Original subtitles

SUE: Believe it or not, there are times

when it is quiet in this house.

DOGS BARKING

It definitely doesn't last long.

DOGS BARKING, CHILDREN CHATTER I NG

We're home!

NOEL: The second they walk through the door...

SCREAMS

It turns into a very loud, noisy house.

CHILD CRIES OUT, CHILD SQUEALS

'That's it. It's just chaos.' CHILDREN MUMBLING

Some of the kids are noisy. Some of the kids are nice and quiet.

It's definitely not a normal house.

I have no clue why I'm doing this. Can you all shut up, please?

SUE: Heidie. Ah!

NOEL: But one thing you need to look out for...

SIREN BLARES ..is when the noisy ones go quiet.

That's when you do know something's wrong.

SUE: Oh...

Oh, my God.

CHILD CRIES OUT

NOEL: Archie! ARCHIE SCREECH ES

SUE: In every family, you do get quiet ones and noisy ones.

SQUEALS

Pillow fight! Right, that's it now.

I personally would say Tilly's a quiet one.

I think jack, Bonnie and a bit of Hallie are the quietest.

Daniel, Luke...

...and Max. I'll say I'm pretty quiet.

I'm not, like, the quietest, but I'd say I'm pretty close.

Hallie's probably the quietest in the house.

The loud ones are... Me!

"Definitely Heidie.

Archie. I'm not loud! Yes!

Oscar and Casper.

I think I'm loud.

Bonnie doesn't talk. She's like Millie.

She doesn't talk. She shouts.

Urgh! Who's in there? Come on, kids.

Mum's got a very big character. She's very loud, energetic.

Whoa'. SUE CHUCKLES

Mum's definitely louder. She has to shout over all the kids.

Bonnie! Get down! Come on.

Phoebe can be really loud as well. I'm quiet!

You don't find many quiet ones in the house.

SHRIEKS, LAUGHS

SALLY LINDSAY: 'As the new school year approaches...

'..there's a buzz of excitement.'

Are you excited to go and see all of your friends at school? Yeah.

Yeah?

'For noisy one Heidie, it's the thrill of starting school.'

PRODUCER: What are you looking forward to about school?

What about school dinners? Hm...

'And for Max, the quiet one, it's the relief that it's the end.'

I'm quite excited cos after I finish Year 11,

I'm going into sixth form.

I'll have to wear no more uniform.

NOEL: 'Sometimes, you don't realise how fast they are growing up.

'Then all of a sudden... I mean, Heidie, for example,

'she's four, and she's the youngest.'

That's really scary, actually, how fast that's gone.

'But it seems new beginnings can be a lot more daunting for some.'

CBS per?

'The normally noisy Casper is unusually quiet.'

Casper, you've been here all clay.

What's up? Nothing.

Come on. What's up?

Nothing's wrong. Well, there is.

We've not seen you all clay. Come on.

CASPER:

You're a little bit worried about high school. Why?

Cos there's gonna be, like, 200 people in my year.

All of them will be bigger than me.

Were you the smallest when you had a look around that clay? Yep.

Mm.

'Casper's fears have been building since the end of the summer term,

'when he had his high school induction day.'

What are you scared of about going to secondary school?

Being the smallest in the school.

There's gonna be sixth formers there.

And 18-year-olds.

I'm scared I'm gonna get picked on by bigger boys.

Yeah, it bothers me a bit.

'And hearing horror stories from his older brothers and sisters

'is making things ten times worse.'

Going into high school is definitely different.

In PE, I had a basketball repeatedly thrown at my face.

I saw that somebody put another person inside of a bin.

You'll bump into kids that are, like, not very nice.

They might tease you a bit, shoving you into walls

or locking you in rooms, if they can.

Well, I was only tiny when I went to secondary school, you know.

I think I was probably pretty much the smallest there, if I remember.

People tell you scary stories about going to high school.

But if you just keep yourself to yourself

and your group of friends, you're generally all right. Mm.

I think, starting secondary school,

he doesn't know any of the new teachers,

doesn't know the classrooms, where they are.

You're almost going into an adult world.

You've got some big lads there, maybe some bullies,

and they're gonna look big and scary to little old Casper,

who's down here.

So absolutely everything is a little bit unnerving,

and being the smallest just makes it ten times worse.

Mm.

CHILDREN SCREECH I NG, SCREAMING

SUE: Heidie. Run!

'Today, the girls are being particularly noisy...'

SHE GROANS

NOEL: Right, come on, let's get ready.

'..So Noel's hatched a plan to get them out...'

CHILD SCREAMS

GIRL:

'..a day out to see something that none of the girls

'have been interested in before...'

I love football! '..until now.'

Phoebe really is the first of our girls

that's shown a real interest in football.

She loves it. Come on, Phoebe. Chop, chop.

We've got loads of lads that are into football,

but today, we're gonna take the girls for their first time.

'In that case, Noel, you'd better make it a big match.'

We could go down and watch Man United.

'Now you're talking.'

But just for now, we're gonna keep it local

and watch Morecambe Ladies.

'Ah, Morecambe WFC. You're in for a treat, Phoebe.'

Come on, Sue, hurry up. We're going. Where you at?

SUE:

'Is this another noisy one gone quiet?'

Be good for you as well.

All the girls, we'll have a good laugh.

It's gonna be fun, though. Come on, let's go.

'A short hop across town is the home of The Shrimps.

'That's Morecambe Women's football team to you.'

Right, come on, girls. It'll be good fun.

'Fingers crossed it's a game to remember

'for the girls' first match, Noel.'

Come on, Morecambe!

Game on, Titty.

So, we want the red ones to win, Heidie.

OK? The red ones.

I don't often get chance to spend quality time with my girls,

but when I do, I love it.

'Ey up. Game on. Go on, run! Come on.

'With hopes running high for a good game...' Go on!

'..Morecambe don't disappoint.'

Must be. Go on. Shoot!

Yes! Get in! CHEERING

'After a quickfire start...' Wow, that was a good goal.

'..It's one-way traffic.'

Go, Morecambe lady! Oh, they're going for the long one.

Come on. Go on, take a shot. Shoot!

'No worries about the girls being too noisy here.'

Come on, Morecambe! 'Ey up.

CHEERING

'Although not everyone is as vocal.'

Oh, game on. Game on. Go, go!

Go on, get in! 4-0.

It's really good, isn't it? Hey?

I think it's really good. Kids are enjoying it.

WHISTLE BLOWS

So, who wants hot chocolate? You two?

Yeah. OK.

'|'m a bit worried about Sue.

'She's been really quiet today, which isn't like her.

'She's always, like, chatty, bubbly. Doesn't seem the usual Sue.'

I'm a little bit, you know, "What's going on?"

'Coming up...'

CHILD TITTERS Short.

'..Oscar isn't helping Casper's back-to-school worries...'

NOEL: Casper!

'..And Sue goes AWOL, leaving Noel in the dark.'

Mum's not turned up. I'm getting a bit worried.

Has she said anything to you two?

SIREN BLARES, CAR DOOR SHUTS

CHILD SHOUTS Stop eating them!

SALLY LINDSAY: 'The new school year is just round the corner.'

CHILDREN SCREECHING This is why I can't read my book.

'And whilst the quieter Radfords try to get some peace...'

CHILDREN GIGGLING, SCREAMING

'..the volume of the noisy Radfords is reaching fever pitch.'

HIGH-PITCHED SCREECHING

'But there is one cause for celebration.'

SUE: 'Having Heidie start primary school is a big relief.

'No more nursery bills.'

This will be the first time in, like, 32 years

since we've not had a child in nursery or at home.

'She's so excited, she can't wait for her own uniform,

'so she's pinched her sisters.'

What are you doing?

I think the thing she's most excited about is...

she just wants to dress up and be one of the big girls,

you know, like her brothers and sisters are.

This is way too big. Put your arms out.

Way too big, isn't it? Huh? You look like a scarecrow.

HE CH UCKLES, SHE GIGGLES

'Despite the addition of Heidie,

'there are now only five Radfords still at primary school...'

CASPER:

'..now that Casper's left.'

He came at me, but I didn't touch him. I didn't touch him.

'He's about to make the almighty leap up to high school.'

Oscar. Casper, shut up. Go away!

'But fear of being the smallest in the big school

'is making him anxious and irritable.'

Oscar.

Has Casper been fighting with you? Why?

Why? I don't know.

I tried to do something for about an hour... Yeah.

...and then he gets on the game, and he gets me killed.

That was funny, though.

So, I'm losing... It's a game. Yeah!

An hour's progress, though. Oscar, I didn't do that, though.

Right, you've obviously upset him, Casper.

So say you're sorry, and let that be the end of it.

Well, he says he's sorry, Oscar. It's an hour!

'Oscar's not happy, but revenge will have to wait.'

Come on, you two.

'Time to do something Dad's been putting off for ages.'

DOG BARKS

All right, come on. Come on.

Back-to-school shopping. Right, you lot. You ready?

SUE: Right, guys, come here.

'Nine of the ever-growing Radfords need new school uniforms.'

Can I just have the trolley?

Thought you were gonna push it into somebody.

You push, I'll steer, Hallie.

Right, well, there you go. Straight to it.

'Noel can find a bargain...' Two polo shirts for 3.50.

'..But his biggest challenge will be keeping the troublesome two apart.'

SUE: 'Fallouts are common in this family,

'but I guess, you know, the law of averages.'

There's gonna be a lot of fallouts.

Shall we go and have a look for school shoes? Yay! Why not?

They're all trying on the shoes.

Are these your shoes? No, wait.

Mummy, can I get PE shoes? You don't need pumps, darling.

NARRATOR: 'First to be measured is Oscar...'

They're massive. I think I'm a 9.5.

'..Then Casper.' What size are you?

BOY LAUGHS

I think that'll have to be a 3, then, Casper.

Casper, he's going to high school.

We're not gonna get him ones with Velcro on.

We'll get him proper lace-up ones.

Look for your size, Casper. 'The only ones in his size...'

So, we can't get Casper something. They're all Velcro.

'..Don't have any laces...' He'll need some with laces on.

He can't go to high school with Velcros.

He'll have the mickey taken out of him.

OSCAR CH UCKLES '..which delights Oscar...'

OSCAR:

'..and appals Casper.'

CASPER:

I think Casper just wants to blend in

and not draw attention to himself.

I think if Casper's got a uniform that doesn't fit him properly

or he's got primary school shoes,

it's gonna make him a bit of a target for bullying.

Come on, you get on here. Let's have a measure of you.

Thirteen. You're right bang on there.

'But whilst Oscar's had a growth spurt...'

Stand there. '..poor old Casper...'

CASPER:

'..hasn't grown a dot.' He is short.

Casper's got a 9-10, although he's 11,

and I think that 9-10 is possibly pushing it.

It may be a little bit too big.

'With revenge still in the air...' He's just very short.

OSCAR LAUGHS Short.

'..Oscar turns up the heat.'

Casper's only up to here on me.

I think he's definitely short for his age.

PRODUCER:

He is a target... because he is short.

SUE: Oscar. NOEL: No. I hate this.

It's really not nice

seeing your kids falling out and having arguments.

You just want them to get along,

be good friends and look out for each other.

'With Noel and Sue distracted by the increasing cost

'of the Radford school shop...'

Bargain. Thank you very much. Right.

'..Oscar closes in for the kill.'

'This shopping trip hasn't helped Casper's fears

'over starting high school.'

NOEL:

Casper!

'It's 8am.'

It's the third time this week Mum's left early.

Dad, why's Mum gone to Nana's again?

'In the last few days,

'the normally bubbly Sue has been quiet and withdrawn.'

CHILD:

BOY: She was supposed to wash my jumper.

'She's also gone out... a lot.'

NOEL: It's not unusual for her to visit her mum.

But recently, it's just been every clay.

'Sue's absence has meant life at home has become far from normal.'

Mum forgot to put the pans away.

The washing's not done.

'Sue does most of the kids' cooking, cleaning and ironing, you name it.

'The problem is, this lot expect everything to be clone for them

'every single clay.

'But to be honest, it normally is.'

RINGING TONE

'Now even Noel's wondering what has changed.'

Hi, it's only me.

Can you give us a ring back when you get this message? OK, bye.

CHILDREN SCREAMING, LAUGHING

Phoebe!

'It's been an hour, and Sue hasn't called back.'

Hiya, it's only me. Yeah, is Sue there?

'Time to call Sue's mum.'

ON PHONE:

Oh, right. OK. Er...

Well, I'll try her again, then. No worries.

OK, then. Take care. Bye.

'But if Sue's not there... where is she?'

'Noel and Sue have become used to the noise of their brood of 22.'

Are you ready? Yeah.

Want Mummy to carry you?

'But for second daughter Chloe, it's all new.'

Water! That is the sea!

'Her own daughter, Mila, is about to turn two.'

Would you like to go and have a look at the water?

Come on, then.

Ooh! Look!

Where's the sea?

Yeah! LAUGHS

'Recently, Chloe has noticed some big changes.'

I feel like you wake up one day and they're just, like,

a lot more grown-up all of a sudden.

Can you see any shells?

I can see one. Look.

She's definitely starting to talk more in sentences,

and she definitely takes things in more.

It's a shell. Oh...

Yeah!

She's very curious of everything. MILA SCREAMS

SHE GIGGLES

Aren't you? MILA SQUEALS

Yeah!

LAUGHS, MILA SCREAMS

She's not so much a baby any more. She's like a proper toddler now.

I just think it's nice being able to have a conversation with her.

And she'll sometimes listen to me now

cos she understands what I'm saying.

Where are you going? Mila?

'Well, she did say some of the time.'

Loves dogs. Anytime she sees dogs, she goes, "Woof, woof."

Wait there, Mila. Come here!

Seeing Mila grow and really starting to become her own person

is one of the most amazing experiences in my life.

This way. This way! Come on, Mila.

We're going on an adventure.

Going up, going "P-

Whoo!

Seeing your child learn

opens your eyes and makes you see things differently

because they're just so amazed by everything.

Whoo! Look at that!

I've always said to Chloe, one of the most magical times

in having children is when they start to talk,

and they become their own little person.

Here you go, Mila. CHLOE LAUGHS

I feel like seeing her be amazed by things

helps keep me amazed by these little things as well.

I wasn't expecting it to be... quite as exciting.

Go on, then.

Oh! CHLOE LAUGHS

'One life lesson to learn is that when the noisy ones become quiet...'

Let's go home.

'..That's when you know something's not right.

'For Noel, it's been a difficult day at work.

'His concerns about Sue have led him to act.'

'So, we've arranged to meet up for a coffee

'and maybe try and find out, you know, what's bothering her,

'if there's something wrong.

'So, when we've got something private and sensitive to talk about,

'the house is just not the place to talk about it.

'There's just way too many prying eyes and ears listening in.'

'The scene is set. We just need Sue.'

Thank you very much.

'There might be just something there that she feels

'she's not ready to tell me yet.

'Or she might not wanna worry me, either.

'Both Sue and I, we don't keep secrets from each other.

'We tell each other everything.

'If I thought Sue was keeping something from me,

'I'd like to know what's going on.'

RINGING TONE

PHONE VIBRATES

NOEL READS OWN TEXT: "Hi, girls. Mum's not turned up.

"|'m getting a bit worried. Has she said anything to you two?"

'She's not said anything to me. which is not like my mum.

'Usually, she tells me everything.'

SOPHIE: "I know she obviously feels she can't talk to us

"about whatever it is."

"Can you two get your heads together

"and see if you can find out what's up?"

SUE: 'I don't like keeping secrets from him.'

SIREN BLARES

'Noel would feel really...

'..worried if he thought I was keeping a secret from him.'

SIREN BLARES

Follow me. 'Coming up...'

We'll sit here.

'..Oscar's teasing of Casper comes to a head...'

Strong people don't put others down. They lift them up.

SUE:

'..and Sue's secret is revealed.'

I'm sorry. It's been awful. I've really wanted to tell you.

It's devastating news.

Anyone seen Casper?

SALLY LINDSAY: 'As if Noel didn't have enough to concern him,

'another of the normally noisy Radfords is being quieter than ever.

'Thanks to his brother, Oscar,

'Casper's fears about being the smallest in his new high school

'have got worse.'

NOEL: 'I think he feels like he's gonna be a mouse in a lion's den

'on his first clay at school.'

He just needs a confidence booster.

'And Noel's solution?

'A lesson in self-defence at the local Korean martial arts school.'

Right, then, Casper.

Let's go and see what this is all about, shall we?

I think martial arts will be a good way to give him some confidence,

toughen him up a bit, cos physically, he is small.

But if he can learn something like this,

he'll be able to look after himself if he needs to.

Ancl a few kids at my school, you know,

they did a bit of boxing, a bit of martial arts.

Nobody ever messed with them.

'Fighting fire with fire, hey, Noel?'

Hi, I'm Noel. This is Casper. I'm john. Good to meet you.

Good to meet you, Casper. Welcome to Morecambe Martial Arts.

'Tasked with turning 4ft 2" Casper into a lean, mean fighting machine

'is Sensei john.

There's your belt, there's your top, and there's your trousers.

'But first things first, he's got to look the part.'

You're in there somewhere. JOHN LAUGHS

'Although you might need to build up those muscles

'for this one to fit, Casper.'

We'll do a few basic hand strikes.

The hand starts this way up, and it finishes that way up.

Ready? Count. Hana. Hana.

DuL DuL

'Noel's hoping this will boost Casper's confidence

'to stand up for himself.'

Ilgop. llg0p-

Yeodeolb. Yeodeolb. Ahop.Ye0L

Right. Couple of kicks now.

You'll be good at kicks. Good at football.

Front kick. Let's see if you can do that.

You're doing good.

This is brilliant! Hana.

Getting into it.

'The whole idea of taking Casper to martial arts

'was just purely to give him the confidence

'that he can defend himself and stick up to the bullies.'

He might not be the tallest, but he can pack a punch.

That is actually very good.

CASPER:

I've learnt many ways to kick and punch.

I'm hoping he's enjoyed it and he does want to come back.

Yeah, that's really good. He's done it before, hasn't he?

No, he's not. No?

'After all his worrying, it's just so nice to see him smiling again.'

Now, you can practise all these on Dad when you get home.

Thank you very much (!) Or somebody else.

I'm sure there'll be somebody about. My brother, Oscar. Oh, aye?

'Oh, hang on.

'That's one thing Dad Noel might not have thought about.'

When me and Oscar fight, we usually throw fists,

but now I can use kicks.

'Oh, this spells trouble.

'You might want to check how many nunchucks you still have

'before you shut up for the night.'

RINGING

Hiya.

SUE:

Yeah, we're just on our way back now. He loved it.

'He might have clone, but that's not the answer, is it, Noel?

'You're just reinforcing that he's gonna get bullied at school.'

But he did enjoy it. 'That's not the point.

'The point is, you need to speak to Oscar

'and tell him to stop teasing him.

'You should be helping him and have his back,

'not making his fears even worse.'

I mean, I can talk to Oscar if you want.

'Right, Noel, I need to go.' BEEP

Yeah. That's me put back in my pen, isn't it?

CHILD WHINES

'One of the advantages of being in Britain's biggest family

'is that there's always someone who's got your back

'when the chips are down.

'And for Sue today, "someone" is eldest daughter Sophie.'

My mum's not really been herself recently.

She's very quiet, so me and my dad have come up with a nice plan

that hopefully cheers her up, and she can open up to me.

Part of me is beginning to wonder if it's something I've clone

and she doesn't wanna speak to me about it,

or is it just one of them things

where she'd rather talk to one of her girlfriends about it?

Who knows?

'Sophie's already had an engagement today,

'so she'll be taking her mum with her.'

You ready to go to this appointment and see what it's like? Yeah. Yeah.

You've been very quiet. It's not like you, Mother.

Yeah, I'm fine.

Right. Come on, then, Mother. Right.

'Sophie has a theory about what's troubling Mum - getting old.'

In this day and age, women are constantly trying

to make themselves look better and whatnot.

And I think as you get older,

you do tend to do that little bit more

to make yourself feel a bit better.

When I feel like that, I usually do, like, a little pick-me-up.

Just something for you to make you feel a bit better.

I don't think it'll be my mum's bag, but you never know.

So, what do you think about cosmetics and stuff, Mum?

Oh...

I'm having some filler in my lips and nose today.

'Don't think Sue will approve.'

When I was younger, nobody ever got anything like that.

'Told you.'

Hi. You all right? WOMAN: Hi!

'Sophie's appointment is with a clinician

'specialising in advanced facial treatments

'and anti-ageing therapies.'

just gonna have a little reassess, and then we'll do a little touch-up.

Yes, amazing. Yeah? Perfect.

So, sharp scratch.

'Sue will not like this.'

Done. Did that hurt? No, no.

How's that feel? Very good.

Yeah? Thank you, yeah.

Now the tip. The tip.

This is the bit that stings a bit... Ooh, ouch.

...but we have left the numbing cream on for a little bit longer,

so it might be all right.

Are we ready? Yeah.

Sharp scratch. How's that feel? Mm-hm.

Seeing the needle going in is a bit... "Ooh!"

It's just the look of it, isn't it?

Where that needle just, like, goes in.

CLINICIAN CHUCKLES PRODUCER: How do you feel?

I feel really good. I feel very good.

So, this was the before and after last time, wasn't it?

It's quite a difference, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah, definitely.

Have you ever thought of getting anything clone?

'Cosmetic treatments are not Sue's thing,

'but she doesn't wanna offend.'

The only thing I have thought about is maybe something here.

OK. No need to be nervous.

So, if you was to inject that with a toxin to relax it,

it would then depress.

I don't think they're bad at all.

No, I was just thinking that. They're not that bad.

No. You'd never look angry if you had it done.

THEY LAUGH

'|'m not one for looking back, especially how I used to look.

'I've definitely learned recently

'that nothing can be dependent on in life.

'You've got to grab it whilst you can.'

I wouldn't recommend you getting around your eyes at all.

Oh.

'It's definitely nice for Sophie to take me out.

'I think she can always tell when something is not quite right,

'so it was lovely to be able to spend some time with Sophie.'

'The hunt to discover just what is wrong with Sue goes on.'

'Next day...

'..Noel's home from work early.'

NOEL: My wallet.

"Younger people with dementia."

BLEEP.

'A shocked Noel wants to speak with Sue.'

SUE:

'She's already on the phone.'

SUE:

Sue's not realised... she has company.

SUE:

Yeah.

I'll see you soon. All right, then. Bye.

What's been going on?

SUE SIGHS

I'm sorry. It's been awful.

But now she's told her family, I can tell you.

So, erm...

It's BLEEP. She's got early onset dementia.

Oh, my God.

'A lifelong friend of Sue and Noel's has received the diagnosis.

'It was so shocking that until now, she hasn't told all her family.

'And Sue was sworn to secrecy.'

I'm gonna go and see her.

I'll fill you in when I get back,

but I'm just... I'm gonna just go round.

'I found the leaflet. I thought it was you.'

It's devastating news.

'I knew there was something wrong.

'I've had all sorts going through my mind, thinking, you know,

' "|s it Sue? What's wrong? Something's really seriously wrong."

'But if you make a promise, you know, to someone,

'you should keep to it.

'A promise is a promise. It's as simple as that.'

just such a massive, massive shock.

I mean, she's only my age, so she's 49,

so it's not really any age.

So it's really... It's really upset me,

especially when she's got youngest children as well.

Like, you don't expect that, do you?

You kind of think, don't you,

that it's something that you get, like, when you're maybe 70 or 80.

It's not something that you think of in your late 40s, is it?

It's knocked me for six, actually. I feel...

Like, wow, you know, this...

That could happen to anybody, couldn't it?

'It's a real shock. It's a very close friend of Susan.

'She's known her for years.

'I don't want to say too much

'cos, you know, it's obviously a very private matter.'

it just shows, you know, how fragile life is, really.

'It's unsettled Sue about another person close to her.'

It's made me think, "Could that happen to my mum?"

She's turning 80 this year. I need to spend more time with my mum.

'While Sue visits her friend...' Oscar?

'..Noel is left to confront an issue that he's been putting off.'

Follow me.

'Oscar's constant teasing of younger brother Casper

'needs to be dealt with.'

Go on, take a pew. We'll sit here.

I'm not sure if you're aware, Oscar, but Casper is really worried

about starting high school

and that he's gonna be the smallest in the whole school.

I did notice, actually, that you've made a few comments

about Casper's height when we were school uniform shopping.

I don't think that's gonna help him, you know, Oscar.

It's a little bit scary, isn't it,

going to secondary school for the first time?

Yeah. Try and make him feel a bit better about going.

Not getting him worried even more that he's the smallest there, and...

We're all different heights, sizes, everything,

so we should just embrace the difference,

not take the mick out of it. OK.

Yeah? Yeah.

Just remember, Oscar, strong people don't put others down.

They lift them up.

It doesn't really matter if you're short, does it?

No, well, that's the thing, we know that,

but we just need Casper to know that it doesn't matter.

Yeah.

With all that said, maybe just think of a nice way

you can make it up to him, yeah? Yeah.

Make him feel better, yeah? Okeydokey.

Be nice to your little brother. All right.

'Sue's back from visiting her friend.'

SUE SIGHS

That was really hard.

Like, when I found out,

I kind of thought how I would feel in that situation.

She seems to be dealing with it OK.

She's a very bubbly person, big personality, and she doesn't...

She's not the sort of person that really will let things get to her,

but you can tell that she is... she's worried about it.

I think the main thing that she's worried about

is if it progresses quite quickly.

Ancl also the children as well

because some of them are quite young,

and, you know, how do...?

How do they understand that?

SUE SIGHS I don't know.

Your worry would be if you could remember your children's names

cos that's one of the main things, isn't it?

Ancl it definitely does make you think, you know,

if you couldn't remember...

you know, like, Heidi, Bonnie, Archie, whoever's names,

gosh, it'd be... just be heartbreaking, wouldn't it?

They are thinking that that's what's gonna happen, you know?

She will gradually just, you know... Her memory will get worse.

It's a bit of a reality check to say, "You know what?

"|t can happen to anybody, can't it?"

You know, you don't know what's round the corner, do you?

'Coming up...' COACH: Away we go!

'..Willsuper-mum Sue find her voice?'

The news about my friend really puts things into perspective.

Good skills.

'And Oscar tips Casper over the edge.'

Come on, Casper, climb. It's pretty scary.

NOEL: Yeah. Don't look down.

SALLY LINDSAY: 'It's the eve of the new school term.'

Casper's been hiding away recently.

His anxieties about being the small kid

in the big school were made worse by brother Oscar.

But after a chat with Dad, Oscar knows he went too far.

Oscar, bless him, what he's decided,

he was saving up some money for an Xbox game,

but he's gonna spend it on his brother instead.

OSCAR: I'm just here for a climbing session with my brother.

Aw, wonderful, thank you. You can go through.

Thanks very much. Thank you.

I thought I'd bring Casper here because he likes climbing.

He's always climbing everywhere.

I think it is important that I do make it up to him.

We are brothers, and I am his big brother,

so it's nice to just show that size doesn't matter,

and it will make him feel better about himself.

Right. There you go.

'Casper's first challenge - a rock face 7m tall.'

It's pretty scary. Yeah, don't look down.

I'll go to the top.

'His feet haven't left the ground yet.'

Come on, Casper, climb.

'This is worse than going to school.'

Climb.

I was worried that Oscar was gonna start teasing Casper again.

He'd probably climb one step and then got to my height.

But he just encouraged him. It was lovely.

He's just a bit scared.

We need to give him some, like, confidence.

Come on, Casper. You can do it.

'That's done the trick.' Come on, Casper.

Put your foot in that one there. Nice.

Yeah, nice. Casper, put...

Yeah. Left foot. Very clever there.

Good job, Casper.

Put it into the one... Oh, yeah.

Well clone, Casper. Nice.

Yeah, that's it. Yeah.

Then jump, Casper.

Come on, Casper. You can do it. Come on.

Go! just let go.

Let go. Go! Let go!

Well clone, Casper. Brilliant job.

NOEL LAUGHS

I like that. Yeah.

Definitely built up my confidence.

'Oscar's encouragement was invaluable.'

He was saying stuff like, "Come on, Casper."

He might be short, but, yeah, he's brave.

He got through it really well, actually, and...

I'm his number one supporter. Yeah.

I think this has been pretty good for him.

He seems to like it, so money well spent.

It's been going good, and it's really fun.

I'm glad that Oscar brought me.

We're like best friends, but brothers.

Yeah, it's lovely, isn't it?

Oscar and Casper, they've absolutely loved it.

Encourage me. I am encouraging you.

'Oscar's taken pride in helping Casper

'feel just that little bit braver about starting his new adventure.'

You might be annoying at times, but I'm still your big brother,

and I'll always look out for you, OK? Yeah, OK.

'Twenty-four hours later, and school's out.

'How was Heidi's first day?'

What did you like doing best at school today?

Just lining UP- Lining up?

Was that fun? SHE GIGGLES

So, we're gonna go again tomorrow? No.

Oh. Wrong answer. You are.

And for Casper, first day nerves are gone.

CASPER: Oscar, guess what?

You know that really spicy chicken? Yeah, I ate that.

'The new school menu is a more important topic of conversation.'

NOEL: How was it, Casper?

Good. You settle in all right?

How about mates? Any new friends?

OSCAR: Not him, actually. Not you?

No, there's someone in Year 7.

'Oh, good. There must be something you didn't like.'

THEY LAUGH

Is it like a trough?

The ones that you feed the pigs with look like.

They're disgusting.

THEY LAUGH 'Ah, Casper's back to his old self.'

GIGGLING

Where's that tummy? SHE GIGGLES

'During the last few weeks, super-mum Sue wasn't her usual self.

'She was withdrawn and quiet.' What do you want your hair like?

'And keeping secrets from Noel affected her deeply.'

We never got into marriage to hide things from each other.

We tell each other everything. Yeah, you do.

These were unique circumstances, but I'm just glad we're back to normal.

Phoebe? PHOEBE: Yes, Mum?

Get your football kit on

cos we're going to her first football lesson. Yay!

'Super-mum is back.'

Even the kids had noticed that she wasn't herself,

but absolutely fantastic, you know.

Sue's back to her old self. I'm over the moon.

Whoa! Look at you!

I think she might be a little bit excited to go to football practice.

This is gonna be fun, isn't it?

'The chance to spend some quality mum and daughter time with Phoebe

'is just what Sue needed.

'Even on a wet and windy night in Morecambe.'

COACH: Away we go! Defenders, come in!

Come on, Pheebs!

Come on, Pheebs.

So, what have we learnt, though?

'I think a family this size, you got to be patient.

'So it's more slowly, slowly, catchy monkey.'

Oh, so you're comparing your wife and kids to monkeys now?

No... No, but there are some similarities, though.

You know what, I wish you'd go quiet more often.

Go on, Pheebs. WHISTLE BLOWS

Yes!

'In the next series...' LAUGHTER

Oh, my goodness. Who can eat a pie the fastest?

Come on, Katie. Pies down.

This is bonkers, isn't it?

Look. Aw, look.

A little baby. That's your brother or sister.

CHEERING Three, two, one...

SCREAMING, CHEERING

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: I've got information to share with you.

I have made contact with your birth mother,

and she was really excited,

and she would like to proceed to have contact with you.

A bit of a strange feeling

cos I am writing a complete and utter stranger.

But this is the woman that gave birth to me.