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In celebration of The Good Life's 35th birthday, Giles Coren and Sue Perkins step back in time to 1975 to find out what it takes to make the self-sufficient dream a reality.
2010
Thirty-five years after sitcom the Good Life first aired, writer Giles Coren and comedian Sue Perkins step back to 1975 to try to learn some self-sufficient skills and techniques. Although not living the life round the clock, the duo throw themselves in to recreating a distinctly Tom and Barbara lifestyle. First they must work out how to light the solid fuel range and find information on how to grow your own veg and rear your own livestock in a pre-Google era. They manage to get some seeds in the ground before the first of the livestock, four excitable chickens and two frisky goats, arrive.
Midway through their adventure, Giles and Sue question whether the rewards of a self-sufficient life could ever outweigh the hard graft. Things get off to a farcical start with the arrival of two very mischievous Gloucester Old Spot pigs and deteriorate even further as Giles and Sue try their hands at making their own wine and pickled eggs. To boost their vegetable supply, they decide to take on an allotment, but eventually have to call in Gardeners' World regular Joe Swift to help them tackle an infestation of thistles.
Giles and Sue explore ways to make or save money, including selling their homemade veg.
It's the season to be jolly, but is it really possible to enjoy Christmas when you're strapped for cash? Giles and Sue set out to prove that by using a few old fashioned handicrafts and an awful lot of enthusiasm, you can still put the merry into Christmas. They begin by making some very rudimentary home-made decorations, before calling in 70s Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves who tries to show them how to assemble the famous Blue Peter advent crown. They take delivery of two turkeys, one of which Giles is determined will end up on the table come Christmas day. And as they haven't got any cash, Sue joins a local knitting circle and knits Giles a very festive 70s inspired Christmas jumper. Celebrity cook Sophie Grigson pops over to help them with a spot of Christmas baking and Giles and Sue invite all the neighbours over for some carols. Meanwhile, away from the frugality of Tom and Barbara's make-do Christmas, Margo and Jerry enjoy some intoxicating cocktails and plan their Christmas with military precision. Giles and Sue wake up on Christmas Day to find it has snowed and, after a chilly spot of snowballing, they're delighted when famous cook Mary Berry turns up to prepare a scrumptious Christmas lunch.
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Sue Perkins
Herself - Presenter
Giles Coren
Himself - Presenter