Harris-Willis Family Gimme a Break

Ahoy there! Are you fed up of drifting

along on the same old holidays?

Well, be prepared to make some waves, because this

is Gimme A Break, the show where you take charge of your family holiday.

On Gimme A Break, it's the kids who decide where to go and what to do.

Parents don't get a look-in when it comes to the holiday rules.

Breaking the rules can only lead to one thing - trouble.

Today, I'm in Nottinghamshire,

and the lucky family getting a break are the Willis-Harrises.

Making up this top trio are eight-year-old twins,

thrill-seeker Callum,

adventure-loving Jack,

and, trying to keep them in line

is games goddess Mum.

So why do Callum and Jack deserve to be given a break?

We really, really, really need to go on an exciting, cool holiday.

-We've been to Spain...

-Boring.

I think they might say that it was...

a bit, not boring, but maybe they might say that we don't do enough.

All Mum does is chillaxes, and that

means the only thing she does is reads, sunbathes and drinks wine.

I do quite like a glass of wine on a holiday!

Mum will do anything to avoid going in the water.

Maybe they moan when I don't go in the swimming pool.

Our mum takes ages and ages to get ready.

I do take lots of beauty stuff when I go away.

-Mum's normally in charge of the holiday.

-And we don't like that.

You know if you give someone a little bit of power,

that they'll just run crazy with it?

So I am really scared about that.

Mum, you'd better not break any rules, or there'll be big trouble!

SHE EXHALES

Mum, I've spoken to the boys,

and it's clear that they think you spend far too much time

chillaxing on the beach - what do you think about that?

I do like lying on the beach,

-I really like lying in the sun, it could be true.

-Yes!

-Are you ready to be given a break?

-Yes!

-Are you sure?

-Yes!

OK, then.

Mum, are you ready to give up control of your family holiday?

I'm really scared, actually.

It's that time, it's the Gimme A Break parent promise.

Will you read this out loud with your hand on your heart?

"I, mum of Callum and Jack,

"hereby hand over control of the next family break."

-Yes!

-What about that, boys? Well done, boys!

Will these two give you a run for your money?

Yeah, I think they're going to gang up on me!

Boys, I need to find out from you

what sort of things you like to do on your break.

-So, shall we discuss it?

-Yeah!

-Let's go. Come on.

What sort of holiday do you guys want?

A water-packed holiday.

-So you like water stuff.

-And we like adventure, animals, mysteries.

I think that's enough for me to go and work on.

What happens if your brother wants to go on one holiday

and you want to go on the other holiday?

How are you going to solve that?

-We will judo fight.

-Judo fight?

-No, not a chance.

-Who's in charge?

-We are!

-Who's in charge?

-WE ARE!

The twins definitely know what they want, so I've come up with

two super-cool holidays for them to choose from.

But first they'll have to solve a series of clues.

-It might be a hat.

-Yeah, it probably is a hat.

Let's hope that's not a rain dance, Callum.

"T-P"

-Come on, chiefs!

-Tidal pigs?

Tidal pigs?! Are you insane?

It could be camping in a tepee.

Yeah, could be. Something like Red Indian camping or something?

Skateboards, cool!

-Hey, look, there's a clue at the bottom!

-How do we get down?

Erm, skate?

"There will be no time to get BOARD

"on this mountainous activity."

Mountain boarding.

-What's mountain boarding?

-Mountain boarding is where you have

really big skateboards and you're skateboarding down a mountain.

That's humungously amazingly right, dude!

I definitely think this is something to do with a mountain.

There's no time to look cool, there's another clue to do!

Suits with rock.

-Maybe because it's rock, we might be going rock-climbing?

-Sweet!

Let's eat to make us think better.

I think break one's all about an adventure family holiday,

camping and doing rock climbing.

Ahoy there, sailors, don't get blown away

by the clues for breaker number two!

-Maybe it's got something to do with sailing on a boat.

-Yeah.

You're not wrong there, Callum.

"You need to learn how to make

"this for your break, but don't get tied up trying."

A reef knot,

a bowline knot, and a figure-of-eight knot.

I think that clue meant that we're going to go on a cruise.

T-shirts!

Cool!

"Gorge." It says "gorge."

-Shoes!

-Cool!

It looks like rock climbing shoes.

Or walking up a mountain.

Gorge?

Walking?

Gorge? Walking?

Almost definitely something to do with rocks.

Or rock climbing.

This clue is slipping away from them.

They'll have to do better with the next one.

"This location for this break

"is famous for its huge stretches of water,

"the largest is over 10 miles long.

"But can you work out its windy name?"

Windy Waters?

Windy Wonder?

Wonderful Water?

It's Lake Windermere and on this holiday,

there's one thing for certain - you're going to get wet.

I think it's really fun squirting my brother,

because he doesn't like it and my mum doesn't normally let me do it!

With the clues done and dusted, it's time to see if Callum and Jack

can guess correctly the breaks on offer.

But which one will they choose? It's decision time.

Ahem, er, boys?

So, guys, the clues for break one, what were they?

-There was a Red Indian headdress, there was a big T and a P.

-Yeah.

And there was some skateboarding.

OK, so what you think of the big T and the P,

what might that have been?

-A tent.

-A tepee.

I can tell you guys that break number one is a fantastic

woodland adventure in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.

-Does that sound good?

-Yeah!

-Are you ready to see it?

-Yeah.

Here we go. This woodland adventure starts with the accommodation,

as you'll be staying in a Native American-style tepee.

Mum will have no time for chillaxing,

as you put yourselves to the test rock climbing.

You will try out some awesome moves mountain boarding,

and don't get lost in the enormous maze of maize.

So, guys, break number two, what do you think that one is?

-Water sports.

-We have to dress up as a sailor and do sailors' knots,

and a "George" T-shirt with the E crossed off, so it said "Gorge".

-Gorge walking, do you know what that is?

-No.

You slide down the waterfalls and put your head through waterfalls.

Boys, I can reveal that break number two is a spectacular lake break

in the Lake District.

Break number two is a water sports holiday in the Lake District.

You'll be staying on the shores of Lake Windermere,

and be prepared to get wet, as you'll get the chance to go

gorge walking, and try walking on water in inflatable hamster balls

before taking to the waves with a sailing lesson.

You've got a tough decision to make between break number one and two.

Callum, which one did you want to go on?

-Number two.

-I want to do holiday number one.

-Oh!

What one do you think they're going to go for, break number one or two?

Nothing, no idea?

Callum wants the lake break

and Jack wants the woodland adventure holiday.

There's only one way to settle this - thumb war!

One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war.

Yes!

Callum's in with a lightning fast hold,

which means it's break number two - the lake break.

I'll catch up with you later on in your holiday, at the Lake District.

There's one final chance for you to win a treat.

All you've got to do is answer three questions about your break.

If you do well, the treat's yours, but if you mess it up...

Mum's going to get it. There's one more thing left to do, ready?

That's the holiday booked Well done!

So, it's break number two for the Willis-Harris family.

A water sports holiday in the Lake District.

Will Mum be swept off her feet by the activities the boys have chosen?

And who will come out on top when it comes to winning the final treat?

Mum will need some proper outdoor gear for this action-packed break,

but with Jack and Callum's packing,

who knows what might end up in her suitcase?

I'm really scared. The idea of them packing

my clothes is horrible, horrible.

We should definitely bring her some pants,

because there's one thing that kids do not want to see.

The worst-case scenario is that they pack like a long, flowing gown,

and I'll end up having to climb a mountain wearing it or something.

-What about a dress?

-Yeah!

-High heels!

I think the whole power of the holiday might

have gone to their heads, I think.

Quite a few of the blouses that I own have to have a vest under them

or they're see-through. There's a chance that they'll forget that.

Funny T-shirt...that you can see through!

I have taken some steps to prevent disaster.

I've taken about three or four bags of my clothes to the charity shop.

As the time to set off approaches,

Mum still hasn't got a clue where she might be going,

and the twins are hidden away making a masterpiece. Or should I say mess?

-Boys, what are you up to in here?

-We're painting a picture.

"We are going to the Lake District!"

Yeah, we're going to the Lake District!

Cleaned up and ready to go, the moment has arrived to set off

on the three-and-a-half-hour journey to the Lake District.

Is there anything that you think is going to be different

-about this holiday?

-It's going to be more exciting.

-You think so?

-And silly.

-And very relaxing for Mummy?

-No!

What's that, Callum? You've spotted England's largest lake?

The family have arrived at their self-catering apartment,

-but will it get a thumbs-up from the twins?

-Cool!

That's a yes, then.

It's posh! It's posh!

It's really, really stunning, isn't it?

Everyone's impressed with the apartment.

But will Mum be as pleased with the twins' packing?

That's not a bad start, their jeans.

They've managed to put some jeans in, and some pants,

although quite an obscure collection of pants.

Oh, no, you've brought my leopard pants!

# Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah-dah! #

I'm shocked that they put in odd shoes and random stuff.

I think I've got you a pair.

Oh, no, no, no! No!

I don't even wear this! I had it for fancy dress.

Put it on, put it on! Cool!

How much would you give it out of ten?

Erm, your choice of clothes would get like a four out of ten.

Your packing skills, in the suitcase, were quite good,

so I'm going to give you a seven.

I don't think I did a good job of packing for her, but for us,

we did a good job.

Mum's worst clothing fears have been confirmed,

but that's nothing compared to what the twins have in store

for her when it comes to the holiday rules.

-Are you ready to hear the rules set by Callum and Jack?

-Yes.

The twins are fed up with your chillaxing on holiday.

So rule number one is no sunbathing or lying around.

No lying around and no sunbathing?!

Mum, I've been told that your normal holiday treat is a glass of wine.

I'm afraid the twins have decided to be mean with rule number two.

So there's no wine for you, not even a sip.

Oh, my goodness!

-No wine on a holiday?

-We got that wine specially to tempt you.

So, finally, rule number three.

Callum and Jack are fed up of you not joining in with them,

so you have to do everything that the boys do.

Callum and Jack, to make this rule work, you have to tell Mum

what you want her to do before you do it.

On to the consequence - the twins tell me you like to wear make-up,

so if you break any of these rules, you'll have to take your make-up off

straightaway and spend the rest of the day make-up free.

Oh, no!

"Mum's rule break make-up wipes." You are meanies!

Remember, I'll be catching up with you later

-to give you the chance to win that final treat.

-Yeah!

I don't think they realise how bad it will be

if I don't have any make-up on. I will have no eyelashes.

We'll be watching you.

It's the first morning of the break,

and activity number one is raft building. Will Mum be able to

keep her head above water, with the twins in charge?

Today, we're doing raft-building and you're definitely going to get wet.

Oh, no! Oh, no!

I tested it, the water's nice and freezing.

Oh, thank you, that's so kind(!)

With the help of instructor action man Dave, they set to work.

We lift with our back straight.

The boys' attention starts to drift off,

especially when there's fun to be had elsewhere.

Over-buoyed with their impressive-looking raft,

they take to the water.

Give us a wave, Mum!

Ahoy, pirates!

-Oh, no!

-The deeper we go, the colder it gets.

The twins have successfully stood up on the raft,

but the change in weight has loosened the barrels.

If yours goes, mine's going!

Callum, what are you going to do?

Argh!

-Callum, come round. I don't believe it, your mum stayed on!

-Woo-hoo!

-Yeah, but not for long!

-Not for long!

-Mum overboard!

-It's really, really cold in the water.

Even pirate Dave takes the plunge.

I'm really rubbish at building rafts.

After a quick dip, it's time to make things shipshape,

with something to eat and, unfortunately for Mum,

the boys are in charge of the menu.

"The Willis-Harris family picnic banquet menu."

For the main course, there's a choice between classic

and unusual sandwiches.

What will the boys choose for Mum?

First up for tasting, peanut butter, lettuce and jam. Down the hatch!

THEY GIGGLE

That looks disgusting! Oh, no!

I don't want to eat it!

It's horrible!

That is fantastic(!)

Then it's on to cold sausage and baked beans.

Mmm, yum! That's not too bad.

I could eat that, not for fun, but I could eat it, boys.

Followed by...mashed banana?

That's OK.

Mum's doing really well at stomaching these unusual things,

so the twins up their game with mum's worst nightmare food -

beetroot.

-That is so horrible!

-BOYS LAUGH

Ugh! But I'm going to swallow, look.

On to dessert, a super spectacular ice-cream surprise.

This isn't just ice cream, it's art.

Looks yummy!

There's nothing like getting stuck in.

I'm going to give this ten million out of ten.

I think it was a brilliant choice of dessert, the boys have loved it,

I don't think I've ever seen them this happy.

It's day two of the break, and the family are up early

to try gorge walking.

Under the careful eye of instructor Jason, they'll be following a stream

downhill through a gorge with spectacular jumps and slides.

It also means that they're going to get very, very wet.

Callum and Jack throw themselves into it,

whereas Mum, well, she just throws herself.

Yeah!

Amazing!

That's it, keep your hands up.

Well done, mate.

I would describe gorge walking as...

exciting, cold and scary.

Mummy was really scared.

I'm really proud of Mummy.

She was really scared but then she ended up doing all of it.

As if going backwards, upside down and back-to-front wasn't enough,

there's one last jump.

No!

Callum's first to jump, but nerves are getting the better of him.

-Go!

-I can't.

-You can, Callum.

-I can't.

So, to help his brother out, Jack takes the lead.

Come on, Jack.

-Ready?

-Big jump out here. Ready?

Three, two, one!

-Woo!

-I'm still alive!

Despite watching Jack, Callum decides the jump's not for him,

but he's still determined to get down in style.

The twins have shown Mum how it's done, but will she

be able to conquer her fears and take a leap into the unknown?

Three, two, one.

I thought I wasn't going to be able to do that, I nearly didn't,

but then I thought,

I have to do it, otherwise, I'll look like a wimp.

Gorge walking is really, really, really fun.

That was amazing!

I would really love a glass of wine now. That would just be perfect.

The twins want to surprise Mum with the next activity.

So she's under strict orders to keep her eyes shut and no peeking.

Open your eyes.

-Oh, no!

-Yes! Yes!

We're running in a hamster ball over the lake!

You're kidding me?!

Just to make sure, we're tied up.

I had no idea this is what we were going to be doing.

Good job!

I can get up, I just can't run.

Go on, Jack.

Good boy!

Yay! Whoo!

I'm really looking forward to Mummy going in the hamster ball.

SHE SHRIEKS

THEY LAUGH

Yeah!

Oh, this is hilarious.

A full day of water sports has sent Mum over the edge.

Lying down and drinking wine?

That's a double rule break.

Oh! Hello, Jack.

It's not what you think.

It's actually apple juice in a wine glass!

That's what they all say.

Oops! And that's rule-break number three.

-What have you got to say for yourself?

-I have no defence.

So straight for the forfeit?

I accept the forfeit.

It's the morning after the rule breaks. Mum is in big trouble

with the twins, who have decided to get mean with her punishment.

Mum, you broke three rules last night.

Drinking wine, lying down and then drinking wine again!

So we're going to make you take your makeup off, make you wear

-the leather jacket and your shoes.

-MUM LAUGHS

Well, you can't make me wear odd shoes!

With Mum suitably punished, Callum and Jack have to work out

how to get to the final activity of the break.

Will they be chuffed with a ride in a traditional steam train?

Or will they power off in a 4x4?

What will they choo-choose? Boys, the decision is yours.

Dave the instructor is back to help them out.

I want to go in the train.

I want to go in the 4x4.

Aww!

As you two obviously can't decide, so I think we should toss a coin.

Heads for the steam train.

-OK, are you ready?

-Yeah.

-Are you?

-Yes!

-Here we go.

HE SCREAMS

Tails! It's tails! Are you ready?

-Come with me in the 4x4.

-Yes!

-Are you glad you're doing this?

-Yes.

DAVE: I think there's going to be some really, really steep rocks.

Whoa! Ahh!

Here we go!

MUM: Is this like a boat car.

DAVE: It is. We're going straight through. Here we go!

MUM: Oh my goodness! Oh! Wow!

It's the final activity of the break,

and this time it's on the water, not in the water, as they learn to sail.

Instructor Matt is on hand to make sure

they stay upright and on course.

What I'm going to do is I'm going to push the rudder away from me.

That's it.

I'm just going to wait for the boat to turn all the way around here.

That's it. Look at it turn around.

-Wow!

-There we go.

The twins can't wait to take control of the boat.

Mum, on the other hand, would rather be on dry land.

Boys, I really don't like this, would you mind if I get out?

Are you OK being in the boat without me?

-Yeah.

-OK. Thank you.

Back on shore, Mum has decided that sailing is not for her.

I'm OK in the water, I'm OK throwing myself at water. But I really didn't

-like being on the water in that boat.

-MATT: That's it, there you go.

As Callum and Jack set sail, they're learning the ropes fast.

Let's see if we can get some speed up.

It's not long before they have mastered the waves.

MATT: Perfect.

Oh, that was awesome!

One of the best bits was when the wind was going really hard,

so the boat tipped!

-It sounds like I would have hated that! Did you like it?

-Yeah.

And for Callum, there's only one way to finish off the break.

Yay! Whoo-hoo!

It's the end of the lake break and it's time

for the Willis-Harris family to return home.

But first, there's a chance to win the final fantastic treat -

their very own personalised Gimme A Break outdoor gear.

Hi, boys. I'm going to ask you some questions about your break.

Get two right and the outdoor gear is yours.

-If not, it goes to Mum.

-OK.

-OK.

Which activity did Mum fund the scariest?

B - sailing.

So, you are going for B, sailing?

Yes.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

Are you really sure?

-Really, really sure.

-You are saying B - sailing.

Here's what Mum said.

The activity I found the most scary was the sailing.

Yes!

Are you ready for question number two?

-(Yes.)

-Are you sure you're ready?

-Yep.

What activity did Mum say she'll definitely try again?

(Gorge walking?)

We think B - gorge walking.

-If you get this one right, the outdoor gear is yours.

-We're sure.

-Is that your final answer?

-Yes.

You are going for B - gorge walking.

Here's what your mum said.

I would definitely do gorge walking again.

-Yes!

-Oh!

Belly slap!

Congratulations, boys. It's all yours.

Thanks, Gimme A Break!

I definitely think Mum will listen to us when

we go on the next holiday.

I think the boys made a great choice with this break.

It's been brilliant.

It was probably the best day of my life when I did all the activities.