Emma Willis and AJ Odudu are starring in a new show that helps family-run businesses across Britain get back on their feet after the pandemic, and they're in Wales for the first episode.
'Get To Work' is a four-part series that kicks off in Swansea on Mumbles Pier - a much-loved Victorian structure that's recently undergone some well-needed restoration work. In the new series Emma and AJ help brothers and pier owners Bert and Fred Bollom transform the pier from a quiet fishing spot into a bustling hub of activity by throwing a party for the local community.
In the episode, you can expect to catch a glimpse of Mumbles pier as it was in its heyday: jam-packed arcades and busy ice cream parlours with ringing tills. The show kicks off on Monday, November 22, at 8pm, and will air on UKTV's W Channel. You can read more stories about Swansea here.
Read more: Mumbles Pier will be holding a Christmas market this winter
Co-host Emma Willis said: "We liked the idea of this show because so many people had their lives disrupted due to Covid, and this really highlighted the effects it has had on long-term, family-run businesses and the small start-up businesses who had strived over the past year. The series puts a spotlight on their individual stories and the people we got to meet throughout the series were really inspiring."
The duo travel to Swansea, Aberdeen, Yorkshire and Cumbria, and it will probably come as no surprise to Welsh folk that Emma found Mumbles particularly enjoyable and charming.
She said: "I'd heard of the Mumbles because we all know that's where Catherine Zeta Jones is from. I imagined it being quite a 'Kiss Me Quick' seaside town and then when I got there, it was like walking back in time - I loved it."
The upcoming series is set to be a heart-warming and inspiring one as Emma and AJ help and spend time with families who have been struggling over the last year.
After their visit to Swansea, the pair venture up to Aberdeen to help a fledging homewares business, and then down to Yorkshire to meet a soon-to-be-married couple who are fighting back from devastating lockdown losses.
The series finishes in Cumbria, where the pair help shepherdess Hannah Jackson during the busiest week of her year, making her first lamb sales.
Emma said their visit to Mumbles was an "emotional" one, given that Mumbles pier was one of the only family-run piers left in the country.
She said: "This visit really highlighted the work that the brothers did and the struggles that they experienced. The pandemic almost caused them to lose one of the only family-run piers in the country, as their grandfather bought it and handed it down through the generations.
"They really didn’t want to drop the ball, so this was quite an emotional visit and, after a whole year of nothing, they were so happy when we rocked up to help them prep for a family day on the pier and breathe new life into the place. It was amazing to get an insight into how a pier is run and see how much pride they took in what they do."
You can expect to watch the duo master the "art form" of frying proper fish and chips, along with candle making and sheep-shearing - as well as enjoying the attractions on the pier.
Reflecting on the series, AJ said the filming experience was incredibly inspiring, stating: "It taught me that running a business is hard work and you get out what you put in. But, as well as passion, you do need support. You can’t do it alone and should never be afraid to ask for help."
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