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The Big Build - Isle of Sheppey

DIY SOS Series 28

On the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, in a DIY SOS first, Nick Knowles and the team demolish a bungalow and try to build an entirely new home in just nine days.

The Isle of Sheppey in Kent is home to an extraordinary family - two boys and two girls brought together by two dads. Head teacher Garry and social carer Kyle first fostered then adopted four vulnerable children, three with complex special needs, because they wanted to give them the best life possible. Unfortunately their tired, crammed three-bed bungalow now threatens their family's future.

They desperately need space and dignity, but the only thing to do is to knock the entire house down and start again. Enter Nick Knowles and the team, who are taking on a DIY SOS first - and one of their most ambitious home builds ever. The team are going to demolish the bungalow and in just nine days build an entirely new bespoke five-bedroom home for this inspiring family. It is all thanks to the amazing goodwill, hard work and generosity of the local community and trades.

Garry and Kyle first adopted Haydn, who has cerebral palsy, and then Curtis, who was adopted at four months old and is severely epileptic, blind and prone to life-threatening chest infections and also has cerebral palsy.

The two dads then fostered sisters Bella, who was six, and Phoebe, who was one. Bella has Down's syndrome, so when there was a hint that the sisters may be split up, they decided to offer a lifeline to both girls and applied to adopt.

Taking on four children with so many needs is a challenge for any family, but living in a tiny bungalow is another hurdle, and every room is bursting with medical supplies. Haydn is now 13 and a growing lad, and he needs some independence. He can't get out of the front door without somebody helping him. Curtis, now six, has the greatest medical needs and sleeps in the living room, which is also their dining room.

Bella is now 11 but has a makeshift bedroom in the boot room, and they all share just one toilet in the only bathroom. The flimsy structure and impractical design of the house means it is best to demolish the property, but that's an enormous undertaking.

Garry and Kyle have built an amazing family - now DIY SOS and their team of volunteer trades have an almighty challenge, never before attempted on the programme, to build an entirely new home in just nine days.

59 minutes

Last on

Wed 19 Sep 2018 21:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One except Wales & Wales HD

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:02

    Coldplay

    In My Place

  • 00:09

    One Direction

    Over Again

  • 00:11

    Little Mix

    Black Magic

  • 00:11

    Olly Murs

    Dear Darlin'

  • 00:12

    Little Mix

    Black Magic

  • 00:14

    Kygo

    Firestone (feat. Conrad Sewell)

  • 00:17

    Mark Ronson

    L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever) (feat. Kasabian)

  • 00:18

    Mark Ronson

    Diversion

  • 00:19

    Lucy Rose

    Be Alright

  • 00:20

    Paolo Nutini

    New Shoes

  • 00:22

    Paolo Nutini

    New Shoes

  • 00:24

    One Direction

    Little Things

  • 00:27

    Barry Gray

    Thunderbirds

  • 00:50

    Tom Rosenthal

    Go Solo

  • 00:52

    Passenger

    Circles

  • 00:50

    Passenger

    Circles

  • 00:54

    Passenger

    27

Credits

Presenter Nick Knowles
Participant Billy Byrne
Participant Chris Frediani
Participant Mark Millar
Participant Julian Perryman
Director Mike Ratcliffe
Executive Producer Robi Dutta
Series Producer Hamish Summers

Broadcasts