0:00:03 > 0:00:05Many of us feel like we're stuck in a rut.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09My heart sinks when I think about sitting in front of a screen for
0:00:09 > 0:00:11another 20 years.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14But what if you can experience a world which couldn't be further from
0:00:14 > 0:00:15the one you know?
0:00:15 > 0:00:18There's so much more to life than going to work.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22Imagine being flown across the world
0:00:22 > 0:00:24and opening your eyes...
0:00:24 > 0:00:25Wow!
0:00:25 > 0:00:28..to find yourself in someone else's life.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32- Good grief!- I'm certainly outside the M25 now.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34In this series, six Brits...
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Excuse me, do you speak English?
0:00:36 > 0:00:38..will swap places with complete strangers...
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Welcome to your new home.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42..from across the globe.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45I never dream to be in a place like this.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47While their opposite numbers...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Are there any crocodiles in here?
0:00:49 > 0:00:50No.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53..test-drive life in Britain.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Oh, my gosh! Is that Big Ben?!
0:00:55 > 0:00:57For seven days...
0:00:57 > 0:00:58He's coming!
0:00:58 > 0:01:00..both will be immersed in a culture
0:01:00 > 0:01:03which is totally different from their own.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05I'm not in Kansas any more, Toto!
0:01:05 > 0:01:07LAUGHTER
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Could walking in someone else's shoes...
0:01:09 > 0:01:11It's been a wake-up call.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14..pave the way to a better life back home?
0:01:14 > 0:01:17I would really want to have a life just like this.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21What can you learn by seeing your world through a stranger's eyes?
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Hi!
0:01:23 > 0:01:25What would you do if you were me?
0:01:25 > 0:01:30I really don't know what the impact of this is going to be.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49This time, two men from different sides of the world
0:01:49 > 0:01:52have agreed to swap lives.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Take the blindfold off, but keep your eyes closed for me.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Both are at a crossroads.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Count to ten, and then open your eyes.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Both are facing dilemmas.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04One feels trapped by his workaholic lifestyle...
0:02:04 > 0:02:05This western world has a grip on you.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07I'm sick to death of chasing money.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11While the other is worried about his family's future.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14I'd love to see my kids better off in life
0:02:14 > 0:02:17and to leave something tangible.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20They're about to get a window into each other's lives to see if
0:02:20 > 0:02:23it could help improve their own.
0:02:25 > 0:02:2850-year-old John runs his own consultancy firm,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31as well as being a station manager in the Fire Service.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35To pay for his lifestyle, he works an average of 90 hours a week.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39The mortgage, the bills, everything that hangs over you, traps you.
0:02:39 > 0:02:40You can't get off the rat run.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44Frustrated by the daily grind, John is desperate for a change.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48I'm sick to death of not having a life.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53Essex boy John is about to swap lives with Malawian farmer George.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58For generations, George's family have scraped a living from their
0:02:58 > 0:03:00farm in southern Africa.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Being a farmer in Malawi means you
0:03:03 > 0:03:09have to work very hard in the hot sun, and long hours.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12George's hard work means the four-acre farm just about
0:03:12 > 0:03:14keeps his family fed.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19It is the only way I can make myself survive
0:03:19 > 0:03:21and make a difference to my kids.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24- That's the most important thing. - HE LAUGHS
0:03:24 > 0:03:29- Yes.- Now he's about to get a glimpse of life in the fast lane.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32I'm quite sure that you are more advanced in the UK
0:03:32 > 0:03:34than here in Malawi. That is for sure.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39I am nervous.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Depending where this person comes from,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43it's going to be like a bomb going off.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Their adventure begins when they open their eyes.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Hi, you all right? Hiya.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04I'm just trying to get my bearings,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07trying to see if I can recognise anything apart from Coca-Cola signs.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Not a lot else.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11It's a lot different from Essex.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Where do I go from here?
0:04:28 > 0:04:30STATION ANNOUNCER: It is advisable to carry a bottle of water
0:04:30 > 0:04:33with you. If you are taken ill on the train,
0:04:33 > 0:04:36please wait until the next station to seek help.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39It's like you've been dropped from an aircraft.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45We have some cities which are busy, but not as busy as this one is.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49- First job for both men... - Where's Essex?
0:04:49 > 0:04:52..find their way to their new home and their new identity.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55I take it this is the man's name.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59George Lunga, Kumbande village, Chitsulu.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03All they have to go on is each other's name and address.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07The information which I've been given on the paper is the place
0:05:07 > 0:05:10where I want to be, but currently I don't know where I am.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18I'm just a little baby trying to learn in this busy city! Yeah.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Chitsulu?
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Bus?
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Excuse me, madam. Could you do me a favour, please?
0:05:34 > 0:05:36- Mmm-hmm?- Where's that, and how do I get there?
0:05:38 > 0:05:40Right, let's go and find a bus depot.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43John's starting point is the small town of Liwonde,
0:05:43 > 0:05:4640 miles from George's house.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50- I need to go to Chitsulu.- Yes, Chitsulu.- OK?- Yes.- How much?
0:05:50 > 0:05:543,000. 3,000, that sounds good to me.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56OK, thank you very much.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58OK, cheers.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02From here, he faces a two-hour journey, leaving Liwonde behind
0:06:02 > 0:06:07and heading into the vast farmlands of central Malawi.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10It does feel like an adventure.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14It's nothing I could ever have dreamed I'd ever do, so it's...
0:06:14 > 0:06:16It is surreal.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18A former British colony,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22the majority of Malawi's population still work the land,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24something mirrored in John's own background.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28My family come from North Wales originally,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31my dad was a tenancy farmer.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34But the farm was unsustainable and he just couldn't afford to keep it.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38I've always wondered what it would be like to have my own land and to
0:06:38 > 0:06:41be either self-sustaining or as a farmer.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44How far to Chitsulu?
0:06:44 > 0:06:46You'll tell me when we get there?
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Having found his way out of the station,
0:06:57 > 0:07:02George is speeding towards John's home in Grays, Essex.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06We don't have trains like this in Malawi.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Here they are very fast.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14I'm at Grays, finally.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16George may have made it to Essex,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20but it's not just the unfamiliar pace of life that's giving Grays a
0:07:20 > 0:07:22foreign feel.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26I've noted that people here, when they are walking, they go like this.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Or maybe they are like this, on their phones.
0:07:29 > 0:07:34Which is not the case in my country. They walk normally like this.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37You see? Not like this or like this.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39No, it's abnormal.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41I'm not judging, but that's my observation.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43HE LAUGHS
0:07:43 > 0:07:46I'll keep my eyes wide opened.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48After a journey of less than an hour,
0:07:48 > 0:07:51George reaches his home for the week...
0:07:53 > 0:07:58DOORBELL RINGS
0:07:58 > 0:08:01- Hello! Come in.- Thanks.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03..which he'll share with John's partner Cheryl.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Who am I swapping my life with?
0:08:07 > 0:08:11You're swapping your life with John. He works in the Fire Service.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14He's been with the Fire Service for about, oh, 10 or 11 years now,
0:08:14 > 0:08:19- I think.- I see.- What do you do?- I'm a simple farmer.- Lovely.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21See you later, guys.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25In Malawi, John has made it to Chitsulu Crossroads.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28- Hello.- How are you? - I'm very well, you?
0:08:32 > 0:08:36George's family farm is still a five-mile walk away.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40It's getting more remote now. Very rural. Very rural.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47Finally, John's reached Kumbande village, a small community of 500 people.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- Hello?- Hi.- I'm John.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57- I'm good. I'm Sam.- Hi, Sam.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Welcome to your new home for the next couple of days.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Thank you very much.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04George's 26-year-old son Sam will
0:09:04 > 0:09:07help John settle into life on their four-acre family farm.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09- Nice to meet you.- Hello.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12John will spend the next week living with George's wife,
0:09:12 > 0:09:14three kids and two-week-old granddaughter.
0:09:14 > 0:09:19- It's lovely to meet you all.- Let me just show you around.- Thanks.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23I couldn't imagine a white man living in this house, you know?
0:09:23 > 0:09:28The type of life that you live there, it's totally different.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32- What does your papa do now? - OK, he's a farmer.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- A farmer?- Yeah, a smallholder farmer.- A smallholder farmer.- Yes.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- I've got chickens at home. - Oh, really?- Yeah.- OK.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42ROOSTER CROWS
0:09:42 > 0:09:46- So, I'll be sleeping upstairs... - Yes.- But no elevator.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49No, no stairlift, I'm afraid.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52- No stairlift.- No. - THEY LAUGH
0:09:52 > 0:09:56After a long journey, both men can finally settle into their new homes.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01- Let me show you your bedroom. - OK.- Yeah.- That's brilliant.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- Thank you very much.- This is where you'll be sleeping.- Excellent.
0:10:07 > 0:10:08I'm really looking forward to it.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Just hopefully, Sam won't break me on the farm tomorrow.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- HE LAUGHS - Carry me back.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17I was getting a bit worried about the holes in the ground, you know?
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Maybe they're just preparing, you know?
0:10:19 > 0:10:23"We'll put him where we put the last one that didn't make it."
0:10:30 > 0:10:33CHICKENS CLUCK
0:10:45 > 0:10:47That man is putting on a nice necktie.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Oh, I've never seen one of those.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57George and John are waking up to the first day of their new lives.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01- Toilet's great. - So, my toilet has no seat.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04You need some handles in there to hold on to, I tell you.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06I thought I was going down it once.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09As George and John start to learn more about the person they've
0:11:09 > 0:11:12swapped with, they're discovering they have more in common
0:11:12 > 0:11:16- than they might have thought. - So, this is John's smallholding.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20- Ah!- He would have pigs if I'd let him.- Oh, really?
0:11:20 > 0:11:24John comes from a family of Welsh farmers, but before he was born,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27financial hardship forced the family off their land.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31The vision was that they would go back to farming...
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- Sure.- Unfortunately, that was never to be.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38I like the way he is raising his chickens.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41The only thing that I see is missing
0:11:41 > 0:11:44is there is no rooster, so that the
0:11:44 > 0:11:46chickens can multiply.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49I'd like it if he had a cock.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54What's your dad like as a man?
0:11:55 > 0:11:58He likes to socialise with people.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- Is he kind?- Very kind, I guess.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05Because lots of people like him, even the Chief himself.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07- Does that make you feel good?- Yeah.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12- I like him too.- Yeah.- He's a very good man, and very encouraging.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16Today, Sam will give John his first lessons
0:12:16 > 0:12:20- on life as a Malawian farmer. - Let's go draw some water.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24- OK.- Yeah, you carry your jerrycan, and I carry mine.- OK.- Yeah.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Before the day's work can even begin, Sam and his younger brother
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Tuck must trek three miles to the nearest borehole.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Today, John will join them.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35- How often do you get the water? - Daily.- Daily?
0:12:35 > 0:12:38We have to go maybe two times or three times.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43He carries about three of these, which makes up to 60 litres.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46This is just for the village, not for the crops?
0:12:46 > 0:12:48No, no, not for the crops.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52In Malawi, this commute is not uncommon.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56Here, almost half the rural population travel for over
0:12:56 > 0:12:5830 minutes to fetch water.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- And they don't spill any, look. - Yeah.- They're strong.- Very strong.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Usually uneventful, today's trip to
0:13:07 > 0:13:10the borehole has drawn quite a crowd.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11When you normally go and get water,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14- do you have this many people following you?- No, no.- OK.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18- They're following us because of you. - Because of me?
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Yeah, they've never seen a white man going to draw at the borehole.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23THEY LAUGH
0:13:23 > 0:13:25- Something that you don't do in England, I guess.- No, no.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28- Very lucky.- Very lucky.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32- All right?- You should go slowly.
0:13:32 > 0:13:33You should not hit it.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35Yeah. Yeah, like that.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42The average UK householder uses 150 litres of water a day.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48George's entire family uses less than a quarter of that.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52But it all has to be carried by hand.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56- Like this?- Yeah. You cool with that? - Yeah.- Yeah, good.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01So, he does that twice a day, and there's nothing of him,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04but it's deceiving how strong they are.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Especially the girls.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08If I'd had to carry one of those things on my head,
0:14:08 > 0:14:10that would have killed me.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14- How does it feel on your shoulders? - Heavy.- Yeah.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16- It's a long way.- It's a long way.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20It's the dry season, when temperatures can reach 40 degrees.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23A far cry from life in suburban Essex.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27That pump is a real eye-opener.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30I mean, I turn the tap on, don't I? An unlimited supply.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40We are home, finally.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47You are a man. A strong man.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50LAUGHTER
0:14:50 > 0:14:52Domestic chores done,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55for John, the hard work starts here.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Make sure you don't push it too far.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03- All right.- George's family have been farming this four-acre patch of land
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- for generations.- It's very sandy.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11Yeah. When you grow crops like groundnut, sweet potatoes, cassava,
0:15:11 > 0:15:15- they do well.- In this soil? They do well?- Yeah, yeah.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18This is a far cry from the commercial farming model
0:15:18 > 0:15:20of the Western world.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21Like 80% of Malawians,
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Sam and George grow enough to feed the family.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Only occasionally does a bumper harvest mean they have a surplus
0:15:27 > 0:15:30to sell on.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34- I'm getting the hang of it now.- OK? - Yeah.- Yeah. Yeah. Good.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42I do miss being out in the country
0:15:42 > 0:15:44and working with my hands.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46You know, the couple of acres of
0:15:46 > 0:15:48ground they've got is what I want to do at home.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51Honest graft, as my dad would say.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53THEY SPEAK IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:15:53 > 0:15:57- She says it's good that you managed to do it.- Thank you.- Yeah.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03It's a good feeling, you know?
0:16:05 > 0:16:074,000 miles away, in Essex,
0:16:07 > 0:16:10George is getting the chance to walk in John's shoes for the day.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Oh, my goodness. Ah-ha-ha!
0:16:13 > 0:16:16That means hitting the shops with his wife for the week, Cheryl.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Oh, lovely.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23- You like this one?- Sure. - Right. Coconut it is, then.- Wow.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25It's really incredible.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28You have almost everything, all under one roof.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30These are all leather belts.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32So convenient. So convenient.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36While some aspects of British shopping are a fun novelty for George...
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Maybe this will fit.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41..as a farmer, others will take some getting used to.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- They're New Zealand.- Oh, that far.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49- Yeah.- Most of the vegetables are imported, though you have the land,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51you have the climate good enough,
0:16:51 > 0:16:55the soil good enough for that product. Why waste money?
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- It suits you, pushing that trolley. - THEY LAUGH
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Good. I prefer to raise my own.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Why should I wait for someone to do it for me?
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Self-reliance. Self-reliance.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07I prefer it that way.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13In Malawi, after a day of manual labour,
0:17:13 > 0:17:17John is starting to understand the realities of that self-reliance.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21- How long before you plant? - It depends on when the...
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- Rain.- ..first rainfall sets in.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Unlike Essex, rain here is far from a safe bet.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32It's just fighting all the time.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35For the last two years, the community have suffered a drought.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39Sam and his family have no choice but to plant in hope that the rains
0:17:39 > 0:17:43arrive. But every year, more and more farmers like them are being
0:17:43 > 0:17:47forced from their land as crops fail.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51In a good year, with their surplus, they'd make £50 a year.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55I'd just spend that on a night out, on a meal,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57a few beers with my mates.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01It saddens me to know that they have to struggle so much.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03It does trouble me.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09- Shall we get to the next one? - Yeah.- Let's go.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11It is hard graft.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18After his first full day in Essex, George, too,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20is in a reflective mood.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23The British life is quite simple life.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27They don't expend much of their energy doing the hardest work, as
0:18:27 > 0:18:31opposed to those that work in the fields tirelessly.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34George wants to make the most of his time in the UK,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36and see the Western approach to farming.
0:18:36 > 0:18:41Tomorrow we'll be going to visit another farmer who is quite
0:18:41 > 0:18:45advanced, and I want to see what crops that he grows at his farm, so,
0:18:45 > 0:18:49until tomorrow, we'll catch up. Good. Thanks for the day.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50Bye.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55ROOSTER CROWS
0:19:00 > 0:19:03My hands are ruined.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Soft office hands, these days.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10- DOG BARKS - Yeah. You'll be fed, don't worry.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Pussy, here.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16Both men are starting to get to grips with their new worlds.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19- No, no, not here, not here. - DOG BARKS
0:19:19 > 0:19:22I've noted that you live very close with pets.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25- Yeah.- So, I see the picture of him.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28- Lots of pictures of Alfie.- Lots of pictures of Alfie.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- He's my favourite.- I see, I see.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33I put them up high so the others don't see it.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36HE LAUGHS
0:19:38 > 0:19:41In Malawi, John's getting an insight into George's self-sufficient
0:19:41 > 0:19:45- lifestyle.- We're going to start scouting that jungle.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Farming here is about more than planting crops.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52People like George and Sam have to make the most of all their natural
0:19:52 > 0:19:54- resources.- OK, so, John?
0:19:54 > 0:19:57- Yeah?- I want you to look at this tree.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00They should not exceed this size.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04- OK.- Then, this is what we do.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07What do they use this bark for?
0:20:07 > 0:20:13This bark will be used like a string to tie the knot when we are making
0:20:13 > 0:20:15- the fences.- So, to lash the fence together?
0:20:15 > 0:20:20- Yeah.- As a potential heir, Sam has been taught how to manage and look
0:20:20 > 0:20:22after the farm from an early age.
0:20:23 > 0:20:30So, when Dad and I are doing this, he's always doing the hard ones,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32and I do the easy ones.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Yeah, that's what dads do.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37You've got a good mentor, there.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42The relationship Sam and George have got reminds me of me and my father's
0:20:42 > 0:20:44relationship later in life.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46- You make it look easy.- Really?
0:20:46 > 0:20:50I mean, me and my dad, we didn't get on in my early years,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52and I used to think he was a terrible father...
0:20:54 > 0:20:58until I became a father. And then I realised,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00he didn't do a bad job.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05When he was dying, I nursed him, looked after him.
0:21:05 > 0:21:06He lived with me for 18 months.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Don't get me wrong, sometimes he got on my nerves,
0:21:09 > 0:21:11but we'd always end up laughing.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16And he was proud of me.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21I know that.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34So, here we go, George, we'll have a quick look round.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Back in the UK,
0:21:36 > 0:21:39George is taking the opportunity to visit a local farm, to see how a
0:21:39 > 0:21:43modern agribusiness is managed in the Western world.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46That's a 90-acre field there that's just been combined.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48At home, he's always looking for
0:21:48 > 0:21:51ways to make his small farm more profitable.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55He's keen to see if the other end of the farming spectrum could provide
0:21:55 > 0:21:57him with some inspiration.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59You have a very big farm.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Most English farmers like to talk in acres because it makes their farms
0:22:02 > 0:22:06- sound bigger. - THEY LAUGH
0:22:06 > 0:22:10Essex is home to a hugely profitable agricultural sector, worth around
0:22:10 > 0:22:12£400 million a year.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17Owner of one of the country's largest farms, Jeremy Finnis,
0:22:17 > 0:22:19has agreed to give George a tour.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22OK, George, see how you get on pulling a few onions.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26- Yes.- They can earn good money, but you'll see it's quite hard work.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Fast-growing and low-maintenance,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31things like spring onions can be lucrative.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Oh, you're very fast.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35But without a large workforce,
0:22:35 > 0:22:37it would be an impractical crop for George.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40This type of work, it's too heavy,
0:22:40 > 0:22:43and I don't think it would be done
0:22:43 > 0:22:47single-handedly, even if you are a hard worker.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49So, that wouldn't work.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Spring onions cast aside,
0:22:52 > 0:22:57George's focus shifts from cash crops to boys' toys.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59So, I think you're off to combining now, aren't you?
0:22:59 > 0:23:01THEY LAUGH
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Press the button, it's now driving itself.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Oh, really?
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Whereas George relies on hand tools to raise his crops,
0:23:09 > 0:23:14this is mechanised farming on a major scale.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18Beautiful. Making farming more enjoyable.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21- Yes.- Machines are crazy. - LAUGHTER
0:23:21 > 0:23:25The difference between Western farming and George's smallholding
0:23:25 > 0:23:27couldn't be clearer.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30If machines like this had been made available,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Malawi would be self-reliant.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35- This is luxury farming, isn't it? - Yeah. Exactly, exactly.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38- It's luxury farming. - THEY LAUGH
0:23:38 > 0:23:42George's hope for a self-driving tractor may be parked for now,
0:23:42 > 0:23:46but he and Jeremy do have some things in common.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50This farm, too, is a family affair.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52Sixth generation, these guys.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54- Yes.- A very good example, you see?
0:23:54 > 0:23:59We are here because somebody started the ball rolling.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02That's right. We have an expression in this country,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06"Live as if you'll die tomorrow, farm as if you'll live forever."
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Oh. I like that, I like that.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11- Because you're always investing for the next generation.- Exactly.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15In Malawi, farming is treated as one of the lowest jobs,
0:24:15 > 0:24:19and the farmers are not highly respected,
0:24:19 > 0:24:26so it has thrilled my heart seeing that some people in Britain take
0:24:26 > 0:24:31agribusiness seriously and as a way of our living.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Which one of your children, George, do you think will take over?
0:24:34 > 0:24:38Samuel. I need to persuade him.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41He has the ability to do that, but he's not prepared now,
0:24:41 > 0:24:44so I need to persuade him. Yes, that's the point.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48- He can look after you, then, when... - Sure, sure, sure. Yes, yes.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52God forbid, anything happened to your father,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55would the farm come to you? Would it become yours?
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Yes, it will become mine,
0:24:57 > 0:25:01but that's not something that I want to take over from him, you know?
0:25:01 > 0:25:05- OK.- Farming life is something very hard, you know?
0:25:05 > 0:25:11Should the weather get very bad that year, maybe having, like, not much
0:25:11 > 0:25:14rainfall, then you are doomed, see?
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Yeah. So what is it that you want?
0:25:16 > 0:25:19I want to get employed, you know?
0:25:19 > 0:25:24Yeah, all I want is to get employed. I should maybe be waiting for a
0:25:24 > 0:25:27salary at the end of the month. Yeah.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33I don't imagine myself here forever, because it's a hard life, you know?
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Is good to have family around me, but, you know, you need...
0:25:36 > 0:25:39everyone needs money, OK?
0:25:39 > 0:25:43I need money to support myself, I need money to support Mummy,
0:25:43 > 0:25:48I need money to support my future family, my kids, you know?
0:25:48 > 0:25:52So, despite the fact that I love to be with my family,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55I'm going to have to leave them and fight for a job somewhere.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58- Yeah.- Then you have to be careful what you wish for,
0:25:58 > 0:26:01because I have a job with a salary at the end of the month,
0:26:01 > 0:26:06- but I also want this life. - Oh, really?- You see?
0:26:06 > 0:26:09My family, many years ago, used to be farmers.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12- The lost their farm.- Oh, sorry.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16You must always keep that link, no matter how hard it is.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20- I will give you that advice. Keep that link.- OK.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Today's given John an understanding of just how much is at stake for
0:26:24 > 0:26:29George's family. If they can't find a way to make the land pay,
0:26:29 > 0:26:31their future is uncertain.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34I just worry for Sam. I worry what he's going to do.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38How he's going to find a job.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43He'll either end up disappearing one day and going into the town and
0:26:43 > 0:26:45never coming back, like many of them do,
0:26:45 > 0:26:47or he'll have to stay here.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52He can't... The farm can't sustain them all.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57It heart-rending when you see how much potential there is here,
0:26:57 > 0:27:02and because they don't have natural resources, they don't have a chance.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19At home, we go like...
0:27:19 > 0:27:22HE WHISTLES
0:27:22 > 0:27:25- Oh, they come. - Yeah, birds are stupid.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28THEY LAUGH
0:27:28 > 0:27:33In Malawi, John's been taken on an outing to see life outside the farm.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35- Your weather's lovely.- Yeah.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38- The weather's lovely when you don't have to work.- Yeah.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Although largely self-sufficient,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43some things just can't be grown at home.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45- Is this our bus, yeah?- Yeah.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49So, today, the family are making a rare trip to the market.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57Here, nipping to the shops means a 50-mile bus trip.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Are you feeling like a Malawian now?
0:28:00 > 0:28:02I'm getting there slowly.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08After a two-hour journey, they reach Sagano.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Located near the border of Malawi and neighbouring Mozambique,
0:28:15 > 0:28:17it's home to one of the region's busiest markets.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23- How much did they cost? - One and a half pounds.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25- Is that good?- Yeah.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33George and Sam sell their surplus crops at similar markets
0:28:33 > 0:28:36two or three times a year, but, for all their hard work,
0:28:36 > 0:28:39rarely make more than a few pounds on each visit.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42But today, they're here to buy rather than sell.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Meat, tomatoes and cabbages and beans.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47I've not seen any of that food since I've been here,
0:28:47 > 0:28:52so they're obviously pushing the boat out because I'm here and want to
0:28:52 > 0:28:56give me...give me a meal that I recognise, bless them.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01Although it's a far cry from his shopping trips back home,
0:29:01 > 0:29:03some aspects of life in a town
0:29:04 > 0:29:07feel all-too-familiar to Essex boy John.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11There is a different atmosphere here from the village.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13They're not so friendly. It's hard.
0:29:14 > 0:29:19Towns like this, when people want business, it becomes dog eat dog.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23I'll be glad to get back to the village, actually.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30- Do you grow these?- No. - Raspberries.
0:29:30 > 0:29:31Mm.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Well, let me have some more.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36- Yeah.- It is good.- They are good. - LAUGHTER
0:29:36 > 0:29:39In an allotment close to John's home,
0:29:39 > 0:29:43George has found evidence of farming on a scale he is more familiar with.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46Watch your head. I've just bashed mine.
0:29:46 > 0:29:47- Are you OK?- Yeah. Be careful.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52And something on one of the nearby plots has caught George's eye.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56We've got seven hives here,
0:29:56 > 0:29:58with thousands and thousands of bees.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00And you can see, they are pretty busy.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03- Yeah, yeah, yeah.- They are busy. - Yes, yes.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05They are probably the best workers we've got up here.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09Yeah, yeah. And you can see there is the possibility of having even more
0:30:09 > 0:30:11than that within this area.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13- See?- Yeah.- Because they are these, one, two, three...
0:30:13 > 0:30:18Three more places, which means you can have at least 10 or 12.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- Yeah.- It's quite possible. - You could.- And it's manageable.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25- Oh, yeah. Maintenance-wise...- Yes. - ..this lady comes up once a week.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27- Really?- Yeah. Once a week.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29- Oh.- She comes up once a week...
0:30:29 > 0:30:32- Wow.- ..she has a look round, she keeps the grass cut down...
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Yes, yes.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38And then she'll come up two or three times a year and take the honey.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42- Hmm.- And there is a lot of money in it.- Perfect.- Yeah?
0:30:43 > 0:30:46When he mentioned about the beekeeping,
0:30:46 > 0:30:51I was very impressed for the first time and shocked, because it is not
0:30:51 > 0:30:54as hard as the farm work is.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56African honeybees thrive in hot climates,
0:30:56 > 0:30:59and with relatively low start-up costs,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02honey could be the answer to keeping George's family on the farm,
0:31:02 > 0:31:06as well as satisfying Sam's entrepreneurial spirit.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09Yes, my kids are changing, they are thinking.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13Because seven or eight beehives is quite achievable,
0:31:13 > 0:31:15and very profitable.
0:31:15 > 0:31:21So, my primary mission is to find out more about the beekeeping
0:31:21 > 0:31:24so that when I get back home, I know exactly what I'm doing.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30Can I help you?
0:31:30 > 0:31:32Back from the market in Malawi,
0:31:32 > 0:31:35John has volunteered to help prepare the evening meal.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38What is this I'm making?
0:31:38 > 0:31:41- Nshima.- Nshima. And I just keep stirring this?
0:31:41 > 0:31:45Wait for it to get hot, a little bit like porridge.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47A cooked mixture of maize, flour and water,
0:31:47 > 0:31:50nshima is the staple carbohydrate in Malawi,
0:31:50 > 0:31:53and many people eat it three times a day.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55I can see it's starting to thicken now.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57Less common is the sight of a man cooking,
0:31:57 > 0:32:00so John has attracted a few spectators.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06I've got a great audience of little heads that keep popping up.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Good husband material, eh?
0:32:08 > 0:32:12THEY SPEAK IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:32:12 > 0:32:14- They say you've done very well. - Thank you, ladies.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17THEY APPLAUD
0:32:17 > 0:32:19I'm here all week.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24George's friends and family often gather to share a meal
0:32:24 > 0:32:26and chew the fat at the end of the day.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28It's good.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38When I see you carrying the water on your heads...
0:32:38 > 0:32:42It would would've killed me. It would have broke my neck.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45LAUGHTER
0:32:45 > 0:32:46It seems when you come out here,
0:32:46 > 0:32:49the village and the communities are a lot tighter.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51The all know each other.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53Here, they look after each other.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Don't get that at all down my street.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58I know two people in my street, I've lived there ten years.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00SHE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:33:00 > 0:33:04She was asking if you've got any kids. How many?
0:33:04 > 0:33:09I have a son, who is 30, and a daughter who is 27.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14The family are a lot closer. Everyone's there together.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17I don't have that.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21I probably see my daughter four times a year,
0:33:21 > 0:33:23and my son hardly at all.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27I can't remember the last time all of us were together,
0:33:27 > 0:33:29and that's not good.
0:33:31 > 0:33:35In the UK, George, too, is thinking of home.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38I've been away for a while, and
0:33:38 > 0:33:43I've missed my family members, their laughters.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46I know we are just really good when we are with each other,
0:33:46 > 0:33:50when we are together. We share stories,
0:33:50 > 0:33:55we talk together and we plan things together as a family.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58Home is a sweet, good thing.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00Bye-bye.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13Hi.
0:34:13 > 0:34:14It's halfway through the swap.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17I would love to have a go.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22I feel a lot calmer here.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27The longer I've been here, the more relaxed the people are, as well.
0:34:36 > 0:34:37I know it's hard work,
0:34:37 > 0:34:40and you certainly can't sit here in the evening on the sofa,
0:34:40 > 0:34:42having a few beers, watching the telly.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44I mean, I was in bed last night at half past seven
0:34:44 > 0:34:45and I was out like a light.
0:34:47 > 0:34:53Frankly speaking, in Britain, the grass is greener than in Malawi.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57Life for the working class is much, much better.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02They have nice time, just leisure.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05All sorts of fun.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09Life is full when you accept it to be that way.
0:35:09 > 0:35:10'Thanks for riding, everyone.'
0:35:12 > 0:35:17It seems to be quite a natural thing for me to want to do this.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19Although it wouldn't be my choice of building a home like this
0:35:19 > 0:35:22in the English countryside, I do feel at home here.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26I'm quite happy to be a quiet man in a little place
0:35:26 > 0:35:28with some land and some animals.
0:35:31 > 0:35:32I am absolutely loving it.
0:35:34 > 0:35:35Yeah, I am absolutely loving it.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45In Essex, keen to find out if bees
0:35:45 > 0:35:47can help his farm to turn a profit...
0:35:47 > 0:35:50I've opted for Gloria.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53..George has been hunting online for honey experts.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55She seems to be very strong.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58I would like to have an eye-to-eye contact
0:35:58 > 0:36:02and learn more from her experience, yes.
0:36:02 > 0:36:07Yes, this gives me more hope and confidence in beekeeping.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Have you got everything, George?
0:36:10 > 0:36:12Good.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15The bee farm George wants to visit is 200 miles away in Derbyshire.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18- DOG YELPS - Shush.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20So he and Cheryl are making a road trip of it.
0:36:22 > 0:36:23OK, George?
0:36:26 > 0:36:28- What do you think?- Very impressive.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32It's like as if I am in an aeroplane.
0:36:35 > 0:36:36OK, George, are you ready?
0:36:36 > 0:36:37Yes, quite ready.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42Is it like being at home when you see the sunshine?
0:36:42 > 0:36:43Yes, yes, yes.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45It makes me feel at home, very much so.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47It does? Yeah.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50John and Cheryl bought a motorhome nearly ten years ago,
0:36:50 > 0:36:52but don't use it as much as they'd like.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Do you sometimes go for picnics?
0:36:54 > 0:36:56- Not really.- Not really?
0:36:57 > 0:37:00All right. What about mountain hikings?
0:37:00 > 0:37:02We don't have many mountains that are close to us.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04I see.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06- So, yeah.- Right.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15But for John, there is no time to relax.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17Help me hold it here. Here.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Today, he's helping some of Sam's neighbours
0:37:20 > 0:37:22slaughter and butcher a goat.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29Closer?
0:37:29 > 0:37:31The skin is used for making drums.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36- Drum skin?- And some guys are crazy enough to make even shorts.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39- Shorts?- Yeah.- Goat shorts?
0:37:39 > 0:37:41Yeah.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45I dare say every single boy here will do this with his father.
0:37:45 > 0:37:46They'll have a goat, slaughter it,
0:37:46 > 0:37:49and they'll do this process together.
0:37:49 > 0:37:50It's doing it just right.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52Just like an African man.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54Passed down from father to son.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58We don't have that tribal thing any more.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01- The men get the blood?- Yeah.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Then again, my father taught me a lot.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05He did teach me a lot. He taught me how to tie flies,
0:38:05 > 0:38:08he taught me how to tickle trout, he taught me how to do loads of things,
0:38:08 > 0:38:11so he passed that down to me, but unfortunately,
0:38:11 > 0:38:13I didn't pass that down to my son.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17We never did... You know, we never had the chance to do any of that.
0:38:17 > 0:38:1990 hours a week working,
0:38:19 > 0:38:22it was hard to be Mr Bubbly when you're shattered.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27So, John, how do you feel?
0:38:27 > 0:38:30Are you feeling being part of this group?
0:38:30 > 0:38:31I am feeling part of this group.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33- Thank you.- Really?
0:38:33 > 0:38:34And everyone's happy.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Men are always happy when they are eating.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42Yeah. Especially when it comes to meat.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44THEY LAUGH
0:38:49 > 0:38:51Back in Blighty, Cheryl and George
0:38:51 > 0:38:54are still on their motorhome mini-break.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57Here we are, George. That's quite a nice spot.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Have you got any questions you want to ask?
0:38:59 > 0:39:00Sure. Where are we?
0:39:02 > 0:39:04We're in Bungay in Suffolk.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06Very beautiful scenery.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09Tomorrow, George and Cheryl will continue their journey
0:39:09 > 0:39:10to the bee farm.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Tonight, a chance to take in the countryside.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17Are there any crocodiles in here?
0:39:17 > 0:39:18- No.- No crocodiles?
0:39:18 > 0:39:21- No.- What about hippos?
0:39:21 > 0:39:24- No hippos.- No hippos, no crocodiles.
0:39:24 > 0:39:25- Quite different.- No elephants.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27- No elephants?- No giraffes.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29None of that!
0:39:32 > 0:39:34I see some strange animals over there?
0:39:34 > 0:39:36- What are they?- They are cows.
0:39:36 > 0:39:37Cows.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42George is well and truly out of his depth.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46- I'll help you.- OK.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48So, you need to go that way.
0:39:48 > 0:39:49- This way?- That way.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51- This way?- That way.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53You need to paddle...
0:39:53 > 0:39:55This way. OK.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59Having George here has been quite enlightening for me.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02One, two, three.
0:40:02 > 0:40:08We have such a different home life to what George has
0:40:08 > 0:40:11because he never gets time to relax.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16I'm really surprised how well we've got on.
0:40:16 > 0:40:17He's quite a character.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19- Oh, dear.- OK.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22We are just going to go round in circles.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28The British take their outing from their busy schedules
0:40:28 > 0:40:31to enjoy themselves.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34SHE LAUGHS
0:40:34 > 0:40:36It is not the same in Malawi,
0:40:36 > 0:40:40simply because of the financial strains.
0:40:40 > 0:40:41- There we are.- Yes.
0:40:41 > 0:40:47Finally. It was really nice just to relax a bit.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49Oh, no!
0:40:52 > 0:40:54Oh, my God!
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Unfortunately, we found ourselves sinking into the river.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00Oh, no!
0:41:00 > 0:41:02SHE LAUGHS
0:41:05 > 0:41:11That...that was another thing which cracked me to laugh so far.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Anyway, goodbye for now.
0:41:13 > 0:41:14Thanks.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32The next day, Cheryl and George arrive in picturesque Derbyshire.
0:41:32 > 0:41:33Oh!
0:41:33 > 0:41:36- There's some beautiful places in the UK.- You are right.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38But before heading to the bee farm,
0:41:38 > 0:41:43George has asked to make a detour to the spa town of Buxton.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46- Hello. I'm Emma, John's daughter. - I'm George.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48To better understand the life of the man
0:41:48 > 0:41:50whose world he's living in,
0:41:50 > 0:41:53he has asked to meet John's daughter, Emma.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55- Tea.- OK.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59It's like, proper English tea in a little pot.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02It's well cool.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Are there any things that you do in life which keep you busy?
0:42:05 > 0:42:08I've got a daughter who I look after.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11- I see.- She's four years old.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13She's my little princess.
0:42:15 > 0:42:19So, how often do you meet your daddy?
0:42:21 > 0:42:22Last time I saw my dad was...
0:42:24 > 0:42:26..Christmas last year, I think.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28That was probably for just the day.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32I don't think my dad has been up to my new place yet.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35If there was one thing you would have to express
0:42:35 > 0:42:38or to explain about your father,
0:42:38 > 0:42:40what is it that you would say?
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Obviously, I love him,
0:42:42 > 0:42:45and I'm very proud of my dad because I know he's done a lot,
0:42:45 > 0:42:47but he's always...
0:42:47 > 0:42:48He's a very busy person.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52So when I look at him, I just see him as a busy person.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55- I see.- I would love to see him more. - Mm-hm.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58Do you see your family, like, all your...
0:42:58 > 0:43:01children together?
0:43:01 > 0:43:03Yes.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05I don't get to do that.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07I do have an older brother, as well,
0:43:07 > 0:43:11but he hasn't seen my dad in years.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13It would be good if we could all spend time together.
0:43:13 > 0:43:15Yes, sure.
0:43:15 > 0:43:18- It's definitely needed. - Exactly.- Yeah.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23They don't get to see each other.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25It sounded strange
0:43:25 > 0:43:29because the daughter verifies that they cannot be able
0:43:29 > 0:43:31to see each other.
0:43:31 > 0:43:36To me, fatherhood doesn't just mean fathering the kids,
0:43:36 > 0:43:38but it goes way beyond that,
0:43:38 > 0:43:42you need to associate yourself with the kids as they grow up
0:43:42 > 0:43:47because this is what binds the family ties together.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49You never say, "I'm done,"
0:43:49 > 0:43:53because you are always there for the service of the future generation.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58This is how you become a man in Africa.
0:43:58 > 0:44:00- Is it?- Yeah.- I've been doing it all wrong.
0:44:06 > 0:44:09How old are the boys, when you start doing this?
0:44:09 > 0:44:11They must start at a very tender age
0:44:11 > 0:44:15because the boys normally stay in touch with their father...
0:44:15 > 0:44:17- Yeah?- So wherever the father goes...
0:44:17 > 0:44:19- They follow their father?- They follow their father
0:44:19 > 0:44:23because they learn the works, so they become men.
0:44:23 > 0:44:24Yeah. And strong.
0:44:24 > 0:44:25Very strong.
0:44:27 > 0:44:33A man needs not to be lazy because he has to take care of his family.
0:44:33 > 0:44:35Yeah, I think a lot of people forget that.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46I'm thinking about my family.
0:44:47 > 0:44:51You know, I don't see my daughter very often, and my son.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54The way Sam talks about his father,
0:44:54 > 0:44:58I don't suppose my son talks that way about me.
0:44:58 > 0:44:59That upsets me.
0:45:01 > 0:45:03I love my son, love him to pieces.
0:45:05 > 0:45:08We don't see a lot of each other, maybe once a year.
0:45:10 > 0:45:12He lives 20-odd miles away.
0:45:12 > 0:45:15He doesn't drive. I'm always working.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19I miss them.
0:45:19 > 0:45:21I do miss him. I miss my family.
0:45:25 > 0:45:26Yeah.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38George has arrived at the bee farm he found online.
0:45:38 > 0:45:42"Troway Hall, a honey trail."
0:45:42 > 0:45:43Oh, wow.
0:45:43 > 0:45:47Hidden in the grounds of 200-year-old Troway Hall
0:45:47 > 0:45:49are an army of busy bees.
0:45:50 > 0:45:54George has come here to learn how to turn honey into hard cash.
0:45:56 > 0:45:58Hello, young man. Can we help you?
0:46:00 > 0:46:02- I'm George.- George, my name's Gloria.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04- How are you?- Fine. How are you doing?
0:46:04 > 0:46:06- I'm doing very well.- Great.
0:46:06 > 0:46:07Right. Have you been here before?
0:46:07 > 0:46:09- Never.- Come on.
0:46:09 > 0:46:11With over 30 years in the business,
0:46:11 > 0:46:15Gloria knows everything there is to know about beekeeping,
0:46:15 > 0:46:19but George needs to start with the basics.
0:46:19 > 0:46:21Right, if you'd like to put that on first of all.
0:46:21 > 0:46:23That's good.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26Now, this is what we call a veil.
0:46:27 > 0:46:29So, put this over you.
0:46:29 > 0:46:32In, you've got two layers.
0:46:32 > 0:46:34You are in. OK?
0:46:34 > 0:46:36- Does it feel comfortable?- Sure.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39- OK.- I don't know what it would be like if it was a sunny day.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41It would be really hot.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43- Shall we go?- Sure.
0:46:53 > 0:46:56Gloria keeps around 70 beehives on a plot of land
0:46:56 > 0:46:59similar in size to George's farm back home.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01Go and stand at the side.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04Now, George, bees don't like loud noises.
0:47:04 > 0:47:07They don't like that. And the beekeeper who is very loud
0:47:07 > 0:47:10- will never make a good beekeeper. - Yeah, yeah.
0:47:10 > 0:47:11- Keep your voice down.- OK, OK.
0:47:13 > 0:47:15Bees fly for miles around,
0:47:15 > 0:47:17collecting nectar from the sort of flowers
0:47:17 > 0:47:20which Malawi has in abundance.
0:47:20 > 0:47:24- They seal up the hive so there's no wind or draft.- I see.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27They require just a small amount of water,
0:47:27 > 0:47:30perfect for the arid conditions around George's village.
0:47:30 > 0:47:32That's the first time you've seen in a beehive?
0:47:32 > 0:47:34- Yeah.- They are filling in these hexagons here.
0:47:34 > 0:47:37They are actually filling it with wax,
0:47:37 > 0:47:41and as soon as it's all enclosed in wax, the honey is ready to eat.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44- Would you like to hold one?- OK.
0:47:44 > 0:47:47There are an estimated 10,000 hives in Malawi,
0:47:47 > 0:47:49mostly owned by small-scale producers
0:47:49 > 0:47:51and there's room for growth.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53- What about that, George? - Oh, wonderful.
0:47:53 > 0:47:57Around 120 tonnes of honey currently has to be imported to Malawi
0:47:57 > 0:48:00every year in order to meet demand.
0:48:00 > 0:48:03100 million years, they've been at this, George.
0:48:03 > 0:48:06We take the wax off and spin it, and all the honey comes running out.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10Impressed with what he's seen,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13George wants to find out more about the bottom line.
0:48:13 > 0:48:16So, when you can have some hives like those,
0:48:16 > 0:48:19it means you are in a position to earn a living.
0:48:19 > 0:48:20Oh, yes. We will probably get...
0:48:21 > 0:48:26This time, we've got about 80 to 100 lb of honey off each beehive.
0:48:26 > 0:48:30That's good. And they might fill it three, four, five times in the year.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33Probably six for you because you've got the weather.
0:48:33 > 0:48:34And you've got the flowers.
0:48:34 > 0:48:36- Yes.- And you've got the trees.
0:48:36 > 0:48:37You can earn a good living.
0:48:37 > 0:48:38- Yes.- A good living.- A good living.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41Not just a living, but a good living.
0:48:41 > 0:48:43Thank you for coming from Africa, George.
0:48:43 > 0:48:45It's been wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.
0:48:45 > 0:48:47Have you felt good in your bee suit?
0:48:47 > 0:48:49- Great.- Yes.- Great.
0:48:49 > 0:48:54If George can replicate a small part of Gloria's business back in Malawi,
0:48:54 > 0:48:56it could change the way he supports his family.
0:48:56 > 0:49:00My coming to Britain, and, particularly, coming here,
0:49:00 > 0:49:03is going to change my life tremendously.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06Gloria explained everything,
0:49:06 > 0:49:10and if Sam could see this, he wouldn't wait,
0:49:10 > 0:49:15he would get the beehives put in place because this is profitable.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18So I will be going home a happier man,
0:49:18 > 0:49:21and this has been one of the precious moments in my life.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30It's John's last night in Malawi.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33That's our chief with his arms folded.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36He's been invited to a community gathering.
0:49:36 > 0:49:38To give the people something to do?
0:49:38 > 0:49:39Yeah. People come and socialise.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43- Otherwise, it can be very isolating? - Yes.
0:49:45 > 0:49:48And the dancing, he's, like, holy?
0:49:48 > 0:49:51Yeah, associated with magic, you know?
0:49:51 > 0:49:52Magic? Yeah.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59Since I've been here, I've had a lot of time to think,
0:49:59 > 0:50:02and it's been eye-opening, enlightening.
0:50:04 > 0:50:08We close that door and we're isolated.
0:50:08 > 0:50:10Here, they are social all the time.
0:50:12 > 0:50:14I envy his family life.
0:50:14 > 0:50:17I think that I would certainly take that away with me.
0:50:17 > 0:50:18It's been a wake-up call.
0:50:20 > 0:50:23I suppose I would like to have the big house in the country
0:50:23 > 0:50:27with a little bit of land and the animals and my career as well.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33But I've got a lot to do when I get home.
0:50:33 > 0:50:37I need a better relationship with my children, because I do love them.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41I need to stop working so much and make more time.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46I need to make more time for everyone, before it's too late.
0:50:46 > 0:50:47Not going to be here for ever, are we?
0:50:51 > 0:50:53I said I wouldn't get upset on camera.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55Yeah.
0:50:55 > 0:50:57HE SNIFFS
0:50:57 > 0:50:59That's the closest you're going to get!
0:50:59 > 0:51:01- INTERVIEWER: You all right? - Yeah.
0:51:01 > 0:51:05Yeah, I am. I just find it very hard to show emotion that way.
0:51:07 > 0:51:09It's part of being a man...
0:51:10 > 0:51:12..act like you don't care.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36After a week living in each other's worlds,
0:51:36 > 0:51:38it's time for George and John to say goodbye to their hosts
0:51:38 > 0:51:40and head for home.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43I think the most thing that I've missed about home
0:51:43 > 0:51:46is the laughter of my kids and my wife.
0:51:46 > 0:51:49The more smiles you get, the more happier you become.
0:51:52 > 0:51:53Hey, Cheryl, I'm leaving now.
0:51:56 > 0:51:58Thank you very much for making me smile and laugh,
0:51:58 > 0:52:00and I hope you've enjoyed it here with us.
0:52:00 > 0:52:02You must keep in touch.
0:52:02 > 0:52:04I've loved having him here.
0:52:04 > 0:52:06He's a really nice guy.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09And shall miss him a little bit.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12Saying goodbye will be hard.
0:52:12 > 0:52:13I'll miss him.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17- Thank you.- So you shall always remember you were in Africa
0:52:17 > 0:52:20when you see these seeds. These are African seeds.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23I'm surprised how close we got, what good friends we are.
0:52:23 > 0:52:24I'll miss you, buddy.
0:52:24 > 0:52:29Having John around, somebody from a totally different culture,
0:52:29 > 0:52:33being assimilated to your culture, is something very amazing,
0:52:33 > 0:52:37something that happens maybe once in a lifetime.
0:52:37 > 0:52:38I'm going to miss him.
0:52:38 > 0:52:40Thank you for looking after me.
0:52:40 > 0:52:42George is a very lucky man.
0:52:42 > 0:52:44THEY LAUGH
0:52:49 > 0:52:53Parting like this, it feels sad,
0:52:53 > 0:52:56but on the other hand, I am excited to see my family.
0:52:58 > 0:53:00Thank you for looking after me.
0:53:03 > 0:53:04Before they return home,
0:53:04 > 0:53:07George and John will get to meet for the first time.
0:53:09 > 0:53:12It's like these guys exchanged their families,
0:53:12 > 0:53:16so you always want to see the man who was in your house.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25I've asked lots of questions about him.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28Apparently, he's quite quietly spoken, he's quite reserved.
0:53:28 > 0:53:31He only speaks when he's got something to say.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34Walking in his feet has been something very important
0:53:34 > 0:53:36and very memorable.
0:53:36 > 0:53:40Now I meet the man whom I was longing to meet.
0:53:40 > 0:53:42It will be interesting to meet him,
0:53:42 > 0:53:46see what he thinks of Sam, let him know what Sam thinks of him.
0:53:46 > 0:53:48You don't always get to find that out.
0:53:48 > 0:53:50You often wonder, it's not something you can ask your son.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57- Hello.- George.- Hi, John.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59TRANSLATION:
0:54:01 > 0:54:03Oh, thank you. You have learnt already.
0:54:03 > 0:54:06- Yeah, a little bit.- You're a very fast learner.- A little bit.
0:54:06 > 0:54:08- Did you have a good time?- Yes, I did.
0:54:08 > 0:54:10- What about you?- Brilliant.
0:54:10 > 0:54:12Sam was lovely.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14He looked after me so well.
0:54:14 > 0:54:16- Thanks.- What a great son.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19Do you know, it was like looking at Sam in 40 years?
0:54:19 > 0:54:21Felt like I had known him all week.
0:54:21 > 0:54:24When I look at where you are with Sam...
0:54:24 > 0:54:26- Yes.- He thinks so much of you.
0:54:28 > 0:54:34If he had to give his hopes up to help you, I know he would.
0:54:34 > 0:54:40He is torn because he wants so much to be a man himself
0:54:40 > 0:54:44- and go and earn money.- That's right.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46And you can see,
0:54:46 > 0:54:49no matter how much he works hard,
0:54:49 > 0:54:51the farm is never going to pay wages to everyone.
0:54:51 > 0:54:53- That's it.- It's a family thing.
0:54:53 > 0:54:55- Sure.- Which I think is a shame.
0:54:55 > 0:54:59- That is...- Because it's a lovely way to live.
0:55:00 > 0:55:04If I was to ask you a question, what world would you live in?
0:55:04 > 0:55:08Would you live in my world or would you live in your world?
0:55:08 > 0:55:11That is a very good question,
0:55:11 > 0:55:17because, looking at the Western culture, life seems to be easier,
0:55:17 > 0:55:21but because this is where I am, I've no choice.
0:55:21 > 0:55:25I always remind myself that home is sweet.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27- Yes.- No matter what.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29- That's your home.- It is your home.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32You have to do the best you can to change the home.
0:55:32 > 0:55:34Yeah, that's right.
0:55:34 > 0:55:35Yeah.
0:55:35 > 0:55:37My life is easier in many ways.
0:55:37 > 0:55:42The fact I've got food, heat, warmth, water easily.
0:55:42 > 0:55:46But his life is richer in family, culture, heritage...
0:55:47 > 0:55:50..and just the people around him.
0:55:51 > 0:55:54I had the chance to meet your daughter.
0:55:54 > 0:55:55This is what I will suggest.
0:55:57 > 0:56:01In the family bond and intimacy,
0:56:01 > 0:56:06there's the need to periodically meet and chat.
0:56:06 > 0:56:10Chatting on the phone, yes, it's good, but seeing a person,
0:56:10 > 0:56:13looking in the eyes straight, that's a different thing, as well.
0:56:13 > 0:56:15Yeah.
0:56:15 > 0:56:22So, I asked her to do that and I shall put it to you in the same way.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24Yeah. I agree.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27It's been interesting, having someone critique my life
0:56:27 > 0:56:28from another world
0:56:28 > 0:56:31and see what he thought of it.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34It's been humbling. I mean, I'm 50 now.
0:56:35 > 0:56:40My mother and her brother all passed away within four years of this date,
0:56:40 > 0:56:44and so that puts it into perspective.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47All I do is work.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50Maybe I should just make do with what I've got and be grateful.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54Need to find somewhere in the country.
0:56:54 > 0:56:55Got to be a farmer, man.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58HE LAUGHS
0:56:58 > 0:57:02OK, George. It's been a real honour and a pleasure to meet you.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04- Did you enjoy it?- Very much.
0:57:04 > 0:57:07- So did I.- I am very grateful.
0:57:07 > 0:57:09- Thank you.- Yeah, cheers, George.
0:57:09 > 0:57:11You're a good man, mate.
0:57:11 > 0:57:13Give my regards to your family.
0:57:13 > 0:57:14You too. Do the same to Cheryl.
0:57:14 > 0:57:15- Thank you. Bye.- Bye-bye.
0:57:52 > 0:57:54Would you like to pick names for them?
0:57:54 > 0:57:56- Yeah. Rainbow.- Rainbow?
0:57:58 > 0:58:00I called them all Rainbow.
0:58:00 > 0:58:02Rainbow. It's easier that way.
0:58:03 > 0:58:05- Next time...- Wow.
0:58:05 > 0:58:08A lifelong Army wife from Nottingham
0:58:08 > 0:58:11tries to break free in the wilds of Alaska...
0:58:11 > 0:58:13I have never felt so like the real me.
0:58:13 > 0:58:16..while an all-Alaskan small-town girl...
0:58:16 > 0:58:18Is there a kingdom around here?
0:58:18 > 0:58:20Well, no. You're in Nottingham now.
0:58:20 > 0:58:22..steps into her very own British fairy tale.
0:58:23 > 0:58:25I feel like a princess.
0:58:25 > 0:58:28What will they learn from each other's lives?
0:58:28 > 0:58:31Guns don't kill people, people kill people, you know.
0:58:31 > 0:58:33Oops. Sorry.