Evan-Lainchbury - Isles of Scilly Gimme a Break

It's goodbye to mind-numbing guidebooks, tedious long walks

and posing for really boring photos.

Because this is Gimme A Break,

the show where the kids take charge of the family holiday.

On Gimme A Break the kids have all the say.

They decide where they go, what activities they do

and, most importantly, they're in charge of the holiday rules.

Today's lucky family who are

going to get a break are the Evan Lainchbury family.

Guitar strumming nine-year-old Carys,

dancing diva, 11-year-old Megan...

..glamorous mum...

and chef-tastic stepmum Sara.

So, why do Carys and Megan need to be given a break?

I think we deserve to be given a break

because all our holidays are always sightseeing.

History is my favourite subject.

When we were in York we had to, like, stand by the gravestones.

And then she'd take, like, loads of pictures,

some in black and white, some in colour.

And this is one thing I say to sightseeing...

uh-uh!

Sara doesn't like sand.

The feel of sand, the texture, it gets everywhere.

We can never go on sandy beaches

and we always hurt our feet on pebbley beaches.

-Mum doesn't like getting her hair wet.

-This straight hair has

taken some time to perfect and, as soon as it gets wet, it'll go ping.

She's got a big frizz on her hair.

And frizz.

I think the children being in charge, for me, will be a nightmare.

Please help us, Gimme A Break.

-OK, you two, are you ready to be given a break?

-Yeah!

-Absolutely.

-Are you two ready to hand over control?

-If we must.

You have to. It's time to say the words

that fill parents all over the country with dread and fear.

It's the Gimme A Break Parent Promise.

We, the parents of Carys and Megan,

hereby hand over control of the next family break.

How does that feel to hear them say that?

So...COOL!

-I can't wait to get started.

-Not as cool for you, I'd imagine.

-A little bit frightening.

-Not likely.

No going back, I'm afraid.

You've said the words, they've been broadcast to the nation

so you'll have to lump it whilst we start planning.

Come on, let's hang out.

-That's it, that's it.

-No.

-Hold on, this time.

-SHE STRUMS

-No.

-Oh, I give up.

Look, you are now in control,

so what kind of things do you want from your dream break?

Probably surfing and, like, watersports activities.

Loads of activities that are really active and fun.

What d'you think your mum and Sara will think of that?

They'll probably think there's a bit too much water.

Well, that's lots for me to be getting on with.

I'll sort something out after I've mastered this song.

-That's it, isn't it?

-No.

I've put together three fantastic breaks for Carys and Megan.

But before the girls make their choice

they have to guess the holidays

from a series of quirky, out there and downright freaky clues.

Let's see how they get on with break number one.

It's our clue. What's say?

"TREE-SY does it.

"This break is HIGH-ly fun."

So, it might be climbing trees, maybe?

Maybe we would, like, stay in a treehouse.

-Look, there's something down there.

-It's a flag.

-Yeah.

It could be a flag for a castle.

Shouldn't he be on a beach?

We laughed when we saw the lifeguard

come up and run up to us.

Hey, girls!

You're gonna need this!

I'm gonna go save some lives.

He gave us a whistle.

It's a lifeguard.

I think we might be doing stuff

in the water and maybe, like, surfing.

-Gimme A Break...

-Gimme A Break...

..ices. Help yourself!

-Ice cream.

-Ice cream.

Oh, it's Cornwall, I think.

In Cornwall, they make a lot of ice cream.

-We might be making, like, making food and ice cream?

-Yes.

Cone on, girls! Time for the next clue.

Oh, look, it's a helicopter.

Quite fun to go on a helicopter.

Maybe we'd get to the destination by a helicopter. Let's follow it.

Look, it's landed.

"You'd be SILLY not to pick this break.

"It leaves the others in its wake.

"To these islands you will fly.

"So don't delay, give them a try."

The clue, I think it meant we would go to the Isle of Scilly.

Scuba-diving stuff.

-They're blacked out.

-There you go.

You need to get to grips with this clue!

I think it might be an anchor.

-Well done.

-It's your turn now.

Here you go.

Something wet. Is it a seal?

Maybe we're, like, scuba diving off a boat with seals. Let's go.

Last clue and it's all getting a bit tents. Tents, get it?

I think it's natural yoghurt.

Maybe camping in Greece cos natural yoghurt comes from Greece.

What's this on the back?

O, G, H.

-Ogh?

-Or go?

But I don't know what "HOG" would be.

Come on, let's go look for the next clue.

Flowers and a windmill.

Oh, look, there's a card.

"BREADY steady go!

"Use your loaf to guess what you'll be making."

Because it says "BREADY" it might be making bread.

And then that's a flower, only the other type of flour.

I thought the flower clue meant

that we'll be making bread in a windmill.

A sandpit with a sand castle. Look at the clue card.

"Join the dots to find a clue

"to this HIGH FLYING activity."

It's a kite.

Kite flying, and maybe on the beach, because there's sand.

That's it, clues over.

OK, this is the exciting bit now, girls.

You get to find out what your choices are. Break number one,

where do you think you'd go?

We think it's in Cornwall because on the ice cream clue, the flag,

I think was the Cornish flag.

Yes, break number one is an activity holiday in Cornwall.

There's no time for sightseeing on this active break

because you'll be too busy learning how to lifeguard, climb trees,

mountain board and make delicious Cornish ice cream. Yum.

-That is cool.

-What do you like about it?

I like the tree climbing and the lifeguard thing.

Moving on to number two, where do you think that was?

I thought it might be the Isles of Scilly.

Break number two is a superb seaside holiday on the Isles of Scilly.

Right again!

It's non-stop seaside activities.

How do you fancy sailing a catamaran, snorkelling with

seals and horse riding on the beach?

You'll be flown in by helicopter for an awesome view of all the islands.

-That looks good.

-That is cool!

-Which part of it is cool?

I liked the snorkelling and horse riding.

-That would be fun.

-Where do you think break number three was?

We thought it might be in Greece because of the natural yoghurt.

Actually, the letters O, G and H were crossed out which left yurt.

-Do you know what a yurt is?

-No.

You're about to find out

because break number three is an outdoor break in Norfolk.

This adrenaline packed break offers power kiting and climbing.

Test your cheffing skills with breadmaking at a working windmill

and sleep in a traditional yurt tent.

It's a Mongolian tent.

-You've got a wood burner in there. It'll be cosy.

-That sounds cool.

Of the three choices, is there one that stands out?

All of them are really good.

It's going to be hard. Well, I'll get out of the way,

-maybe practise on your guitar again, is that cool?

-Yeah.

-I'll come back in a bit.

-I think the helicopter one...

I can play this thing, I know I can!

The snorkelling with seals looks good.

# It's Gimme A Break

# Some time it may take... #

I really like the look of that one.

# Do not make a mistake. #

Keep it down, Kirsten!

-Do you want to do that one?

-Yeah.

-Positive?

-Yeah.

Kirsten!

Coming, I'm coming!

-That was the sound of two girls that have made their minds up!

-Yeah.

Put me out of my misery. Which one are you going for?

-Break number two, the Isles of Scilly.

-Consider that booked!

I'm going to pop up at the end of your break to offer you the chance

to win one final fantastic treat.

If you do well it's completely yours,

but if you mess it up, Mum and Sara will end up having the treat.

-Are you clear?

-Yeah.

Have a fantastic time and, remember, completely secret, mum is the word.

So, the Evan Lainchburys are going on a seaside break

to the Isles of Scilly.

How will Mum and Sara cope with getting gritty, icky sand between

their toes? Urgh! And who'll get their hands on the final treat?

We've got to get this.

Carys and Megan are in charge of the holiday,

so they're in charge of the packing for their mum and Sara.

"Pants?"

We thought we'd be a bit clever and leave some notes.

"Fold our clothes carefully or else."

-No.

-I don't think they'll take any notice.

We're just shoving everything in.

If anything's all scrumpled I will not be happy.

Cowboy Carys.

I'm sure they're having a right laugh at us

and having a right laugh at our clothes.

As you can see, Sara likes checked tops.

I like checked shirts!

She never swears dresses.

I don't want them to pack a dress for me.

-There's a note on the straighteners.

-OK, then.

"Go on, Meg, you know you'll need them, as well."

We'll be too busy to do that sort of thing.

-It's a human right to have hair straighteners, isn't it?

-Yeah.

In they go. That's our job done.

Whoo!

It's the morning of the break

and the journey starts with a train ride to Penzance.

It's finally time to reveal all.

Oh, that looks very much to me like a bucket and spade.

-And there's sand.

-There's definitely sand there, Sar.

Pull the spade out then.

You're going to the... Ooh!

Brilliant! The Isles of Scilly.

We're going to the Isles of Scilly!

A silly family on the Isles of Scilly.

Really surprised they chose this.

Pleasantly surprised, happily surprised.

I thought their reaction was quite funny

because I thought they would be, like, "Oh-h!"

- How are we getting there, girls? - In a helicopter!

-Superb!

-Oh, my!

You've never been on a helicopter before.

I was a little bit anxious getting on the helicopter

because it was so loud and that's something I've never done before.

Hold my hand.

-I'm so excited!

-Yeah.

Really great. It was fabulous.

When you looked down it was really far down

and it felt like you were floating.

The Isles of Scilly lie 28 miles southwest of the coast of Cornwall.

There are five main inhabited islands and a population

of only 2,000 people. Flying in gives sand-hating Sara

a bird's eye view of all the beaches that lie in store.

The family are staying in Hell Bay,

but will it be heaven when they open their suitcases?

Open up, then.

-Oh!

-Oh, no!

Terrible!

Everything just shoved in.

Every single item from the wardrobe.

I can clothe the whole of the Scilly Isles.

What about the notes that said...

-fold neatly?

-I'm glad there's an iron.

Plenty of shoes.

That's a good thing.

Oh, no!

What's that about?

If you're good, we'll unlock the straighteners.

-I can't see any checked shirts yet, Sar.

-Oh, no, I've seen one.

Don't worry, Sar, we packed all your checked shirts

seeing as you love them so much.

Checked shirts to the Isle of Scilly, yay!

The pain of the unpacking is only the beginning for Mum and Sara.

It's time for the girls to lay down the law.

Listen up, Mum and Sara. Carys and Megan have come up with three rules.

You'll be watched at all times, so there'll be no getting away

with breaking any of them. Do you understand?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

First up, rule number one

states there'll be no boring historical sightseeing.

Not even one fact?

Nope.

So, there will be no trudging round graveyards

or taking arty photographs of old buildings on this break.

OK.

Here comes rule number two.

Mum and Sara, you must walk barefoot on a sandy beach.

Do I have to?

Come on, it's a rule.

Otherwise you get a forfeit.

And the third and final rule is no sunbathing.

Not even a little bit, when the sun comes out?

With all our sun cream on, sensibly.

No, we'll be too busy with all our activities.

If you break any of these rules, there will be consequences.

The girls will be watching you.

I'll catch up with you at the end of the break when you kids

will take on the adults to play for a very special treat.

We'll get you then.

Have an amazing time, won't you? Bye!

ALL: Bye!

The one about the historical sites?

Well, you know, I can... I can do that one.

The rule two with the sand on the bare feet,

I think I'm going to have nightmares about that one.

Here are the rules you have to stick to.

It's the law. You've been warned.

It's the next morning and the family are making their way

to another one of the islands for the first activity.

I'm going to tell you what we're doing now.

We're going snorkelling with seals.

-Oh-h!

-Yay!

I thought it was the worst possible activity ever,

getting into a wetsuit, getting into a freezing cold sea.

Then once you're in there it was just superb.

Seals are naturally curious

and it wasn't long before they came to say hello.

It was really fun because I got to see the seals in the water.

I think Megan did particularly well

because she was out really, really far.

She was like a natural. She was absolutely brilliant.

I wasn't so great at the snorkelling thing and I didn't enjoy that.

-It went right under us!

-Wow!

Absolutely amazing.

These guys are looking up at us

and then it swam right past us when it came up and it was really cool.

Maybe Mum and Sar will get used

to it and then maybe we can do more things like this on family holidays.

After being dropped on the main island

the girls are ready to reveal the next activity.

We're going to tell you what we're doing now.

Oh, my goodness, what are they doing?

We're going gig rowing!

In this?

There's only four of us, we can't row one of those.

That's right, Mum, you need six rowers for a gig,

which is a type of rowing boat

unique to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

But to get started Sara's going to have to face her fear of sand.

Having to walk on the sand was the worst thing possible for me to do.

It was an absolute nightmare. I hate it.

SHE SQUEALS

It's got seaweed in it!

It reinforced the fact that I hate it and I don't want to do it any more.

My feet is soaking!

This is really fun and Mum and Sar are getting wet!

Once on board, Jeremy gets everyone to try and coordinate their strokes.

One.

Two. That's it.

Three.

-Just a slight pause on the end of your stroke.

-This is hard!

After a while everyone got into a rhythm

and it was really fun when everyone was going at the same time.

So, it's all about rhythm, not about power.

Quite impressed with Mum and Sara gig rowing.

They got the hang of it quite quickly

and they were quite good at it.

-I'm enjoying this as a hobby, little hobby.

-Oh, it's lovely.

Really, really enjoyed it and I might well take it up as a sport.

But, just as they find their rhythm, Sara has a disaster.

I broke it! I caught a crab, apparently.

Sara wasn't as good as me, though.

Mum and Sara have been getting quite competitive

at who's the best at the activities.

There is a bit of competitiveness.

Snorkelling wasn't me, rowing is.

It was really, really fun doing an activity together as a family.

Hey!

The next day starts off with a downpour.

So then, girls, what are we doing all the way down here?

We're doing something inside today.

We're doing stained-glass making.

-Ooh!

-That will be lovely.

Indoors, hurray!

The girls are going to paint glass

while Mum and Sara will be making stained-glass designs.

I'm going to do a seal like from the snorkelling.

I think I'm going to do my own design.

What are you going to be doing, Jo?

Well, I was thinking maybe some abstract tulip design...

-Very nice. Very nice.

-..sort of thing.

I'm going to stick to a bog standard yacht.

Cut along there, cut along there and cut there

and that will be a lovely sail shape.

I mean, that one looks like a leaf, doesn't it? See?

Stained-glass painting was really cool

because you got to do your own design.

I wonder if theirs are better than ours?

It fits on there perfectly. My little blue sail.

I think this is two-one to Sar, don't you?

Right, shut up, I'm starting again!

I've already decided where they're going to go,

in the front window all four of them.

We've never ever done this before.

The girls have finished their designs.

Now it's time to see how well Mum and Sara did.

Look at that. Beautiful.

-Wow!

-They will look really cool in our house.

-Yours is better though, Jo.

-Are you giving me this one, then?

-Yes.

The sun has come out and Mum decides to take full advantage of it.

Mummy!

-You're breaking our rules!

-Sunbathing alert!

-Sunbathing alert!

-You're busted.

I am not sunbathing.

You're sitting in the sun with sun cream on,

closing your eyes and relaxing. That is sunbathing!

I think there might be a consequence in this for both of you.

That's not fair!

Back at the harbour the girls have a plan for dinner.

-Are you hungry?

-A little bit peckish, yes.

-Yeah.

Tonight we're going to be catching our food

because we're going fishing.

Oh-h!

And then we're going to go back to the hotel and cook it on a barbecue.

Oh, that will be brilliant. Oh, really, really good fun.

-What happens if we don't catch anything, Meg?

-We go hungry!

So, the family jump on board expert fisherman Alec's boat

to go in search of dinner.

I don't really know

who's going to get the most fish, but I hope it's me and Megan.

It's bound to be the adults better at fishing!

Right, lift 'em up!

Yeah, I've got two!

That's brilliant!

I've got another one.

Three! I've got three!

That is brilliant!

Oh-h!

I haven't caught anything. I keep catching my line, that's about it.

Got one! That's six now to the kids!

I've caught seaweed!

I've got two!

I'm just striking my fishing pose here.

That's a good one!

-You're the pollock king!

-I think you two did brilliantly on there.

Give me five.

That's dinner sorted.

Back at the hotel, the family are tucking into all nine fish.

That's really nice.

Mmm! It's definitely the best home-cooked meal

and certainly the best home-caught meal

because it's the only home-caught one!

It's the final morning and the family make their way

down to the harbour for the next activity.

This morning we are going to be sailing on a catamaran.

-Wow!

-That will be very exciting.

-That is nice.

Isn't it lovely the sun's out, eh?

Sara...

Heave!

Heave!

-Wow!

-Yeah, it's moving. Look at that now, Meg.

The tiller away from you and the nose will come round to the left.

Pull it back that way and the nose will go round to the right, OK?

I've got every confidence with Megan's sailing.

That is beautiful, isn't it? To be sailing with the sails up.

It's really cool being in charge of the boat because

you get to like go where you want.

I could get used to this.

This should be your new hobby.

I'm the KING OF THE WO-O-ORLD!

Right, who wants cake?

-Yummy!

-Lovely.

-Delicious.

-Definitely the life, isn't it, girls?

-Let's buy a boat.

The girls decide to head towards St Helens,

their very own uninhabited island,

where there's a surprise in store for Mum and Sara.

As you two know that you

broke the rule of sunbathing you have to do a consequence.

-Oh!

-You have to go up to the top of your chest in the water.

-You're having a laugh!

-Oh, my goodness.

And you've to stay there for ten seconds.

Ten seconds? It's freezing!

Yes, Sara, that water is a very chilly 13 degrees.

It was really funny when they got in the cold water.

Get in, Jo, it's the best way.

Get in!

Four, three...

In!

Can I get out now?

Sara was best. Well, done, Sara.

Come on, Mum!

Going in the water was freezing, absolutely freezing.

I know why I don't go in the sea in Britain, it's just way too cold.

No matter how beautiful and blue it looks, it's too cold.

-It was a bit of a harsh punishment as well, I do feel.

-Yeah.

I only put the sun cream on!

So, girls, what's our next activity?

-Well, our next activity, it's really fun. It's horse riding!

-Wow!

Brilliant.

Megan and Carys have decided to test their riding skills

with a trip to the beach.

The last time I got on a horse I was about 15.

-Brilliant.

-I've got Bubbles, the best horse.

He's gorgeous.

Going in the water on the horses was really good fun.

The horse next to me was dancing in the water, so I got really splashed.

Oh, this is going brilliantly. I love this.

It was absolutely fabulous. It was my favourite.

I'd really like to do horse riding on another family holiday.

It's really fun going round with your family on a horse.

We've got some stables near where we live actually, so we might even

take it up as a family hobby.

With the break nearly over, tension levels are rising

as the family go head to head for the treat.

Hi, everyone. Have you had a good break so far?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

Well, it's about to get even better because it's treat time.

The exclusive treat we've lined up for you

is a luxurious pampering trip to a top spa.

Sounds cool.

-Ooh!

-Lovely.

-Very nice, very nice.

Kids, are you ready to win the treat?

Yeah.

Mum and Sara, are YOU ready to win the treat?

-Yeah. Too right.

-Definitely.

-Yeah.

Only one half of the family can win, so let's play.

Girls, I'm going to ask you three questions about your break.

If you answer two correctly you win the treat, but if you get two wrong

Mum and Sara will get the treat.

-Are you ready?

-Yeah.

So, question one,

how did Sara described the helicopter ride...?

-Let's just say fantastic.

-No, we'll get it wrong.

-Carys, we won't.

-OK.

Our answer is B, fantastic.

Let's have a look.

I would describe the helicopter ride as fantastic.

Yes!

-Kirsten, we got one right.

-Brilliant, well done.

You only need to get one more right and the treat is yours.

We've got to get this.

Question two, who did Mum think was better at the stained glass?

I think it's um...

-Mum.

-Mum.

Yeah.

-I'm going to have to hurry you.

-Yeah, just go for it.

-OK.

-Your final answer, please.

A, Mum.

I can reveal that the answer was...

I think I was the best at the stained-glass window.

YES!

We've got it. High five!

-That's so not fair.

-Yeah!

I'm really glad we won this, not Mum and Sar.

Hey!

A magical place and I'll definitely want to be coming back.

I love this!

I think Megan and Carys have proved

that we should listen to their ideas more often.

It's the best-ever holiday I've been on. Wow!

Thank you, Gimme A Break!