The Big Build - Wigan DIY SOS


The Big Build - Wigan

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Transcript


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He's had a lot of his life taken away from him.

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We want to give him back as much as we possibly can,

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not stuck in a bed in a care home all his life.

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We're here to help a family get their son back home.

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'I can look after him better.'

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I can take him out in the chair.

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We can't do - we just go and see him.

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'From praying for him to be alive...'

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..we now want him home.

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To care for a son who's been robbed of his future.

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'He's 36, he's only a young man.

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'He's still got the same heart.'

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It's just that his body

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doesn't function in the same way as it used to.

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This is a family that desperately needs to heal before it's too late.

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'I think people...'

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..people on the outside don't see

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how it's affected both my parents, but especially my father.

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'I don't cry in front of Mark.

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'I know he knows that I do cry,'

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but I don't like him to see it.

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I can look after him better.

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Cos I'm his dad.

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And it's my job.

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We're in Wigan to build a home that brings this family back together.

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With a flamboyant designer and just nine days,

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we don't expect an easy ride.

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It's not just an issue of coverage, is it, Laurence?

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It's an issue of authorship, Nicholas.

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We need the usual suspects of course, and we need a small army.

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We need a small army!

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-Mate, they're over there.

-Ah!

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Are you up to do a job that's almost impossible?

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ALL: Yes!

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This is DIY SOS: The Big Build!

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CHEERING

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Wigan, near Manchester, is home to the Burrows family.

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That's retired scaffolder, Frank, and Christine.

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They've been happily married for nearly 40 years.

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They have two grown-up children -

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Michelle, who's expecting her first child, and their son, Mark.

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Mark was a bit of a jack-the-lad, weren't he?

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He was a nightclub manager, and he loved his job.

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And he loved the outdoor. Absolutely adored the outdoor.

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Fishing and camping - that was his whole summer.

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He was a very loving son.

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I was so proud of him.

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Mark moved back in with Frank and Christine in 2011,

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in their small two-bedroom bungalow, when he lost his job.

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The garage became his storage, and he moved in the bedroom there.

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And, um...

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life was good, because the prodigal son had returned home,

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if you like.

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I got Mark a job working for my company as a scaffolder.

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-It was a turning point, yeah.

-It was good.

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He was happy, yeah.

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A month later, Mark's life was to change for ever.

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In the April of 2012, Mark went to Sheffield for a night out.

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He got into an argument with three football supporters.

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A single punch was thrown, and Mark fell badly,

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hitting his head on the pavement.

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He was rushed to hospital.

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AMBULANCE RADIO TRAFFIC

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The fall caused massive brain injuries.

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Frank and Christine drove the hour and a half to Sheffield

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whilst doctors battled to save him.

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Longest journey of my life, and we didn't know much then.

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It was made quite clear, 7:00 in the morning,

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that they came to us and said,

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"Your son is alive, but he is utterly and totally different now,

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"and he will be for the rest of his life."

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There he was, this lean, fit young man with a tan,

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cos he'd been on holiday, and he looked normal, natural,

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apart from everything else, and we looked at him, and...

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(Come on, love.)

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I've had my heart ripped out.

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That's what I feel like.

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That someone's just taken him away.

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And I keep kicking myself as to why.

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As healthy as he was.

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Why it had to happen to him...

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..and not me.

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I miss him so much.

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Mark is now severely brain damaged.

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Although he shows signs he understands instructions,

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he can't speak or move, and is reliant on carers 24 hours a day.

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As soon as he left hospital, Mark went to live in a care home.

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He recognises family when they visit,

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but he's had to remain in a home ever since his incident.

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We see him every single day, we are his main stimulation.

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He relates to us.

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Now, don't get me wrong, they are doing a marvellous job.

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But we are his family, and we want him home to live with us,

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not stuck in a bed in a care home all his life.

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Frank and Christine live in a modest bungalow,

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but having been made redundant,

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they're struggling to raise the funds they need

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to convert their home for Mark's needs, so he has to remain in care.

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It doesn't work for a disabled person.

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We can't get him through the door.

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If you do manage to get him to the bedroom,

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there is nothing at all that we have to lift him onto the bed,

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there is nowhere for him to have a shower,

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there is nowhere for him to have a bath.

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He means everything to us.

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He is our son, he's a part of this family.

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He's had a lot of his life taken away from him,

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and we want him home to live with us.

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I can look after him better.

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Cos I'm his dad.

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And it's my job.

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Sorry.

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It's almost like you need us

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-to build a little extra house on the side rather than...

-Yes.

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..do anything, really, with this part of the house.

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That was the idea - he needs to live independently from us,

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although he... he will only be next door.

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And a communal area so we can all kind of meet together in the middle.

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-Right.

-And spend time together as a family,

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but he can also have his independence.

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So with us building this sort of interconnected living space,

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is not just about him having space,

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-it's about a potential for recovery, you think?

-Of course.

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It's finding the roots and the ways that he can improve.

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We want him to live the most fulfilled life he can,

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and that's our ultimate goal.

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All right, we'll do our best and we'll try and... You know, we're going to have to take away

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a large chunk of your garden and a large chunk of the side of the house.

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-OK.

-And it's going to look very different when you come back.

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'This family are determined to get their boy out of the care home

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'and living with them,

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'and it might be a bit of a shock, but we're not doing it alone.'

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-Ooh!

-Hey!

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'Yeah, we've got the manpower, but what we don't have is much time,

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'so it's bye-bye, family...'

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-Hello.

-Hello, Michelle, hi..

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Nice to see you, take care, Frank, catch up with you later in the week.

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'..and hello new workmates.'

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Would you like to explain who the designer is on this, as well?

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He wafts about a bit, and he's quite fragrant.

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CHAMBER MUSIC PLAYS

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But he's a decent bloke.

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So who's the designer that you're most worried

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that we might turn up with?

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ALL: Laurence.

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THEY LAUGH

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Er...yeah, this looks like it, driver,

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just drop me here, that's fine.

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Yes, that's exactly who's turning up.

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THEY LAUGH

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It is actually. Laurence is coming, look.

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'But the builders are mistaken - he is a man of the people.

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'He's arrived by bus, although that's more to do

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'with the budget we've got these days, to be honest.

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'And he's got off about three stops early.

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'Still, it will give us time to get on with the job.'

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-Name?

-Stu.

-Stuart.

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'We're a site of highly trained individuals.

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'And Mark.'

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DOG BARKS

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'That's funny. That's very funny!

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'Make sure you pack that skip properly - I want it airtight.'

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It's a big, big, big, big concrete pad, isn't it?

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It's a big concrete slab.

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Also, there was a big building here as well.

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'Yes, we've had to do some prep, so we pulled down the old garage,

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'and poured the concrete so it set in time for our building works.

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'Which we need to happen...

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'well, almost immediately actually, because the designer is now here.

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'Despite looking very much like the Italian love child

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'of Shakespeare and Cher, I am of course very much looking forward

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'to working with the man, and indeed his highly pruned facial hair.'

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What's your overarching theme with this house?

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Well, obviously the big thing we've got to do

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is to unite the generations, cos you've got the parents,

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who've got a very, very specific take on taste,

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and we're not touching their zone, if you like,

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we've got Mark, but we've got that transitional space between the two,

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which they will share.

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'Laurence has designed both his hair and the home in two halves.

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'We're not touching Frank and Christine's side.

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'Instead, the old garage will become Mark's apartment.

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'We'll be extending the original footprint to create a carer's area

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'with pull-out bed and a kitchenette,

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'and at the back, we'll build Mark's bedroom and wet room.

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'The old guest bedroom gets a Laurence-like styling makeover,

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'as does the old dining room,

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'but we'll also make it wheelchair accessible,

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'and we'll be constructing a brand-new communal lounge,

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'accessible from both sides of the bungalow.'

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I want my vision of Mark's space, which is going to be very youthful,

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very energetic, quite...

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It sounds a funny word to use, but sort of slightly Mediterranean,

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and I like this kind of Ibiza look that's around a lot at the moment.

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A little bit industrial.

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So wish me luck, Mr Knowles.

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-Good luck(!)

-LAURENCE LAUGHS

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'Yeah, the jury's out on that one, to be honest.

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'Not that it matters,

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'because the unstoppable force that is a Big Build has begun.'

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So that beeping is our delivery,

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so that means materials are coming in

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for us to build the building with.

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And all the noises coming from this side

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means there's a bit of demolition going on,

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so that gives me a happy face.

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See?

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'That's terrifying, isn't it?

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'And he's not the only one, because there are 50 people

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'on site today, all happy to give up their time to come and help out.'

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Where you off to?

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Electricians.

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Where you going?

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We've got to sort the drawing out,

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there's a few things we need to discuss.

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'Unbelievable, they're actually going to a cafe

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just to talk about plans.

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'At least the other trades are cracking on with it.

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'We've got just nine days to do a build that would ordinarily take about three months,

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'so it's going to be a tight squeeze.

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'Frank and Christine's old garage

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'left a very narrow strip for us to build, in between their bungalow

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'and the neighbour's garage wall, there on the left.

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'None of which should be a problem,

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'because Mark's already been out ahead of us and measured up.

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'I am of course being ironic,

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'because he is a fool and always measures wrong.

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'He can't even reach. Look at that - it's embarrassing.

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'We've got just three hours to construct the skeleton of the extension,

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'so we're using pre-constructed timber-framed panels to get ahead,

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'but at the speed of continental drift,

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'our compact Irish colleague has spotted a thinness issue.'

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Just step into the hole there for me for a second, will you?

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Not much room for building a wall, is there?

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Hold on...

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-Argh!

-Would you get in there to be able to fix some brick slabs?

-No!

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-Ohh!

-Oh, you nearly burst.

-Nearly popped.

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THEY LAUGH

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He'd be your boy. He's a bit skinnier, isn't he?

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That's true, actually.

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But to be honest, you couldn't get a tool in there.

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-He is a tool.

-He is a tool!

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-Hey!

-THEY LAUGH

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'So how do we get our rendering tool in there?'

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I've got a suggestion.

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That's the neighbour's garage -

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I was thinking of asking the neighbour if we could prop his garage up on acrow props...

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-And take his wall out.

-..and take the wall out.

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That's a good idea.

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'Yeah, it might sound daft, but it's the only way we're going to be able to save this build,

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'because without a friendly neighbour, we can't make the exterior waterproof.

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'Not that that's stopping the guys from building it.

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'They're ahead of schedule, and, by Jove, they're not stopping for anyone.

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'Ooh, it's a bit tight, isn't it? It really is.

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'So all I have to do now is track down the neighbour,

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'who's out at work, and get them to let us knock down their wall.

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'Hmm.

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'The front is throwing up a few problems,

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'but the back isn't exactly a walk in the park either.'

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What about the garden, then, cos it's a weird old space, isn't it?

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Actually, in design terms, I quite like this.

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The house is so much higher,

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it means you're going to be looking down onto the garden,

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and I want to, I want to use...

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I want to make a very bold kind of swirl shape in the middle of it,

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and then have the planting either side.

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'Laurence wants to make a big feature of the garden,

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'so we're going to create an elongated,

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'wheelchair-friendly resin descent.

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'But with 50,000 tonnes of soil

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'and 30,000 tonnes of hard material to remove,

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'it's not going to be easy.'

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Also, I think circles is going to work very well here.

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'I don't look convinced, do I?

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'Or moisturised, or attractive.'

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When in doubt, get the guns out!

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'Yes, and we're going to need those guns and many more like them,

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'because unfortunately we can't get a digger in,

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'so everything has to be broken and removed by hand.

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'And, of course, they're not doing this just for the love of it -

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'they're doing it for Mark.

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'The hope is that by bringing him home,

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'it will stimulate him and improve his condition.'

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Let's go outside, buddy, go and get some sunshine.

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-Get out in the sunshine, yeah - it's a lovely day for it.

-Yeah, it's gorgeous.

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One of Mark's favourite pastimes is coming outside.

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'He's been in a care home now for two years.

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'I've travelled the 20 miles Frank and Christine do every day

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'to visit him and meet his carer, Dave.'

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What's your main interest, Mark, you still interested in music?

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Yeah, loves his music. House music, rave music, things like that. Yeah?

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Well into that, aren't we, mate?

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It's not the big things for Mark, it's the little things,

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you know? Things that most people take for granted.

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It's the small things that make Mark's day.

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When his mum and his dad and his sister

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and people like that come into his life, his smile, you know,

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his eyes light up,

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that's when you realise that there's still somebody there,

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you know, there's still somebody within this body that's trapped.

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For Mark to move home, it's going to be absolutely massive for him,

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it's going to make so much difference to Mark's life as a whole.

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There's no denying that Mark's receiving amazing care

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at the centre - it's just not home.

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This is, or at least it will be, if we can get it done.

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We're pushing on with the build. We'll need to reconfigure

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the space on the bungalow side which means taking down a wall

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to make enough space for a new carer's area,

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kitchen, bedroom and wet room.

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Many hands make light work.

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Should play for the England cricket team(!)

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Well, this really big space is the new building for Mark

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and, as we've said, the trick is to build a new bungalow

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alongside the old bungalow and weave the two together which is

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what this hole is all about here. Once the steels are in here,

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we get to make this space become part of this space and it's all

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woven together despite being, essentially,

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two different buildings. Quite cool, don't you think?

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Taking the neighbour's wall down is a real issue.

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We actually can't complete our build without doing it.

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So this is the man we've been looking for, Karl.

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This is his house, which he's moving into on...?

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Sometime over the weekend.

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-Three days.

-But there's a bigger issue, isn't there?

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-There is.

-In that we need to take down a wall of your garage.

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So hopefully our plan of attack is we'll get in there, we'll clear

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all the stuff out of your garage and we'll support the roof.

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-Yeah.

-Take all that out and do it all brand-new again.

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-That's good.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, that's fine, I'm good with that.

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Are you a man who likes a man-hug or are you not really...?

0:17:200:17:23

Oh, yeah, I'm always up for a man-hug.

0:17:230:17:25

Thank you very much. Watch out.

0:17:250:17:27

Not you.

0:17:280:17:30

Yeah, I wasn't quick enough to stop that, was I?

0:17:300:17:32

Wouldn't you like neighbours like that?

0:17:320:17:34

People who just say, "Yes, by all means, knock down our garage."

0:17:340:17:36

Which is exactly what we start to do.

0:17:360:17:38

Of course, there's a real goal here

0:17:420:17:44

and that's to bring this family back together.

0:17:440:17:47

They've always been close and, although Mark's sister Michelle

0:17:470:17:50

no longer lives at home, it was her that contacted us

0:17:500:17:54

and asked for our help.

0:17:540:17:56

How are you dealing with it all? Because, as brother and sister,

0:17:560:17:59

you were very close.

0:17:590:18:00

Yeah, we were, we still are and it's hard cos sometimes

0:18:000:18:04

I still go to ring him and forget, erm, that I can't ring him.

0:18:040:18:10

He was always the life and soul of the party, so I still miss him.

0:18:100:18:14

Can you still see Mark in there? Do you know what I mean?

0:18:140:18:17

Yeah, he's still there and he's still the same person.

0:18:170:18:20

He just struggles to communicate, cos he is, he's still

0:18:200:18:22

an individual person, he's still got the same personality,

0:18:220:18:25

he's still got the same heart,

0:18:250:18:27

everything about him is still the same, it's just

0:18:270:18:29

that his body doesn't function in the same way as it used to.

0:18:290:18:33

It's been a disastrous couple of years, hasn't it?

0:18:330:18:35

Yeah.

0:18:350:18:36

Sorry.

0:18:380:18:39

We all have good days and bad days but...

0:18:430:18:46

people on the outside don't see

0:18:460:18:48

how it's affected, erm, both my parents. They don't see

0:18:480:18:52

the hurt that they go through every day, especially my dad.

0:18:520:18:55

He's really... He's really struggled to cope with it

0:18:550:18:58

cos, in a way, as a family

0:18:580:18:59

we've grieved but you're grieving for somebody that's still there.

0:18:590:19:03

When you go to sleep at night and these things go over in your

0:19:030:19:06

head, what is it that you wish for? What's the endgame for you?

0:19:060:19:10

Just for Mark to be happy, it's all about him being independent

0:19:100:19:15

and...and setting up a structure and a life for him that he needs

0:19:150:19:20

in able to grow. He's 36, he's only a young man and he needs to be

0:19:200:19:26

able to develop and grow and he'll have his own place,

0:19:260:19:28

he'll have people that love to be around him

0:19:280:19:32

and he'll just have a good life and be happy.

0:19:320:19:35

It's a new day in a new town and a new van for Billy.

0:19:410:19:45

Seatbelt!

0:19:460:19:50

-Right.

-How long have you been driving?

-Since 1967.

0:19:500:19:54

Did you pass your test?

0:19:540:19:55

# I've been driving in my car... #

0:19:570:20:01

-Right, don't...?

-What's that? HORN TOOTS ONCE

0:20:010:20:05

-Those people are just saying hello.

-No, that's two toots.

-Yeah.

0:20:050:20:08

Right, that's friendly. One toot's not friendly.

0:20:080:20:11

-You make me laugh.

-All right.

0:20:110:20:13

You should have a warning sign, you know.

0:20:210:20:23

YOU should have a warning sign.

0:20:230:20:25

In fact, we're thinking of posting warning signs around every town

0:20:250:20:28

and village that we go to in future.

0:20:280:20:30

At the house, the sparks have started without Billy. No problem,

0:20:330:20:36

they're just getting on with it, as they do.

0:20:360:20:38

But what they are concerned about is Laurence's design reputation.

0:20:380:20:42

Just see how it's going, OK? Good.

0:20:420:20:44

What would your first natural question be

0:20:440:20:46

to Laurence about the design that's coming up?

0:20:460:20:48

Me? What would mine? No, I can't repeat it.

0:20:480:20:51

-Come on! Ask him, no, ask him!

-Spit it out, I'm man enough.

0:20:510:20:55

I mean, a lot of it, for me, is...

0:20:550:20:58

Some of the designs, to me,

0:20:580:21:00

go over the top, you know, I suppose I'm just a simple lad.

0:21:000:21:03

Light in the middle and the light down there.

0:21:030:21:06

Well, the nice thing is that there is always

0:21:060:21:08

room on the planet for simple lads such as yourself.

0:21:080:21:10

It sounds like a strange thing to say

0:21:100:21:12

but I want to use a very visible track because he's got

0:21:120:21:14

the track that takes him into the bathroom which I, you know,

0:21:140:21:17

I don't want that to be just an isolated...

0:21:170:21:19

We've got to work round it,

0:21:190:21:21

I want it to be part of the design scheme, I want it to be reflected

0:21:210:21:25

in what we do, so we're going to be doing a lot of track lighting.

0:21:250:21:27

It's quite 1980s, which I like. The 1980s is a slight theme there.

0:21:270:21:31

-Do you remember the '80s?

-Oh, just.

-Yeah, you see...

0:21:310:21:33

Only a young lad, me.

0:21:330:21:35

You obviously weren't doing them properly if you remember them.

0:21:350:21:38

So are your fears allayed? Or have I made them worse?

0:21:380:21:41

Rub salt into that wound.

0:21:410:21:43

No, no, no, we'll just do whatever you want.

0:21:430:21:45

You can see where they're coming from, can't you?

0:21:450:21:47

Laurence isn't exactly known for his conservative design palette

0:21:470:21:50

but then Mark, who we're building it for, was never that conservative.

0:21:500:21:53

Of course, he loves his music so I can understand.

0:21:530:21:56

So the Ibiza thing, is this...?

0:21:560:21:57

I've really sprung off on the Ibiza thing,

0:21:570:21:59

and I... As you know, I always think it's really, really important

0:21:590:22:02

with all of these schemes that they are sensational design schemes.

0:22:020:22:05

You know, it's a very sensitive issue for me

0:22:050:22:07

because my mother was disabled. She, you know,

0:22:070:22:10

she spent most of her life in a wheelchair

0:22:100:22:12

and one of my big missions in this kind of context is the fact that

0:22:120:22:16

too often it's all just about need,

0:22:160:22:18

so there's no room for that wonderful...

0:22:180:22:21

..help that actually something looking nice can give you as well.

0:22:220:22:26

Yes, he might be wearing more lacquer than a French dresser

0:22:260:22:30

but Laurence has a point.

0:22:300:22:31

This family deserves some good fortune,

0:22:310:22:34

even if it means we have to dig deep.

0:22:340:22:35

Just a second.

0:22:350:22:36

Get my bicep up!

0:22:380:22:39

When it's finished, it's going to be a big apartment, which means

0:22:410:22:44

there's space for friends

0:22:440:22:45

and that's something I'm sure Mark will benefit from.

0:22:450:22:49

You're a friend of Mark's?

0:22:490:22:51

Yes, we've been friends for years, it was just fun 24-7.

0:22:510:22:55

He was always up to mischief, always playing games, stupid things,

0:22:550:22:59

we were always having parties with him

0:22:590:23:01

and... So he was just a really, really genuine, caring guy.

0:23:010:23:05

How has it been for all of his friends since the accident?

0:23:050:23:08

To go to the hospital and see him in a totally different state,

0:23:080:23:11

it wasn't Mark, and to not be able to help him

0:23:110:23:15

and to see him just lying there doing nothing, it has been hard.

0:23:150:23:19

Tough on the family as well.

0:23:190:23:20

Really tough, yeah, they've been torn apart through it all, really bad.

0:23:200:23:24

To bring him home I think he'll come on in leaps and bounds,

0:23:240:23:27

cos when he's around his family, you can see the old Mark coming back.

0:23:270:23:32

Well, that's exactly what we're hoping for.

0:23:320:23:35

Having made a great big hole in the bungalow, the steel's arrived,

0:23:370:23:40

so we can start to patch it up again.

0:23:400:23:43

3,960.

0:23:430:23:46

Yeah, that'll do, 3,960.

0:23:460:23:48

Don't let him measure stuff!

0:23:480:23:50

A quick cut down to size and it should go in a treat.

0:23:500:23:53

In at the end...lovely.

0:23:560:23:59

Something that Michelle, Mark's sister, said when I saw her

0:24:010:24:04

stuck with me.

0:24:040:24:06

Christine and Frank have been married for 39 years

0:24:060:24:08

but the last two have really tested them.

0:24:080:24:11

And I wondered how Christine has coped.

0:24:110:24:14

Do you find yourself running through the events that night?

0:24:160:24:19

I think it...

0:24:190:24:21

it just hits you every now and again,

0:24:210:24:23

it just sort of, like, comes over you in a big wave.

0:24:230:24:26

How do you feel now?

0:24:260:24:28

Just that it's unfair. So, so unfair.

0:24:280:24:31

Mark's had a life taken away from him

0:24:320:24:34

but I'm more angry for my husband because he's a broken man.

0:24:340:24:38

He...

0:24:400:24:42

He'd only just come out of hospital when it happened,

0:24:420:24:46

for secondary cancer and I thought

0:24:460:24:48

I was going to lose him at one point. And I knew what would be

0:24:480:24:51

going through his mind would be,

0:24:510:24:53

"They should have taken me instead of him."

0:24:530:24:55

You're worried about Frank, aren't you?

0:24:560:24:59

Very much so.

0:24:590:25:00

He's angry for his son every time he sees him.

0:25:000:25:03

He can't cope at the minute.

0:25:030:25:04

We're together, we're a team and I would say that we've done OK

0:25:060:25:11

but it's been really, really hard.

0:25:110:25:13

So maybe this is the corner turn.

0:25:130:25:16

This is definitely the corner turn, Frank will definitely benefit

0:25:160:25:20

when Mark's home and Mark will be home with his family where

0:25:200:25:25

he's loved and he's cared for.

0:25:250:25:26

He'll be out of one single room that he's been in for two years

0:25:260:25:31

in various hospital organisations and he'll...

0:25:310:25:35

He'll be free. That's how I see it, he'll be free.

0:25:350:25:39

That's what I want.

0:25:410:25:42

It's clear getting Mark home won't benefit just him but all the family.

0:25:460:25:50

We're 800 man hours into the build

0:25:510:25:53

and you can start to see real progress.

0:25:530:25:56

So by the end of play today I can actually call

0:25:560:25:58

-the roofers in to start getting this felted and battened.

-Yeah.

0:25:580:26:02

-And the flat room sorted.

-Yup.

-Brilliant.

0:26:020:26:06

What's not so brilliant is clearing up after Billy

0:26:060:26:08

but at least the boys aren't moaning about it.

0:26:080:26:10

I'll be mostly patching the ceiling today.

0:26:170:26:19

Putting these bits of wood up then we can put

0:26:210:26:23

bits of plasterboard in, then we can over-skim the whole ceiling.

0:26:230:26:26

It's taken a long, long time but my friend, colleague and best buddy

0:26:280:26:33

jumped in to join me. Doesn't say a lot but he's a nice boy.

0:26:330:26:37

There are all sorts of nice people helping out...

0:26:390:26:42

..and with good reason.

0:26:430:26:44

If my daughter was in the same position and I didn't have

0:26:440:26:48

the funds to have this kind of work done, you'd want someone to

0:26:480:26:52

chip in, give you a lift

0:26:520:26:54

and it's all for a good cause, so why not help?

0:26:540:26:58

-Have you got any kids?

-I've not, no, not yet.

0:26:580:27:01

-Are you married?

-Not yet.

0:27:010:27:02

Got a girlfriend?

0:27:020:27:04

He did have, did have.

0:27:040:27:06

Wait for it, ladies, good-looking lad there, on the market,

0:27:060:27:09

free and available if you're interested.

0:27:090:27:12

-What's the name?

-Brian.

0:27:120:27:14

-Brian - look at that.

-Oh, God, you can't.

0:27:140:27:16

Bless.

0:27:190:27:20

Our third day in, and once again our trades haven't disappointed us.

0:27:370:27:41

We've got just three hours to dig our curl-shaped trenches

0:27:480:27:51

before the concrete arrives and Laurence turns up to inspect.

0:27:510:27:56

I can't believe it.

0:27:560:27:57

Look at them go. It's incredible, isn't it?

0:27:570:28:00

Like a machine.

0:28:000:28:02

What's also incredible is how much enthusiasm Chris still

0:28:020:28:05

has for plastering.

0:28:050:28:06

17 spreads...

0:28:060:28:08

Guess what? The plasterers have turned up today...

0:28:080:28:11

-..17 spreads.

-..and they're everywhere,

0:28:110:28:13

they're all over the place...

0:28:130:28:14

-Come and have a look.

-..and guess who's really happy.

-17 spreads.

0:28:140:28:17

Yup, the inside is packed with skilled workmen.

0:28:180:28:22

-Well, sort of.

-GERMAN ACCENT: What is your name?

0:28:220:28:24

We have ways and means of making you talk!

0:28:240:28:27

Hell, no!

0:28:270:28:28

And around the back...

0:28:340:28:36

..Laurence has turned up to pontificate on his swirls.

0:28:380:28:43

They're just not right.

0:28:430:28:44

I think I might have just arrived more or less just in time.

0:28:440:28:48

What do you mean, Laurence?

0:28:480:28:50

Although I have this frightful reputation of being deeply

0:28:500:28:53

impractical, actually I do think that mowing this tiny little...

0:28:530:28:56

I don't know, what would you call it? ..Brazilian grass

0:28:560:29:00

would be rather complicated. Someone got some spray?

0:29:000:29:04

I was going to say, "Well, mind the suit,"

0:29:100:29:12

but, to be honest, it can only improve it, can't it?

0:29:120:29:14

That's a bit wide.

0:29:140:29:16

Lord Swirly is, as it turns out, very particular about the curl.

0:29:160:29:20

Mm, OK, fine.

0:29:200:29:21

Well, it's going to look great from the roof, isn't it?

0:29:210:29:24

We've doubled the original area of that roof,

0:29:240:29:27

so it's hard graft for these boys ahead.

0:29:270:29:29

Although it's tough work, the build part of the project

0:29:340:29:37

is coming along nicely.

0:29:370:29:38

-We've got two days to do this so...

-We'll be done tomorrow.

0:29:400:29:43

The concrete has arrived which means the guys have been busy

0:29:470:29:50

shovelling it into trenches in the garden in accordance with

0:29:500:29:53

Lord Swirly's grand plan.

0:29:530:29:54

I think with relatively small suburban gardens like this,

0:29:570:30:00

people are often a little bit unimaginative about the shapes

0:30:000:30:03

they put in them, so I wanted to use big spirals to make the whole

0:30:030:30:09

thing feel more exciting, to make it feel much more like a journey.

0:30:090:30:13

OK, go on.

0:30:130:30:14

You know, nature comes in curls and curves and sort of big bosomy

0:30:140:30:19

swags, but the problem is it's really difficult, as you can see

0:30:190:30:22

here, we're having to make a giant compass now to get the curve right.

0:30:220:30:26

Yeah, it's a minor detail but the concrete's already in the trenches.

0:30:260:30:31

But Laurence feels, again, they didn't quite hit the mark.

0:30:310:30:34

The thing is, the time pressure is to obviously get the concrete out

0:30:340:30:37

before it sets and then move it so that it's in the right place,

0:30:370:30:41

so it was a very timely visit.

0:30:410:30:43

Look at them go.

0:30:450:30:48

Yes, now I'm worried.

0:30:480:30:50

-TO FIRESTARTER BY THE PRODIGY:

-I wanted to use curls and curls

0:30:500:30:52

and big spirals, big bosomy swags.

0:30:520:30:55

I know exactly what it's going to look like.

0:30:580:30:59

I know exactly what it's going to look like when it's all done.

0:30:590:31:02

Nobody else does.

0:31:020:31:04

Bricks, bricks, bricks, bricks, got to like bricks to hang out here.

0:31:040:31:08

Ah, the garden of Eden was nothing like this.

0:31:100:31:14

I'm very impressed, I don't impress easily.

0:31:140:31:17

Well, that was kind of weird, wasn't it? I think

0:31:170:31:19

the editor's gone for a lie down.

0:31:190:31:21

And so ends another busy day on a Big Build.

0:31:220:31:25

We're coming up to the halfway point to the build

0:31:300:31:32

and although we've made a good start, we need to keep on pushing.

0:31:320:31:35

With our extension side all nicely waterproofed, it's time to build

0:31:390:31:42

the neighbour's wall up again.

0:31:420:31:44

In about an hour's time it'll all be done.

0:31:460:31:48

Let's get it done and let's get him moved in. That's what I think, yeah.

0:31:480:31:52

Of course, everything changed for Mark one spring night in 2012

0:31:570:32:01

but life changed for Frank too.

0:32:010:32:03

I'm a dad myself and my heart goes out to him

0:32:030:32:06

and everything he's been through.

0:32:060:32:09

-It hasn't got any easier for you, has it?

-No.

0:32:090:32:13

No, erm, the reliving of what happened to Mark...

0:32:150:32:19

..it's just huge for us.

0:32:210:32:23

70% of the people who this sort of thing happens to

0:32:230:32:28

end up getting divorced. And I said,

0:32:280:32:30

"Well, it won't happen to me and Christine."

0:32:300:32:32

But, lo and behold, we have been through some

0:32:320:32:34

terrible days and times and we seem to argue over the least thing.

0:32:340:32:41

It just... I'm thinking, "Well, why is this like this?

0:32:410:32:45

-"This can't be right."

-It's the anger inside you, isn't it?

0:32:450:32:48

-Well, probably it is, yeah.

-And her too, I imagine.

0:32:480:32:50

Oh, good God, yeah.

0:32:500:32:52

Have you found it hard because, as a dad,

0:32:520:32:54

our job is to protect, isn't it?

0:32:540:32:57

Extremely, because I can't,

0:32:570:32:59

I can't protect him any more than what he's getting now,

0:32:590:33:02

and I felt as though I was letting everybody down then.

0:33:020:33:04

Where he is now,

0:33:040:33:05

I feel as though me hands are tied, there's very little I can do.

0:33:050:33:09

My son was very close to me.

0:33:090:33:12

We were very close and, er...

0:33:120:33:15

..I miss him...so much.

0:33:180:33:21

He's...

0:33:240:33:26

He's lost an awful lot in his life.

0:33:270:33:31

If there was a God up there, he made him not get married

0:33:310:33:35

or have children...

0:33:350:33:36

..cos I don't know how I would have coped with that as well.

0:33:370:33:39

And, yeah, me heart is broken.

0:33:440:33:46

Do you think you've turned a corner with this house being sorted out?

0:33:490:33:53

I've got a purpose in life now. It's to look after Mark

0:33:530:33:57

and I've not got to worry about what's gone, the past is the past

0:33:570:34:03

now, Mark's got a future which we didn't think he had before

0:34:030:34:06

and I'm going to make sure that that future is fulfilled,

0:34:060:34:10

my son's coming home.

0:34:100:34:12

Do you think now that Mark's coming home, now the house is sorted out,

0:34:120:34:15

do you think you and Christine will be able to...

0:34:150:34:18

rekindle your relationship?

0:34:180:34:22

I've no doubt whatsoever because that's all she ever wanted.

0:34:220:34:25

She'll get the family back.

0:34:250:34:27

39 years and I've never stopped loving her.

0:34:270:34:29

Apart from one person drinking tea, back on the site

0:34:370:34:40

we've picked up the pace.

0:34:400:34:41

Do a 15-second roundup. I'll count. One...

0:34:440:34:48

It's just gone... Hang on, we'll do it again

0:34:490:34:52

cos you started counting too early.

0:34:520:34:54

-When the camera comes round, count.

-All right then.

0:34:540:34:57

-One...

-Ah, there you are.

0:34:590:35:01

It's Saturday afternoon. Just to put you up to speed,

0:35:010:35:03

the floor's going down in the back rooms.

0:35:030:35:06

The plastering is finished.

0:35:060:35:08

The kitchen is going into the middle bit of the new extension.

0:35:090:35:13

It's absolutely kick-arse in there. It's happening.

0:35:130:35:16

Can't mention arses.

0:35:160:35:18

I wouldn't get a lot of work, would I?

0:35:180:35:20

You wouldn't get a lot of work.

0:35:200:35:22

Come on. Let's go and plasterboard that wall. We can do that.

0:35:230:35:25

I thought it was a good effort,

0:35:260:35:28

although I won't be looking over my shoulder

0:35:280:35:30

with trepidation any time soon.

0:35:300:35:32

Inside, we're cutting and fitting the carer's area.

0:35:320:35:35

Laurence has made it his personal mission to ensure

0:35:350:35:38

this space is functional but beautiful,

0:35:380:35:40

so he's personally arranged for a bespoke splashback

0:35:400:35:43

with Ibiza print made of glass.

0:35:430:35:45

Once the glass has been toughened and tempered...

0:35:460:35:49

-Yes.

-..that means it cannot be cut.

0:35:490:35:52

That is correct, yes. It then becomes safety glass

0:35:520:35:54

which means it shatters into pieces that are safe to handle

0:35:540:35:58

-once they've broken.

-Right.

0:35:580:36:01

So that means if it doesn't fit, it can't be altered.

0:36:010:36:04

It can't be altered, no.

0:36:040:36:05

Whoever gave them the measurement for the glass has measured it wrong.

0:36:050:36:09

They've not allowed for the ply on the wall, so it doesn't fit.

0:36:090:36:15

Mark Millar!

0:36:160:36:17

HE WHINES AND HOWLS

0:36:170:36:19

Yeah, that's not a happy face.

0:36:210:36:22

But luckily for him, these guys are professionals.

0:36:220:36:25

We're going to cut a piece out of the wall there,

0:36:250:36:29

slide it into that side, cut a piece out of that side,

0:36:290:36:32

slide it that side, even it out, job will be fixed.

0:36:320:36:36

See we don't need problems, we need answers

0:36:410:36:43

and that's just what they've given.

0:36:430:36:45

Moving on, at least the middle rooms are coming along nicely.

0:36:450:36:47

Funnily enough, though, the panelling has gone in upside down

0:36:490:36:52

but there we are. I'm not sure I don't quite like that.

0:36:520:36:54

Erm, it's one of those things that at this stage in the game,

0:36:540:36:57

you think, "Right, OK, well, that's a...

0:36:570:37:00

"That's a lucky accident, cos it looks so much more modern

0:37:000:37:03

"being upside down."

0:37:030:37:04

-NICK LAUGHS

-That's the spirit.

0:37:050:37:07

We're also looking on the bright side in the garden,

0:37:070:37:10

22 tonnes of topsoil coming in on foot.

0:37:100:37:13

-I love that. You see that?

-Yeah, "No negativity allowed."

0:37:140:37:17

Yeah. That's brilliant, ain't it?

0:37:170:37:20

By end of play today, resin will be in, lawn will be in,

0:37:200:37:23

brickwork will be done.

0:37:230:37:25

-We're finished, aren't we?

-Yeah.

0:37:250:37:27

We're also starting to see the light on the inside.

0:37:300:37:34

And if you look up there, there's a good-looking fella. Hello, son.

0:37:340:37:37

With the panelling in the two centre rooms complete,

0:37:390:37:42

the paint is out... Oh, white.

0:37:420:37:44

That doesn't look too bad, I suppose.

0:37:440:37:46

Yeah, it's very Laurence. Very bright.

0:37:470:37:50

-Flamboyant, shall we say?

-Mm... Yeah, I'm not sure.

0:37:500:37:53

We're also installing the hoists.

0:37:530:37:55

It's these kind of changes we hope

0:37:550:37:56

will change Mark's future for the better.

0:37:560:37:59

As a young man, Mark loved the outdoors and the Scouts.

0:38:020:38:05

Frank is still an active leader,

0:38:070:38:08

so with the help of friends, I've organised a day out.

0:38:080:38:11

Nice to be out in the open air.

0:38:140:38:15

Oh, it's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

0:38:150:38:17

-Well, I've brought Billy and Chris and Jules down...

-Right.

0:38:170:38:21

..to join Frank to go dragon boat racing.

0:38:210:38:24

-Oh, good.

-SHE LAUGHS

0:38:240:38:26

Those people getting on that boat

0:38:260:38:27

don't realise what they're getting into.

0:38:270:38:30

HE YELLS

0:38:300:38:32

Hello.

0:38:330:38:34

I'm not sure having Frank on the drum is a particularly good idea.

0:38:340:38:37

-You all right?

-Argh!

0:38:370:38:40

I'm not sure.

0:38:400:38:41

Go on, son. You'll be fine. Cock your leg over it. Get on.

0:38:410:38:44

-There you are, look.

-Whoa!

-You're all right. Just hold on.

0:38:440:38:48

How am I going to beat the drum if I'm holding on?

0:38:480:38:50

THEY CHEER

0:38:500:38:53

Is he known for his athletic ability, Frank?

0:38:530:38:56

He used to run marathons, yeah. He ran marathons.

0:38:560:38:58

What, the chocolate bar?

0:38:580:39:00

-SHE LAUGHS

-Chocolate bar!

0:39:000:39:03

Stand by. One, two, three...

0:39:030:39:06

WHISTLE SOUNDS

0:39:060:39:08

Look how out of sync they are on the one on the left.

0:39:120:39:15

It's like a drunk spider's legs.

0:39:160:39:19

Come on, Frank!

0:39:190:39:20

Come on, Frank!

0:39:240:39:26

-ALL:

-One! Two! One!

0:39:260:39:29

Oh, no. I think Julian's got this.

0:39:290:39:31

I think Julian's got it.

0:39:310:39:33

-CHEERING

-Win for Julian.

0:39:330:39:35

You know, a bit of fun like that shows us that this family

0:39:420:39:44

still have a real chance of putting the past behind them.

0:39:440:39:47

Having started this job, we hit a few snags,

0:39:510:39:54

but with the help of new friends, we've just about overcome them all.

0:39:540:39:58

That looks absolutely lovely.

0:39:580:39:59

Erm, by the look of it, it wasn't an easy installation!

0:39:590:40:02

No, it wasn't an easy installation.

0:40:020:40:04

By the way that you've chewed out that wall,

0:40:040:40:06

obviously with your own teeth.

0:40:060:40:08

Yeah! The neighbour's wall

0:40:080:40:10

that was flush to our extension has now been re-built.

0:40:100:40:13

That's grand. Job done!

0:40:130:40:15

And the trades are just about managing

0:40:150:40:18

to stay on top of Laurence's demands.

0:40:180:40:20

Have you got enough work on at the moment?

0:40:220:40:24

It looks like there's an enormous amount of chipping in.

0:40:240:40:27

Oh, we're busy. There's a lot to do.

0:40:270:40:29

Experience tells me this is usually the place

0:40:310:40:33

where the design starts to make sense.

0:40:330:40:36

But I'm struggling, and I'm not the only one, to be honest.

0:40:370:40:40

Erm, what is it? What are they supposed to be?

0:40:400:40:43

Are they gremlins? Are they...what? Are they sperm?

0:40:430:40:47

What do you think it is?

0:40:470:40:49

It looks like one of them lava lamps, doesn't it?

0:40:490:40:52

Oh, that could be right, yeah. A lava lamp,

0:40:520:40:54

that's what it looks like. Not sperm at all, really, is it?

0:40:540:40:57

HE LAUGHS

0:40:570:40:59

It reminds me of being in a room of lava lamps. What about you, Karl?

0:40:590:41:03

There are going to be things that happen which seem really weird,

0:41:040:41:08

but all of those things are part of a very finely balanced,

0:41:080:41:12

symphonic approach to design.

0:41:120:41:15

-Very tranquil, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's very therapeutic.

0:41:180:41:21

Yup, jellyfish.

0:41:230:41:25

We might have started with nine precious days,

0:41:250:41:28

now we have just hours left, so it's a rush

0:41:280:41:30

to get the plants into the garden - all 2,500 of them.

0:41:300:41:34

Colour in the garden is brilliant. I love colour,

0:41:340:41:36

but Laurence can take it too far.

0:41:360:41:39

He wants to paint a seat blue, and it's fine as it is!

0:41:390:41:42

We cannot stop the inestimable surge of design like this,

0:41:440:41:49

we cannot hold it back, we cannot Canute it.

0:41:490:41:51

But a big blue blob in the corner of the garden....

0:41:510:41:54

Which is absolutely what we need.

0:41:540:41:56

Oh, you - I said to everybody, don't find any brushes!

0:41:560:42:00

-Oh, man.

-Yeah, you're losing, man.

0:42:000:42:03

You're losing.

0:42:030:42:05

-Look! Well, the bad news is, we're so doing this.

-No, but we're not. No.

0:42:050:42:09

-We are. Look, it's perfect.

-But it's not just an issue of coverage, is it, Laurence?

0:42:090:42:13

It's an issue of authorship, Nicholas.

0:42:130:42:16

Design is now in charge.

0:42:160:42:19

Hang on, let me see this from a distance.

0:42:210:42:23

Honestly and truly, why is it blue? Nothing else in this garden is blue.

0:42:260:42:30

Apart from that pot, that pot over there, most of the planting.

0:42:300:42:33

It's a lot to do with the fact that, actually,

0:42:330:42:36

when you look from Mark's bedroom - our accent is all blue -

0:42:360:42:40

this is going to be the first thing you see.

0:42:400:42:42

As you absolutely rightly point out, it will stick out like a sore thumb, but that's the whole point of it.

0:42:420:42:46

And bearing in mind that Mark's going to be spending

0:42:460:42:49

a lot of time in there in bed, he will be able to see this,

0:42:490:42:52

and this suddenly, this corner of the garden,

0:42:520:42:54

becomes more about being part of his bedroom

0:42:540:42:56

than being segregated as an experience from being outside.

0:42:560:43:01

I'm giving that a round of applause.

0:43:010:43:03

Yeah, all right, he won that, yes, yes.

0:43:060:43:09

We've got a last-minute rush on to get the big items in,

0:43:090:43:11

and, of course, it's a busy time for Lord Swirly

0:43:110:43:14

and his cushion cuddling.

0:43:140:43:16

But all in all, he's gone and pulled a blinder, really, hasn't he?

0:43:160:43:20

He's very good.

0:43:210:43:23

Well, that's it, pretty much. All we've got to do is to have a bit of a sweep up and clean up

0:43:240:43:28

out here in the garden and hang a couple of picture inside, and we're done.

0:43:280:43:31

Nine days of sterling effort and it looks amazing.

0:43:310:43:34

You can't look at this stage, can you? Go on, quickly.

0:43:340:43:38

I know! It's amazing, isn't it?

0:43:380:43:41

In April 2012, a single punch to the head

0:43:500:43:54

left Mark fighting for his life.

0:43:540:43:56

They came to us and said,

0:43:560:43:59

"Your son is alive but he is utterly and totally different now."

0:43:590:44:03

His injuries left him totally dependent on carers.

0:44:030:44:07

With a home that wasn't built for his needs,

0:44:090:44:12

Mark went into care.

0:44:120:44:14

He means everything to us. He is our son.

0:44:140:44:16

Where he is down there, they're doing a marvellous job,

0:44:160:44:19

but we are his family and we want him home to live with us,

0:44:190:44:24

not stuck in a bed in a care home all his life.

0:44:240:44:27

We arrived nine days ago to find a family crumbling

0:44:270:44:30

and desperate to get their son home.

0:44:300:44:33

He's been in for two years in various hospital organisations

0:44:330:44:37

and he'll be free.

0:44:370:44:41

That's how I see it, he'll be free.

0:44:410:44:43

But with no savings or space to make it happen,

0:44:450:44:48

they were powerless to change things.

0:44:480:44:50

We couldn't have afforded to get him home.

0:44:500:44:53

No, we couldn't.

0:44:540:44:56

-We want him at home.

-We want him home.

-We want him home.

0:44:560:45:01

It was an impossible situation,

0:45:010:45:03

and it would have stayed that way indefinitely

0:45:030:45:06

if it weren't for these guys.

0:45:060:45:08

Just nine days ago this was a tiny two-bedroom bungalow

0:45:140:45:18

with a side garage.

0:45:180:45:20

Now, finally, Mark can call it home.

0:45:200:45:23

We've built a big self-contained flat

0:45:250:45:27

that runs alongside Frank and Christine's home.

0:45:270:45:30

Widened doors and a wheelchair ramp mean that for the first time

0:45:320:45:36

since his injury, Mark can come home and live alongside his family.

0:45:360:45:41

Inside has been transformed from an old dusty garage

0:45:420:45:46

to a brand-new apartment for assisted living,

0:45:460:45:50

giving Mark the independence

0:45:500:45:51

his family so desperately wanted for him.

0:45:510:45:54

At the front there's a carer's room,

0:45:560:45:58

complete with fold-away bed and a kitchenette.

0:45:580:46:01

Laurence's design draws on Mark's love of club music,

0:46:030:46:06

and it looks stunning.

0:46:060:46:08

The bold Ibiza vibe flows effortlessly throughout,

0:46:090:46:12

and incorporates all the medical equipment

0:46:120:46:15

and facilities Mark needs, from the bed in his bedroom,

0:46:150:46:20

to the hoist that runs through to the wet room.

0:46:200:46:23

It's functional without looking clinical.

0:46:230:46:26

All the floors have been levelled and the doors widened

0:46:280:46:31

so that Mark can move between different areas.

0:46:310:46:34

We've provided space for his family so they can begin to move on.

0:46:340:46:39

The old dining room has been transformed -

0:46:410:46:43

it now has a fresh colonial look, and is wheelchair accessible.

0:46:430:46:48

And we've built an entirely new lounge,

0:46:480:46:50

meaning there is finally an area

0:46:500:46:52

for talking and spending time with one another.

0:46:520:46:56

We've also refreshed the guest room so that Michelle can finally

0:46:560:47:00

spend comfortable time at home with Mum and Dad and brother.

0:47:000:47:03

The outside has had a major overhaul.

0:47:050:47:08

There are no more steps.

0:47:080:47:10

There are swirls - one gigantic one, in fact -

0:47:100:47:13

so that now the great outdoors can be used by everyone, including Mark.

0:47:130:47:17

You know, I even like the blue.

0:47:190:47:22

We've talked about the fact that the last two years have been dreadful,

0:47:230:47:27

and you were both saying that you were looking for a turning point.

0:47:270:47:31

There've been a lot of people come in

0:47:310:47:33

to try and turn things around for you.

0:47:330:47:35

We hope this is that turning point you've been looking for.

0:47:350:47:39

Open your eyes.

0:47:390:47:40

Oh, my goodness, it's beautiful.

0:47:420:47:45

-It's beautiful.

-My word.

0:47:500:47:54

What a difference.

0:47:540:47:55

How fantastic is that?

0:47:570:47:59

Wow.

0:48:030:48:06

This place is amazing.

0:48:060:48:09

To be honest, the bit you're really interested in

0:48:090:48:11

-is Mark's room, aren't you?

-Yeah,

0:48:110:48:13

-I'm excited to see that part.

-Yeah, of course.

0:48:130:48:17

HE GASPS

0:48:220:48:24

Oh!

0:48:270:48:28

CRYING: He'll love this.

0:48:290:48:32

He will absolutely love this.

0:48:320:48:35

Amazing.

0:48:370:48:38

I could have never imagined this. Never in a million years.

0:48:420:48:46

Thank you so much.

0:49:020:49:04

Words fail me, for once.

0:49:050:49:08

Nice bright colours in here,

0:49:080:49:09

and of course the all-important track,

0:49:090:49:12

which means he can come from the bed directly to the bathroom,

0:49:120:49:15

-that leads all the way through into the wet room and shower.

-Yeah.

0:49:150:49:18

Oh! Wow.

0:49:180:49:21

How good is this?

0:49:240:49:25

-What a superb place.

-Mark will absolutely love it.

0:49:270:49:32

So this is kind of a clubland bathroom.

0:49:320:49:36

I can't believe it.

0:49:360:49:38

I can't believe you've captured my son.

0:49:410:49:43

This is him.

0:49:460:49:48

Right, we've got some more to show you, we haven't finished yet. Come outside.

0:49:490:49:53

So here we go - as you keep on going down,

0:50:000:50:02

there's a bit of an Ibiza night-light thing going on here,

0:50:020:50:06

new radiator, kitchenette.

0:50:060:50:08

The picture, by the way, is Ibiza old town.

0:50:080:50:11

I can't believe the space.

0:50:110:50:14

This is the carer's room.

0:50:140:50:15

-This here is a fold-out bed so you take the cushions off.

-Oh, is it?

-Oh, yeah!

0:50:150:50:19

The idea is to keep the eye busy, keep the mind fired up.

0:50:190:50:21

Exactly. Exactly, and that's what he's in need of.

0:50:210:50:25

Stimulation will be just exactly what he needs now, isn't it?

0:50:250:50:30

I've got some more things to show you, we haven't finished yet.

0:50:300:50:33

And again, where have you got the space from?

0:50:400:50:43

As much as you wanted your son back home,

0:50:430:50:46

Michelle wanted her brother again.

0:50:460:50:48

You're definitely right there.

0:50:480:50:49

So this is the extra room, so that Michelle can come and be here

0:50:490:50:54

and spend time with Mark as well.

0:50:540:50:56

It's beautiful.

0:50:560:50:58

It's so beautiful. I don't know how to thank you.

0:51:000:51:03

It's been a long, long time for Mark, being cooped up,

0:51:030:51:07

and we can't wait to show him around now,

0:51:070:51:10

because he will love this, absolutely love what they've done for him.

0:51:100:51:14

Right, come on, I've got one more thing to show you.

0:51:140:51:17

-Wow!

-Oh, my goodness. It's gorgeous!

0:51:240:51:29

Never, ever in a million years

0:51:290:51:31

did I think that this would be anything like this.

0:51:310:51:35

And it's all accessible.

0:51:370:51:40

You would not believe the effort that has gone into this.

0:51:400:51:43

-I would, I would.

-Certainly can!

0:51:430:51:45

Come on, have a stroll down and take the route that Mark

0:51:450:51:48

will be taking whenever he comes out into the garden here.

0:51:480:51:51

I can't keep my eyes still, there's so much to look at.

0:51:510:51:53

There is so much to look at, definitely.

0:51:530:51:56

This is truly fantastic.

0:51:590:52:01

I'm overwhelmed by everybody's generosity.

0:52:020:52:05

Well, after two and a half years, time to bring your boy home.

0:52:060:52:10

Oh, yes, yes, yes.

0:52:120:52:13

-You ready?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-We are, yeah.

0:52:140:52:17

-Yes, please.

-Come on.

0:52:190:52:22

It's amazing, isn't it?

0:52:520:52:54

APPLAUSE DROWNS SPEECH

0:52:580:53:00

This is absolutely amazing.

0:53:060:53:08

-Hiya!

-Hiya, son.

-Hi, darling.

0:53:220:53:25

Welcome home, son.

0:53:250:53:27

-Welcome home.

-Yeah.

0:53:280:53:31

See? You're home, Mark.

0:53:310:53:35

You're home, son.

0:53:350:53:37

Eh?

0:53:390:53:40

It's all right. You'll be fine.

0:53:420:53:45

You will be fine. You can't wait to see in there.

0:53:450:53:49

Oh, he's crying.

0:53:510:53:52

All these people out here have done so much for your house.

0:53:540:53:58

MARK CRIES I know.

0:53:580:54:02

So, so much for you.

0:54:020:54:04

-Guys, why don't you take Mark in and show him his new home?

-OK.

0:54:040:54:10

Will do. Come on, son.

0:54:100:54:12

There you go, mate, welcome home. There you go.

0:54:140:54:17

Now then, Mark,

0:54:190:54:21

this is your carer's room, right?

0:54:210:54:25

Look at all this. Look at this!

0:54:250:54:28

-They're jellyfish, Mark.

-Jellyfish!

0:54:280:54:31

You can't catch them with your rod, can you?

0:54:310:54:33

Isn't it fab?

0:54:330:54:36

Isn't that lovely? I knew you'd love that.

0:54:360:54:39

Let's go further, son. Come on, then.

0:54:390:54:42

Remember this? This used to be our garage, didn't it?

0:54:420:54:46

Now then, Mark, this is your bedroom.

0:54:460:54:50

-Eh?

-Look at your bed.

0:54:500:54:53

-Look at your bed.

-It's amazing.

0:54:530:54:56

Wow.

0:55:010:55:02

This is all for you. I think you like it, don't you?

0:55:050:55:08

It's all quite overwhelming.

0:55:130:55:15

This is all for you, Mark, from all them good people outside.

0:55:210:55:25

This day's the start of the rest of your life,

0:55:250:55:28

and we're going to be beside you all the way.

0:55:280:55:32

Aren't we, eh?

0:55:320:55:35

-Eh?

-Eh?

0:55:350:55:38

It's important the whole family

0:55:390:55:42

are involved with Mark's care - now they can be.

0:55:420:55:46

It's beautiful.

0:55:490:55:50

Not to have this room would mean that I couldn't come and stay here.

0:55:500:55:53

You can see from the minute he walked in,

0:55:530:55:56

he had a little smile on his face.

0:55:560:55:58

You can just see that he loves it.

0:55:580:56:01

He's definitely going to have such a fulfilled life,

0:56:010:56:03

and so are we, all together as a family.

0:56:030:56:05

APPLAUSE

0:56:140:56:16

Sorry about the weather. LAUGHTER

0:56:260:56:29

And I'm sorry to keep you out here so long.

0:56:290:56:31

I think "thank you" is so inadequate for what you've done.

0:56:310:56:36

This has just changed our lives completely,

0:56:360:56:40

and Mark's life will be, by far, much better

0:56:400:56:44

for what you have done for him.

0:56:440:56:46

None of you knew Mark,

0:56:460:56:49

but I'm sure deep down

0:56:490:56:51

he knows what you've done for him,

0:56:510:56:54

and we certainly do. Thank you so much.

0:56:540:56:58

APPLAUSE

0:56:580:57:00

Can I just say something from my heart, as a mum, to all of you?

0:57:080:57:13

Each and every one of you are our heroes.

0:57:130:57:16

You have pulled us from the brink of despair.

0:57:160:57:21

Thank you to each and every one of you.

0:57:210:57:24

Top man. Got your boy home.

0:57:380:57:40

Hello!

0:57:420:57:43

CROWD NOISE DROWNS SPEECH

0:57:440:57:47

-We did your roof.

-Oh, OK.

-This roof and the flat roof at the back.

0:57:470:57:50

-At the back as well? You've been busy, haven't you?

-Yeah, we have.

0:57:500:57:53

There's a saying - you can choose your friends

0:57:540:57:57

but you can't choose your family.

0:57:570:57:59

But given the choice, Mark couldn't have done better, really.

0:57:590:58:02

They couldn't get past that final hurdle,

0:58:020:58:04

but these new friends did that for them.

0:58:040:58:07

They came together and gave them a new future.

0:58:070:58:10

That's an extraordinary thing, don't you think?

0:58:100:58:13

Maybe you know somebody who needs your help.

0:58:130:58:16

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