0:00:02 > 0:00:08Hello and welcome to DIY SOS, coming to you from Ottery St Mary in the Devonshire countryside.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13We have just 10 days for me and these guys...and these guys
0:00:13 > 0:00:19to turn a wreck of a house into a home for a family that really need it.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22This is DIY SOS: The Big Build!
0:00:22 > 0:00:25'And when I say big, I mean huge!'
0:00:25 > 0:00:30To have these floors down tonight, that's not a five-minute job.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34'Can this really be turned around in just nine days?'
0:00:34 > 0:00:38Total structural change? You can't.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42- 'This family needs a miracle and a home.'- We have to hold together
0:00:42 > 0:00:47because if we fall apart and let the house fall apart, our lives are ruined.
0:00:57 > 0:01:04We're here to help the Wright family - music teacher Ian, mum Morny, and their three kids,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Isaac, Alfie and Casper.
0:01:08 > 0:01:14Four years ago, their eldest son Isaac was diagnosed with learning difficulties
0:01:14 > 0:01:19and had to move to a school more suited to his needs.
0:01:19 > 0:01:25He has an audio processing disorder which means he has had difficulties at school.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28We moved to Ottery as we knew there were good schools
0:01:28 > 0:01:32in terms of dealing with this type of difficulty.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37All they could afford was this cramped two-bedroom bungalow.
0:01:37 > 0:01:43With three growing lads crammed into one room, this was never going to work for long.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47I sleep there, he sleeps there and he sleeps there.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50I sleep here.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53All the boys have is their beds. That's their personal space.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57There's an awful lot of tension and aggro.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00We don't get on in the same room.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Desperate for space, the family decided to extend.
0:02:07 > 0:02:13Ian and Morny borrowed as much as they could to do the work themselves to keep costs down.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18After we took out the loan, we thought we could get on with it,
0:02:18 > 0:02:20but, as it happened,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22family matters took over.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26My mother became very ill with cancer.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Also, at the same time, my father died.
0:02:30 > 0:02:35Morny took a year out to care for her mother,
0:02:35 > 0:02:41but having battled with ME all of her adult life, her own health soon began to suffer.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45Having ME is like having a very short battery life.
0:02:45 > 0:02:50Because you have so little energy to deal with day to day things,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54as soon as things start to go wrong, there's not much energy left.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57So it sounds really stupid,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01but I found myself on a downward spiral.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07The stress it has put onto my wife has meant that Morny
0:03:07 > 0:03:12can't work, hasn't worked for a while. She's felt very bad about it.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16And that's put more strain on us.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20With his family falling apart and the borrowed money draining away,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Ian's only choice was to continue with the build alone,
0:03:24 > 0:03:29but on top of his hectic teaching job, it all became too much for him.
0:03:29 > 0:03:35I've been under a lot of stress and it's shown at work and it's shown here.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38I feel very wound up, really wound up.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41The whole thing has taken its toll.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45It's no small thing. It's there 24 hours a day.
0:03:45 > 0:03:4924 hours a day. And it affects everything.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53We've had terrible arguments about mistakes we've made,
0:03:53 > 0:03:57but at the end of the day we know we have to pull together
0:03:57 > 0:04:03because if we fall apart and let the house completely fall apart, our lives are ruined.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05And that's the boys' lives ruined.
0:04:05 > 0:04:10I can remember years ago we used to play football
0:04:10 > 0:04:13and run around.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18That never happens now. It hasn't happened for the last five years.
0:04:18 > 0:04:24You see other children with their dads and it just makes you feel a bit depressed.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29After it's all done, I can spend my time with my mum and dad.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35The impact on the boys has been huge.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39There are times you do feel you're letting your family down.
0:04:39 > 0:04:46The thing that's most upsetting is you realise you'll run out of time. The priorities are all wrong here.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51We've ended up with a house that's half-built, a family that's grown up
0:04:51 > 0:04:54and you've lost those vital years.
0:04:54 > 0:05:01It overwhelmed me. It really overwhelmed me, the thought of what these people are going to do for us.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03And, um...
0:05:03 > 0:05:08just how much it will change... everything. It really will.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11It's, um...
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Well, I... I'm lost for words, really.
0:05:16 > 0:05:23I don't think words are adequate to describe the difference it will make to our lives.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28Sometimes life can get the better of you and at these moments it's OK to ask for help
0:05:28 > 0:05:35and hope that someone will answer your call. Today, that's us - DIY SOS.
0:05:35 > 0:05:41- This isn't normal.- No. - But everybody that we ever go to see gets used to it.
0:05:41 > 0:05:47There's a term, institutionalisation, if you spend time in prison or the army.
0:05:47 > 0:05:53In any given circumstance, what you live in, you get used to. This isn't normal.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58Every single aspect of our life has suffered in the last year or so
0:05:58 > 0:06:03and you get used to living in a certain way. It would be different if I could work.
0:06:03 > 0:06:10The plan had been when Casper started school, we hoped that I would be able to work in some respect,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12but I'm just not able to do that.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15The position we've got to now, Nick,
0:06:15 > 0:06:21is that this has put so much pressure on the family, on Morny, and affected Morny's health,
0:06:21 > 0:06:26the whole thing just... We're in a bit of a spiral, to be honest.
0:06:26 > 0:06:32You have plainly carried the world on your shoulders and worked your backside off,
0:06:32 > 0:06:37but if the result is another three years without time with your kids...
0:06:37 > 0:06:41What's important? Family's important. My wife and the children.
0:06:41 > 0:06:48- This is going to have such an impact on us. A massive impact.- Time to hand it over to us for a while
0:06:48 > 0:06:54- and let us play with it for 10 days and see what we can do.- Absolutely. - We'll do a really good job for you.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00The Wrights have hit rock bottom and Ian's realised he needs help.
0:07:00 > 0:07:06There's no point in being so proud that you let your family fall apart.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10- Is that the sea?- Where? I think it jolly well is, Matthew.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15Ease up on the sightseeing and get to work, please.
0:07:15 > 0:07:21Ian has placed his family's future in the hands of our team and the local Devon trades. Thankfully...
0:07:21 > 0:07:28We've got plumbers, carpenters, plasterers, all in this area. In real life there would be a fight.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31'A friendly fight. Pillows, maybe.'
0:07:31 > 0:07:36- Shall we let the dog see the rabbit? - Yeah, let's get in and get at it.
0:07:37 > 0:07:43'Helping is architectural designer Charlie Luxton, with one eye on style, one on the environment.'
0:07:43 > 0:07:48- I don't suppose there's much to talk about, environmental-wise.- No, lots.
0:07:48 > 0:07:49Oh.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57'Charlie's career has been built on blending sustainable design with intelligent design
0:07:57 > 0:08:02'that maximises space and light. With space here at a premium,
0:08:02 > 0:08:08'his architectural expertise will be vital in turning this dreary, cramped 1960s bungalow
0:08:08 > 0:08:10'into a beautiful home.'
0:08:10 > 0:08:16- We're doing some good stuff.- Right. - A really interesting, innovative heating system with solar panels.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20- Low-energy carpets... - Low-energy carpets?!- Yeah.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25- What?! What?!- Healthy carpets. - You don't get worn out on them.
0:08:26 > 0:08:32'So how do you turn a two-bedroom bungalow into a four-bedroom house? This is Charlie's vision.
0:08:32 > 0:08:38'We'll start with a loft conversion, creating two bedrooms and a homework space for the boys.
0:08:38 > 0:08:44'Downstairs, there's two rooms we're leaving alone - Mum and Dad's bedroom and the lounge.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48'We have plenty to do already, like putting in stairs and a new kitchen.
0:08:48 > 0:08:54'Then we'll finish off the extension and create a beautiful long dining room that extends into the garden.
0:08:54 > 0:09:00'Finally, we'll transform the downstairs bedroom, leaving a warm and comfortable home
0:09:00 > 0:09:05'with no holes or missing walls.' As lofts go, this is a big one.
0:09:05 > 0:09:12- Really big. - Lots of height, but by the time your insulation is in...- It'll be tiny!
0:09:12 > 0:09:19It's quite a good space. For a house that was way too small for the family,
0:09:19 > 0:09:24- it suddenly has everything they need.- Bungalows are great to buy.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29You can do so much with them. They've often got big roof spaces,
0:09:29 > 0:09:34really good space, and normally they have really good-sized gardens.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39I couldn't help overhearing, because I was listening,
0:09:39 > 0:09:45- that you're creating a vaulted atrium to get more light from the skylight into here.- Yeah.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47This is the real heart of the house.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52We're pulling that back and putting a big skylight in here.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57You'll get nice top light into that, the stair comes up and lands here.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02It's been an utter nightmare working with this space to get the stairs working.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05We're so constrained by that shape.
0:10:05 > 0:10:11A normal job is like steering a car. I want to go this way, you go this way and can steer it.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16This is more like a rocket that you sit on and lean a bit!
0:10:16 > 0:10:21I'm slightly worried that you see working with us as being sat on a giant rocket.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25- How do you see it?- Out of control.
0:10:25 > 0:10:32'I love the first day. Everywhere you look, somebody's doing something, bringing something in,
0:10:32 > 0:10:36'taking something out, carrying something, climbing over each other.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41'You need good backing music. It's about to get worse.'
0:10:41 > 0:10:43PICKS OUT A FALTERING TUNE
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Cliff Richard.
0:10:51 > 0:10:57- # Got myself a walking, talking... # - Don't encourage him! It's nothing like anything!
0:10:58 > 0:11:00# Living doll... #
0:11:02 > 0:11:08- It's in tune with my voice! - That's like me going... - That's good.- Jazz.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- That's jazz!- That's jazz.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- Let's get the piano out.- Yeah.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18'Do you know the piano's on my foot? "You him it, son, I'll play it."'
0:11:18 > 0:11:24- You all right up there? You're allowed to speak and say hello.- Hello.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27There's quality entertainment on BBC1(!)
0:11:27 > 0:11:32- Nobody knows who you are. - If you need a cup of tea, ask me.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36- Tea boy. - No, I'll ask someone else.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40# Oh-oh-oh
0:11:40 > 0:11:47- # Oh-oh... #- Would it be fair to say you're in a happy, singy mood because we're in...the county?
0:11:47 > 0:11:52- It's pretty impressive, Devon. - Despite what you've always said,
0:11:52 > 0:11:58when I drove in past the Devon border sign, there weren't people with pitchforks waiting.
0:11:58 > 0:12:04- They was there in the afternoon. - Was they?- When it was light. They don't stay out after dark.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11As soon as it starts getting dark, get rumped upside the fire.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13- Get what?- Rumped upside the fire.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20- Right. So a bit of music later on this week, perhaps?- Yeah.
0:12:20 > 0:12:26- I want an honest opinion whether I can play the guitar or not.- Yeah.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31'I could give you an honest opinion now, but let's wait and I'll lie.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33'Shall we meet the builders?'
0:12:33 > 0:12:37- What are you doing for us? - To insulate.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41- Working with my mate here. - Why did you decide to help out?
0:12:41 > 0:12:45I understand this family's got kids at school where I've got my kids.
0:12:45 > 0:12:51Friends of friends have heard the story, so I've come down to help out, basically.
0:12:51 > 0:12:57I put the roof on the extension over there with a mate months ago and we looked across at this
0:12:57 > 0:13:03and it hadn't really moved since then, so we thought they could probably do with a hand.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08They could, too. Thank you. Aren't they nice, eh?
0:13:08 > 0:13:13'Got to be impressed, haven't you? As well as poaching most of Devon's tradesmen,
0:13:13 > 0:13:18'Ian and Morny's friends have come. Neighbour Sue and family friend Chris.'
0:13:18 > 0:13:26In the short time I've got to know the family, it looks like he's really at the end of his tether.
0:13:26 > 0:13:32- Have you seen a change in him? - I've seen him look more worn out and more stressed.- Yeah.
0:13:32 > 0:13:38- He's got a full-time job as well. - And she's not been well, either. Morny's not been so well.- No, no.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42ME's been hitting her hard, especially through the winter months
0:13:42 > 0:13:46with water pouring in through various rooms.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49- It's been open to the elements. - Since about April.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53- There's a lot of rain coming in. - Getting on for a year.
0:13:53 > 0:13:59Yeah, I think she got that distraught one day that she didn't know what else to do
0:13:59 > 0:14:04and she said she literally sobbed into her computer and wrote to you.
0:14:04 > 0:14:10You get the impression he feels that somehow he's letting them down if he doesn't do it himself,
0:14:10 > 0:14:15- but it's too much. It's huge.- It's taken a lot longer than he thought
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- plus other things have cropped up along the way...- Family illnesses.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- Three kids in one room is not easy. - No.- No.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28- So this will sort it?- I think it will be a big therapy for them.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Once they can sit and enjoy it, rather than rushing around...
0:14:32 > 0:14:36It'll be nice to come for a glass of wine without the roof coming down!
0:14:36 > 0:14:42'It's always nice to enjoy a glass of wine without the fear of the roof falling on top of you.
0:14:42 > 0:14:49'Hey, look, the stairs have arrived. They've been made off-site and can be slotted into place,
0:14:49 > 0:14:55'but now they're here, Charlie's brain is whirring away. This can only mean trouble.'
0:14:55 > 0:15:03The floors have to go in today. The walls have to be insulated tomorrow, skimmed on Thursday.
0:15:03 > 0:15:09The problems are we've only, in the whole building, got this much space to put the stair in.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13It's also the front hall where all these routes come in.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17We've been absolutely constrained to put a stair in here.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22It's not really where I'd put it if I had started from scratch.
0:15:22 > 0:15:28I wouldn't put it there, so it's all a bit of a compromise, which is a bit frustrating.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33It's lovely and open now, but not when it's finished. Disappointing.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38Charlie, I think, is guilty of changing his mind a few times.
0:15:38 > 0:15:45The golden rule for builders is, "Designers, don't change your mind. Have an idea and stick with it."
0:15:45 > 0:15:52You've got to, especially in this environment when we're here for ten days with the whole community.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56We can't turn around and say, "I don't like that." Can't do it.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00In this game, plan it, do it and give it back.
0:16:00 > 0:16:06You can't halfway through say, "I want a total structural change." You just can't do it.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11- Good bunch of lads? - There's two electricians and their apprentice.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14They're very good. Lovely boys.
0:16:14 > 0:16:19- There's one of them! I call him LA. His name's Laszlo.- He has an LA look.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Like somebody out of The Breakfast Club in 1985.
0:16:29 > 0:16:35'Time check, then. It's 7pm on Day One, and after a long 12-hour day
0:16:35 > 0:16:38'Charlie wants to make some big changes.'
0:16:38 > 0:16:44- You've thought about this, have you? - Yeah.- So you must know what you want, then.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49'Basically, Mr Luxton wants to open up the space in the hall
0:16:49 > 0:16:54'to allow light to come down from the skylight without being blocked by the current ceiling.
0:16:54 > 0:16:59'Mark is concerned about the time and how it affects support beams,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03'but Charlie won't be put off. He has a vision.'
0:17:03 > 0:17:08- We can do it! - What are you blethering on about?!
0:17:08 > 0:17:15- If we pull these cables and pipes onto the back of this beam... - So you can view all the way up?- Yes.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18So it would just rise up all the way up.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21Your stairs come in 900 here,
0:17:21 > 0:17:27so it's nice and open and light now. When you've got a stair, bang, that's gone. It's stairs coming up.
0:17:27 > 0:17:34One of the great difficulties is that whole vaulted thing disappears and you don't have that light,
0:17:34 > 0:17:39- whereas if you took that out... - He might be right. That's not a five-minute job.
0:17:39 > 0:17:46Ceilings out, restrengthen... We've got to have these floors down tonight and plasterers in on Day Three.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49- Have a wee look around you.- What?
0:17:49 > 0:17:54- Look at the state of this house. - Yeah.- We're late in the evening of Day One.- Yeah.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58- All these gentlemen are sweating their doodahs off...- Yeah.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03You're just adding... That's not five... Oh! I tell you what,
0:18:03 > 0:18:07I'd thump you! You're pushing it, mate.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11- Have a vote on it.- No! - That's a fair way of doing it.
0:18:11 > 0:18:17- Everybody in favour of ceiling out, hands up. - I'll go with Charlie on that one.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- Everybody in favour... - One, two, three, four...five.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25- Six.- Everybody in favour of leaving it as it is.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30- One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.- Sorry, Charlie.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36And to be honest, Chris had already voted on both sides.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38LAUGHTER
0:18:38 > 0:18:42- So we're just confused now. - Can we carry on?- Sorry, yeah.
0:18:42 > 0:18:49'That's disappointing. I'm with Charlie on this. The payoff will be worth the extra graft.
0:18:49 > 0:18:55'Local builder Mark Mann is onside, too, and he's happy to work into the night.'
0:18:55 > 0:19:02- It's just the moment when they walk in. That's what I'm thinking about. - I agree.- And they go, "Wow!"
0:19:02 > 0:19:09- I think you're absolutely right. - The ceiling joists run all the way to the front.- Yes.- Take that out
0:19:09 > 0:19:12and you must board underneath that.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16But if you took this out, it's open, so you don't have to board it.
0:19:16 > 0:19:22It's just open. You run straight up to the ceiling, which you have to make good anyway.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26I agree that, architecturally, it would look fantastic.
0:19:26 > 0:19:31I'm slightly worried about how long it's going to take to achieve this.
0:19:31 > 0:19:37The only person standing in the way and being obtuse... Your camp is now down to you and Billy.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42- Do you really want to be in that camp?- Right, do it.- Do it?- Do it.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46But there's two people doing this. Mark and Charlie.
0:19:46 > 0:19:52So by tomorrow morning we'll be able to show you what we've been talking about.
0:19:52 > 0:19:59I don't think it's clear to you. Tomorrow it will be, thanks to Charlie for staying up all night.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Ha! I'm off.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11'I thought Charlie would go all designer and let someone else get their hands dirty,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14'but he's actually doing it himself.
0:20:14 > 0:20:21'And this means the hand-made stairs can now go in. They'll form the centrepiece to our new hall
0:20:21 > 0:20:25'and will make getting into the loft a bit easier for the boys, too.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33# I've got a brand new combine harvester... # 'It's a beautiful Devonian morning.
0:20:33 > 0:20:41'We have the big boys' toys in today to tear up the garden. It's for a good reason, not just for fun.'
0:20:41 > 0:20:45We're putting a new water main trench in. At the moment,
0:20:45 > 0:20:51the lead pipe is completely furred up with a tiny hole in the middle.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55We're putting a big poly pipe in with loads of flow, loads of pressure.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Everything will work lovely.
0:21:00 > 0:21:07'The eco-boiler is coming later and can be hooked up when the new pipe is connected to the mains.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11'Simple. Morning, Matt! Morning! All right.
0:21:11 > 0:21:18'It's not good for builder/designer relations when we have last-minute changes, but Charlie was spot on.'
0:21:18 > 0:21:23Well done, mate. You got it all cut out overnight.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27- I think it was worth it. - It WAS the right thing to do.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31You need to speak to Billy to get an electrical contact on it
0:21:31 > 0:21:35so when the door opens it goes... ba-ba-ra-bah!
0:21:35 > 0:21:40It's taken until we do a bungalow to get a two-storey entrance.
0:21:40 > 0:21:46- I've worked out how to get my way now. I get you on my side... - Is that it?- ..and then I walked off!
0:21:46 > 0:21:51It wasn't happening, but I could see you were like a dog with a bone.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55I just left you. I came back and we were doing it.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59- I owe you one, mate. - The trick is, I got him onside.
0:21:59 > 0:22:06- He didn't give up.- Once he wanted to do it, and he's doing the work, our Mark couldn't say no.
0:22:06 > 0:22:12'Thank you, Mark Mann. This vaulted entrance is ambitious and already making a massive difference.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16'It's gone from cramped to spacious in just one day.
0:22:17 > 0:22:24'The Wright family were pushed to the limit in this wreck of a house. The strain's affected everyone
0:22:24 > 0:22:29- 'and the family have been teetering on the edge.'- We have had times
0:22:29 > 0:22:34when we've just sat and said, "What the hell have we done?" We can't move,
0:22:34 > 0:22:39we can't get this finished in time to stop more damage being done.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Just what can we do?
0:22:41 > 0:22:45And you can't do anything but just carry on.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50That's what we've done. We've each had our moments where we crumbled.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55We're very fortunate that we have each other to support.
0:22:55 > 0:23:00Even if you're not feeling good, you can be the strong one for the other person.
0:23:00 > 0:23:06- It would be very easy to split apart.- Yes.- With this pressure.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09When I was talking to him, he was very...
0:23:09 > 0:23:15very outspoken about how grateful he was that you support him and stand by him.
0:23:15 > 0:23:21I could say the same the other way. Partly because of my illness, the burden falls on him really.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24A huge burden.
0:23:24 > 0:23:30And I think he feels that he cannot stop, that if he stops it will fall apart.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Normally I don't tell anybody anything about the house,
0:23:34 > 0:23:38- but it looks like a home.- Oh... - A real house to bring up the boys.
0:23:38 > 0:23:45It looks like a house where you and Ian can remember why you got together in the first place.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49- Oh, I can't wait.- Your house. - Oh, it'll be lovely.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52Oh, thank you so much.
0:23:54 > 0:24:00'Turning their unfinished house into a home will be the first step in getting them back on track.'
0:24:00 > 0:24:06- What changes will happen? Maybe a date night?- Lovely. You plant the seed with him.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11- He probably won't think of it. - You'll have the time now.
0:24:12 > 0:24:19'There's an often-forgotten rule of building work - you're only one digger scoop from disaster.'
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Well spotted, lads. Well spotted!
0:24:22 > 0:24:28Thank God we didn't break into it. This is the main pumping main to the reservoir.
0:24:28 > 0:24:33If that had burst, if we had... I shouldn't be laughing.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36We'd have had a swimming pool here!
0:24:36 > 0:24:40- Oh, dear.- There's a water main here, so be careful.- We just found it!
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Oh! BEEP! Is that right enough?
0:24:43 > 0:24:48'Yeah, that was a close call. Let's hope the new boiler is worth it.'
0:24:48 > 0:24:52- Are you putting the boiler in?- Yeah. - Is it new, fandangled...?
0:24:52 > 0:24:58- It's technology we developed here. - You're involved?- I'm the developer. - I thought you were the plumber!
0:24:58 > 0:25:01I'm working with the plumber.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05- He's the man who designed it all! - You designed it?- Yeah.
0:25:05 > 0:25:12Charlie's very excited. He says it saves an enormous amount of gas on your fuel bill.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16- Probably about 40% over and above what an A rate boiler would give. - Really?
0:25:16 > 0:25:20Honestly and truly, how simple is this to fit?
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Dead simple. Quite easy, yeah.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Do you need to say this works?
0:25:25 > 0:25:30- I think it's a good idea.- Really? - It saves money, energy. It's fantastic.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36'None of Charlie's enviro-projects ever runs totally to plan,
0:25:36 > 0:25:41'but the new water main is going in so at least we're making progress.'
0:25:44 > 0:25:49- How tall are you?- 6'11" in my socks, so 7 foot in my shoes.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53- What height are you, Nick? - Just under 6'2".
0:25:53 > 0:25:58- Go on, you stand next to him. - What's so funny about that?
0:25:59 > 0:26:01NICK CACKLES
0:26:03 > 0:26:09So are you happier to be doing a bit in Devon, as opposed to being off round the country?
0:26:09 > 0:26:12I am. I do feel happy to be in Devon, yes.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16- It was pasties for lunch. - I didn't have a pasty.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20I had several last week, so I'm trying to ease off of them.
0:26:20 > 0:26:28- We found a lovely little shop that sells...- Oh, sweet corn, cheese and broccoli.- Pasties.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33- Beef and Stilton. - Did you have one?- I ate three!
0:26:33 > 0:26:37He had one on the way back from the shop before we had one.
0:26:37 > 0:26:42I popped down the shop to get the pasties... Little bit peckish.
0:26:42 > 0:26:48So I thought I'd pull a fast one. I bought three pasties. I ate one on the way back to the job.
0:26:48 > 0:26:54I said, "Here's your pasty." I ate one, then he spotted the extra wrapper.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Yeah, still warm it was as well.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Couldn't get it past 'ee!
0:27:00 > 0:27:06'Working on this house took over Ian's life and overwhelmed him,
0:27:06 > 0:27:11'but it would have been far worse without the help of his friend, John.'
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Hello, John. So, basically, you've sacrificed your weekends
0:27:15 > 0:27:22- to come round and help him get this whole building finished. - Tried to, yeah.- Tried to.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26It just... It's so much to be doing, to take on.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29He just doesn't stop.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33- The project will be the end of him on its own.- Yeah?
0:27:33 > 0:27:35How much does this mean to him?
0:27:35 > 0:27:40It's just going to be such a relief for him to be able to come home
0:27:40 > 0:27:44without having to start again when he gets home.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48There's so much for him to be doing the whole time,
0:27:48 > 0:27:53you know, a person can't keep going flat out all the time.
0:27:53 > 0:27:59'You know, I think I'm proudest on these jobs of the community spirit that we see.
0:27:59 > 0:28:06'The hard work of all these trades means Ian will have more freedom for his musical work with local kids,
0:28:06 > 0:28:11'not just at school, but throughout the area with free music workshops.'
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Hello!
0:28:13 > 0:28:15- BLOWS WHISTLE - Hello!
0:28:15 > 0:28:20- Grab a seat. We'll go through the parts.- Here? Is that all right?
0:28:20 > 0:28:24- Thank you very much. - Go through the parts, the sections.
0:28:24 > 0:28:29Strike with the right hand. Very simple. Perfect.
0:28:29 > 0:28:34# Give me a biscuit, cup of tea Give me a biscuit, cup of tea
0:28:34 > 0:28:40- # Give me a biscuit... # - When you're doing the music, you've got their full attention.- Yeah.
0:28:40 > 0:28:47It's music you can do that with. What I love about this is it's all about families, communities.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49This is what music's about.
0:28:49 > 0:28:53# Thunderbirds are go! One, two... # Yeah!
0:28:53 > 0:28:59- We've got little ones here, one or two years old. - It lets off some pressure.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03You must feel a bit more refreshed after coming along.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08I was just talking to the mums and they all say it's a release.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12It blows the cobwebs away. It's a good, social thing to do.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16What do you think of this drumming? Is this your third, fourth week?
0:29:16 > 0:29:19- First.- Your first, is it?
0:29:19 > 0:29:24- My fourth, I think. - Will you come back again?- Yeah.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28- So you guys, like, are going to form a band when...?- I don't know.
0:29:28 > 0:29:33- And become mega-famous and mega-rich?- The Otter Rockers. - The Otter Rockers?- Yeah.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35- Hi! Sorry.- Who are you waving to?
0:29:35 > 0:29:41- The camera.- That'll be you at home watching this. You'll be waving to yourself now.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43Hi, Will! LAUGHTER
0:29:43 > 0:29:45WHISTLE BLOWS
0:29:45 > 0:29:49OK, that's good. Well done, everyone. Brilliant.
0:29:49 > 0:29:54'I like to think we got in amongst it and probably ruined it, but there you go.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58'Bringing music into the community is Ian's way of saying thank you.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00'He might be inspiring the next big thing.'
0:30:00 > 0:30:06- Are there any famous musicians that have come from Devon or Cornwall? - The Wurzels?- No, Somerset.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10James Blunt? He's from down this way, isn't he?
0:30:10 > 0:30:16But you'll find all these superstars and musicians end up living in Devon because they know how cool it is.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18What's matey called out of Coldplay?
0:30:18 > 0:30:23- Chris Martin?- Lives in Exmouth. John's just Artexed his flat. - Artexed his flat?!
0:30:23 > 0:30:27- He's just Artexed... This is THE Chris Martin?- Yeah.
0:30:27 > 0:30:32- I will take you there. - He is having a flat in Exmouth... - Artexed?- Artexed?
0:30:32 > 0:30:34No, no. Sorry, the coving.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38Right... He probably didn't want anyone to know that.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40But now they do!
0:30:40 > 0:30:42But he's got two of 'em.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45# Come on in
0:30:46 > 0:30:52# I've got to tell you what a state I'm in... #
0:30:52 > 0:30:57It's amazing how much you can get done in just a few days if you have the right people.
0:30:57 > 0:31:04You can turn the whole of a loft into proper living space. Down here we can start a similar place up.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08The window's already in the back, so it's not open to the elements,
0:31:08 > 0:31:14apart from here which was a big yawning hole because there's a door going to cover it up. That's good.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18It is amazing, but we have the right people and that's all you need.
0:31:18 > 0:31:23A lot of love and a lot of attention to detail. Talking of which, where's my dinner?
0:31:32 > 0:31:35It's busy today. There's, um...
0:31:36 > 0:31:39..about 12 plasterers turned up this morning.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43We've got the boys in. Army of plasterers.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Hopefully, there'll be some pink on the walls tonight.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50You show these boys an empty ceiling, they're in there straight away.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01Why is it always me that gets the wallpaper stripping?
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Four jobs - four lots of wallpaper stripping.
0:32:06 > 0:32:10We've got new windows and doors all the way round the ground floor here.
0:32:10 > 0:32:15- That's nice. What's that?- That's for the cat. Cat flap.- No?- Yeah.
0:32:15 > 0:32:21- Is that for a cat, really?- Have you seen the cat? It's just like a barrel.- Is it?- Yeah.- That's amazing.
0:32:21 > 0:32:27I've never seen one of those before. The thing that people will take away from this programme is,
0:32:27 > 0:32:33- "Did you know they can put cat flaps in double glazing?"- We're going to put that up here though!
0:32:33 > 0:32:35Imagine the cat at night.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40- Very good. - That is quite exciting, isn't it?
0:32:41 > 0:32:44'There's our new-fangled boiler going in.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48'But outside, we're having issues with our plumbing.'
0:32:49 > 0:32:53He's been on his hands and knees or on his belly since this morning.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56- Have you found anything yet? - Have I heck!
0:32:56 > 0:33:00"Have I heck!" Nothing down there at all?
0:33:00 > 0:33:05Is this the only water main that's ever been, like, not connected to anything?
0:33:05 > 0:33:11- I think so.- How can it not go in there?- Do you need longer arms? - It's down there somewhere.
0:33:11 > 0:33:18Normally, in this way, stopcock, meter, out that way and you connect on. It's not looking very good.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22'Luckily, things are going better inside.'
0:33:22 > 0:33:28Blimey, the boards are up already down here! They're over the ceiling already. That's very impressive.
0:33:28 > 0:33:34- The boys have done a good job here. - They're going to be dot and dabbing. They'll be eating this room up.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38- They've already chucked the boards on.- They're Devon boys, you see.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42- They haven't come here to drink tea. - They've had a few teas.
0:33:42 > 0:33:49They've had to because they've been waiting for us, waiting for the electricians. Oh, look, they're here!
0:33:50 > 0:33:53Just take that into the van and we'll cut that.
0:33:53 > 0:33:58'Under our new stairs, we'll put in a toughened glass wall to let light flow through the house.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01'Let's just hope he has his measurements right.'
0:34:01 > 0:34:06We're cutting the template for the glass here, send it off to the glazier.
0:34:06 > 0:34:12'The plasterers are going great guns and very soon we'll be ready to get some paint on those walls.
0:34:12 > 0:34:18'The family's three boys have been stuck sharing a tiny room for the past four years,
0:34:18 > 0:34:23'but finally, they'll have bedrooms of their own. What do they want them to look like?
0:34:23 > 0:34:27'We've set the boys the task of designing their dream rooms
0:34:27 > 0:34:32'and Gabrielle from our design team has gone to check out what they've come up with.'
0:34:32 > 0:34:38- I'd quite like my drum kit by my bed.- Yeah.- A cupboard in which I can store my clothes.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42Let's have a look at yours, Casper. Let's see what you've come up with.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45You seem to have three drawings which I like.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48That goes down and my bed tips up.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51- Yeah.- I go down the slide, which is really mental.
0:34:51 > 0:34:56- So is that like a sort of plunge pool at the end of a wiggly slide?- Yeah.
0:34:56 > 0:35:04- Would it be quite nice for you to have a place to put your own stuff away from your brothers?- Yeah.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07I don't really get much room and privacy,
0:35:07 > 0:35:11so I can't do stuff that I want to in it.
0:35:11 > 0:35:17How do you think it will be different with your mum and dad when the house is a bit...?
0:35:17 > 0:35:20I'll just get to spend some more time with them.
0:35:20 > 0:35:25If I was them, I just couldn't cope because Dad's got his work and Mum, with her illness,
0:35:25 > 0:35:31it's basically impossible. She probably couldn't do it for another year or so.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35'If you ask children what they want, they'll tell you - space to be apart
0:35:35 > 0:35:39'and time to be together with their parents as a family.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41'That's what makes a house a home.'
0:35:41 > 0:35:44Beep, beep! Coming through, glass, glass!
0:35:44 > 0:35:50You're always slightly twitchy when you've cut the template and sent it off to the glazier to cut,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53- whether you've got it right or not. - On your head be it.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00'Perfect fit. He must have got someone else to measure it.'
0:36:08 > 0:36:15- Why have you decided to come in and join in with us?- My kids go to school with the kids that live here.
0:36:15 > 0:36:21They're friends anyway and my missus knows the woman that lives here, so I just thought I'd give a hand.
0:36:22 > 0:36:28The spreads have been on fire and every wall is covered in glorious pink plaster.
0:36:30 > 0:36:36This is my way of saying thank you, guys, because my shoulder after the last job is dead.
0:36:36 > 0:36:41Personally, I couldn't do it without you. Honestly, it's phenomenal.
0:36:41 > 0:36:46'There's a lot of love in the room, isn't there? And there's good news for our plumber too.'
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Success at last!
0:36:50 > 0:36:55'Now we can finally plumb the boiler in, let's find out how it works.'
0:36:55 > 0:36:57What we've got here is an A-rate boiler.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00We've got the flue gas heat recovery unit.
0:37:00 > 0:37:06- So although the gases come out when the chimney on your boiler gets hot, you use that to re-warm water.- Yeah.
0:37:06 > 0:37:11And we've got the solar pre-heat, so in the summer we've got an element of pre-heat.
0:37:11 > 0:37:17- That panel on the roof is helping to warm it.- That will save 15 to 20% of your hot water for the summer,
0:37:17 > 0:37:22but without the consequence of having to heat a big cylinder in the winter.
0:37:22 > 0:37:29- That's more efficient than a combi? - This is about 30% more efficient than an A-rate boiler on its own.
0:37:29 > 0:37:35It uses any extra waste heat that you produce to pre-heat the water, so you don't use so much energy.
0:37:35 > 0:37:40'The saving here in terms of cash is over £350 a year
0:37:40 > 0:37:42'on the fuel bill of an average home.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46'Although it's more expensive to fit than an A-rate boiler,
0:37:46 > 0:37:52'you'll be able to cover the difference in only three years. At least that's what they say.'
0:37:52 > 0:37:57- These boys are off.- Are you off? Thanks very much.- Nice to meet you.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00Thank you ever so much. Couldn't have done it without you.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04That's just really pushed it on. Excellent.
0:38:04 > 0:38:10'The inside is shaping up nicely, but with only three days left, the outside is a different story.'
0:38:10 > 0:38:15- This is their garden.- Yeah.- And it was very nice when we turned up.
0:38:15 > 0:38:20But we've had to put in a new water main and we've had a digger and dumpers in here.
0:38:20 > 0:38:26- We've completely thrashed it. To be honest with you, we don't really know how to sort it out.- I've seen worse.
0:38:26 > 0:38:32- You've seen worse?- Yeah. It would be nice to separate it into different areas,
0:38:32 > 0:38:36rather than having it all as one concrete mass, if you like.
0:38:36 > 0:38:42Something like decking would be quite nice and the retaining wall could be sleepers, timber rounds.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46- We could be quite creative.- Do you know how much time you've got?
0:38:46 > 0:38:50- I guess not a lot?- Your artistic flair was flowing away there.- Yeah.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53- You've got three days. - I've got a team of four.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57Could you create all that for us in three days?
0:38:57 > 0:39:01- I'm sure we could do something very close to it.- The clock's ticking.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04'I have a good feeling about our landscaper Lawrence.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08'He sounds like the right man for an impossible task.
0:39:08 > 0:39:14'All volunteers, mind. And Ian's loyal mate John has given up every weekend for the past two years
0:39:14 > 0:39:18'to try and get this house in shape, but finally, his work is done.'
0:39:18 > 0:39:24- What about your family time? - Don't tell the wife I've finished cos I'll have to work at home now.
0:39:24 > 0:39:29- You know what it's like. - There isn't a builder in the country that doesn't recognise that!
0:39:29 > 0:39:34'John's happy and so are the painters as they can finally get colour on the walls.
0:39:34 > 0:39:41'The only person who isn't smiling is Billy. The boiler's plumbed in, but he still needs to wire it up.'
0:39:41 > 0:39:43Bill, you're on the verge of retirement.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47This stuff is never going to bother you, really.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51- Step aside for the young man behind you. Literally.- Tell him nothing.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54It's a young and new generation. Their minds are so quick.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57- It is though, innit, really?- It is.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01All this new system... Electrics have been the same for a long time.
0:40:01 > 0:40:07- Now it's going from electrics into electronics.- I've done circuit boards and that's electronics.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11- But that's where it's going now. - I don't mind. Bring it on.
0:40:11 > 0:40:16For all of us old dinosaurs taking the mick out of it, that's where it's going.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20- Look, he's loving it, chatting away to Charlie.- I'm going to kill him!
0:40:20 > 0:40:24This is the difference about the industry over the last 30 years.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28- Jurassic Park...- Don't volunteer for anything, don't tell 'em anything.
0:40:28 > 0:40:34'This system is so cutting edge that the Wrights will be the first people in the world to have this set-up.
0:40:34 > 0:40:41'Impressive, eh? And that's not the only revolutionary bit of technology on show.'
0:40:41 > 0:40:45Johnny's actually here to fit the surround in the shower,
0:40:45 > 0:40:50but he's making the inside of the shower down here in the living room.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54It's happening down here because it needs to be bent into shape.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58- It's a flat sheet and we bend it and cut it on site. - You come along with sheets
0:40:58 > 0:41:02- and form them to form the inside of a shower, so it can't leak.- Exactly.
0:41:02 > 0:41:07Tiles, the grout goes yellow, water can get in. Water cannot get in behind these sheets.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10It's a lot faster than tiling.
0:41:10 > 0:41:16It's bent on this thermoformer over here. It takes 30 seconds to bend it and about 20 seconds later, it's set.
0:41:16 > 0:41:21- You only get one go at it? - One go, yeah, and we've only got one sheet this colour.
0:41:21 > 0:41:26- You're doing it on telly and you didn't bring a spare just in case?- Exactly, yeah.
0:41:26 > 0:41:32'But then, if you're good at something, stick to your guns. That's what Charlie Luxton did.'
0:41:32 > 0:41:38If you step back a bit and look at it, then follow me in and look up as you go in.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41This is what this whole process has been about.
0:41:41 > 0:41:46It's beautiful, isn't it, really? It just gives the whole house a whole new aspect.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51- Can you cast your mind back to our argument about whether we should open that up?- Yes.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55You said you shouldn't do it. Actually, it is beautiful.
0:41:55 > 0:42:01This is a real piece of architecture. You've got angles, squares, lines, light and curves.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05- It's a big disco on the eyes. It's lovely.- A disco on the eyes.
0:42:05 > 0:42:11Our friend's in there doing the... This is the other bit of it, the view all the way through.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16Now, the great trick for him is to make sure that those boards which are a darker colour...
0:42:16 > 0:42:20How are you going to make the end ones look like these ones?
0:42:20 > 0:42:24With some stained hard wax oil.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- Can you match them or will they just be...?- Similar.- Similar.
0:42:27 > 0:42:34- I hate this job. I get covered in filth.- These machines I use are just fantastic.- What are you listening to?
0:42:34 > 0:42:37- The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. - Are you?
0:42:37 > 0:42:43I thought it was music. In fact, he's listening to The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49Obviously, there's still a lot to do.
0:42:49 > 0:42:55We've done a brilliant job of getting ahead with the wet trades, which is the most astounding job,
0:42:55 > 0:42:59considering this was a wreck five, six days ago.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02- But... There is a "but". - There always is with you.
0:43:02 > 0:43:09- You can never just keep the joy up. - No, no. There's still a lot of work to do outside on the building.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Look at the state of this, look.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15How to turn the Somme into a usable garden.
0:43:15 > 0:43:20He's trying to move it around. You can't get it to do anything but lump up because of the weather.
0:43:20 > 0:43:26These lads have worked so hard in the worst weather. They're digging the bank here, gravel over there.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29Look at the huge, great sleepers.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33It's wet and miserable and horrible. All we can do is provide tea.
0:43:33 > 0:43:38Tea and coffee is much appreciated. It's nice to give something back and do a good job.
0:43:42 > 0:43:49'It's late on day nine and everyone's still going strong. See, Devon boys!
0:43:49 > 0:43:55'You know you're close to the end when the carpets go in, but these aren't just any carpets, are they?'
0:43:55 > 0:44:02A few years ago, these guys who make these carpets were spending nearly a quarter of a million quid a year
0:44:02 > 0:44:08sending their waste sort of wool to landfill. What they started doing is making an underlay with it.
0:44:08 > 0:44:12This felt is made up of their waste products and in this is lorry tyres.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15They only use local sheep around Devon,
0:44:15 > 0:44:20then they work out all the emissions associated with manufacture and sale
0:44:20 > 0:44:26and they offset it by investing in renewable energy technologies in China, India and places like that.
0:44:26 > 0:44:32- So it's a completely carbon-neutral product and it's lovely. It's proper wool.- It's lovely.
0:44:32 > 0:44:38- It doesn't have any of those stinky chemicals.- It smells beautiful. - Doesn't it?- Almost lanolin.- Yeah.
0:44:39 > 0:44:44- It smells nice, it feels nice. - Yeah.- Another step closer to closing the ozone layer.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47LAUGHTER
0:44:47 > 0:44:49It's been nice actually, refreshing,
0:44:49 > 0:44:56- bringing your environmental slant to the thing which we've all embraced very enthusiastically.- Yes, yes.
0:44:56 > 0:45:00Generally, you're quite well respected when you turn up on shows.
0:45:00 > 0:45:02I was!
0:45:02 > 0:45:06- I think it's been quite educational myself.- Yeah, yeah.
0:45:06 > 0:45:11- I think that one day he is actually going to be outstanding in his field.- Yeah.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14With his digger. LAUGHTER
0:45:15 > 0:45:20'We love Charlie. Whilst the design team put final touches on our new family home,
0:45:20 > 0:45:24'I have a gift for Jules because I love Jules too.'
0:45:24 > 0:45:31- What did you say to me the other day?- I said that I would like to try and learn how to play the guitar.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35- What did you need in order to achieve that goal?- A guitar.
0:45:37 > 0:45:41May I present to you, as a gift from me, your first guitar?
0:45:41 > 0:45:44- Oh, thank you very much. - For you to learn on.
0:45:44 > 0:45:47Thank you. He's a lovely man, isn't he?
0:45:48 > 0:45:51- Shall I give it a bash? - Do you want to have a go?
0:45:51 > 0:45:54Just simply, if you go... Play that one open,
0:45:54 > 0:45:57then put your finger on there.
0:45:58 > 0:46:00And then up to there.
0:46:00 > 0:46:05Then do it again. Open... Then go with that one. Yeah.
0:46:05 > 0:46:07Then that one.
0:46:07 > 0:46:09And then open.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13You just played Smoke On The Water very, very slowly.
0:46:13 > 0:46:17- LAUGHTER Did I really?- Yeah.
0:46:21 > 0:46:27'Just ten days ago, the Wright family from Ottery St Mary were living in a shell of a house.
0:46:27 > 0:46:31'It was cold, cramped and open to the elements.
0:46:31 > 0:46:38'They moved to Ottery to allow their eldest son to attend a school to help with his learning difficulties,
0:46:38 > 0:46:41'but could only afford this two-bedroom bungalow.
0:46:41 > 0:46:47'With everyone squeezed in together, Dad Ian tried to convert the bungalow himself,
0:46:47 > 0:46:50'but with a hectic teaching job and a big loan to repay,
0:46:50 > 0:46:54'he was soon overwhelmed and the whole family began to suffer.'
0:46:54 > 0:47:00The boys didn't take this on. I did. You realise you're running out of time and the priorities are wrong.
0:47:00 > 0:47:06You've ended up with a house that's half-built and a family that's grown up
0:47:06 > 0:47:08and you've lost those vital years.
0:47:09 > 0:47:15'Mum Morny has struggled with ME all her adult life and her health was being severely affected,
0:47:15 > 0:47:19'staying in this tiny, leaking house. To make matters worse,
0:47:19 > 0:47:22'their three boys were constantly fighting.
0:47:22 > 0:47:26'And living on top of each other was impacting on their behaviour.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29'The family were falling apart and needed our help.
0:47:29 > 0:47:33'We couldn't have managed such a big task on our own.
0:47:33 > 0:47:38'Thankfully, a Devon horde of local trades came to our rescue
0:47:38 > 0:47:43'and in just nine days helped us transform a tiny, dilapidated, two-bedroom bungalow
0:47:43 > 0:47:47'into a beautiful four-bedroom home.
0:47:47 > 0:47:54'With an average of 30 people a day turning up to help, we clocked up 3,600 man hours.
0:47:54 > 0:47:57'If Ian had carried on working at the speed he was,
0:47:57 > 0:48:01'it would have taken him over seven years to finish the house.
0:48:01 > 0:48:05'When we first arrived, the central hallway was open to the loft
0:48:05 > 0:48:09'and the loft was in turn open to the world.
0:48:09 > 0:48:11'This is now the heart of the new home
0:48:11 > 0:48:17'and our designer Charlie went all out, creating a truly magnificent vaulted entrance.
0:48:17 > 0:48:23'Charlie fought to push the ceiling back and open up the space and the result speaks for itself.
0:48:23 > 0:48:27'Light pours down from the new skylight on to the oak-capped staircase
0:48:27 > 0:48:31'and into a now spacious and welcoming hall.
0:48:31 > 0:48:37'From here, the light travels through our toughened glass door and into the extended dining room.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40'This used to be where the family would sit and eat,
0:48:40 > 0:48:44'but it was dark, dank and the ceiling leaked every time it rained.
0:48:44 > 0:48:50'Now it's a truly fantastic space with sanded floorboards throughout and a calming decor.
0:48:50 > 0:48:56'The room now extends to bi-folding doors that lead out on to a two-tier garden.
0:48:56 > 0:49:01'The old dining table has been lengthened and is now the centre piece to the room,
0:49:01 > 0:49:06'giving the Wrights a perfect place to sit, eat, relax and spend time together.
0:49:06 > 0:49:12'The old kitchen has been completely refitted with brand-new units and a gas stove.
0:49:12 > 0:49:18'Stunning Moroccan tiles add much needed colour to what was once a damp and dreary room.
0:49:18 > 0:49:24'Add in our eco-boiler and the family will at last be warm and cosy through the winter months.
0:49:24 > 0:49:26'The loft was our biggest challenge.
0:49:27 > 0:49:31'We've created two extra bedrooms for the boys
0:49:31 > 0:49:33'and a shower room.
0:49:33 > 0:49:39'And there's a big landing where the kids can do their homework without getting on each other's nerves.
0:49:39 > 0:49:46'The three boys have been sharing a tiny bedroom for four years and were desperate for their own space.
0:49:46 > 0:49:52'13-year-old Emo fan Isaac has the rock'n'roll space he's always wanted.
0:49:52 > 0:49:57'He can play his drums and hang out with the friends he's been embarrassed to ask over.
0:49:58 > 0:50:02'Sensitive soul Alfie is the family's little artist
0:50:02 > 0:50:06'and he suffered the most from sharing with his brothers.
0:50:06 > 0:50:08'But he now has a room of his own too.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11'It's colourful and bright
0:50:11 > 0:50:15'with very cool wallpaper that he can colour in himself.
0:50:18 > 0:50:22'And seven-year-old Casper might not have a water slide,
0:50:22 > 0:50:24'but instead has a floating bed.
0:50:24 > 0:50:30'He'll have the space to run riot in his own room with no-one telling him to quieten down.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33'So this family house is complete.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35'It's calming, light and spacious,
0:50:35 > 0:50:40'the perfect place for a family to start enjoying life and each other once again.'
0:50:40 > 0:50:43What's wrong with the house?
0:50:43 > 0:50:49Where to begin? Missing part of the roof, missing an outside wall, a big hole in the hallway.
0:50:49 > 0:50:55We need some plasterboard, some plastering, some insulation, some stairs and we're missing a wall.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58- And a home, really. - Essentially a home, yeah.
0:50:58 > 0:51:02There were only three rooms that we didn't need to touch -
0:51:02 > 0:51:05the living room, a downstairs bathroom and your bedroom.
0:51:05 > 0:51:09- The rest of the house needed doing. - Yes, that's true.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12We really hope you like what we've done.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15Open your eyes.
0:51:15 > 0:51:19- GASPS - Wow!- Oh, my God!
0:51:25 > 0:51:26Oh!
0:51:32 > 0:51:34- Not in my wildest dreams...- Oh!
0:51:39 > 0:51:41Oh, that is stunning!
0:51:41 > 0:51:45- It's quite something, isn't it? - It really, really is just...
0:51:45 > 0:51:47I could never have imagined this.
0:51:48 > 0:51:53I could never have thought that it would end up like this.
0:51:53 > 0:51:57- It's just, um...- It is remarkable. You've done a fantastic job.
0:51:57 > 0:52:01What an amazing group of people that have helped out this week!
0:52:01 > 0:52:06The amount of construction work that's been done in the time is astounding.
0:52:06 > 0:52:11- You've been embarrassed about inviting people round before. - Just a bit.
0:52:11 > 0:52:15How about now when people come through your front door?
0:52:15 > 0:52:19I shall feel very, very proud. I can't wait to have people round.
0:52:19 > 0:52:23- Would you like to have a stroll through and take a look?- Yeah.
0:52:25 > 0:52:31The whole thing is this glass you see takes the eye line all the way through the length of the house.
0:52:36 > 0:52:37Oh!
0:52:39 > 0:52:44This is where your home stopped and your sort of derelict bit started.
0:52:44 > 0:52:50- This was it, this was my insulation, my wall here.- Your wall only made of insulation!- Yeah.
0:52:50 > 0:52:55- Beautiful flow to it all.- I think it's wonderful. It's a family home.
0:52:55 > 0:52:57This is what we dreamt of, really.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00It's such a good space, isn't it?
0:53:01 > 0:53:03Would you like to have a little seat?
0:53:03 > 0:53:08- The other great thing is, I don't know whether you've noticed...- Wow!
0:53:09 > 0:53:12- What do you think?- Oh!- Decking!
0:53:12 > 0:53:14It's superb.
0:53:14 > 0:53:17Absolutely superb. And the retaining wall.
0:53:17 > 0:53:22- You were dreading doing that. - I know. And the bedding, the plants.
0:53:22 > 0:53:28Thanks to the hard work of the guys who volunteered and said, "Can we help out and do the garden?"
0:53:28 > 0:53:30The local people who you'll meet.
0:53:30 > 0:53:34- They've worked through monsoon conditions.- Haven't they?
0:53:34 > 0:53:38You now have probably twice the size of house you had before
0:53:38 > 0:53:42because in the summer, this will all become part of your inside outside.
0:53:42 > 0:53:45The bi-folding doors open right the way through.
0:53:46 > 0:53:49Oh, yes!
0:53:54 > 0:53:56Living rooms and gardens.
0:53:56 > 0:54:01This is just unreal. It really is. I can't believe this is our home.
0:54:01 > 0:54:05- I can see us sitting here at night. - I can't believe it's our home.
0:54:05 > 0:54:10- I really couldn't have dreamt this. - It's wonderful. - But there's more, as they say.
0:54:10 > 0:54:14- Do you want to see the next bit? - Yes, please.- Yeah.
0:54:14 > 0:54:20You'll need a kitchen to cook for all your new guests who'll be coming and sitting round the table.
0:54:20 > 0:54:23Would you like to have a little stroll through?
0:54:23 > 0:54:26Oh, they are beautiful!
0:54:26 > 0:54:29- Do you like it? - I love it, I love it.
0:54:29 > 0:54:33New windows as well. This place will be wonderfully warm.
0:54:33 > 0:54:37- Happy with the kitchen? - I couldn't be happier.
0:54:37 > 0:54:42I think it's the most beautiful kitchen I've ever seen. I'm absolutely overjoyed.
0:54:42 > 0:54:47- The other thing you needed was bedrooms because the boys have been sleeping in one room.- Yes.
0:54:47 > 0:54:52It hasn't been ideal, with them growing up and they need a bit of space.
0:54:52 > 0:54:58- We'll start downstairs, then we'll have a look at the upstairs space. - That'd be great.- Come on.
0:55:00 > 0:55:02Whoa!
0:55:02 > 0:55:05- This is your room. - It's cool. It's awesome.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10I've got my drums over there. It's cool.
0:55:10 > 0:55:15- Marks out of ten?- I'd say ten out of ten.- Really? Very good.- Yeah.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25It's so good!
0:55:25 > 0:55:27It's amazing.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29What do you think?
0:55:29 > 0:55:34- It's really good.- Is it?- Yeah. - You like the artwork?- It's so cool.
0:55:34 > 0:55:39- Do you know what the coolest thing about that is?- What? - You're allowed to colour it in.
0:55:39 > 0:55:45It's black and white like that, so you can colour in. Your friends can come round and colour in.
0:55:45 > 0:55:50- Each of your friends can colour in one of the monsters on there. - Wow, it's so cool!
0:55:51 > 0:55:53This is yours.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55Yours and only yours.
0:55:55 > 0:55:57It looks so...
0:55:57 > 0:56:02I didn't imagine that it would be like this, but it just looks so good.
0:56:02 > 0:56:06Do you want to try out the bed, see whether it's comfortable?
0:56:07 > 0:56:11- That is really good.- What we could do is get your two brothers in
0:56:11 > 0:56:15and you can share this room together or you can have it all to yourself.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17- What do you reckon?- All to myself!
0:56:17 > 0:56:19LAUGHTER
0:56:22 > 0:56:26This is your own room, Casper.
0:56:26 > 0:56:30- Look at this, mate. Look at your bed. - SHOUTS EXCITEDLY
0:56:30 > 0:56:34What do you think of the bedroom, compared to your other bedroom?
0:56:34 > 0:56:36Extra-perfect.
0:56:36 > 0:56:38Extra-perfect?
0:56:38 > 0:56:40It's incredible. Perfect.
0:56:42 > 0:56:44- I'll take that.- Yeah.
0:56:48 > 0:56:52The other day, you said you needed a family home.
0:56:52 > 0:56:56- Hmm.- And you've been trying for the last three years. Have you got it?
0:56:56 > 0:56:58Oh, and more.
0:56:58 > 0:57:02It is... I just find it... I do find it very, very hard...
0:57:04 > 0:57:08..to put into words just what it's going to mean
0:57:08 > 0:57:12because it's not just having this beautifully done,
0:57:12 > 0:57:16it's how it's going to enable us to live, isn't it?
0:57:16 > 0:57:21This is so much more than just a makeover. This is a full-on building project.
0:57:21 > 0:57:26It's taken a huge amount of pressure off me and off us. A huge amount.
0:57:26 > 0:57:28I mean, it's changed our lives.
0:57:28 > 0:57:32It's given us our lives back,
0:57:32 > 0:57:37but a quality of life that I think we haven't had for years.
0:57:39 > 0:57:41APPLAUSE
0:57:43 > 0:57:47I'm slightly overwhelmed, just the number of people here.
0:57:47 > 0:57:51All of you are just absolutely amazing people.
0:57:51 > 0:57:56It's just been a life-changing experience, so I can't thank all of you enough. Really, I can't.
0:57:56 > 0:57:59Wonderful. Thank you so much.
0:57:59 > 0:58:02- Thank you.- John!
0:58:02 > 0:58:06Hi, mate. This is my mate John who kept me going.
0:58:06 > 0:58:12Pride is a funny thing, especially in a man. It drives you on when times get tough.
0:58:12 > 0:58:15It's the thing that makes you stand up against adversity,
0:58:15 > 0:58:21but it can sometimes be the thing that makes you so concentrated on what you're doing
0:58:21 > 0:58:24that you forget to look at the world around you.
0:58:24 > 0:58:31Ian was so determined to finish, he couldn't see what was happening to his kids and to his family.
0:58:31 > 0:58:33He couldn't see light at the end of the tunnel.
0:58:33 > 0:58:39It's all right sometimes to say, "I can't handle this. I don't know how to go any further."
0:58:39 > 0:58:43Because when you do and you put your hand up, people turn up to help.
0:58:43 > 0:58:46It's what makes this special.
0:58:46 > 0:58:49Maybe you could help someone in your community.
0:58:54 > 0:58:57Hi. Thank you so much.
0:59:09 > 0:59:13Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2011
0:59:13 > 0:59:15Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk