Turn back time: the family

[BerryCheesecake]

Where did the children actually 'go' while they were shipped off to countryside? It's been baffaling me as did they just go 'out' of the experience for a few days? And if so, who took care of them?!

I've bookmarked the blog it was a great read x

Apologies for the deay in respondingn to your questions. It is Ian here.

1. Naomi did not 'twat me one', although she would have been well within her rights to!! That scene was actually a 'set up' - and the only occassion where that happened. The children were actually asked to go in to the kitchen by the crew before i got home. I was then reminded of my role as a father, and if the children happened to be in the kitchen, I should 'remove them'. As I say, this is the only time during the whole process where it was set up.

1. The other families were amazing - all four of them. We have become very good firends with both the Taylors and Meadows. e have been to see the Meadows, and have plans to do the same with the Taylors. The children all got on like a house on fire, and we have Skyped each other! The Hawkes family who join the programme on Tuesday are fantastic. Jonathan is one of the nicest men I have ever had the pleasure to meet, and as yiu will find out, he and his sisters are very talented. And finally the Rhodes family - Lisa and her boys will arrive for the final episode - Lisa will be contributing to my blog on what happened during episode five.

1. Yes - we knew from the very beginning that we would only be in three of the five episodes. The 'script' had been written long before we were selected, and the 60's episode was always going to be on the subject of Caribbean immigration and teenage rebellion - we do not tick those boxes!! We were gutted to leave after three episodes, and tried to convince the production team to keep us in - i'll blog about that when I get to episode 3!! We do come back to Albert Road at the end of the last episode though - so keep an eye out for that!

1. It was really as bad as it looked for the Meadows family in the first episode. They found it very hard - but coped amazingly well. Anyone would find it tough with so little food. Things do change for them though, but you will need to watch the next episode to find out how!

1. Working in the council office was very amusing - they struggled to keep straight faces. They also struggled when I was clattering away at a typewriter (edited out of the programme). The funniest bit was when I got the typewriter. There was a letter on top of it that I was asked to read out. It said that I would need to get up to speed with the new technology very quickly or risk losing my job to a woman. When I read it out, one of the planning officers sitting opposite me gave me the dirtiest look I have ever seen!!

1. We do not know exactly how many families applied, but were led to believe that it was a lot. My blog on the selection process describes what they were looking for - in summary, a combination of how we came across on camera, the closeness of our family, and myu genealogy were probably the deciding factors - and that we had never made any attempt to be on TV in the past.

1. I would agree that the crew were looking for drama - tears = drama. You were very likely to have a camera appear in yiour face if you were crying. However, the filiming was done sensitively and considerately at all times. If ever we displayed any concerns, the camera was put down immediately. The production company did a great job at maintaining integrity at all times, and we feel they did us proud.

Many, many thanks for all of your wonderful comments - it means a lot to me and Naomi. I am delighted, as is she, to conrtinue answering any questions you may have.

Hello! Glad I didn't offend you with my question

Thanks for answering :)

apologies for all the typos in my other post!, perils of a wireless keyboard with worn out batteries, it has a life of it's own sometimes.

thank you for answering our questions, have read the blog now too, so impressed with naomi's pigeon pie, perhaps she can share the recipe, we have 4 rather podgy looking pigeons that live in our garden (and poo all over the trampoline)! sad to see your family leave but can see why they've formatted the programme to reflect the changes in community.

Thankyou for answering our questions, it's lovely to hear about behind the scenes.

Is there anything that you have taken back to the 21st century with you - either props or ways of doing things.
What do you think you and your family have learnt through this experience?

We've been watching as part of our history lessons (we home educate) and the kids have been really looking forward to each one. First thing Wednesday morning they ask for the next episode.

Thanks Ian, that's really interesting reading. What an amazing experience for your family, one that you'll always remember.

What's it like for your children at school since the programmes have been shown? Have they been enjoying the fame?

We were able to take a few things with us - some tins of Heinz tomato soup with the correct period labels, our ration books, my call up papers etc.. We are also being provided with all the findings of the genealogy research.

We learnt many things from the experience. Although the children returned to normal almost straight away, they will never forget it. A few weeks ago, whilst eating out with grandparents, Jack casually said 'grandad....it was very scary during the war'!! Not many four year olds would come out with a statement like that! For me, it was a huge humbling lesson in the importance of understanding and respecting myu ancestry - something I have paid little interest in in the past. I am very fortunate to be here todaym, and owe everything to my ancestors. The words 'never forget' mean a lot to me now.

The children are enjoying the attention for now. As they are still at primary school, all of the children have been lovely - they are like mini celebrities - it will not last for long, so I think they are enjoying it.

I'll be posting part three - 'the ups and downs of the inter war years' in the next couple of days on the blog.

looking forward to the blog post. we watched the war episode last night. the dc's asked 'where are the children going?', they were pleased to hear they went to lakeside, they're very familiar with that area as their grandma lives in bowness.

I have just posted part 3 of my blog - if you get the chance to read it, I welcome any questions or comments you may have - ijgolding.wordpress.com/turn-back-time-the-family/

It's fascinating - it seems such a shame that they cut so much out of the final edit - they could easily have filled 2 or more programmes from what you've written.

Were there other people living on the street as you were filming? What did they make of it all?

There were indeed other people living in the street - for 6 weeks, life was rather strange for them. Bizarrely, most of the residents got on with things as though nothing was happening - I know the production company spent a lot of time consulting them and making sure they understood what was going on. One family over the road were heavily involved - watching every moment of the filming - they literally had front row seats. They were lovely people, and at times, their kids played in the road with our kids - they were rewarded by featuring in a variety of episodes.

That's a really fascinating read. Do you know if any of the other families are doing similar in documenting their experience? It would be great to hear how the Meadows particularly felt about the experience!

Sorry Ian,I wrongly assumed you were your lovely wife!!
Still think you're lovely too though

hi im loving the programme turn back time i watched the high street last year as i loved the past since being ayoung girl and my children love the past as well id love to go on the programme if there making anymore my fav was last nights as i go 50s and 60s do and myself and my husband love that era only problem is i woudnt want to come back to 2012 ha well done to all familys who were on it next weeks a bit depressing as i remeber the 70s and the black outs as i was a little girl born in 1970

No problem 'chickensaresafehere' - and thank you!

'Unsocialite' - I am trying to convince all the other families to contribute to my blog - especially for episodes 4 and 5 - there is a Facebook group on the programme - Adee Taylor is active on there. The Meadows are so busy with their work, they are not as active online.

I am hoping to post part 4 of my blog 'it's war!' by the end of the week.

Ijgolding, thank you for posting on here.

I love the programme.

My FIL came over from Ireland when he was 15 to work, that's just a bit older than my ds he remembers the 'No dogs, no blacks and no Irsih' posters that were shown in this week's programme. Awful

Another massive fan. I think it's brilliant. Mr Meadows is simply gorgeous

Part 4 of my blog on our experiences in Turn Back Time: the Family - 'it's war' is now live! My dad has also written a bit of this one. Part four is long, so make sure you a comfy before reading it!

ijgolding.wordpress.com/turn-back-time-the-family/

Loving this series and all the families. Really brings some of our history to life.

I have just posted part 5 of my blog on Turn Back Time: the Family. In this penultimate post, I talk about our return to Albert Road, and have included some photos from the Charles & Diana party. There will be one final post on this blog - it will be from the perspectives of the other families. I really hope you have enjoyed reading about the experience!

ijgolding.wordpress.com/turn-back-time-the-family/

I have just been watching this on the iPlayer, so great to read your comments and blog. Thank you!

I thought at the time that the turning out of the children from the kitchen was a set-up.

One thing they missed was that you would have learned at an early age to take off your hat on entering the house (or any building, for that matter).

hi! i resally loved watching your programme! mainly because i live just down the road from morecambe and it was fascinating to see a town i?ve spent so much time in, but that is not really the kind of glamorous or exciting town you often see on telly!! I loved what they did with the houses and watching how they were transformed was so interesting! i especially liked the 20s art deco houses! I walked down albert the other day and was sad to see the houses have just been left looking empty and unloved again like so many other houses in the west end! The turn back time show really showed morecambe in its best light (apart from the bin bit e.t.c) with the midland and the beach and the genuinely beautiful houess! just showed what can be done to the houses standing unloved and empty and just how gorgeous they can be!! I hope whoever owns them sells them to someone who sees the potential as displayed in turn back time! morecambe needs it!

Anyway, was just interested to hear, as me and my mum were wondering whilst walking down albert road, what did you actually think of morecambe? (the town once voted britain?s 3rd crappest town) It?s quite a wierd place, and parts, especially the end of Albert road with the shops and most other west end back streets actually do feel like you have turned back time when walking down them! so i can see why the bbc would choose it, especially as well with the art deco with buildings like the midland. (its sad actually that the once lovely art deco buildings on the seafront now have b and m bargains and the like underneath) It?s a town of contrasts, e.g the midland is opposite rita?s caf and aldi!

We?ve learned to love it for its ksitchness genuinely lovely views, and mega cheep charity shops, and gems such as the midland and dotty?s vintage, but said ksitchness, is not everyone?s cup of tea, and really the large run down areas such as the sorely missed frontierland really could do with some help!

just wondered what it was like living there as a non local :-)

Thank you so much Alice. Our views on Morecambe - it is quite clear that it has seen better days - however, Morecambe is a tiown that has more potential than perhaps any coastal town I have visited in the UK. The view over the bay and the Lakes is outstanding - worth the visit alone. The promenade is wonderful. Some the architecture is fantastic. Morecambe also has a lot of personality. It may not be everyones cup of tea, but some of the 'bric a brac' shops are brilliant, and many of the shopping parades literally make you feel as though you have gone back in time.

Despite this, there are so many 'sad' things - the remains of frontier land are a real blot on the landscape. Shut up shops, and run down streets are a reminder that Morecambe has seen better days. Morecambe desperately needs some investment, and someone that cares about it. If you compare Morecambe to Blackpool - Morecambe should win hands down. As the gateway to the Lakes, it could be a goldmine - but it needs people to take a risk and invest in it.

The Midland shows what can be done - but it needs more than just one hotel. You can buy a 5 bedroom victorian terrace on Morecambe for less than £200k - well worth the investment as a holiday home.

If we had the money - we would buy one. Morecambe will now always have a special place in our hearts. Friendly people, beautiful location.