'One bloke had all his teeth taken out to gurn better'

People across the UK devote their free time to many interesting and unusual activities. A BBC series meets the passionate characters whose hobbies bring joy to their lives and beyond.

"I've seen a lot of good gurners in my time," William tells me, proudly.

"One bloke had all his teeth taken out so he could gurn better."

I'm here to find out more about Egremont's historic face-pulling competition - where ugliness is truly celebrated - for the second series of What's Your Thing? on BBC iPlayer.

Each episode documents a hobby, passion or interest. Often, filming the show feels like stepping into another, infinitely more surreal world.

Cumbria's premier gurning competition is a prime example.

"I'd seen a picture of a gurner on the wall at the dentists, so I had to investigate" says Adrian Zivelonghi.

He's wearing a T-shirt bearing the legend Keep Calm and Gurn On.

"For 23 years I've been coming here. It's my religion, I become a gurner."

I ask how much success he's had at the yearly gurning competition.

"Erm, three times world champion," he says calmly, as if being recognised as being able to pull the ugliest face in the entire world is not a big deal.

It's fair to say I meet a lot of interesting characters in the series, but there is a common thread. Many people find a community when they pursue their hobby or interest.

This is illustrated perfectly by 15-year-old Chris at an Anime convention in Newcastle.

He's dressed as DIO from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and is fully committed to the role, even walking like the character does on screen with an exaggerated swagger that oozes confidence.

We take a seat outside the bustling venue where he tells me he struggles to make friends.

"Ever since primary school I've had a hard time. A lot of people just aren't nice at all.

"Some people pretend to be my friend just to betray me, so I'm not really into mingling. I have trust issues."

It's horrible to hear, but the story doesn't fit with what I have seen during my time with him at the convention.

People shout quotes from the show at him and he beams as he responds. In character, of course.

Multiple people approach him and ask him for photos.

"It feels great actually. When I'm here, everyone would like me. It means I'm not alone."

It would be easy to roll your eyes at some of the things people get up to, like dressing as a character from a Japanese manga series and walking through central Newcastle, but it's tough to judge or begrudge when you get to witness the absolute joy these hobbies bring to people's lives.

Perhaps the most heartwarming tale of all is that of Helen Gordon, better known as the Billingham Dancing Lady.

"I know lots of people used to look at me and think, 'she must be two sandwiches short of a picnic', but I'm not.

"I have a master's degree, I run a small business, I have a lot of things I do besides dancing on a morning."

Every morning she dances the same route, singing to herself and waving at passing cars.

It was difficult to capture this on video as, even at 63 years of age, Helen seemed faster and fitter than myself and colleague Alex Challies, who filmed the series.

She is aware of how strange her routine may appear to some, but she decided to do it anyway to improve her mental and physical health.

Helen has become a local legend with wide appeal. Fan mail has been sent addressed only to 'Dancing Lady, Billingham' and it's made its way to her letterbox.

People love her vibe and the energy she brings to their daily commute to work.

"If I can give people hope for the future with the things that I do and the positivity I carry around with me, I'm more than happy to do that."

In an equestrian centre in Grantham, Lincolnshire, manes are being plaited, reins are being gripped firmly in hands and riders are preparing to showjump.

However, there is not a single horse in sight.

At what is believed to be Britain's biggest ever hobby horsing competition, we get to explore a booming scene.

With a toy horse head on a stick, children leap over the jumps for a chance to win a rosette.

"When I sit in my chair in a nursing home, I'll look back and think, 'look at what we did'," says Joanna Rowe.

The Eaglescliffe equine enthusiast began running hobby horsing competitions to provide an outlet for her daughter, but did not expect it to grow at such a pace.

It has now become her job and, in a way, her life.

"I feel so passionately because I see how good it is for these kids. It's some kid's lives and why shouldn't it be?

"Somebody was like, 'I don't see the point. What's the point?'

"There's not many youth clubs, these events let them be kids. It's building a community."

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