Sheep Shearing World's Toughest Jobs

For many young Brits, getting by is a struggle.

There isn't really any opportunities,

there isn't really any jobs.

They may be broke...

Well, that's my money gone, going on a bet.

I've never been in so much debt in my life.

-..stuck in a rut...

-What's the point in getting up early?

I haven't got anything to get up early for.

..or just want more...

Two days a week I have to do this, digging a hole!

..but now they have the chance of escape.

This programme contains strong language

Around the world, there are manual jobs where young people

can strike payday gold.

Couple of years ago, I made 100 grand in 36 days.

The sky's the limit.

You work hard, you're going to make the money.

The catch? They're some of the toughest jobs on the planet.

Covered in cow shit 24/7,

and if they're not shitting on you, they're running at you.

Now, young Brits in need of a cash injection...

I'm not coming home until I have that money.

..are being given the chance to earn the big bucks.

-Oh, why the

-BLEEP

-did I sign up for this?!

It's the most brutalist job I've ever done in my life.

And it's no good complaining cos we don't give a shit.

And it could change more than just their bank balance.

-SHE SCREAMS

-Hey!

Before I came here, I didn't have any confidence in myself.

The question is -

can they stand the pace?

Now you're working three steps below everyone. No walking.

I want you running the whole day.

I just want to head-butt him so badly.

Or will the punishing world of manual labour...

I can't handle this. It's hurting me.

..send them screaming back to the UK?

Agh!

I just desperately want to go home.

Meet...

three young people desperate to sort out their finances

and get their lives back on track.

I mean, my mum and dad give me money all the time, like,

a new outfit every week, whatever.

I feel like that's what mums and dads are for. But now

whenever I ask, they get angry about it.

They're like, "Gem, for God's sake, we've told you no."

I can't just keep getting it off my mum and dad all the time.

I need to get it myself.

Last year, I worked out how much I earned boxing

and how much I'd spent on boxing,

and I was minus £3,500.

I need this job for the money to basically further my career.

Well, since I've lost my job, my

bank balance is in the minus

and my savings have completely gone.

Credit cards is what I'm living off at the moment.

It's the first job I've been offered in months,

so I'm not going to lie, I'm going to take it.

Jack, Tomi and Gemma have each signed up for a job on the

other side of the world that can pay very well,

if they can hack it.

SHEEP BLEATS

Four weeks sheep shearing in New Zealand.

Lot of sweat, blood and tears in this game.

This is one of the toughest manual jobs going.

Been head-butted, kicked onto the floor.

These are 100 kilo animals. They don't want to be here.

The only experience with an animal that I've got is I've got a hamster.

A major concern is a sheep kicks me in the nuts!

It's back-breaking work.

The hours are long and conditions, gut-wrenching.

It's a dirty job and you start off in the shit.

The whole shearing game is surrounded around sheep poos

and sheep piss.

Smells make me feel sick.

Why would you want to be near, like, a farm?

The reason is very simple.

It's all about the money.

I can make anything from 2,500, 3,500 a week.

Every year, seasonal workers flock to New Zealand

from around the world,

chasing the big bucks.

There's definitely some good money to be earned.

It sort of comes down to the individual

and how much money do you want to make.

But if the Brits can't cut it, they'll be on the next plane home.

We get a heap of greenhorns from all over the world have a

go at this job and realise real quick that it's just too hard for

them and they pack the bags and...see you later.

It's a real hard job to be in.

It's very physical and very demanding. It's hard work.

19-year-old Gemma from Sheffield

has never really had to graft for her money.

What's manual labour?

Is it just like proper hard work?

But now Gemma needs the cash.

-Cheers, girlies.

-Cheers.

-I go out all the time. I go crazy.

I love to dance, fricking everything. I love it.

Any money Gemma does have goes on just one thing - Gemma.

Soon as I get the money, it'll be gone in an hour.

I'm always skint cos like I hate not having nails and my tan done.

Someone I need support.

Gemma does not understand the value of money whatsoever.

She'd rather go and spend money on alcohol and clothes than food

or proper stuff that she really needs.

Gemma's never had a proper full-time job

and the money she earns one or two nights a week as a nightclub

hostess hardly covers the cost of her manicured nails.

I'll spend about £50, £60 a week on my beauty regime.

I have at least a quarter pack of extensions every week.

I just have like an obsession with it.

But Gemma doesn't have enough money,

so mum and dad end up footing the bill.

I sort of try to keep a tally of what Gemma's borrowed

and it gets quite difficult.

I definitely think it works out over a couple of thousand.

I think I'm very good at getting money out of my dad.

I know how to win him over, do you know what I mean?

In a way, we've sort of created our own problem I suppose,

in not saying no often enough.

But now, that's exactly what they're saying.

They're giving me less and less,

so I'm getting a bit worried about that, but that's why I need a job.

Sheep shearing in New Zealand will be a tough physical

challenge for Gemma, but that's not her biggest concern.

What do sheep shearers wear?

Maybe, do the wear dungarees? I've got dungarees.

Queenstown, on New Zealand's South Island.

After a 36-hour flight and armed with their working holiday visas,

Jack, Gemma and Tomi touchdown on the other side of the world.

The trainees' new boss and former champion shearer,

Mouse O'Neil, is waiting to meet them.

I don't think they'll have any idea of the hard word that it takes

to be in a wool shed.

Erm, these guys are going to get a real shock, er,

come five o'clock tomorrow morning.

-Hi.

-How's it going? Mouse.

-All right. How are you?

-Good. Welcome to New Zealand.

-Jack.

-Jack.

Hello, nice to meet you. I'm a bit deaf from the flight.

-Oh, OK.

-Yeah, still can't hear properly.

-How are you?

Jeez, you're a good solid bugger, aren't you?

Look at that.

To reach shearing HQ, a drive through the hills of Central Otago,

deep in the heart of sheep country.

-It's pretty awesome, isn't it, this countryside?

-Wow, it's gorgeous.

It's not like Blackpool, is it?

For Mouse, it's a chance to suss out his new employees.

Do sheep bite?

They'll only bit you if you put your hand in their mouth.

You're scaring me a little bit, you know?

Are you guys used to physical work and that or...?

-No.

-No, not at all. I work in an office. Well, I did.

Can I give you my CV?

21-year-old Jack from Bolton has been working

and fending for himself since he left home as a teenager.

Are you taking anyone on at all?

Leaving home so early forces you to grow up.

I had nothing to do but get a job and pay rent and pay bills

and council tax and water and...

So, I've been doing that since before I was 17.

But a few months ago, Jack lost his job.

I used to work for a ticket agent

and the office got burnt down,

so ever since that, I've been job hunting and living off credit cards.

I've got no money left at all.

I've had to sell my wardrobes to make some money.

Now with no regular income,

he's struggling to keep a decent roof over his head.

Any of the money that I hopefully make from being abroad,

hope to move out the property that I live in

because it's full of damp, smashed windows, it's trampy, it's horrible.

For Jack, New Zealand could be the first step

in turning his life around.

I'm really hoping, like, this trip will financially sort me out,

it'll make me more stable.

Shearing sheep will certainly be a new experience for him.

You've got to make sure that you know whether they're boys or girls,

cos you can cut their bits off.

How am I going to know that when it's full of wool like that?

Don't they have horns...the boys?

-I know nothing about sheep.

-HE GIGGLES

I just know they've got wool on them.

Shearing HQ and a ready-made camp known as the Quarters.

Oh, my dear.

-It's like a...

-It's like a garden shed.

During peak season, as many as 170 migrant workers can be living here.

So this is the Quarters, guys.

For the next four weeks, it'll be home to Gemma, Jack and Tomi.

That's your room.

I've got no mirror! SHE SQUEALS

That is the worst thing I've ever seen in my entire life.

Are you going to smell it?

I think I'd get fucking ill.

It's not what I was expecting.

It suddenly makes my room with damp in it look like a five-star hotel.

-What is that?

-Well, it looks like dried...

-Jizz.

-..jizz.

-Jizz, yeah.

What's behind...? You've got a chicken bone behind your head.

Ah, that's disgusting.

Oh, my God! I just don't want to sleep in there.

Can I just go to a hotel? It's disgusting.

The accommodation's real basic, but got to go where work is.

Need the money. So just got to do it.

Get on with it, don't moan about it.

Just got to suck it up.

For the last four years, 24-year-old Tomi from near Lancaster

has been fighting his way up the boxing ladder.

I believe I've got what it takes to get to British level

and defend my belt outright.

And then from there, obviously the sky's the limit.

The dream is to become British Champion.

Unfortunately for Tomi, it's a dream that doesn't pay.

I was working as a plasterer part-time

cos I train that much, but because of my boxing,

I'm having to pretty much train full-time. They've had to let me go.

So essentially, now I'm unemployed for chasing my dream.

And with no money,

his only option was to move back in with his mum and stepdad.

It was getting too expensive for him to live away from home.

Living here makes it a lot easier for him.

Tomi's hoping that sheep shearing will give him

the financial boost he needs.

Tomi needs

this cash so much

to fund his boxing career

for his foods that he needs, getting to and from training and

it'll be just one less thing off his mind, really.

SHOUTING: Go on, get in on him!

CHEERS

But for Tomi, it's not just about his career.

This money's going to help me out with everything.

It's going to help out in my family life as well.

I'm a grown-up now and I should be funding stuff for myself

and not relying on my parents.

They've done their bit.

BELL RINGS

4.30am at shearing HQ.

You up, Gemma?

The start of the working day.

-Morning, mate.

-How you doing?

-He's up nice and early, eh?

-Oh!

-OK, I'll see you shortly, eh?

-See you soon.

I'm tired.

Agh! Can I just go back to bed?

Gemma, Jack and Tomi will be joining a shearing gang.

All right, guys, when we get up in the morning, you come along

-and check the board for your name.

-OK.

-No, that's not up there, mine.

At the top there. It's the farmer's name.

They'll be working with gang leader and top shearer Haarmi,

and shed hand Stevie and Tui.

All right, let's go, eh?

With around 30 million sheep spread across the country on remote

farms, shearing gangs have a long commute to work.

Today, it's a two-hour journey.

For the pros, it's a chance to catch up on some sleep.

For the newbies, a chance to get nervous.

The shit just got real.

-Do you feel like you know what to expect?

-No.

-No, I don't.

No, I don't.

It's a bit different from the office at home!

Working as a shearer is where the big bucks are made.

Come in, guys, and I'll just show you...show you around.

But before the new arrivals can get their hands on the clippers,

they need to learn the basics -

working as a shed hand on the equivalent of nine pounds an hour.

Are you taking the mick?

SHEEP BLEAT

Oh, Jesus!

-Is that poo?

-Yeah, like, fuck.

Their first task is to ensure a steady supply of sheep to the

waiting shearers, a process known as penning up.

So, the thing we've got to do is

get a pen full of sheep from there over here.

-And we get 'em here and chase as many in there as we can.

-Yeah.

Let's go. Over here, you're starting.

I'll work the gate, OK?

So, you just... That's it.

While Tomi's happy to get hands-on, Gemma's not quite so keen.

Ah, I don't want to do that. I don't want to do that.

-I'm not doing it. I'm not doing it. I don't like it.

-Just relax.

-You going to be sick?

-I don't like it.

It's proper stressing me out now.

Get him talking!

The shearers are desperate to start earning,

but it seems Gemma's experience of managing clubbers in Sheffield

hasn't prepared her for herding sheep.

-All good?

-I really don't want to do it.

-You don't want to do this?

It's just looks like they're going to hurt me.

No. Oh! What am I supposed to do here? I don't get it.

They're only running cos they're scared of you.

-No, but they're going to all run into me.

-No, they won't.

-By the neck?

-Oh, I'm f... I'm freaking out, you know?

Oh, fuck!

Jack and Tomi are left to deal with the sheep on their own.

Oh, my God, they're coming out! Shit.

Put the latch on at the front. No, the other side.

Oh, my God! See, they tried to kill me then.

That's not a woman's job, that.

-Not a ladylike woman, anyway.

-Yeah.

WHISPERS: Oh, my God!

Proper freak me out.

Jack, the quicker we can get those pens loaded up, then those

-guys can start making money.

-Right, OK.

-OK?

The shearers are paid per sheep,

so the trainees must keep feeding them through as fast as possible.

How the fuck are you going to shear them, like?

They're fucking heavy.

These lambs are just tiddlers. Later in the week, they'll

have to deal with fully grown sheep four times the size.

-JACK:

-I swear one's just bit me!

And anyone who can't keep up won't last till payday.

-JACK:

-Oh, I've got poo on me!

I just stood in shit right now, I'm not even lying to you.

Why were you not scared? Why was it just me?

Because I'll regret it if I go home and don't give it a shot.

He's good at it, though, cos he's strong.

I know, he just went in and was like...

No, but one jumped into his back, like mid-back.

-Was it proper on his back?

-Yeah.

-And literally, like, was it...?

-It was funny though, mid-back...

I felt like I was getting bummed by a sheep.

What the hell! If that happened to me, I'd cry.

If Gemma can't overcome her fear of sheep,

she's no use to the shearing gang.

Not in there. Have a walk around.

Look how aggressive they are.

Keen to show that sheep handling can be women's work,

Tui and Stevie persuade Gemma back into the pens.

-What do I hold? Ahh!

-No, it's all right.

-I don't know what to do.

-Like just turn it.

-It's just gone that way.

Of course, she's going to be scared.

She's probably thinking they're running at her, but they're not.

They're running away from her.

If they come near, you sort of just scare them away with this.

Get away from me!

I think Gemma is not going to cut it in this game.

When I first seen her, I thought, "Holy shit, is she actually

"coming to work or coming to do a photo shot for Sports Illustrated?"

I'm holding on to this bag for, like, dear life, literally.

That was the worst experience in my life.

-The new recruits' first shift is over.

-See you tomorrow.

-See you.

Well, I feel a bit better about sheep after I've been in.

I want to come and shear sheep.

I want to be, like, proper, like, waffering them about,

I mean, like, "Yeah, next one, please,"

instead of crying in the corner.

Oh, I've got shit on my pants.

You got to start at the bottom and the more you want it...

If you want more money, you want better work,

you've just got to get on the grind and get there.

I had shit on my face at one point. I was like that...

GEMMA AND JACK: Eww!

Even the basic over here,

it's the equivalent to nearly nine pounds an hour,

which is way above the minimum wage back in the UK.

And the fact that you then go on to the shearing, which is even better.

The question is - will they make it that far?

The future for Jack and Gemma while they're here,

I'm very worried about it.

They look like they're really going to struggle.

It was the easy part of our job.

Wait until they see the real thing and, yeah, they'll get a fright.

Tomorrow, the dirty work really starts

and it's called...crutching.

Rather than taking off the whole fleece,

just the wool around the sheep's backside is shaved off

to keep away maggots.

But even that wool is valuable.

Today, it's going to be separating the poos from the good wool.

So you have to bend down and actually take the poos

out of the wool.

-You get gloves, though, don't you?

-No, we don't use gloves.

-What about my nails?

-You can take your nails off or cut them.

-I don't have any...

-Or you can just clean them really good

when you've finished.

I just I won't be able to eat ever again in my life.

Erm, well, then you're just going to have to deal with it

because, you know, that's what we do.

But Gemma really doesn't want to deal with it.

Gloves!

-That's not a glove.

-Oh, my God, it's for when you put it up its bum.

THEY LAUGH

Protection.

Right, if I have one hand, like, free and one hand with a glove,

it works really well.

Gloves are not normally part of a shed hand's wardrobe.

I've been in the industry for probably 25 years

and I've never seen anyone put a pair of gloves on,

so I was very shocked when I've seen it.

And a little bit sort of...

pissed off.

-What? This?

-The glove, yeah.

-Am I not allow to use it, then?

-No.

-OK.

That's a bit annoying, isn't it?

With Jack boldly leading the way...

I've never picked anything like this up, ever.

..Gemma gets stuck in.

It's like warm as well.

In this job, you really do have to get your hands dirty.

GEMMA GIGGLES

Ugh, it's horrible.

We've got to get through 2,000 sheep.

Tomi, meanwhile, is back in the pens doing his best to keep

the shearers supplied with sheep.

At the moment, I'm just using a bit of strength,

but I don't think that'll last long cos I'll be knackered!

Gang leader Haarmi is impressed.

Tomi, yes, big strong lad.

He'll go a long way in this game if he wants to get into it.

Yeah, it's bloody hard work doing the penning up,

even for experienced guys.

They still do it hard, so he done well.

While Tomi seems to have settled in to his new environment...

I can't believe you've never wore eyelashes.

-No, never.

-That's mental.

..Gemma's still struggling to make sense of hers.

Do you know what I mean?

Do you not, like, care about your appearance while you're here?

Not, like, in a bad way, but I mean, like, are you not that

arsed about putting like mascara on and stuff like?

Erm, I do wear make-up to work sometimes when I can be bothered

-and, you know, want to look pretty and impress someone.

-Yeah.

But every other day, it's just...

tights, hoodie, singlet.

So she's come up with a plan.

I'll make you all up, I'll beautify you all.

Yeah, and then we'll go to a few bars.

No, maybe a pre-drink for a little bit in my room.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

If I get dressed up, then I'm going to feel out of place.

It'll be sound to see you all dressed up.

It's cute, like, isn't it?

Just do what you did on that leg, on that leg.

So, after two days of being taught, Gemma turns instructor...

She's teaching me how to tan.

I'm teaching you how to tan.

..in her favourite subject.

I haven't done anything like this before, so it's all new to me.

Meanwhile, Tomi's talking shop with Haarmi.

Never done a job where I've had to change my top pretty much

-three times a day.

-Going to work every muscle in your body,

any muscles that you didn't know you had.

There's a breaking point.

And this is where we try to get you guys to, that breaking point.

-I won't be broken. Fact.

-Oh, I doubt it.

-Good, good.

-I doubt it...

-Yeahhh!

-..from what I've seen so far.

-Good.

I'm putting fake lashes on for the first time in my life.

-Is this normal before you guys go out?

-Yeah.

It takes me about two hours to get ready, maybe more.

-Wow. It takes me about five minutes.

-Welcome to Gemma-ville.

Where we're going, it's like no-one else is going

-to be dressed like this.

-I think all the girls look really pretty.

They've scrubbed up very well.

Like me. They look like me.

Mini versions of me.

Time for Gemma and her mini me's to hit the town - Sheffield style.

It's a bit dead, isn't it, like?

It's weird, like, cos normally I'm like, "Oh, bar, bar, bar,

"nightclub, nightclub, somewhere else."

But like now I'm like, "What, what's going on?"

I just I don't understand their way of life.

Gemma may not understand it,

but Jack is starting to see the appeal of their new surroundings.

The nightlife seems nothing like what it is in Manchester,

it's really dead quiet.

Yeahhh! Bottoms up.

Like, and all the Kiwi guys from the farm and stuff,

they're all buying shots and stuff like that.

And they all chipped too cos it's like a family.

It's been dead good.

Being part of the close-knit shearing gang is a big

change for Jack...

..who's been fending for himself since leaving home at 17.

My childhood was crap.

It...it was shit, there's nothing else to say about it.

It was just like...

You know, I had a dad who left me

and then, when I was 15,

I got asked by my mum, "Are you gay?"

Obviously, I responded and I said, "Yeah, yeah."

And, erm, at that time...

..I got told to see either a psychiatrist or get out.

And of course, any logical person knows it's not a choice,

so I got out and I didn't see a psychologist.

And been on my own since.

It's not what you see on TV all the time where they come out

and they're fine with it and... You feel shit,

you feel like something can't be right.

It's another 5am start for the shearing gang

and another 100-mile commute.

After days of crutching,

the trainees are attending their first full shear.

All right, guys, these are Merino fleeces that we're doing today,

so it's a real fine product, so we've got to go through and make the

farmer as much money as we can out of...out of this stuff here, OK?

For the next three days, that means working as wool handlers

under the watchful eye of head honcho Adam.

So we're taking off all the oddments, like all the ugly

stuff, which is the neck, the back and the pieces on the side.

Then we're just like plucking with our fingers.

Ah, it's a bit of a...

Then we roll it up, goes up to classes table.

Before they can think about shearing for themselves

and earning the big bucks...

Just throw it, yeah?

..Jack, Gemma and Tomi must prove they've mastered the basics

and are competent shed hands.

Fuck!

Ah...nearly!

With each fleece worth around £40,

there is serious money at stake.

Yeah, I'm not doing too badly, actually, now.

I feel like I am getting the nick of it a bit more.

For me, this is the hardest job I've done so far.

-Is it physically harder though?

-No.

-No, it's mentally harder, isn't it?

-Yeah. Jack.

-Yeah.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

QUIET CHATTER

As their first payday approaches, Jack's starting to realise

that this trip could be about more than just making a quick buck.

Might actually stay on. Thinking about it.

-If I can get the hang of it.

-So, you're obviously liking it.

Yeah, I am. Do you know what I mean? It's just so chilled back,

-it's so much better than in England.

-And everyone looks after each other.

Everyone looks after each other. It's not constant internet,

it's not traffic, it's not street lamps, it's just proper laid back.

It's a proper, decent lifestyle.

Yeah, I am considering, like, staying here for a bit longer.

Not only cos it's an absolutely beautiful country,

but it's like a family's working together and, er,

I know they're staying on for a couple of months

and I'm just thinking I might stay on for a couple of months as well.

Back at base, the early starts aren't getting any easier.

Probably had about four hours' sleep and I'm always this tired

every morning cos I never have any sleep and it's weird.

I literally normally have about eight hours' sleep

and this...I'm just not even used to this yet.

I'm just not a morning person.

Can't hack it. I'm too tired all the time.

I'm shattered. Absolutely shattered.

-Are you geared up, Jack?

-Yeah, yeah, I'm ready.

If Jack's serious about staying on,

he's going to have to prove to Mouse he's ready to take the next step.

-Now we'll see how you go cleaning up, eh?

-Oh, right, OK.

And if they're going to be shearing,

he and Gemma need to be confident handling the sheep.

So it's back in the pens for both of them.

-Fuck!

-Got to get those sheep out the way so you can get to the gate.

Aghhh!

That's it, good stuff.

Fucking hell!

On her first day in the pens, Gemma was reduced to tears.

Yeah, you fucking get in!

Now, she's starting to show the sheep who's in charge.

Yeah, get in, get in.

Get the hell in!

Jack has really surprised me.

He's using a bit of muscle, eh.

This is the hardest thing...

If you hear my chest, I feel like an 80-year-old.

I am feeling pleased with myself, just exhausted, but who would

have thought I'd be doing that ever in my life time, ever?

It's absolutely bizarre, but it's mint, it's absolutely mint.

This is the hardest job I've ever done, ever, ever.

I don't think anything will ever top this.

Gemma, that was a big improvement.

Ah, thanks.

-I thought you went really good.

-Ah, thank you.

Yeah, I feel really pleased with myself.

I feel like I've just, like, conquered something

that I didn't think I would every conquer, like.

You know when I came in, I was, like, crying full out. I've been

nearly in tears, like, 50 times here, like, and I'm just frickin'...

not even care, like, passed it all by and it's been, like, I'll just do it.

SHE SIGHS I'm out of breath.

I need a beer!

Showing the shearing gang that there's more to her than just hair

and make-up is a big deal for Gemma.

I feel like some people just, like, look at me, like,

"Well, she looks too young and girlie and she won't work.

"She just wants to have her nails done all the time,

"that's all, that's it."

But for Gemma, her look isn't a matter of choice.

The make-up, clothing, all this type of thing

is a sort of prop that she can use to...to sort of not quite hide

behind but boost her own self-esteem.

I can't go outside the house without looking nice

cos I feel like when you look good, you feel good

and I feel like everyone's going to look at me like,

"Oh, my God, she looks amazing," and I like that feeling.

So I have to have that feeling.

NATIVE NEW ZEALAND MUSIC

New Zealand has been quite a culture shock for Gemma,

and not just when it comes to hard work.

When she arrived a fortnight ago, workmate Stevie

and Tui didn't know what to make of their glamorous new shed hand.

I thought, "Oh, look at this lady, she's... What is she doing?

"She's got the wrong gear on."

-I just thought that you were too girlie, actually.

-Yeah.

-We feel comfortable in our natural skin.

-Mm.

Like, everyone is happy to walk around in like trackies

and a hoodie and still feel beautiful.

Yeah. Well, I have been kind of dressing down more, like.

And then I've not been wearing, like, as much make-up and stuff,

it's just of like more, like, natural.

I mean, I think the main thing that annoys me

is the money situation, how much money I spend on it.

-Do you know what I mean?

-Yeah.

I wouldn't be...I wouldn't be skint now if it wasn't for all that.

It's sad that, you know, I feel like you're a little bit

insecure about yourself, and you're so beautiful.

-And you shouldn't have...

-And you shouldn't be.

Maybe that's what it is then. Maybe I'm just insecure.

-A little insecure.

-But why?

-I don't know.

-You look better without it.

-I look better without make-up?

-Yeah.

Gemma, Jack and Tomi have survived two back-breaking weeks

in New Zealand and are about to see what that means for their pockets.

-Hi.

-Hi.

-Good day.

-You all right?

Here's yours, Jack.

Their hourly rate here is double the UK minimum wage, so they've

each pocketed nearly 700 quid, more than any of them have earned before.

-What the hell?!

-That's a lot, isn't it?

-Are you taking the mick?

-I like all these colours.

-I know.

Are you taking the mick? That's bloody loads!

That's like half my credit cards. Well, one of my credit cards.

-That's like one of my credit cards. Thank you so much.

-No, thank you.

-Cheers. See you.

-Enjoy yourself tomorrow.

I've never had this amount of cash in my hand that I've earned.

That is a lot of money there.

It is for us. Face's smiling, I'm so made up.

That's your, like, travel money for boxing sorted out.

-Fuel money, food money.

-Sorted.

-You're sorted.

-That's it, a month and a half.

-Fricking give me the next sheep now.

-It's worth the 5 o'clock mornings now.

-That's what it's about.

-Isn't it?

-This is the spur, you want to do it.

But next week, they'll get the chance to earn even more by learning

to shear for themselves.

And if they can stick it out in the wool sheds,

they could get the chance to extend their stay with the shearing gang.

With money burning a hole in her pocket,

Gemma heads straight for the nearest beauty salon.

-Hi,

-Hi.

-I've come to get my nails taken off.

-Sure.

They're getting in my at work, so I need them off, I've decided.

-See you later nails.

-Yeah.

For the first time,

something matters more to Gemma than looking good.

My job's more important, the money's more important than my nails.

Don't need 'em. No-one really has nails and stuff,

so I'm not really impressing anyone much.

So, yeah, I'm not really that arsed.

Normally, I'd be, like, crying now.

With just two weeks remaining,

the trainees are finally ready to get their hands on the shears.

Aren't you worried that, like, everyone going and people

are shearing sheep and we're doing, like, one every two hours?

Even the sheep's going to turn round and be like,

"Oh, you know what? I'll just do it myself."

Shearing a whole sheep is a skill that takes time to master.

So today, the novices will be starting at the bottom...literally.

Right, we're going to get into a bit of crutching today,

so we're going to shear off around their bum. OK.

So this is the first thing you're going to do on the hand-piece, OK.

So we're going to shear them off.

You make...this is where you start making real good money.

All right, so we're just backing out.

Where the hand-piece is sitting, we're sitting it down.

Going to lose my fingers, me.

Always got to have control.

And it's no use starting if you haven't got control.

Right.

Hand-piece off when I've finished.

And just walk it to the porthole.

This is what I've been waiting for, this.

Learning how to do this. This is how you get paid.

After a masterclass from Mouse that made it look easy,

Jack's first to discover that it really isn't.

If you have it right here, you can get the hand-piece...

-Get towards him like that.

-That's good, yeah.

You all right, buddy, you're all right. You're all right.

-You got her, mate, you got her!

-You bastard!

-You got her, mate!

Yeah.

Fucking fuck!

Good to go.

Shuffle back, shaving her legs up.

Good, mate, good, yeah.

It's a very strange feeling to be shaving a sheep's arse.

It's also, in a weird way, quite an achievement.

It's bizarre to say that about shaving a sheep's arse,

but it's cool.

-It's going to pull me down there!

-Go that way. Go down that way.

That's it, now push it down.

Whoa, Jack! I don't know how much money you're going to make today,

but it's going to be fuck all!

THEY LAUGH

Next, it's Gemma's turn to see if she can cut it.

-Awesome, girl, awesome.

-That is the heaviest thing.

Right, there you go. Take that in your right hand.

-My legs are hurting already, is that right?

-Your legs are hurting?

-You haven't actually started yet.

-I know.

Shearers are regularly kicked and butted,

but there are particular hazards when shearing a sheep's backside.

Oh, my eye.

It just went in my eye.

-Did it get your eye?

-No, it's probably full of vitamins.

That's all right, it'll all wash off. It's only wool.

Oh, you all right, all right.

Want one of the girls to help you?

All good.

And crutching isn't just about brute strength.

Above all, it's about technique.

Nice, mate. Flick it off, chuck it out.

Pull that off.

-Well done, Tomi.

-MAN: Well done, Tomi. That was awesome.

Nice, mate.

Buzzing. Money in the bank.

I think I enjoyed the shearing the most

because I know that's where I'm going to earn the most money

and I want to be doing the top job.

Next day and it's crunch time.

The sheep are bigger and there are lots of them, but gang leader

Haarmi is still expecting his novice shearers to pull their weight.

This is where the hard grafting starts. The sweat and the pain

and the frustration. The laughter.

Hee-hee. The crying.

This is where we're going to find out

if you're going to walk out or not.

I don't walk.

No longer paid by the hour,

the rookie shearers will earn just 15 pence a sheep.

So they'll need to get through 60 an hour just to match what

they earned as shed hands...

..which is more likely for some than others.

Arrgggh.

Pay 20 quid for this down at a salon. Nice Brazilian.

Fricking knackered.

For the rest of the afternoon, the trainees do their best to

make a dent on the flock.

Yeah, fucking hell!

-Oh, put this down...

-Yeah, that's it.

Oh, no.

-Oh, yeah.

-Nearly.

He may not have done 60 an hour, but Tomi has impressed his gang leader.

Full credit to him, 26 for the hour.

Second day on the hand-piece, that's...

that's a great achievement by anyone's standards.

Essentially, I'll have made not even nine dollars,

so it's like 4.5 quid.

But Gemma's tallies are lower, much lower.

Think I've done about 16 today.

And so that's not even... What is that?

It's like fricking five dollars or something, not even that.

DOG BARKS

They're just so bloody heavy.

And... Ugh, oh...

I hate sheep. I just hate 'em.

For Jack, being paid on commission has been a wake-up call.

Ah, my back!

His numbers are even lower than Gemma's.

My back's sore.

Today, I've done 12 sheep in total,

which is 15p a sheep,

so today I've made £1.20, in English pounds, which is absolutely rubbish.

I'm going to keep having a go at shearing sheep,

but if I can't do it, then I can't stay in that area,

like, cos I'm not going to make any money.

I'm going to come home with absolutely nothing.

-It is all about the money.

-It's all about the money.

Mm.

The speed, I think, is most crucial, cos if you don't have the speed,

there's just no point in you carrying on doing it,

because at the end of the day, personal achievement isn't going

to pay of my credit cards and stuff.

As they approach the end of their third week in New Zealand,

Tomi, Jack and Gemma are facing their biggest test so far...

..a contract to crutch 1,500 Merino sheep,

but only one day to turn the job round.

It's the perfect chance for three eager, young shearers to make

up for yesterday's losses.

But the early starts, exhausting work

and 30-degree heat are beginning to take their toll.

My back's really, really sore.

It's absolutely killing me.

It is the hardest job I've ever done.

You're getting marked, you're getting bruised,

getting kicked, you're getting head butted. Mental!

Just relax, Jack. OK.

Jack especially is finding it tough going.

Jack's really struggling.

Erm, he's struggling cos they're kicking a bit on him

and fighting.

-MAN: What's wrong?

-Oh, I'm just frustrated.

My back is absolutely killing me.

I don't know if it's cos, like, the last few days I've been all right

and, like, today it's just finally kicked in,

but I'm in so much agony. And it's hot.

-EMOTIONAL:

-I feel dirty cos the washing machine doesn't even work

proper back at the Quarters, I just feel horrible.

Tried to prove to people, you know, I'd get through it,

but I can't do it.

-I've tried.

-HE CRIES

I've really tried.

-WHISPERING:

-Shit!

Back at base, Mouse has concerns.

-The farmer had 1,500...

-Yeah.

..and with you three guys crutching,

that job wouldn't have got done today.

I think if we had time to invest, I would've tried to carry on

a couple more, like, one-to-ones and stuff,

-but we don't have the time for that.

-Yeah, but we don't have time.

We've got a period of time

and I think we should just go with what we're best at.

-Yeah.

-Cos at the end of the day, it's about making money, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-And you two guys just look at wool handling

and making money wool handling.

And I think that's the way you're going to make it.

That's perfect for me, you know? That's made me feel better.

And, Tomi, if you want to have a good go at crutching,

you've got to make that decision.

I love the crutching and I enjoy it,

whereas the wool handling I absolutely despise it.

-All right. 5 o'clock tomorrow morning.

-Yeah, see

-you then. Mm.

It's the trainees' final week and Mouse has a reward for Tomi -

his own shearing kit.

-See youse in a bit.

-Miss you.

-Have a good day.

It'll be weird.

-I feel like I'm sending my kid off to school.

-Good luck.

-First day of school.

-Go, kid, go!

-I've got...I've got my bag.

You've got your book bag.

-Have you got your lunch?

-Yes.

For the first time, Gemma, Jack and Tomi are going their separate ways.

While Jack and Gemma are going where they know they can make money,

wool handling,

Tomi's decided to stick with Haarmi on commission-based shearing.

It's a financial gamble and a huge challenge,

but when it comes to drive and determination,

Tomi has a good role model.

My dad might technically be my stepdad, but he's my dad.

He's basically...

..one of the strongest men that I know

because he's got cerebral sclerosis

and whatever nervous system it lands on, it just knackers.

But he doesn't moan. He just gets on.

He knows that stuff's going to happen.

He knows that we're all going to be there for him,

so he just gets on and just...

That's why, cos he's a soldier.

How come you don't use the other crutches? They're cooler.

If I wanted to, like, shake someone's hand,

I ended up swatting them with the stick.

-TOMI LAUGHS

-When I'm training

and I find it so hard

and I'm literally knackered, crawling,

and I think to myself, "Well, my dad wishes he could walk without sticks

"and I'm able to walk here and I'm not... Come on, buck yourself up."

For Tomi's gamble to pay off, he's going to have to work fast,

as he'll only be paid per sheep he crutches.

It's like a wrestling match with an 85 kilo animal

every single minute.

But with Haarmi setting the pace alongside him,

Tomi's numbers are up.

-386, my man.

-386.

Well done.

-Mm-mm.

-Yeah!

It was sort of a wake-up call today.

Like, previously if I got tired,

like, someone would jump in and do some

or you'd be like, "Just have a breather."

But I didn't want to let you down as well, you know, as well as myself.

You've surprised quite a few of us that you've sort of like taken to

-it like duck to water basically, really.

-Cool beans.

And it's just a numbers games for you now.

Tell me, where does your, erm, drive and that come from?

My dad used to be a sportsperson and that,

but then, obviously, he got ill and he sort of helps us through.

When I'm fighting, I'm knackered, or I'm training, I just think,

"Well, my dad's going through this and not once does he ever moan."

He gets on with it, so I've got to get on with it.

-CHOKED UP:

-First memory I have with my dad was, erm...

Me and my mates were playing footie and then, er, my dad was like

he come across and I hadn't known him too long, he started playing

football with us, and I'd never had like...

like, a dad, like, you know...?

Yeah, mate. Yeah, well, I'm sure your dad'd be quite proud of you

if he'd seen what you've done, what you achieved today.

He'd be really smiling from ear to ear.

Yeah, treasure every moment you've got, man,

cos before you know it, you know, tomorrow may never come.

My dad got sick. Within three months, he's gone.

-Shit.

-And you don't realise it until they've gone...

-Yeah.

..how much I wanted to ask him, you know.

I wanted to talk to him about certain things.

And now it's too late, I'll never get that chance.

I need to start showing my dad, er, how I feel.

Cos I don't want them regrets, like what Haarmi's got, and I don't

want negative thoughts of what I could have and should have said,

cos I do love him. I love him to bits and I'd be lost without him.

So about time I started showing it.

Back in their comfort zone, wool handling with Adam

and being paid by the hour, it's a chance for Jack

and Gemma to earn some proper cash again.

I like being round here more, and I don't feel, like, as much as,

like, under pressure as when I'm doing this.

It's like a relief going back to this.

It's nice. Really nice.

In four days, the trainees are due to fly home, but without the stress

of shearing and with another 11 months on his working holiday

visa, Jack is once again pondering the benefits of staying on.

Have I woke you up? It's Jack.

Yeah, are you?

He's hoping a call home to his sister will help him decide.

What would you do in my situation, you know, stay here,

sort your debts out or come back home?

What do you think Mum will say, like?

You think?

Well, that's a bit of a shocker.

What... Why would she want me home?

Is that what she's been saying to you while I've been here?

I didn't know that.

I'll definitely need to have a word cos I weren't expecting her to say

that, especially after all these years and that.

Hearing that his mum is missing him

has thrown Jack's plans of staying into doubt.

With time running out, he has a difficult decision to make.

It's hard. It's really hard.

What was it like when you came out, or did you even come out?

Erm, I've been out since I was probably about 13.

-Yeah, I came out.

-You told your mum?

Yeah, I told my mum. My mum didn't like it.

So I left home when I was 16.

I went and lived with my auntie.

And it was either accept it or not.

-But she did.

-She accepted you?

I reckon your mum's hurting.

-For what?

-For you.

-Yeah.

-That's what I reckon.

So what would you do in my situation?

I really think that you should sit down

and have a really good talk with your mother, so that she knows where

you're coming from and how you feel about it and what you want from her.

At the end of the day, I really think your mum does love you.

Maybe I do need to talk to her.

I'd like to try and sort it out cos it would be nice to be a,

you know, a proper unit rather than I see my sister and not my mum.

It would mean the world to me.

Tomorrow Jack, along with Tomi and Gemma,

is supposed to be flying home.

So after four back-breaking weeks in New Zealand,

it's time for that all-important pay packet.

But will the hard work have been worth it?

-Thank you.

-Here's yours. Yeah, thanks a lot.

See how much is in here.

Going back to wool handling means Gemma and Jack were limited

to the hourly rate.

What the hell?!

-There's yours. Well done.

-Oh, thank you.

-Thanks.

It's been a pleasure having you.

Before tax, they've each earned £1,500.

That is a lot of money.

-Just a little bit!

-Yeah.

Since I've got here I've earned over 3,000, which is like...

I did not expect that at all.

So, like, it's amazing.

Pretty much on the verge of being debt free,

so it's a massive amount, like. Back in the UK,

like, I would never have made that money in a month, ever.

-By sticking with crutching, Tomi took a gamble.

-Well done.

And it's paid off. He's walking away with nearly £2,000.

I've worked my arse off for that money. I've woken up with bad backs,

bad necks, I don't think there's a part of me that's good.

But it's all worth it.

I'm using the money for training and then I want to do something nice

for my parents cos they do so much for me.

So just to come and get great money like I have

and be able to do that is just a massive thing for me.

I'm not going to pack any of my tan, or any of that,

so I'm going to leave that here.

And for the first time, Gemma's planning to spend her money

on something other than herself.

It will make me feel good paying my mum back

because I know I worked that hard for it.

This is the hardest job I've ever done

and it's just, like, why am I taking money off my parents?

They need it. I don't even need it.

I was using it for the sake of it cos I want to get bloody nails done.

So I really... Just as soon as I get home, I'm going to pay them back.

I just... That's the one thing I've realised. Like, I shouldn't have

been doing all that.

The question is -

will Jack be joining them on the plane home?

Taking that with me.

Memorabilia.

I could've earned so much more money here for...from working,

cos it's so much better than, like, the UK wages and stuff

and it is a lot of money that comes into your pay packet.

But it seems I've been given the chance to sort things out

with my mum and I'm going to try and give that a go.

And family's extremely important,

so looking forward to going home and trying to make things work.

After four long weeks, time to say goodbye.

This experience, it's taught me a trade where I can earn money.

It's taught me so much about myself and what I can and can't do.

Before here, I was just, like, this fake thing,

walking around, like, with big hair and that.

And now I'm just, like, not worrying about what people think

and wanting to pay my mum and dad back,

which normally I wouldn't do.

I just feel like a completely different person.

I don't think anyone's going to recognise me.

The job has been so exhausting.

But it's nice, you just feel, like, contentment.

You've worked hard, but you've earned good money for it as well,

definitely.

Bye, guys!

I'm just so proud of those three guys.

Like Gemma, Jack and Tomi have just, erm, blown my mind,

to be quite honest.

They just got right in and got on with everyone

and done the job that they've been asked to do.

-GIRLS:

-Bye, Gemma.

After a 36-hour trip, Gemma is home.

-Hey.

-Heyyyyy! Oh, God!

Thanks for the banners, like. I've never had that before!

What have you got on?

Erm, yeah, just like a jersey thing.

-And there's a surprise for mum and dad.

-Right. Right, listen, right.

-I've done so much work here, right?

-Hm-hm.

I'm giving you my money for it.

Oooh!

This is all your hard-earned money, and you're giving it to us?

Yeah. There you go.

-Thank you, darling, that's lovely.

-It's all right.

-Thank you. Wow!

-GASPING:

-Gem!

-Thank you.

-It's all right.

-Do I look like a changed person?

-You're very changed.

Especially cos I've just given you money, which I never do.

Love it. I love it.

-I'm...I'm loving the new Gem.

-SHE LAUGHS

Hey-hey.

Meanwhile, Tomi's also being reunited with his parents.

Being away, sort of realised, you know, you miss your family.

I've sort of realised how much, er, you support us with boxing,

how much you're always there for us no matter what,

and I do under-appreciate youse a bit.

You were stuck with me cos you gave birth to me.

But you took us on, so, cheers, Dad.

-Come here.

-Love you.

-I love you.

A few months later, the money he made abroad means Jack's moved on.

So this is my new house now.

I don't have black mould on me wall,

which, of course, is a massive improvement on my old place.

Since returning home, Jack has been in contact with his mum

and his experience in New Zealand has helped him

land a good office job.

When you mention that you have done sheep shearing,

it's mad how your interview goes from a formal interview

and then like, "What, you've done that?!" And I'm like,

"Yeah. Yeah, I've done that."

So, it looks brilliant on a CV, it looks a bit unusual.

And my life has turned around.

It's going back to the way I want it to be.

It's, yeah, brilliant. Just going up and up.

Next time on World's Toughest Jobs,

tree planting in the Canadian wilderness.

Stand up, Danny.

But can three more Brits hack the pace?

Aghh!

Or will they did themselves into a deep Canadian hole?

I knew it were going to be fucking hard work, and it is hard work.