto and hummus. However, in the past, watercress used to be a symbol of poverty. In fact, in Victorian times, when street sellers in London sold bunches of it in paper cones to be eaten as a snack, watercress was nicknamed ‘the poor man’s bread’. And in the 20th century, especially during both world wars, watercress sandwiches became a national institution as people rejoiced in inexpensive, homegrown, healthy produce. 

During my visit to the town of Alresford I discovered that the area provides a constant supply of crystal-clear chalk spring water in which the watercress grows. The water comes out of the ground at a constant 10 to 11 degrees Celsius. This is essential for proper growth as it protects this fragile crop when the temperature outside becomes more extreme in winter or in summer. 

The handsome market town of Alresford has been the home of watercress for centuries. However, watercress was far too perishable to be transported by horse and cart along poor roads. That’s why, in 1865, the railway link connecting Alresford to London was opened. This meant that watercress could be rapidly transported to the capital and beyond and owing to the huge quantities sent to London’s Covent Garden Market each day, the service was soon dubbed the ‘Watercress Line’. 

Although the line was closed in 1973 due to British Rail discontinuing loss-making branch lines, volunteers raised finances and eventually reopened it in 1985, this time as a heritage line, running a 10-mile route from Alresford to Alton. Today, crowds of visitors who flock to Alresford to travel on the ‘Watercress Line’ are lured by the quintessentially English countryside, the Georgian town with its pastel-coloured mansions, and the opportunity to learn about the history of the region. 

During my July visit, I noticed what used to be the busy goods yard where the watercress would have been unloaded onto railway wagons. Farmers would bring the watercress by horse and cart and pack it into wooden boxes with ice and water to keep it fresh en route. As a sign of the times, the old goods yard now serves as the station car park.