Episode 1 Stuck on Sheep Mountain

Two ordinary families are about to go on a journey of a lifetime.

They're travelling back in time over 120 years, to 1890.

For one month, they'll live like Victorian hill farmers,

looking after all these animals.

There'll be no electricity.

It'd be nice to watch some telly.

Or running water.

I was quite lucky to have one bath.

Urgh! How do you wash your bum with a newspaper?

They'll have very little food.

I miss chicken nuggets.

And not much money.

We're doomed!

So even the children will have to work.

Well done, Jac. That's the way!

It's been 10-out-of-10 hard.

Two families. One mountain. One month. How will they survive?

Stuck On Sheep Mountain.

Baaa!

Snowdonia, North Wales, in winter.

And here on Sheep Mountain is a Victorian hill farm, frozen in time.

In these two poky cottages, it's the year 1890.

There's no electricity, no central heating and no proper bathroom.

Just an outside loo

that smells like it hasn't been cleaned for 100 years.

PIG GRUNTS

For one month, two families will be holed up here.

Their only neighbours - 2,004 sheep.

Make that 2,005!

It'll be a cold, lonely, tough four weeks.

Who's got the guts to take up the challenge?

Meet Tommy and Leah Braddock.

Their family has signed up for a month on Sheep Mountain.

How does it feel?

I'm looking forward to it.

Yeah, looking forward to it, but it's terrifying at the same time.

They're a busy bunch, who don't get to spend much time together.

Mum thinks a month on Sheep Mountain will be just what they need.

We get along. Most of the time.

-Most of the time.

-Yes, most of the time.

But what happens the rest of the time?

Next up, meet Ela and Jac Jones and their family.

They can't wait to get going.

We're all very excited and don't know what to expect.

Because we know nothing.

Anna knows nothing, but I know lot.

This lot love their games and gadgets.

Yeah, that's why you're rubbish.

Mum and dad think that a month in 1890 will show them

how lucky they are.

But are they up to the challenge?

We might act a little different because it's, like,

a different environment.

We can't go around listening to a bunch of music,

and being all attitude.

They're in for a shock.

Ela and Jac, Tommy and Leah,

have no idea what they're letting themselves in for.

Baaa!

The families are about to begin their journey back in time.

First, they'll need a whole new wardrobe.

At Ela and Jac's house, there's a special delivery.

And no, Dad, it's not one last pizza.

Yes, it's time to get that 1890s look.

These are ladies' undergarments.

I don't think they're yours, Dad.

Back then, boys and girls dressed very differently.

You could go to the school disco in that, it'd be great.

No Victorian girl was allowed to wear trousers.

Instead, they wore long skirts, down to the ground

and, underneath, lots of petticoats.

Lots of layers. It takes a long time to put on and take off.

Comfy, stylish, lightweight fabrics? Forget it.

Poor people like our Victorian hill farmers

wore clothes made of rough cotton or scratchy wool.

It can be a bit itchy.

It's not the best.

And of course, they'll need an old-school hair cut to match.

Curls were a must for Victorian girls.

I don't know how I'll find curls, because I like my hair straight.

Jac's not too keen on his slicked down short back and sides.

There's a lot of wax on it, to make it go to the side.

Meanwhile, miles away, Tommy and Leah's family

are also getting in touch with their Victorian side.

I like the curls and the frills.

Zips weren't invented until 1893.

So, Tommy's having to struggle with loads and loads of buttons.

Finally, they're good to go.

I feel kind of ready.

This is it. They're leaving everything behind,

to go back in time to 1890.

Travelling in true Victorian style in a horse and cart,

they're off to Sheep Mountain for the adventure of a lifetime.

Bye-bye!

Snowdonia, North Wales.

After a long journey, they've finally arrived.

For the next month, these two families will be living

as one community, sharing the farm and all its animals.

First impressions?

The outside's lovely. Let's see what we've got here.

I thought it would be all, like, the house would be grey or dark

and scary, but it's actually better than I thought.

Tommy and Leah's cottage has only three rooms between the six of them.

Lovely, isn't it?

Two bedrooms for sleeping, and a kitchen for everything else.

Cooking, eating, living and even washing.

If you're going to bed, what's up there? How many beds?

Three single beds?

Up a wobbly ladder, Leah's found an extra bedroom.

I'm on the left.

Tommy and Leah will sleep here, with their big brother, Jordan.

Heat travels upwards, so it'll be nice and warm up there.

I like the whole bedroom situation.

This is Tommy's bed.

And this is my bed.

The whole cottage is the size of their living room at home.

It is very different.

But, I suppose we could get used to it.

A field away, Ela and Jac are exploring their cottage,

which won't take long.

It's even smaller than Tommy and Leah's.

It looks quite warm.

-It's lovely and warm.

-Cool bedroom!

Look at that.

That's the whole thing. You can share with Jac.

-We'll see.

-The little boys sleep together.

-I'm not going in the kitchen.

-No, Mam and Dad are.

Can I sleep in that one and them in that one?

Yeah, if he wants. You sort it out.

The house is cosy and warm and it's got nice beds in it.

It's really nice, actually.

There's only one thing missing.

Have you spotted the toilet yet?

In 1890, ordinary homes like this didn't have an inside bathroom.

You had to pee in a potty, or use a toilet outside.

I'll let you go first on that.

Jac and Ela will soon sniff it out.

The toilets of poor Victorians were just containers

with a rough, wooden seat and no flush.

They found it. That's a relief.

This wooden thing. You might get blisters on your bum.

-What's the toilet paper?

-It's newspaper.

-Urgh!

How d'you rub your bum with newspaper?

There's ink and it'd rub off.

Those Victorians must have had bottoms like leather.

Ela and Jac have explored their own home.

Now they're being nosey neighbours.

-Hello.

-Hello, come in.

-Joseph, come upstairs.

-Yeah, come up.

CHILDREN CHATTER

Have you been in yours yet?

SCREAMING AND LAUGHING

Looks like everyone's really hit it off.

But there's something still bugging Ela's big brother, Ben.

My sister is trying to tell me that I'm sharing with my brother,

so across the bedroom, she can hog the double bed?

And I just laughed and went, "All right then."

Ben thinks the neighbours are better off.

-They've got a mansion compared to us.

-Have they?

-They have.

-They've got, like, a double...

Yeah, and then they've got two separate rooms.

-And their room's massive.

-Our house has an attic near the top floor.

You've got an attic? You've got a top floor?

-Yeah, and we've got three beds on there.

-Has it got en suite?

What's that?

They may be laughing now,

but will one month in these cramped conditions

be too much for our families?

Baaa!

To get them started in their new lives

the families have been given some food and money.

There's our, er, spend.

-It's like a foreign currency.

-Shillings.

-Right, here's the shillings, anyway.

-No, they're pennies.

They've been given two pounds, ten shillings and tuppence, old money.

It doesn't sound like much, but it's just enough cash for a month's rent,

And the toothbrush is thrown in, too.

Like most Victorians, they don't own their cottage,

and have to pay their landlord to stay here.

There's plenty of food here.

They've also got just enough grub to last a week,

as long as they stick to three meals a day and don't snack.

Not that Jordan will find any crisps to snack on.

Once all this goes, obviously we still need to survive,

because we're going to be here for the best part of four weeks,

so I don't know, really.

Jordan's eating!

After that, they'll have to live off the farm,

which is eight small fields...

12 chickens...

two cows...

two pigs...

two geese...

12 sheep...

and a vegetable patch.

They're going to need a crash course in farming.

It's dark, so time to light the oil lamps.

And then you wind them, lower them back down.

In 1890, the electric light bulb had only just been invented,

so this was how poor homes were lit at night.

And if you want it brighter, you raise that and make it brighter.

Or you can do two, really bright.

And no electricity means no central heating.

It's so cold you can see your breath in the air.

At Ela and Jac's, Mum and Dad are working out what to cook

for their first meal in their new home.

So what are we having for tea then, boys?

Just haven't got a clue, have we, what we're doing?

I think some kind of stew the, Dai.

-Pull some veg up?

-Yes.

And I don't know whether you want to start that ham

or leave it for the time being.

Their supplies include a huge ham, a salted joint of pork.

In 1890, there were no freezers for fridges,

so the salt in the meat kept it fresh for weeks.

And what about Ela, we've got to make something for Ela.

Ela doesn't eat meat, and with a Victorian meat-based diet,

it's going to be tricky to find an alternative.

I don't know what I'll have for tea tonight,

I think I'll have eggs, maybe.

There's lots of eggs, and just, yeah, food.

Ela's mum and dad are trying to rustle up a vegetable stew,

but it's turned out to be less than tasty.

It's horrible at the moment, it really is horrible.

And it's not just the flavour.

They want to make sure that Ela gets enough protein

to keep her energy levels up.

This calls for drastic action.

This is the bit where we don't tell Ela

that we've had to put some bacon in.

-I know it's not a nice thing to do...

-Too bad.

Don't you say anything.

She wouldn't enjoy it.

They know it's out of order, but will they fool Ela?

-This is nice.

-Plenty of flavour to it, isn't there?

Yes, I was a bit worried about the flavour.

-Mum, what have you done with mine?

-What?

-Have you cooked it with the meat in it?

-No, we moved a bit out.

We had it in another saucepan.

I feel really bad about doing it.

If she finds out about it she's not going to be happy, but there we go.

Teatime over, there's no telly to watch,

so it's time for bed and it's only 8 o'clock.

It's freezing outside, but Leah's got a plan.

We had three single beds, and because we were cold

we slid them all together to make a triple bed.

To snuggle up to each other to keep ourselves warm.

The Victorians didn't have nice, warm duvets,

so everyone's making do with lots and lots of blankets.

Look how many blankets you've got.

I've got one, she's got four!

At Ela and Jac's, they can't get to sleep.

Could be the sight of Dad in a nightie.

OK, this one first.

And look at Ben!

You've got Ela's cap on.

It's just keeping my head warm.

THEY LAUGH

You look like the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood.

Dear me!

It's been a long, hard day, but the real work begins tomorrow.

OK, good night, everyone.

And it's not going to be easy.

COCKEREL CROWS

Daybreak.

5.30am and no-one's stirring.

All the animals have to be fed and watered.

Ceridwen needs milking, and Ruth's getting stroppy.

But it's another three hours before anyone shakes a leg.

Jac? Are you up?

Jac hasn't had a lot of sleep.

Get up!

We had eight layers on the bed,

and then Ela kept taking the blankets,

so then I had none layers, and then I took it back.

I think I will get used to it,

because I'm going to be here for a month.

Jac's emptying the pee pot.

There's a reason why it's so full.

In the night, you can't just go to the loo,

you've got to pee in the pee pot.

Which is, hard for some. Yeah.

Jac pees in the bed or all over the floor.

They don't seem to have realised yet,

but once their food supplies have run out, the families

will be depending on these animals.

What they need is a wake-up call, especially Jamie.

And here's the man to give it to them -

Gareth, a straight-talking local farmer.

How's the milking been this morning?

We've had so much to do!

-It's been light for two hours!

-I know.

-Do you want a hand to milk the cows?

-Yeah, that would be lovely.

-I want to milk the cows!

-OK.

So, with Tommy safely in charge of the dog - whoops! -

they head over to Jac and Ela's.

KNOCK ON DOOR

-Hello! Good morning. So, are we going to have some milking?

-Yeah.

Getting this lot up to speed is going to be quite a challenge.

Right, come on, you've had a lie-in this morning.

Let's go and get this cow.

Lesson number one - how to milk a cow.

Does he know which end's which?! To put the rope round?

Leah's never been this close to a cow before.

Well, it's definitely big.

Chunky. Erm, yeah,

I suppose it is cute.

-Oh!

-What's happened?

-He stood on my foot!

Ah, that's nothing!

Gareth starts by laying down the ground rules.

It's important to milk the cows twice a day. Morning and night.

-What time in the morning?

-About half past five.

When the sun's coming up in the morning, milk the cow,

when it's going down at night, milk the cow.

Sounds like a long day.

Jac and Ela's mum's first with their cow, Ceridwen.

Use your thumb to block, and use your fingers to squash.

You should only be pulling one. Pull on one, and release.

THEY CHANT: Moo, moo, milk the cow.

Moo, moo, milk the cow, moo, moo, milk the cow.

The cow is like a walking fridge, with plenty of milk for drinking and making cream, butter and cheese.

-Only trouble is getting the milk out.

-Is that the right one?

No, try the UDDER one!

It's not as easy as it looks.

Your turn's next!

Now, Tommy and Leah's mum is getting to grips with their cow, Ruth.

Down on one to begin with. Gentle movements. Look at your mam, boys.

Look and learn, Jac.

Victorian kids had to milk the cow as well.

-Have you milked before?

-No.

We'll have to teach you as well,

because you're going to have to help your mam.

They've been at it for half-an-hour.

How's it going?

Ela's doing a good job, Mam.

It's good fun, but my thumb's hurting a bit.

Let's have a look how much is in the jug. Come on.

Not enough. That's not enough to put on the porridge.

-How are Leah and Tommy's lot doing?

-Doing very well.

Got about quarter of a bucket.

Jac's bucket is filling up nicely.

Oops! Spoke too soon.

We HAD half a bucket.

We're now down to quarter of a bucket.

Shall we preserve that?

Jac, don't milk them, you need to clean her teats, look.

They're dirty, and that's no good.

Well, go and clean them, then!

-Don't stand here telling us to clean them.

-I couldn't find the brushes.

Oh, dear!

It's only day one on the farm and already things are turning sour.

Doesn't look good for the rest of the month.

We've got to get enough milk, otherwise we're not going to have

porridge, we're not going to have butter, cheese

and she needs to be milked as well,

she's full, so we need to get it out.

Lesson number two, and a tough one.

Don't treat the animals like pets.

We have one pig, called Big Wolf J.

No, his name is Faith J Wolf!

Doesn't matter what his name is, we're going to eat him.

PIG GRUNTS AND SQUEALS

What's your favourite piece of the pig? Bacon? Will we make sausages?

-Jac loves bacon.

-Do you?

-Yes.

-Yes!

-He's a bacon boy.

-It will give you big, strong muscles.

He's going to be chops, joints, beautiful.

Ela doesn't eat meat,

and she's already on first-name terms with the pig.

I think I'll be a bit attached, I'm a bit attached to it already,

I've named her and everything, so, yeah, it's going to be hard.

CHICKEN CLUCKS

-What shall we name him, Jac?

-Something sweet. Dinner!

# Chick-chick-chick-chick chicken

# Lay a little egg for me. #

Lesson number three...

how to herd sheep.

-Without a dog.

-Come from the side.

There's 12 sheep here, six for each family

but they need to know whose sheep are whose.

Get them all together!

All they've got to do is catch them!

Jamie, you're standing there like a lamppost.

Hands out of your pockets as well. It's getting a bit stressful now.

Steady, steady, Jac, don't move. Don't even breathe.

-One at a time, boys.

-Fantastic!

They need to mark their own sheep by painting

their nice, woolly coats with tar.

Time to choose a family logo.

-They're your sheep, you decide.

-Maybe put a line at the top.

-If we do an X on either side, one on top.

-So we do a line across.

But they're not just cuddly pets, they're dinner

and their fleece could be sold to make a warm blanket.

Leah's pitching in, it's a dirty business.

It's not very nice. It smells weird.

-That's it, class dismissed.

-Fantastic!

-At home, there's a nasty surprise.

-Oh, we have a letter!

Leah and Tommy, you've actually got a place at school.

The children must present themselves for registration

at the school room at nine o'clock prompt.

All children in 1890 aged 5 to 12 had to go to school

and they even had to pay for the privilege.

"1d per pupil is payable weekly", so we've got to remember that.

Lateness and insolence will be punished.

Worse still, discipline was super strict

and that's not good news for Jac.

-Have you ever heard the word "insolence"?

-No.

-Do you know what insolence means?

-No.

-Cheek.

Cheek will be punished. All right? OK?

So if you're cheeky we have to pay fines and you can't have a day off.

What?! What if you're, like, seriously injured?

If you're seriously injured or ill, no, you're going there

because we have to pay money.

-What if you have a heart attack?

-You still have to go there, mate.

I'm afraid.

-We'll get you down there somehow or other.

-Let's go out.

There's no being cheeky, mate.

It's a good job Ela behaves, isn't it, Jac?

-I'm not usually cheeky.

-Are you sure, Jac?

-Yeah.

-Are you absolutely sure?

-Yeah.

-Mmm, tell that to your Victorian teacher.

It's late afternoon and time to milk the cows. Again!

It's nice having animals around.

It's not necessarily as nice having to look after them.

That's the hard bit. Good girl.

Ela and Jac have gone walkabout and Mum and Dad are really struggling.

They're over at Tommy and Leah's, singing for their supper.

CHILDREN SING

Ouch!

Gareth's come back to see how the families are getting on and he's

not happy when he finds Ela and Jac's mum and dad are on their own.

This is not going to work unless everybody's going to pull together.

Not going to work.

These kids will have to muck in.

They're just playing at the minute.

Victorian children had to help around the farm.

Their parents didn't think it was cruel,

they thought it was good for them.

-Right, you can do it after.

-Shut up, Jac.

Don't be so cheeky. I want water in there now.

There's no tea until we do these chores, Jac.

Right, tea doesn't make itself.

-I'm hungry.

-I don't care how hungry you are.

-Where were you?

Playing!

We've got to get the kids involved now.

With the children helping, it's a lot easier.

Putting water in and filling that hayrack.

Jac's beginning to realise that life on a Victorian farm is no walkover.

We do have a rabbit at home but it's nothing compared to sheep,

lambs, chickens, pigs and cows.

It's a lot more hard work than the rabbit.

With the milking finished, at Ela and Jac's,

they can get supper going.

But before he leaves Gareth lays down the law.

-Everybody's got to have a job. If you don't pull your weight... Jac?

-Yeah.

Your job, just check around the sheep and check if the cows are all right.

-Yeah?

-Promise?

-Promise.

Jac and Ela's family are getting the message.

But across the way Tommy and Leah's family have still not

milked their cow and are tucking into their supper.

-The meat is nice.

-I could get used to this.

Let's hope Gareth doesn't find out.

Uh-oh!

You've got to milk that cow.

If you want food on that table, you've got to get milking!

Come on, let's go.

-Tommy!

-Mmm.

-Fresh water, look!

-OK, I'll go get it.

I don't know what we're going to do with him.

Tommy and the others are finding that on Sheep Mountain

everyone has to pull their weight.

Instead of going for tea, get all these jobs finished first.

Get all the lads to get a job each. Chickens, cow, hay...

It's less work for you. You know, that's what my children do.

I'd organise them and get them a rota.

If they're not going to work as a team, they're finished.

They're finished up here anyway. On this mountain.

It's easy for you, Gareth, you're a farmer!

Our families are total beginners.

They barely know one end of the cow from the other.

It's getting me quite upset, to be honest.

She's got to be looked after and I feel sorry for her

because we're letting her down.

Aren't we?

We will sort it.

I suppose we could get used to it

because in the 1890s they were able to cope with it.

We should be able to cope with it, hopefully.

No, no, 1890 is too hard for me.

Erm, I just want to...

Not so much leave now, erm...

but I'm looking forward to going back home.

Next time on Sheep Mountain, life gets even tougher.

-Their food is running out.

-They've just eaten everything.

-It's not nice.

Money is so tight, the lads have to find a job.

I caught you chucking stones, so that's a penny I'll fine you. OK?

-We're doomed.

-And the kids get a short, sharp shock at school.

-You do not yawn in class, boy! Sit up straight.

-It's been torture.

It's been boring and the teacher's been cruel.

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