DIY: SOS: the Big Build, BBC1 -TV review

 

Ellen E. Jones
Tuesday 13 May 2014 09:36 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A new series of DIY: SOS: the Big Build (BBC1) also provided a happy ending for John and June Finlay, a couple from Sunderland who had been living like prisoners in their own kitchen since June's mobility was reduced by serious illness four years ago.

Nick Knowles and the gang came to the rescue, transforming their two-bed house into a wheelchair-accessible haven of "biophilia", whatever that is.

All the volunteer wrangling and heartstring-tugging isn't native to the show's format – they've borrowed it from the US show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – but Knowles is a natural at it, all the same. You could see the impact his motivational speech had on the workmen and he summed up John's tenacious support for his wife of 35 years with these touching words: "When you think about it, this is a love story. Not a fairytale love story, or a Hollywood love story, this is a down-in-the-trenches love story... John just would not give up on June."

Most important item in your DIY: SOS watching tool box? A large box of tissues.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in