Coal House

Series in which three families give up their 21st century creature comforts and time-travel back to face the hardships of life in 1927, when coal was king and the world was run by the power of black gold.

Deep in the Welsh Valleys three families give up their 21st century creature comforts and time-travel back to face the hardships of life in 1927. But will the community survive without a microwave, mobile, fast car or fast food?

As the families settle into the punishing routine of a 1927 mining community, the men face a tough training period to equip them for life at the coal-face, the children cope with school and discipline and the mams get to grips with mangles, ranges and the first tin bath.

It's not just the coal-mining men who are finding things hard. Their wives start to feel the pinch of life in 1927, with mouths to feed and a cleaning routine to stick to. There's some light relief, however, as the Cartwrights, Phillips and Griffiths families enjoy a rare night out and celebrate a special birthday.

For the men, things are not getting any easier at the pit, with new skills to master and performance-related pay. The mams and children enjoy Halloween, but the expense involved has left the families on the verge of the financial precipice.

For the mining men of Coal House, things are not getting anyeasier at the pit with new skills to master and performance related pay. The mams and children enjoy Halloween but has the expense involved left all the families on the verge of the financial precipice?

For the children, exams at school are just around the corner, while the men live the reality of the 1927 coalfield where pit closures were the norm and poor wages all too common. Can the Griffiths, Cartwright and Phillips mams keep the fires burning, and more importantly, keep smiling?

In the final week the heat is on as the families fight for survival. Washing pit clothes, baking and cleaning has taken over the lives of the mothers and daughters and the fathers and sons are exhausted and struggling at the coal face to earn a crust. But the community keeps their spirits high as they look forward to their return to the 21st century.

The families add preparation for the final concert to their exhausting daily life. As the community thinks about its goodbye to life in 1927, will the children be saying goodbye to the pigs and their mums goodbye to the tin baths?

It's the final day for the Coal House families. Last night Ceredin upset Debra by going to the pub, the family competitiveness came out as Gwen beat her sister Kitty in their exam results and the men worked their last day in the mine. Then it was a shower and a change of clothes before the families returned to the year 2007 and reunited with their families and friends.