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00:00Amanda, I was sitting on my hotel balcony and I saw you putting Cat Biscuits all over the front porch of the hotel.
00:15Oh, my God. No one's supposed to know that.
00:19Yes, but it looks weird in the doorway because people are turning up going,
00:22Oh, look, here's our hotel scrunch, scrunch, scrunch.
00:26Because that's where they all hang out.
00:28You are looking like a crazy cat lady.
00:45On the beautiful Greek island of Corfu.
00:48Oh, that city is so gorgeous.
00:52Instead of resting on our laurels, Alan and I are taking on a Herculean task.
00:57This year, we're spending the summer transforming a traditional coffee at house.
01:04You're going to have to put your arms round me.
01:07Into a family holiday home.
01:09With the living room and dining room under our belt,
01:13we're now bringing the Midas touch to our first ever children's bedroom.
01:20Oh, that's just lovely straight away, isn't it?
01:23Oh, another gorgeous view.
01:26I think this should be inspired by the Durrells.
01:29Love that.
01:30Yeah.
01:31So, nature.
01:32Nature.
01:33And, you know, green...
01:34So, this is, we're going to think children in here.
01:35Yeah.
01:36I want it to be like you're out there in the forests when you come in here.
01:40We've never done a children's bedroom before, so that's exciting.
01:44The main hurdle for that is getting the tone just right,
01:47because I want a Gerald Durrell kind of feel.
01:50I want to bring in the different animals, the flora and fauna from the island.
01:55You know, I want it to be quite immersive.
01:57We need to think about the best way to utilise the space.
02:01I've seen those things where you've got a bunk bed there
02:03and then, like, another bed there.
02:05Oh, and that's great for storage as well underneath.
02:08When I was a kid, I had the best bed,
02:12because I was in a tiny box room,
02:14but my mum sold it to me because she bought me one of those beds
02:17that had a wardrobe and a desk underneath it and a ladder,
02:20and that's what I'm going to do in there.
02:22And also have something under, if people neglect that,
02:25because if you've ever been in bunk beds, you're looking up,
02:27all you see is this saggy bit.
02:29Like some fabric? Yes!
02:30Ooh, I love that!
02:32With a nod to nature. Yes.
02:34I don't know what to do on that wall, though.
02:35What about some murals and stuff?
02:37You can do something subtle, but not, like, paint a scene.
02:43No, no, OK.
02:44Gerald Durrell loved the little animals,
02:46so I may be putting, I don't know, Melvin the Mosquito or something,
02:49or, like, you know, Beryl the Black Widow Spider.
02:53And I think kids of all ages will enjoy it.
02:56What did you have in your bedroom when you were little?
02:58Well, my mum drew a, um, Dennis the Menace.
03:01She didn't. Can she draw?
03:03No.
03:04Ah!
03:05So she drew a Dennis the Menace and gnats her.
03:08No.
03:09And we laugh about it because we just could not paint over it.
03:13In certain lights, I can still see Dennis the Menace.
03:17I wonder about, like, a floral situation.
03:22Maybe let's say butterfly.
03:23Butterfly.
03:24I think that's a really nice idea.
03:25Yeah.
03:34Ooh!
03:35Before we can crack on with the interiors,
03:38our builder Stamatis is helping us with ripping out the old ceiling.
03:42What about if there's scorpions and stuff in this roof?
03:45Snakes and...
03:46Snakes in the roof?
03:47Isn't that a film?
03:48They're on a plane, not in the roof.
03:50Oh!
03:53Oh, my God!
04:00Are there any snakes?
04:01No.
04:02It looks safe.
04:03So you can try.
04:05Be careful because they're quite tight, this overall is.
04:08I don't like the early bits.
04:10It just seems a shame to get these lovely white jumpsuits just dirty again.
04:20Oh, my God!
04:25So disgusting!
04:33It's absolutely massive up here.
04:35That is going to be epic.
04:37To truly immerse ourselves in the world of Gerald Durrell,
04:49we've been lucky enough to be invited to one of his favourite places on the island.
04:54I'm so excited.
04:55You know when you just can't believe we're actually going to meet somebody
04:58that's really attached to the family?
05:00Well, the Durrells are Corfu, really.
05:02They put it on the map.
05:03100%.
05:04Hi!
05:05How are you?
05:06And we're being taken there by his widow, Lee.
05:09Shall we go to Mouse Island?
05:15Gerald's book, My Family and Other Animals, enchanted children around the world
05:20and helped put Corfu on the map.
05:23And a place where he and his siblings, Larry, Margot and Leslie,
05:27spent a lot of their childhood was Mouse Island.
05:30Every day, Jerry and Margot used to swim out, and it was just one of their favourite places in the whole world.
05:45Thank you so much.
05:46The first thing I want to show you is where, I don't know if you remember in the book, Margot would come over for sunbathing.
05:51And I know the very rock where she used to sunbathe.
05:54Oh, my gosh.
05:55Have a go.
05:56Have a go.
05:57I think I need to drape myself, yes.
05:59Oh, that's exactly right.
06:01Oh!
06:02Is that how Margot would have laid, maybe?
06:04Probably.
06:05Probably.
06:06And this is where, over those rocks, I clambered up some years ago and scattered Jerry's ashes.
06:19Oh.
06:20Oh.
06:21Oh, wow.
06:22So, this is where he is.
06:25Where he always wanted to be.
06:26Yeah, exactly.
06:27Really.
06:29While he died at the age of 70, Corfu is currently celebrating the centenary of Gerald's birth.
06:35A little church at the top here.
06:37That was where the monk was when Jerry was here in the 30s.
06:40Oh, Alan, isn't it lovely?
06:42Oh, my gosh.
06:46It's beautiful.
06:47It's beautiful.
06:50With over 200 species of birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, Gerald fell in love with the island's wildlife.
06:58Was there any animal Gerald didn't take to?
07:01No.
07:03No.
07:04Every animal.
07:05But he especially took to the animals that were neglected by other zoos and conservation area.
07:10He went for the sort of small and obscure, which he called the little brown jobs.
07:13Well, yeah, little brown jobs.
07:15Like the unloved.
07:16Like the unloved.
07:17Yeah.
07:18Every animal had a right to exist.
07:21And who were we to extinguish it or exterminate it?
07:24Yeah, yeah.
07:25This must have been like heaven coming here.
07:27Oh, it was.
07:28He often said coming to Corfu was exactly like that for him.
07:31Oh, my gosh.
07:32We're doing a room for sort of younger members of the family.
07:34Yeah.
07:35We were thinking butterflies and florals and insects.
07:39To sort of capture, you know, Gerald's imagination, his vision.
07:42Yeah.
07:43You know?
07:44Yeah.
07:45It'd be fantastic, some of the smaller animals.
07:46I try and imagine, like, if he was born now, what kind of bedroom would he have?
07:49Yeah.
07:50While the builders exposed the original stone walls of the house, Scott and I have come to Agios Georgios to the workshop of Stomatis' carpenter, Dimitri.
08:19Hello, hello.
08:20Hi, Amanda.
08:21To create our custom-made bunk bed.
08:24I had this idea to make bunk beds in an L-shape so we could use up all the space underneath it.
08:30So we're making, at the minute, just this top piece here.
08:33So this is this bit that we're making.
08:35Then we're going to sandwich it with two sheets of MDF.
08:38This is going to be like the skeleton on the inside.
08:42Actually, the strength comes from the shape, not the thickness of the wood.
08:47While Amanda works on the bunk bed.
08:50Perfect.
08:51I'm working on a different passion project of ours.
08:54Hello.
08:55Inspired by Gerald Durrell, over the summer, Amanda and I are volunteering at Corfu Donkey Rescue.
09:02Stomatis.
09:03Oh, hello, Alan.
09:04Set up to give old working animals a dignified retirement.
09:09We have to collect some poo.
09:11Poo?
09:12Poo, yes.
09:13OK.
09:14It's going to be one of those days, OK.
09:20Let's go.
09:24Well, that's fine.
09:26Like this, yes?
09:27Yes.
09:28Is that good?
09:29Good, good.
09:30I was expecting to be walking around with a basket full of carrots.
09:35I just didn't expect this.
09:36But it is quite therapeutic, really.
09:39Doing what I do best.
09:41Picking up poo.
09:45I'm quite quick, aren't I?
09:46Yes, actually, you are a very good worker.
09:49Oh.
09:50Yes.
09:51Right, where's the next pile of poo?
09:53Over there.
09:54That's something I never expected to hear myself say today.
09:59Me and my sister, if we went anywhere, bunk beds were like a novelty, but we'd probably beat each other up to get to the top bunk.
10:06And we sort of still have that hierarchy of going front in the car.
10:09Still today, now.
10:10Still today.
10:13Once we've applied glue to the framework...
10:15Right, let's get this big piece up.
10:17...it's sandwiched between two MDS panels for extra strength...
10:22...and nailed into place.
10:24Shall I test it?
10:27Oh.
10:28Do you know what?
10:29I'll have a little siesta.
10:31Oh.
10:32Oh, very good.
10:33This isn't my first hoof.
10:34Look at that.
10:35You could eat your dinner off that.
10:38Oh, beautiful.
10:40I find when I'm with animals, I feel quite peaceful.
10:43Yes, this is 100% I agree with you.
10:45Yeah.
10:46It works just like a kind of therapy.
10:49Yes!
10:50For my soul.
10:51Yeah, I get that, I get it.
10:52It's such a special place, isn't it?
10:54It's lovely.
11:03Back at the house, the builders have been plastering the walls,
11:06ready for our bespoke bunk bed to be installed.
11:09So we're off to site to get in on the action.
11:14I had a weird experience.
11:16I needed a new razor, yeah?
11:18When I got it home, it had Intima on the box.
11:20The razor is for manscaping.
11:22And I felt a bit icky about using it on my face.
11:27Yeah, but it's not been on anyone's manscape.
11:29Oh, no.
11:30Oh, no, it won't a second hand.
11:31Things ain't that bad.
11:35As the new bunk bed will appear to float unsupported against the wall,
11:48we've called in the cavalry to fit it safely and securely.
11:52Oh, wow.
11:53Have a cracker.
11:54Please have one.
11:55Please.
11:56Delicious.
11:57Amanda and I are on snack duty.
11:59Delicious cracker.
12:00For safety, the bed platform needs to be fitted by the experts
12:04by drilling support battens into the wall.
12:08I was in a motorhome once and I was on the top bunk
12:11and I fell off onto the table.
12:13No, you didn't.
12:14And I did a plank.
12:16Like that.
12:18Was that the first and last time you planked?
12:20With the platform secure, next to go up is the base of the bed itself.
12:24What's Greek for heavy?
12:25It's really heavy.
12:26In it, buddy.
12:27Buddy!
12:30Okay, we're going upright this side.
12:32Oh, watch it.
12:33Watch your fingers.
12:34Got it.
12:37Right, let me get up there.
12:39You'd feel safe up there if you were a child.
12:41I mean, if I was a kid, I would love it.
12:43I mean, it's massive.
12:44It's like a sofa.
12:45Just give me this screw.
12:46Once in position, Amanda and I secure it into place.
12:51I'll make a hole with this.
12:52See?
12:53Stop!
12:54There you go.
12:55I've made the little hole.
12:57How many people does it take to make it?
12:59I know.
13:00I don't know.
13:01These kids appreciate the effort we're going to here, isn't it?
13:05That was perfect.
13:10Now that the bespoke bunk bed is taking shape...
13:13We're swapping our boiler suits for swim suits.
13:16Have you seen those, um...
13:18Fi High Summer?
13:19Boys are having a Fi High Summer.
13:21Have you seen Harry Styles?
13:23No.
13:24He's got the shorts on that go quite high up.
13:26Oh, but he can carry it, can't he?
13:28What are you saying?
13:29No!
13:30Like all the old footballers.
13:32Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:33Back in the day.
13:34And it goes right up and you can see everything.
13:37Yes.
13:38To relive some childhood memories...
13:40Are you ready to get wet and wild?
13:43I'm taking Amanda to Aqualand, one of Europe's biggest water parks.
13:48Why shouldn't I be on trend?
13:53Come on, Alan.
13:55But you're ready to go.
13:56I feel very European.
13:59So let's go.
14:03It's not about the speedo anymore.
14:05It's about the Fi Guy Summer.
14:07Put your towel here.
14:08Yeah.
14:09Because there's children at present.
14:11Come on.
14:14We start easy.
14:15Should we go on this tame one?
14:17And then we'll work our way down till we get to the black hole.
14:19Finish on the black hole?
14:20Are you sure about this?
14:21Yeah.
14:23When you're up here, it is quite scary, isn't it?
14:26Yeah.
14:27No.
14:28This is not a nerve-wracking ride.
14:32Oh.
14:37Oh, my God!
14:41Well, that's the easy one.
14:42I hate to see the black hole.
14:44Oh.
14:45Three, two, one, go.
14:46Oh, my God!
14:47Why have I stopped?
14:48I couldn't believe it.
14:49She was there in the corner of my eye and then she just stopped.
14:51Oh, so gross.
14:52I think we should go and do the catapult.
14:53Okay.
14:54Whenever you're ready.
14:55That wasn't me, that was good.
14:56Danny!
14:57Oh, no!
14:58Oh, no!
14:59Oh, my God.
15:00Oh, my God!
15:01Oh, my God!
15:02Why have I stopped?
15:03Oh, my God!
15:04Why have I stopped?
15:05Oh, my God!
15:06Oh, my God!
15:07Oh, my God!
15:08Why have I stopped?
15:09I couldn't believe it.
15:10She was there in the corner of my eye and then she just stopped.
15:11Oh, so gross.
15:12I think we should go and do the catapult.
15:14It wasn't me, that was good.
15:15Thank you, Danny!
15:17Oh, no!
15:28It's the black hole, Alan.
15:30How black is it?
15:31It's pitch black.
15:32You won't see anything.
15:33Oh, no, that sounds awful.
15:36After three scary rides, we've saved the biggest for last.
15:44I've heard her screaming.
15:45Ah!
15:46Ah!
15:47Ah!
15:48Ah!
15:49He's got a good voice.
15:50Now, you should hear her laugh.
15:51Ah!
15:52Ah!
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16:43today as my lovely mum is here on holiday I've roped her in to help me work on the bunk bed
16:56there's going to be another bed here so somebody's going to be sleeping here
17:00oh that's lovely I just don't want them to be looking at anything horrible underneath
17:05to soften the underside of the top bunk right mum I'm going to start this and you're going
17:10to start that into we're making an upholstered panel we are not particularly crafty people but
17:16we're going to make it all look a little bit more aesthetic the first job is to secure the
17:21foam padding can I have a go yes put it there there's too close to the edge though they're
17:28like that no cuz like that mum because otherwise it'll just know but you were pushing my fingers
17:34out of the way so I couldn't do it I can did some time I wish well you know you do it you think I'm
17:44bossy well I think you're quite bossy if I am then you've got it from me I'm unfortunately that we're
17:51a matriarchal family we're in charge of the boys aren't we yes without a doubt you say I wear
17:57everyone down yes you do it till I get what I want yeah you are bossier than I am actually
18:02whilst Amanda and Judy get creative with a staple gun as we have decided on painting a mural on the
18:11bedroom wall Sophie I'm meeting mural painter Sophie to see if we can find a design to pay homage to
18:22Gerald Durrell and his love of the island small creatures we want it to sort of celebrate the
18:28Durrell's some of the animals and indefinitely insects sounds lovely we could have a bit of
18:33fun with the insects then we could have a sneaky one up a doorpost or along the bottom of the wall
18:38yes it's fun and playful this sort of style quite light this was in a taverna hey yes this looks
18:46interesting what what's this is a very quick idea the Cleopatra butterfly is famous in Corfu all right
18:52I was thinking about perhaps having some sort of olive branches trailing down oh my god you're so
18:57good wow I'm not sure do you know what this is just absolutely perfect because they're playful oh no
19:03oh one second I'll grab your lemons my hero so lovely taking the time to talk to me during a
19:10hurricane so perhaps I can go and work on something with the dowels perhaps for a start that's a great
19:17idea pull it down that way with the padding in place it's time for my gorgeous flora inspired fabric
19:33oh no that's no good Dirk it's lumpy I mean I think proper upholsters make a triangly like an apple turnover
19:40yeah I don't know what this is a bit of a bodge job this is quickly turn it over
19:45ta-da
19:48ta-da
19:49ta-da
19:50ta-da
19:51ta-da
19:53ta-da
19:55ta-da
19:57ta-da
19:59ta-da
20:01ta-da
20:03ta
20:06up at the house now the new walls have been plastered Sophie our Gerald Durrell inspired mural
20:14is underway this is beautiful the idea as you said was to bring some of the nature inside so
20:20we've got an olive branch and the yellow butterfly the Cleopatra yes and then the red dragonflies and
20:26Corfu they're amazing perfect for this room isn't it I try and pick murals to look quite
20:33a bit old yeah all I do is paint the line and when I rub a little off it looks like it's been
20:38there for years a bit of character and I don't want perfect Alan come to the right people
20:44it's going to be fun Sophie uses wet wipes to help create her faded effect they're also useful for
20:50erasing any mistakes that good don't wipe it like no
20:54okay yours is running a bit Alan oh god you might need the weather just like that
20:58um
21:00would you like me to go up the ladder and fix it quickly would you do that to Picasso
21:07perhaps that one could just go whoop whoop give me a wet wipe do you know art is about making mistakes
21:14not every five minutes I'm ready to move on let's move on to an insect so I just do the little head
21:20and then the circular body let me do a butterfly oh Amanda that's lovely that looks like a pair of
21:26breasts Alan back to the brush what color is this a red yeah just go for it in Corfu the striking red
21:35dragonfly is critically endangered and appears for a few short weeks each spring making it a rare and
21:41cherished sight I wasn't even doing it for a joke I think it's nice baby crawling in here looks at that
21:51the more I paint the better I go Sophie was like a nice cup of tea love a nice cup of tea
22:08what are we gonna do about his dragonflies wearing high-heeled boots okay we'll fix it while he's
22:15wearing his cup of tea as part of my summer in Corfu I have been searching for my very own greek god
22:32well tonight I have a hot date so I need to get glammed up I hate shaving foam it gets everywhere
22:38oh god oh no oh no oh no oh that's quite bad oh sugar now I've got tissue stuck to it oh it's
22:56the last thing I need Sir Mattis has set me up on a blind date with someone he knows at a bar at
23:03nearby agony bay and I've booked myself a water taxi to get me there I'm a little bit nervous I haven't
23:10been on a date for ages are you joking where's it going
23:21but now I'm gonna be late for me day
23:23things are looking up I love luckily for me another taxi comes to my rescue lovely thank you for doing
23:41this oh we've had a bit of luck it's a nicer boat and uh easier on the eyedriver
23:49so much it's the perfect spot for a romantic rendezvous
24:07hello how are you you love sorry I'm late the water taxi drove off without me
24:15I'm Alan hi Alan what's your name I'm evil what evil evil yes not evil not that
24:27yeah can I have a large vodka and tonic please thank you so tell me everything
24:32what are you doing in cool food i have viewers and i spend the summer here okay nice
24:36i'm so nervous are you me too i need to catch up yes babe so what do you look for in a man it's just
24:46like vibe i never have a type just you know the click if you have a click and a vibe and if you go for
24:52the vibe okay when you just have fun together and you compliment each other that's what i'm kind of
24:57one cheers for that baby yeah cheers so Alan then what you like to do like what's your hobbies
25:04we've got two rescue dogs yes yes i also rescue dogs you rescue dogs that's amazing so i have three
25:11oh that's lovely i love that i love anyone who loves that oh yeah how much in common babe we have so much
25:17in common it was nice for me to actually just get out there and get back on the horse as it were and
25:23he's really sweet but not my type and i don't think i'm his type to be honest
25:37back in coquini it's all systems go to complete the children's bedroom sophie's adding the finishing
25:45touches to our mural the electricians are busy installing lights and the bunk bed is getting
25:50a lick of paint ready for us to do what we do best me and my mum made this Alan really yeah shove it
25:59in like this and then nail it on oh look is it a real lizard look at that come on baby do you think
26:05he made himself pink and green so he matched the paneling it's a bit like jumanji isn't it they've
26:10come alive from the mural that's great that okie dokie let me give them a quick wipe love
26:16oh dear all the dust's going up me nose coming in where would you put it here that's it yeah perfect
26:37i think we've pulled it off alan our first children's bedroom yeah we have we've done a
26:49really good job i think we've been really clever with the space yeah and not having like two single
26:57beds means you have all that floor to like do a bit of coloring or play a game or whatever but it's that l
27:03shape that was a clever idea i know and also we've got storage yes the paneling is gorgeous
27:10and it's like a little nod to the durrell's as well because you know with murals normally they can be
27:15quite twee this is nice and this is all the things that durrell used to love like the butterflies and
27:20the insects we haven't gone for like patronizing cuddly little things you've gone for things you genuinely
27:26seeing everything he loved this is quite a good grown-up kid's bedroom really nice do you know what
27:36i can imagine me just having a little siesta in here oh yeah i could see me crawling in here getting in
27:41there and counting the butterflies to lips fall asleep right you can test it okay oh my god your feet
27:51stink they do stink they do stick with us the espadrilles don't even go just move around like you're
27:56asleep gotta work with amanda again next time we go sightseeing
28:11i chose to mattis who's boss oh no no no no what are you doing it's heavy stop it i'm a woman
28:18and i feel the wrath of the greek grandmothers as we take on the kitchen oh my gosh alan
28:33well there's a reason why dad looks like death dawn french stars in can you keep a secret you can
28:38watch on bbc iplayer and life in prison isn't easy even for those who work there new drama
28:44waiting for the out also on iplayer now
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