Was ready to scrap the car yesterday!!
Decided to drain the rad before changing the bottom hose. But as I'm completely new to this mechanic stuff, I didn't know the drain plug thing is just for show. I tried to undo it and the whole thing moved around the solder and started to leak! So I had to take the radiator out for a third time, took it over to my father-in-law's (my "I've fuked it, can you please fix it?" guy) and he soldered it back up.
Other than that, the bottom hose, unlike the top, was a perfect fit, and easy to get on with the rad unbolted.
I'm now trying to find somewhere to do me a Rat Fink style drawing for behind my front wheel arches :P