In episode one the First World War has just ended and the North is on the cusp of great transformation. Presenter Sara Cox and social historian Polly Russell introduce the family to 1918 living: their spacious home has been halved to become a traditional two up two down, they’re wearing clogs to work and dining on bread and lard - or tripe if they’re lucky. Bradford-born Anita Rani introduces them to the pleasures of rambling, 1930s-style, and the family enjoy a rare bank holiday in Blackpool. But as the Ellis’s soon discover, just like the seaside town’s famous rollercoaster , life for working families was full of ups and downs.
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