The Big Build - Birmingham DIY SOS

No matter how hard things get,

love for family is unconditional.

When the boys were born, I had hopes

and aspirations that they would share the same experiences

that I had, just being everything that I hoped they would be

and that they wanted to be.

They are our life. They are our soul.

They are...what we are.

There isn't words that can describe how much you love your boys.

This family is still waiting for their children

to hit the milestones that others do.

They've got the developmental age of about 12 months...

which is difficult, to have a baby for four-and-a-half years.

These boys are growing every day, but with a totally inadequate house,

all their futures hang in the balance.

The twins are only going to get bigger.

The boys would be forced to live down here.

We'd probably all be living in the living room.

And that's why we are here -

to give these boys the best chance in life they can have.

You couldn't buy what we are about to do,

but you guys get to make a massive difference to this family.

But with just nine days, can we do that?

We need to get this family into the house and get this house working.

No panelling!

Missing my son's first birthday today,

we'd better get it done.

I don't think I dared to dream...

It's just all so perfect. It really is.

All the usual suspects are here. Gabrielle is our designer this week,

but I'm worried about the sunny weather.

How are we going to get the builders out?

I've thought about that - ice cream. Loads of them.

Ice cream!

I wonder whether it'll work.

CHEERING

This is DIY SOS, The Big Build!

Qualified lawyer Charlotte

and charity worker Chris Bull from Birmingham

live in a three-bedroom house with their three sons,

Jack, age nine, and twins Alex and Dylan, age four.

They met 17 years ago, when they worked together in a pub.

What was your first impression of me?

My first impression of you was..."Wow."

"Now, there's a girl I want to marry."

They had the wedding of their dreams and Jack was born two years later.

He really did add an extra dimension to our family,

because it was just us before then.

It really made it truly magical again.

And, four years on, he got news he was going to be a big brother.

We went for a scan and...

..when they said, "It's twins," I think it took a week

for my jaw to be lifted off the ground.

I totally didn't expect twins.

The pregnancy ran smoothly until Charlotte went into early labour.

I was only 31 weeks pregnant at the time.

We had an emergency Caesarean section

at seven o'clock that morning.

They sorted the boys out and they showed me them briefly

as they were whisked off to the neonatal unit.

On the whole, they did really well and they were actually

only in hospital for one calendar month, which was fantastic.

With what they thought was the worst behind them,

this family of five settled back into normal life.

Things changed. They caught a cold, didn't they, to start with.

Was it...Alex? Ended up in intensive care.

We didn't think it'd be serious,

but he was really struggling to breathe.

Three weeks later, I started to be concerned about Dylan.

He went blue and floppy, didn't he?

The ambulance had to pull over

because he'd just totally shut down and stopped

and they had to resuscitate him and get him back.

For the first year of Alex and Dylan's lives,

they were in hospital far more than they were out.

Eventually, they were diagnosed

with severe asthma, bronchiolitis

and lung damage.

With life so hectic, crucial milestones went unnoticed.

It was only when you realised

that there were other children in the hospital

that were starting to pull themselves up in the cot

and things like that, and you said,

"Well, why aren't my boys doing what normal boys do?"

Further tests revealed Alex and Dylan had global development delay,

which is a condition that slows down the process of walking, talking

and interacting with others.

They've got the developmental age of about 12 months...

..which is difficult, to have a baby for four-and-a-half years.

And they are still babies.

Hiya...

No-one knows what the future holds,

but despite all their health issues, they are lovely, cheeky boys.

And... Oh, oh, oh!

HE LAUGHS

Oh, we know where Dylan's chuckle buttons are.

HE LAUGHS

If you dwell on what they can't do too much,

you become a bit obsessed by that,

and so it's far easier just to get on with life

and think about what they can do and the joy that they do bring.

Dylan, do you want to play with this?

They are happy boys within themselves.

They smile a lot, they laugh a lot

and they bring a lot of laughter into the house.

HE LAUGHS

But their other son Jack has a very different home life

to the average nine-year-old.

Not having the time to spend with him...

I find that really, really difficult.

I can't play football with my dad,

because he has to look after my brothers.

But my brothers need attention.

Charlotte is battling on, as she wants her children

to have the same everyday start in life that she did.

I've got a lot of history with this house.

It was my nan's house.

She brought up her children here and I am struggling to do the same.

But the house is really making life very hard.

Access in and out is a real struggle.

Charlotte is already suffering severe back pain.

It's important to me that we all sleep upstairs.

So, my back is constantly under strain,

really, and having to do everything twice.

I never want them to feel like that's their fault

or they're a burden, because I am doing it for them

and that's important - they are my boys.

But she can't carry on like this.

I think the future is very scary.

The boys would be forced to live down here.

There isn't space in the living room now,

we'd all be living in the living room.

The twins are only going to get bigger.

The equipment is only going to get bigger.

Space is only going to get less.

And on top of that, this house has caused Alex and Dylan's progress

to come to a halt.

You can't help thinking it's just not stimulating enough.

It's just not giving them the development that they need.

We do both think, deep down,

that one day, they will be walking on their own.

We just want them to be the best they can.

If the boys have any chance of catching up,

they are not going to do it living in the house as it is.

We need an army to get this family up on their feet.

These are some of the nice people that have decided to join in.

Can we just say thank you?

Really, really can't put it into words.

It is fantastic that you're all here.

I really am so humbled by it, it's amazing.

Thank you so much.

What about you, Jack?

If there's one thing that we need for this house, what do we need?

-A lift.

-A lift?

We'll try and sort something out for you as well.

-Thank you very much.

-That's very nice of you, Jack.

Thank you very much. Thanks for saying thanks.

Given that the boys are already getting a bit fed up,

we'll let you get going - this is you over here, is it?

We do need to get started.

We have only got the usual nine days and it's a massive task

to convert this prison of a house

into one that is accessible to the entire family.

Everything is being ripped to bits

and the Brummies are showing us how it's done.

You see the size of that lintel he has just brought out?

CHRIS LAUGHS

-On his own?

-He just carried that out.

Deliveries keep arriving for the outside.

Two-storey timber frame.

I love the way that extension has turned up on the back of a truck.

-I know.

-It's clever, innit?

-Yeah.

And even more clever, how it flies up.

Amazing, when you look at the state of this,

that in three days, we'll be fitting a kitchen in here

in a fully plastered room, with all electrics and plumbing in.

Well, that's the plan.

Designer Gabrielle Blackman is back -

as feisty as ever, unswerving in her designs,

and she can't wait to get her manicured claws into it.

-Well, it's a 1949 house.

-Yeah.

Much loved, been in the family, Grandma had it.

So what are we going to do to it?

Well, what we want to do is try and keep that feeling

of a traditional layout, and this is so important to Charlotte,

and really emotional for her.

So she wants her boys to sleep upstairs.

She wants the whole family sleeping upstairs.

For wheelchair access, it's making life really difficult.

-We'll have to put a lift in.

-We've got to put a lift in,

we've got to put four hoists in.

And that's not it.

On the ground floor, a new extension

will give the family a sunny kitchen-dining area

with an adjoining wet room for the boys.

Crucially, we are installing a lift to the first floor,

so no more struggling up the stairs.

The partition wall in the living room is coming down

to create a large open space.

Upstairs, the two-storey extension

will create a large new bedroom for Charlotte and Chris.

A new bathroom will separate the twins' bedrooms,

and Jack's bedroom is staying where it is,

but it will be designed with space-saving ideas.

Out the back, the garden will be fully turfed

with a seating area and trampoline.

Basically, it's a design nightmare,

and what really worries me is lovely Jack, big brother Jack,

who should really be getting the big bedroom,

he should be getting his own bedroom,

he's going to have to stay in that tiny boxroom.

But, yeah, it's been really hard,

and I'm sort of still feeling really agitated about it.

They want their boys to walk.

They want their boys to be able to communicate

and we are having to think about the worst-case scenario...

-To future-proof it for them.

-To future-proof it.

And also, Charlotte's back - she's been...

She said to me she'd carry those boys to the end of the Earth, but...

-She wants to that, but she can't.

-No.

We have to put in what they need, not always what they want.

It's a tough spec, but it's all right,

we've got the best of the best for this.

And we've got Billy!

-They're the only ones...

-Yeah, you don't want to dim...

Any special electronics on this?

I know how much you love special electronics.

No, unfortunately, I was all psyched up for the special electronics,

-but we ain't got none.

-We haven't got any?

What are you up to you, Chris?

Wallpaper stripping!

I've been...scraping the paper off the walls today.

And big man Jules has decided to take on the garden again.

-How's it going in there?

-All right, there?

-You like your garden?

-Lovely.

He always does the gardens,

despite knowing nothing about gardening...or designing them.

Tea-time soon.

'What he needs is a hand from moi.'

-Mate, you are on the garden, aren't you?

-I am, yes.

I was going to run a few ideas past you, cos I thought,

-down at the end there...

-No. Sorry. No ideas.

-Yeah, but...

-No. Really.

-Not even a...?

-No.

I just think that I could, you know...I could help.

No...

-You NEED help.

-NICK LAUGHS

Do you know what your problem is?

I think you have got a supercharged brain.

I think you think too much. You think too fast.

Do you know why you have got a supercharged brain?

Because of this massive air intake on the front of your face.

That's the problem. I think you need to reduce your air intake.

-You know those squidge-up earplugs you get?

-Yeah.

Why don't you shove one of them up each nostril?

Reduce your airflow little bit.

HE CHUCKLES

-What do you reckon?

-Do you know what?

Can you feel your brain slowing down a bit?

-Why would my brain slow down?

-Cos we've reduced the airflow.

-Oh, yeah.

-I'll ask you a couple of questions.

-Go on, then.

What is 2 + 2?

Peking.

No!

-See?

-Yeah.

-That just proves my theory.

That you have a supercharged brain.

-What's he saying?

-Have you got that 50 quid I lent you last night?

Oh, no, it was 60, I had no change.

I had no change. It was 60.

Lovely. Thank you. Cheers.

I tell you what, it could be a very, very profitable day.

Yeah, not for me, I don't think!

And not for upstairs, either.

OK, so what's the issue?

-This is the issue, here - see these two pipes here?

-Yes.

-Asbestos?

-They are asbestos.

Oh, no. Really?

We always have a survey done at the start of the job

and they have removed lots of asbestos from the property,

but these two pipes were actually under a floor.

That's all there is to it. Can't do anything about it.

-We've got to remove it.

-Close the site down.

Gentlemen and ladies, if there are ladies in,

we need to clear the site, because the asbestos removal people are here

and they won't do it with any of us on site.

-If you could all make your way to an exit.

-This way, please.

-Thank you very much.

-This way, please, exit this way.

By the way, you can't stay here, either.

We put a couple of cameras up

to watch what they do whilst we're out.

People always used to build with asbestos

until they found out that the fibres were lethal if inhaled.

It's really important no-one is on site whilst it's removed.

Those guys are going to be finished in ten minutes,

so we've set a little challenge up.

Can we get this down in ten minutes, this porch?

Can we remove it from the front of the house?

Go on, then, nail it - you've got ten minutes.

We are not going to let a few deadly fibres put a stop to this build.

It's hard work, innit, this DIY SOS?

While the house inside goes all Breaking Bad...

Five minutes!

..outside, these guys are breaking good with the porch.

Three minutes 30 seconds!

That's it, it's finished, it's finished.

And there is our time - 8.21.

They took that down quicker than it took you to eat an ice cream.

Yeah, but I have been savouring it.

-Is that it finished, then?

-Yeah, that's it.

We weren't doing anything.

We were just standing around waiting.

APPLAUSE

With the asbestos cleared, there is no time to waste

as we are approaching the end of the day, and the boys inside

have discovered Nan's original 1940s parquet floor

and it's caught Gabbers' eye.

It's beautiful, look at this parquet floor.

And it's in absolutely perfect condition.

I know - let's rip it up and get it in the skip.

LAUGHTER

-Knowles, back here now!

-What?

-We have got to use this somehow.

-To bulk out the skip? Landfill?

-No, it's absolutely beautiful.

What I think we should do is take it up and use it in another room.

It is beautiful and it'd be lovely if we could keep it,

but in view of the fact that we're restructuring the rooms,

it won't make any sense.

So we do have to take it up. The best you can do with it

is probably rip it up and sell it to a company who might sell it on.

Well, if it could be lovingly taken up

and I can find somebody to restore it,

I'm going to use it in another room.

-You've got to get this off the back.

-I know, but it must be possible,

because people use reclaimed...

How do you get bitumen off? You use heat.

-I neither know nor care.

-You'll be there for a month of Sundays.

Tell you what, you get a blowtorch...

-Voice levels.

-Why are you getting so hysterical?

You get a blowtorch and you take the bitumen off the back of it.

Take the bitumen off the back of that, see how easy it is.

-Why are you getting hysterical?

-Because you're being ridiculous.

Taking this up carefully will take...six to eight hours.

Taking it off roughly will take about 35, 40 minutes.

That's the difference. And we are in something of a hurry.

It's true.

Can I have five minutes to think about it and run round asking...?

-Oh, five minutes?

-If you go and sit outside

and have five minutes to think about it,

I'll have the floor delivered to you.

See? I'm nice like that.

Upstairs, the frames for all the bedroom walls are going in.

Hold on, she's...she's in there.

These guys are moving suspiciously slowly.

What I've done, which is going to make me really unpopular,

is I've just put the brakes on the build in the sitting-room

while we lovingly and carefully pick up each piece of parquet,

so Mark is going to kill me.

-What are you talking about?

-Um...nothing.

We're just talking about the floor.

Don't start.

She's already started,

and it's going to be a late one for the floor guys!

But it's the end of the day for everyone else.

Well, that's the view, the garden view,

from the new bedroom that didn't exist this morning.

This is the top floor of our extension.

But if you come through this way, you can see the bigger change.

Taken out all the walls in here upstairs

and have just started to put new walls in.

Downstairs, the guys are cracking on

and removing that flooring very slowly.

As we push through into the backroom,

the back of the house is being held up on acrow props - look at it,

completely taken out in order to make space

for the pads and the steel, which is the right length...?

-He's only got it right.

-He's got it right!

Which, of course, will lead through to our beautiful new kitchen area.

That's the end of a day of delays

and, as a new day dawns,

there are nearly 100 builders on site - ho-ho!

It is a hive of activity,

and the steels are being fitted to support the upstairs extension.

The trades of Birmingham are making progress

and it's purely down to the spirit of these builders.

See, that's Andy, who has come to do the roof.

This is his second one. It happens all the time.

People do one job for us,

then, all of a sudden, they turn up on the next one,

miles and miles away, and say, "I came back for another go."

That's how much they love it.

The outside walls of the extension are being built

and the roof on top is also flying up,

but that's creating a problem for Mr Perryman's garden.

Can't really do a massive amount till that scaffold has come out,

cos we haven't got access to get the digger in,

so it's that scaffolding that is messing everything up, really.

As soon as that is down, flat out in the garden.

See, that's not going to happen till the last two days of the build,

which means that it will be a mad rush at the end.

Garden!

So, we are second day in. What do you make of it so far?

-Fantastic.

-Everybody helps each other.

It's like putting it back into the community.

You know, you're giving summat back.

You've got labourers, tradesmen, all working together.

It's incredible, really, you know?

We've got all the window fitters up here,

we've got the plumbers, the electricians,

we've got joiners in the back,

and we've got the hoist people,

who are up doing the hoist for us at the moment,

and we have got the guys fitting the lift behind us.

It's pretty busy.

Busy and wonderful - a great job for a lovely family.

With any build, we have to listen to what the family want.

Charlotte is not keen on hoists and wants what we all want -

for the boys to walk. But we are following expert advice

to prepare the house for whatever MIGHT happen.

Gabbers wants to pay her a visit to talk it over.

'The boys are just so full of laughter

'and fun and smiles and mischief.'

It means a lot, actually. I'm quite proud of their humour

and their, you know...

because that shows a sort of...an awareness.

So, one thing that has really been playing on my mind -

all the advice and consultation we have done

is that we do need to put a certain amount of stuff in the house

to help you keep the boys mobile and basically protect your back,

and what I am really worried about is that that is going to seem

like...a lack of confidence in the boys and their development.

And I do appreciate that,

and the challenge would be then not to use it, wouldn't it?

I'm sure they'll walk one day.

I'll send you a video.

I would love to see that. I really would.

Gabby is, of course, right to be concerned,

but if Charlotte's challenge is not to use the hoists,

I've found a man that might change her mind.

There's something of a double-edged sword with hoists and things,

because on the one hand, obviously, they are fantastic,

because it makes life so much easier.

-That's right.

-On the other, it is a sort of...

an admission that it's needed. Do you know what I mean?

That's right. I mean...

Hoists, they can be used for a variety of uses.

We do install them for rehabilitation as well.

We do walking vests for people.

So it's not just wheelchair to bed, and that kind of thing.

We can actually use it for rehabilitation purposes as well.

-Can you?

-Yeah, you can have a walking vest.

Mum is convinced that she is going to get the boys to walk

at some stage, and so this is a possible practice way

of using it with a walking vest on them.

That makes me feel so much better, cos the last thing I wanted,

with all this work,

was to look like we didn't have the faith in her boys that she has.

-Cheers.

-You're the man. Thank you.

-Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

We are surrounded by geniuses!

Now we can concentrate on the rest of the build.

Can we have a noggin in there, sausage?

And the plasterers are in tomorrow,

so the electrics need to be fitted to all the walls.

Today, we will be flying, because yesterday, we had...

-We didn't have a good day, yesterday, did we?

-No.

We couldn't get anything done.

But now we are just going to put all the cables in,

put all the first fix in. That's what we're looking for.

-That's our aim, innit?

-Let's go for it.

-Let's go.

Obviously, you would have seen Billy on the TV before.

What's he actually like, honestly?

There's always a downside to a job, isn't there?

All joking aside, the sterling work that's going on here

is all in aid of two very special boys,

and everyone on site's constantly got that on their minds.

About ten years ago, I had a major motorcycle crash.

I was in a coma and I couldn't remember anything, nothing.

I had to learn to eat, talk...

From that day, I've decided that life's too short to be miserable.

You have to do some good in life. It's not only down to yourself.

It's down to other people helping people out.

Those are the people we work with.

We stand on the shoulders of giants.

I want to find out how much this work means to dad Chris.

What are your ambitions for the boys?

I just want them to walk and talk and just be the best they can.

We do both think, deep down, that one day,

they'll be walking on their own.

We both...we both believe they will, because I believe in them,

you know? I really believe in them. Charlotte believes in them as well.

She's just a fantastic person, you know? She's so strong.

-You are very proud of her, aren't you?

-I am, yeah.

I love her to bits. She's great.

There isn't a person on this planet

that would be a better mother for those boys.

She's the cornerstone of our family, without a doubt.

So, despite the fact that she doesn't...she doesn't really

want hoists and things, if we could do that

just to take the pressure off her...

That would be great. And it would mean that

I don't have to watch her in pain.

-Especially when you love her so much.

-Exactly.

Especially when I love her so much.

It was getting pretty...close to the edge, wasn't it,

in terms of being able to cope

-and being stuck in... not using most of the house.

-Well...

A lot of the house isn't safe for them.

They're kind of stuck in the living room.

-What were you going to do, then?

-Well, we haven't really got a plan.

We just kind of struggle on.

It would be nice to plan for the future, or have a plan...

But you're too busy actually getting through today.

We are too busy getting through day to day.

I walk in the door from work, and the boys need a routine,

a strong routine, and sometimes,

I've got time to drop my bag on the floor and that's it

until the boys are in bed.

Jack, if it's not raining,

he's in the back garden with a ball at his foot and he is always saying,

"Dad, come and kick a football with me,

"come and play football with me."

But I don't always have the time. Charlotte will be doing the dinner

and I have to keep an eye on the boys.

I have to be in the room with the boys, they can't be left.

When I see him sometimes looking over the fence,

watching the neighbours' kids, it's heartbreaking to think

that that's what we wanted for him as well, you know?

Just to have a brother or sister, whatever, that he could play with.

He loves his brothers,

and there's nobody that can make them laugh like Jack.

I can tell what my brothers want or need,

because Alex does this for drink, or food.

It makes me sad when my brothers cry,

but I do my best to make them happy.

I love looking after my brothers,

so my mum and dad can, like, have a break for a bit.

Maybe just sit down.

Jack is such an extraordinary young lad.

It's crucial we give him something back

and, by that, I mean more time with his dad.

I've got an idea, but it means a total change to the garden

and lots of replanning.

-Gabbers, Gabbers...

-Mm-hm?

-Just wanted a quick... No, wait, wait...

-Yeah, what?

Across the back, if we have a flat wall

and a doorway on each side...

-I'm so busy... Yeah.

-..and then a net over the top...

-OK.

-..and just pull that back...

That will work, if you think about it. A nod would help.

-OK, yeah, I'll think about it. I'll think about it.

-All right.

I think she just gave me the brush-off,

she's not taking it seriously.

-Jules?

-Yes.

-Jules, darling. OK, something weird has happened.

-"Weird"?

-You know how Nick gets hysterical about the garden

and has been following me around just talking at me,

I've been trying to ignore it, but he actually accidentally

came up with quite a good idea.

My idea is to build a garden that is Jack's football paradise,

with artificial grass both horizontally

and on a vertical wall with a painted goal emblazoned on it,

topped off by an enormous net

to stop the ball flying into people's gardens.

I'm happy, but Chris isn't.

The floorboards are not here. No comprendo.

They are still at the builder's merchant,

cos they have been under-ordered. And it's quite important,

because it will stop the site in the morning

by about two or three hours, cos we want to get it plastered.

Well, one step forward, one step back.

The kitchen floors are delaying the build

and talking of floors, Gabbers has decided to

make some tables out of the parquet wood

so that Charlotte will have a piece of her nan's house to hold on to.

But Mark stuck her beloved parquet

as far away from site as possible, and rightly so.

We are five days into the build

and we haven't got any time to mess about with stuff.

We need the tops made, and I need them made today,

so my steel guy can make the frames for them.

So I'll just have to steal some of Mark's guys

and get them out here and do this,

cos otherwise it's not going to be done in time.

-Can I just quickly steal you now?

-Yeah, let's go.

-It'll just be two minutes.

-OK.

Everyone, could I borrow you, please?

Could you follow me? Everyone out!

Then we can get it done quickly.

You can't just clear the whole site and borrow everyone!

Just have a quick human chain, this is all about time management.

We have got about five minutes before Miller notices we're here.

I don't want anyone straining their backs.

What is your favourite? What do you think?

-What's it going to be?

-What we could do,

to add some feature to it, is put the square diamond in the middle

-and set it all off from there.

-What are they doing?

We've got the pattern and the finish,

now it's all about quality control, keep the best, best ones.

I think that's pretty good.

Right, this has gone on far too long.

Gabs? What the hell are you doing?

Um...we are just very quickly sorting out some tabletops.

The whole downstairs of the job has stopped.

All right, guys, would you mind...

Thank you very much. ..just cracking on with the rest?

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine...ten.

For that?

I'm a great fan of yours, Gabs,

but I think on this one, you've dropped one.

If each of them has been away, even for half an hour,

and there's ten of them, that's five man hours we've lost on the job.

-They weren't away for half an hour.

-They were.

You're getting emotional about this. It's fine.

-You've actually dropped a clanger, probably ruined the job.

-A little bit.

So, Gabbers has cost us another five hours,

but at least the electrics are on track...please, Billy?

It's, like, loads of fingers are all coming through the ceiling,

running everywhere else, taking electricity to it.

I've realised... I believe we're maybe a cable short,

but we'll find it.

It's somewhere.

This is a ring main. And that is downstairs lighting...

This could take some time.

If there's two cables there then we're all right.

With the floor not being delivered till tomorrow,

and no access to the garden,

Jules has decided to take Chris and Mark to meet the family.

-Hiya.

-You all right?

-What's happening, then?

We thought we'd do a little bit of aikido.

HE GRUNTS

Dad Chris and Jack rarely get any time together,

so we've have made it happen.

Where have the other two gone, then?

Cos Chris and Mark came in as well, didn't they?

I saw them come in, but I don't know where they went.

I'm so excited. I'm so excited.

I've got the outfits.

He may be small, but Jack is a powerhouse.

Prepare for a beating, boys.

HE LAUGHS

Are you sure this is the right stuff?

Yeah, that's what she said in the shop.

How have the twins been doing since we started?

Dylan has been out of his routine,

so he gets a little bit uncomfortable with that.

But he's adjusted better than I thought,

so it's gone all right.

I've got mine on back to front.

-Oh...

-MARK LAUGHS

All right, I didn't read the instructions.

It's my first time.

Boys, they might be both Japanese,

but you've got your martial arts mixed up here, I think.

We've got the wrong stuff, haven't we?

-You've made us look ridiculous now.

-You're not wrong there.

The question is, who will win - sumo wrestling or akaidu?

Ak...aikido...

-Come on, Jack, go and throw him.

-Go on, Jack, show what you can do.

Now, that's the advantage of having long arms.

THEY LAUGH

Oh, this isn't fair - maybe someone his own height, perhaps?

Nice throw, Jack.

Go on, Jack.

Well done. You know, I've been wanting to do that for ages.

-THUD!

-Oh!

Oh! Right in the prawn crackers!

THEY LAUGH

That's the killer shot.

NICK LAUGHS

Oh, that's fantastic.

Back on site, there's a delivery for Chris.

There it is - that there is your typical kitchen floor.

And it looks like Mark has recovered from his battering.

-SQUEAKY VOICE:

-Even though we've got the floor solved,

it's knocked the plastering quite far behind,

cos we were supposed to be in the kitchen first thing today,

getting that all plastered and skimmed,

so poor old Chris is up against it now.

I think you might need to put some ice cubes on those.

While Chris and his lads crack on with the floor,

the garden is a far cry from the vision I had

of a football pitch for Jack.

Jules will be pulling his hair out.

Well, he hasn't got any, really, has he?

Where is the worried man in the garden?

You go down to the cabin, he'll have his shoes off,

shorts on, chocolate muffin,

having a coffee, talking about materials.

Yeah, I'll take delivery as soon as possible.

See, the thing is, it might look like I'm not doing much

but, really, this is the nerve centre. This is the hub.

See, Chris doesn't understand that.

He thinks it all happens, but...you know...

it takes a lot of work,

this...ordering of plants and materials.

Meanwhile, back in the real world I like to call building a house...

We, collectively, are going to clear the floors in the downstairs,

cos we've got to put this 100 bags of self-leveller

on that floor this evening.

So that's what we're doing.

We've got just two days until we finish and there's so much to do.

At least Chris can finally get on with the plastering.

Right, if I take you in and show you the kitchen...

I mean, it looks scary,

but there will be lads in a minute,

prepping this, and it'll all click.

And just like that...

All the plastering is done!

Ready for the decorators.

And someone else is in a good mood.

As you can see, the scaffold is coming down,

I'm very, very excited about being able to start the garden.

It's OK.

It's going to be spectacular.

Whoo-hoo!

With this positive attitude, we can do anything today.

We are all having a really nice time in the sunshine,

laughing and joking and cuddling each other

and doing all those things that people do on SOS.

And then I looked at my list and nothing had actually vanished.

My list has actually got longer.

We've got to finish the plumbing off,

we've got three windows to be fitted,

we've got three doors... Tiling.

Got to have these hoists in today.

Both skips are full and we have a house full of rubbish.

We've got to get kitchen in today. And all that's got to go in.

I need a 600 by 600 P plus.

I don't even know what that is, but it's being added to the list,

and Mark is feeling the pressure.

He thinks that everything -

the garden, the house - is way behind.

I'm more than confident with the garden,

because I've sat down in my office for two days and planned it.

That's his problem. He spends too much time

running around like a headless chicken

and not planning properly.

Cos we are...we are on the crest of the wave out here.

We're surfing.

This might distract the eejit from his list for a while.

It's a flippin' delivery of ladies.

-And I tell you what, they've got cake.

-It's amazing!

MUSIC: Here Come The Girls by Sugababes

Just wanted to stop by on our way to the races

because we're friends, family,

we're staff from the school that Alex and Dylan go to,

so we just wanted to say thank you.

CHEERING

Isn't that fantastic?

While Mark is preoccupied with the girls,

Gabbers has managed to sneak off

to see how her parquet-floor tables are doing.

We had to work out exactly what the sizes need to be,

so they fitted without any silly little cuts,

so they all look symmetrical.

It took three days to work it out!

Don't say that! Don't tell anybody that, OK?

I'll be in such big trouble. I'm in trouble enough.

So we'll just say it was a ten-minute job.

Just ten minutes...

And only ten minutes into his garden,

the access to get materials in for Jules is going to be blocked again.

This is because both the front and back ramps are being laid

and can't be stepped on whilst they're going down.

The people out the front want to know, can they close this off now?

Do you need any more stuff in here?

Why don't you just have a blast now

and get some hardcore in and put it in a pile somewhere?

Yeah, we haven't really set...

We haven't got set levels, really...as well,

to know how much hardcore to bring in.

You don't seem very organised, Julian.

HE SIGHS

-Look, just do what you want.

-No, no - you can say that, either.

That's an abdication of duty.

The front is not my department, all right?

-Is that how we work on these sites?

-Yeah, but I can't take...

Is that the view that these people that have turned up to help us have taken?

"That's not my job"?

I can't be responsible for planning the front,

cos I'm out the back. This is my domain, the back.

Yes, Jules, but you've got to be responsible, partly,

for the front, because otherwise, you can't get to the back.

Well, yeah, there is that.

Whilst he thinks it out,

it's worth saying the progress in the garden is frustrating,

but nothing compared to what the family's been through the last four years,

and Charlotte's sister Ellie has seen that first hand.

-Certainly, your sister needed some help.

-She did.

She doesn't like to say so, does she?

No, she doesn't. She's quite strong.

I think she's had to have been.

Do you think this will make a big difference?

-If we get the house sorted out?

-A phenomenal difference.

I...I can't even begin to...

I can't even begin to imagine

what a difference it's going to make, actually,

because...it's breaking them.

-It's actually breaking them.

-Hmm.

-And...

it's going to be huge, we're so excited about the future,

knowing that this sort of thing is around

and that there are people here, helping.

Yeah, and all of them determined

to make this house right for the family.

I want to see how things have been for Charlotte.

Do you sometimes pinch yourself, to realise the situation you're in?

I think about the twins

and how they have found themselves in this situation,

when, you know...

I mean, all they did was got born.

Forgive me for asking, but from the outside,

it's not necessarily easy to tell - what do you get back from the twins?

Every little new thing they do, you know, that's brilliant,

and text messages and phone calls go round the whole family.

'That's fantastic. It really is. It's a tonic.

'They thoroughly enjoy life

'and we just try and make it as easy as we can for them.'

You've got one! Yay!

I think we've come up with some really good ideas.

Have you thought about what life will be like

-if we get the house right?

-Um...

-You haven't, have you?

-No. Not really.

-You live really in the present.

-I think I do, yeah.

Deal with what's in front of you today.

-Yeah.

-No ambitions for yourself?

I wanted to be a lawyer, I wanted to be a solicitor,

and that's what I wanted to do with my life.

I did do really well. The degree I got was a first-class degree.

We kind of just had to stop and think, "This is where I am."

'And I've got this job to do and, in a lot of ways,

'it is the best job in the world.'

You said to Gabby that you'd carry them to the ends of the Earth.

The difficulty is,

for us to safety-proof the house for the future,

we have to put hoists in,

but you're not very comfortable with that.

It just seems a long way off.

I don't know. Yeah, I think you're right, actually.

Why is it a long way off if it's hurting your back now?

I think you're right, I think it's because...

It is perhaps because I see it as a sign of...

I don't want to admit that I can't do it for them, either.

Do you worry about the future?

I try...

It's in a "too difficult to deal with" box, really, the future,

cos I don't know what the future holds -

nobody really does - but specifically with the boys,

cos we don't really have any sort of diagnosis as such,

we don't know where they'll end up, and then...

It does worry me.

I just deal with what I'm given and deal with it in the way that I deal with it,

which might not be the best way,

but it's kind of the only way I know.

You have built such a wall up.

Are you not worried that it will break?

It's like a dam going, do you know what I mean?

-It just can't.

-It can't?

-You just decide it can't, yeah.

I made a decision on that one.

If we make the house easier to use,

will you try and take a moment for yourself?

I'll try.

I don't think I know how to do that any more.

Well, there's only one day left,

and the boys are girding their loins and gathering up

and going for it once again.

They are determined to get this house right.

I've got kids myself, as well, so, yeah, just...

You know, everybody has their trouble, don't they?

Get the little boys back on their feet, you know,

in a better environment, that's what we're looking for.

Tarmac is going down to create a front path -

lovely stuff, this isn't...

HE CHOKES

Inside, the lift is going in, too.

It's like Jodrell Bank in there - but very handy, cos essentially,

this turns the house into a bungalow.

It means there's access all areas.

There are decorators in and the hoists are being fitted,

and these can make a real difference.

Going to completely change

how she sees using the hoist, don't you think?

They want to get about and they're really frustrated

and I think they'll really enjoy this.

Jack's bed is being finished off - fantastic, it is.

And the same guys have also finished the parquet tables.

They're lovely, and a reminder of Grandma.

-Oh, that's pretty.

-They are beautiful.

Don't they look good?

But the big sticking point is still the back garden.

I am determined that we are going to create

a wonderful place for young Jack.

It's just we've only got a day left,

and Jules is like a large balloon with a slow puncture.

-I feel a bit deflated now.

-I do, to be honest.

-We'll get it done.

-I'm glad you're confident.

I wouldn't be - we need to build a football wall,

level the ground and put down artificial grass,

build the raised beds out of railway sleepers,

fill them with 20 tonnes of topsoil, put the plants in, pave the patio,

get some swings in and a trampoline...

And it's all my fault.

At the end of the day, without being able to have the time

to lay the brick in and make a brick wall,

sleepers seemed the best way.

The trouble is, we've been at a point

where we've had to make decisions and Jules hasn't been up to it.

-What was that?

-I was just saying

how well you'd done in the back garden...

-Oh, thanks(!)

-..over the last few days.

-Thank you very much.

-You were giving me evils.

-I wasn't.

-You were giving me evils.

I was wondering what ridiculous plan you'd come up with this time.

It wasn't... I have stuck to the same plan.

Since someone had to make a decision, I made a decision.

Come on, we're holding all these guys up,

they want to get on.

We're yapping in the middle of them all - let's step out and let the work commence.

Who gave him a positivity pill in the last 15 minutes?

It is true - time is running out.

Inside, Gabbers has designed bespoke storage space

so our chippies are right up against it.

Something's got to go.

-It is what it is.

-We need all of it.

-No, it is what it is.

We are bottomed out on...on personnel and time and access.

So, if we have to drop something, it's got to be the panelling.

Yes, the panelling has got to go.

We can do the panelling for you.

I know it's simple, but we don't have time.

Have we really got time, with everything else?

We're pretty much up against it, aren't we?

-We're back on to that now.

-What? Back onto what?

-The panelling.

-No, we can't panel it, we haven't enough time.

-He says... They say they can.

-I'm not...

-Don't give me the scary psycho look.

-It's not her.

We've got to get this house finished.

We need skirtings on, shelves in, we need that in,

need the doors finished, then we're out.

But if the chippies say they can do it,

who are we to tell them they can't?

-No panelling! No panelling!

-Mate, I think you've lost this one.

-No, there is no panelling.

-I think you've lost it.

We need to get this family into the house and get this house working.

-I don't know why you're telling me.

-Warren, no, please - don't.

All right.

I'm confused now. Does that mean we are or aren't doing panelling?

Yes, this build is taking on a life of its own.

The house is getting its finishing touches

and Gabby's vision is becoming a reality.

But in the garden, with hours to go,

my design for Jack is in serious jeopardy.

It's getting late, and there's a mountain to climb.

We haven't really got anything for here.

These guys, flat out, are an inspiration.

I know we can do it, cos you're a crack team.

I am missing my son's first birthday today.

We'd better get it done.

It's all for a good cause, though.

With the house finished...

CHEERING

LAUGHTER

..there's still no cause for celebration in the garden.

It's going to be a long night.

Nine days ago, we met a family trapped by their house.

Definitely feel like a prisoner in the living room.

Being in the house can be depressing.

They couldn't look forward.

It would be nice to plan for the future

or, you know, have a plan.

We are too busy getting through day to day.

The twins are only going to get bigger,

the boys would be forced to live down here,

we'd probably all be living in the living room.

It...it really doesn't bear thinking about, to be honest.

Come here. Let's get you in it.

Despite all this, Chris and Charlotte have never given up

on the hope that the twins will make progress.

I just want them to walk and talk and just be the best they can.

We just want them to be the best they can.

But their house was getting in the way.

We're desperate and we don't know what else to do.

We don't know where to start or what we can do

to give the boys what they deserve.

It's breaking them. It's actually breaking them.

It's fair to say the family were desperate.

She said to me she'd carry those boys to the end of the Earth, but...

She wants to do that, but she can't.

The troops were called to the rescue and in just nine days,

these brave Brummies have given this family a chance

to take their first steps towards a happier future.

We turned a cramped three-bedroom house

into a four-bedroom family home.

A ramp will mean getting through the front door

will no longer be the challenge it was.

The walls at the back of the house have been removed

to create a large kitchen-diner extension -

a place the whole family can enjoy and have mealtimes together.

The boys only went and completed the panel wall -

what a beautiful feature it is.

A lift has been added

so Charlotte doesn't need to struggle up the stairs.

The adjoining wet room comes with a changing table and hoist

so that bath-time is no longer a backbreaking affair.

Gone are the days of imprisonment in the living room.

The wall has been knocked down to create a large, open space

that they can relax in together.

Upstairs, the boys have been separated

into two different rooms,

so they'll no longer keep each other up during the night.

Each room reflects their personalities,

and both come with a hoist and walking harness

to get these boys on their feet.

The extension has also created a brand-new room

for Charlotte and Chris to relax and unwind in.

There's also a luxurious wet room upstairs for the whole family.

Jack's room may not have changed structurally,

but a high-raised bed has been added to maximise the space

and to give Jack a place to hang out in underneath.

But the question is, did they finish the garden?

Back of the net!

These champion league stars have made a garden fit for a pro

AND a place where Chris and Jack

can get the father-and-son time they desperately craved.

If you're ready, open your eyes.

SHE LAUGHS

-You can't?

-No, I can't!

Come on. Time to open your eyes.

This is...like a different house, totally.

Wow... Look at all this space!

-There's a lift.

-I know.

You'll be able to get them upstairs without breaking your back any more.

I'll be able to keep the boys with us, upstairs.

I can picture the boys, I can...

-SHE SOBS

-Look at this.

-I love the kitchen.

-So do I.

There is loads and loads of storage, extractor fan, beautiful hob...

-Just absolutely beyond belief.

-SHE GASPS

-I feel like I can't breathe.

-It's beyond belief.

This is all new house.

-Nine days.

-CHRIS LAUGHS

Wow!

You saw, over in the corner,

a little desk, a little writing desk.

-Did you notice that?

-I did notice that.

Cos obviously, someday,

you're going to go back to being a lawyer or something, aren't you?

-That would be nice.

-You'll find a way to do something.

You have to do...

After our discussion the other day,

you've got such huge ambitions for the boys -

and quite rightly, too -

but you mustn't let go of your own ambitions.

It doesn't have to be that way. You'll find a way to do it.

You will find a way to do it, cos you find a way to do everything.

As a family, you find a way to do everything.

-Oh, wow!

-I love it!

CHRIS LAUGHS

-Wow...

-Look at this.

First of the hoists that I am going to show you.

The bathroom, as they get bigger, you want to be able to take them

out of the chair and put them on the mat.

That is what that is for - to help with that situation.

-But the bathroom is a beautiful bathroom, isn't it?

-It is.

-It is.

-Absolutely. Look at it, it's just amazing.

It's got what we need, but...

It's got what we need, but it's got so much more as well.

Come this way.

-This is...

-Oh, my God!

SHE GASPS

Look at the boys!

Oh, wow!

Oh, my God.

-Come and have a seat.

-We were kind of trapped in this room, weren't we?

But look at it now.

-I wouldn't even mind being trapped in it now.

-No.

-It's just got... It's the space.

-Yeah.

It's the space for the boys.

SHE SOBS

Do you know, the other day,

you asked me what it was I thought you were doing

or what it was I wanted,

and people have asked me that a lot, and...

I don't think I dared to dream, I don't think...

I couldn't have imagined this in my wildest dreams.

It's just all so perfect. It really is.

It's just what the boys need, it's what we need.

It's the best thing in the world.

People that have given up time with their family

and time with their jobs and everything like that

to do this for us is just...

It's... It's just phenomenal. It's just unbelievable.

I asked you the other day whether you could see a future,

and you said you just didn't think like that.

You didn't think ahead.

I'll get the boys walking here. I will. I will, I promise.

This is the place I could do it.

The boys can be the best they can be here.

I can see that now.

CHOKED UP: Well, that's me ruined, as well.

THEY LAUGH

Don't need to bounce off the banisters,

cos they'll be in the lift.

Look at the size of our hall.

THEY LAUGH

How has it ever got this big?

Oh, look at this!

-Look at his bed.

-This is a proper little boy's room.

Alex's bedroom.

Oh...

No more trying to squeeze him into a cot.

Remember the problem we talked about?

Hoists, admitting defeat, not wanting to admit defeat

and, like, you're determined that they're going to walk?

OK - these are walking harnesses.

So, essentially, you put them in here,

they can learn to walk, up and down.

Oh...that would just be the best.

That's brilliant.

So a hoist doesn't have to be a bad thing,

doesn't have to be an admission of defeat.

It can actually be part of your ongoing plan.

That's fantastic.

I didn't know such a thing existed, I didn't know...

That's...that's brilliant.

I love it. I really... I love it.

Ah, cool!

Oh, wow.

Look at this. Beautiful.

-And a walking harness.

-Yeah.

-Oh...

-Wow. This is just absolutely amazing.

-Dyl's going to love this.

-You've done him proud.

You've done my boys proud, and that was what was important to me.

How long since you've had a proper night's sleep?

A long, long time.

-Oh, my... Wow! Look at this.

-SHE GASPS

Oh, it's beautiful.

It's beautiful.

-See the bedside tables?

-Yeah.

-You see the wood in the bedside tables?

-Mm-hm.

-Yeah.

That was the parquet flooring that was downstairs,

that was all covered up, because we wanted to make sure

there was a little piece of the original house...

-Nana's house.

-Your grandma's house.

-Oh... That's so thoughtful.

Oh, isn't that lovely?

Isn't that a brilliant idea?

I love it. I love it.

When we chatted the other day

and I said...I was talking to you about it,

you were saying you don't really do emotion -

you haven't got time for it and you are uncomfortable,

and I said you don't want to open boxes that don't want to be opened.

Just want to keep it all closed up.

You seem a different person since we walked into the house.

I think you were quite perceptive.

I think I don't think a lot and just get on with it,

and if you start to think, then I worry it's a spiral downwards

that I won't ever be able to crawl back out of.

Life WAS tough, but this is going to make it so much better,

and I can see that now.

I didn't want to think about...

I couldn't have dreamt of any of this,

but I think coming in here and walking in here

and seeing the difference and the fact that...so many things

that I couldn't have even thought about or dreamt about,

and how much better it's going to be,

it's...it's just phenomenal.

It's just... I don't know.

It's just rocked me to the core, I think.

So perhaps it's broken through a few of those boxes.

Now it's time for Jack's tour.

-What do you think?

-Hey, dude!

-Hiya.

That's your bed - proper bed. Built specially for you.

It's awesome.

-Look at it!

-Oh, look at that!

It's a football pitch.

That's good. There you go, that's the boy.

It doesn't go into next-door's garden.

-Like it?

-Yeah, love it.

This is so that you can have a bit of you-time out here and play.

-Is that good?

-Yeah.

-Can I have a cuddle?

-I love you.

-You can have your friends round now, play football.

I know you do.

-This is a bit different!

-It is, isn't it? There's no...

-No falling out of the front of the wheelchair.

-One-handed!

THEY LAUGH

-What do you think, boys?

-What do you think? Is this exciting?

Look, boys, it's home.

HE LAUGHS

-Yeah!

-What's that, Dyl?

-Are you going in with Al?

-Yeah, sure.

See you at the top!

Look at this!

What do you think?

SHE GASPS

This is Alex's bedroom!

Yeah!

Look at this!

This is your big boy room.

This is your room now, next to Mummy and Daddy's room.

-Stand right.

-Hey, good boy!

-Yeah!

-Look at this!

-He's stepping!

-Yeah.

-Yes, yes!

I think this is the tool to help us, I really do.

-I really am...really am pleased.

-He's just taken steps.

There's quite a few builders outside I'd like to introduce you to

-who have done all this. You up for that?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

I say "quite a few" - I mean a whole load of wonderful people.

APPLAUSE

To think that all you people have given up time

with your family and your jobs

to come and help people you've never even met before,

we really can't thank you enough.

There isn't words that can describe the way we feel at the moment.

You haven't just changed our house or our lives. It's transformed...

You are...just so amazing, and the twins,

they're going to do well because of all of you.

And I just want to say thank you so much

from the bottom of my heart, I really, really mean that.

Now, nice and quiet, because our new football hero...

-Do want to tell them what you think of the garden?

-I love it.

-You've got a little letter you want to read, yeah?

-Yeah.

Ready for that? Step to the front here,

so everyone can hear you.

"Thank you very much for working on our house,

"making it suitable for Alex and Dylan.

"Thank you very, very, very, very, very much.

-"Yours sincerely, Jack Bull."

-Well done.

The twins would like to say something, listen up.

-RECORDING:

-Thank you!

-RECORDING:

-Thank you!

-Thank you.

-You all right?

It's all these boys that have done it.

-I did the electricals.

-Thank you.

Every parent has dreams for their children's future,

but Charlotte had kind of given up hope,

because she knew what she needed wasn't possible.

She'd screwed down her emotions so tight

because she felt if she let go, she might never stop.

Yet, in there, she let go, didn't she. Why?

Because she now has the tools she needs.

She CAN see a future, she CAN dare to hope,

and who knows what this family can now achieve?

All cos of these people.

Maybe you know somebody who needs your help.

INDISTINCT CHATTER