Jayne
07-07-2004, 10:12
This is quite impressive - hope everyone is going to watch BBC1 at 8pm tonight
Fit family take it to the limit in TV test
TV executives wanted to find Britain's toughest family. It was an offer the Sutherland family, from Harthill, near Kiveton, just couldn't refuse.
After wife Ruth received an email advertising the challenge, Jim thought the family should give it a try.
So the set of keen orienteers, who moved to the area to pursue their love of outdoor pursuits, fired off an application.
"We decided to go for it but we didn't expect to get anywhere," said Jim, aged 46.
But they did.
And tomorrow 'Pushed to the Limits: Britain's Toughest Family' will be aired on BBC1 when Jim, Ruth, 44, and two of their four children Clare, who was then 15, and Mark, 14, will take part in the first challenge.
In the series 10 families will battle it out through a string of endurance, stamina and team-building adventures.
Ex-SAS soldier Chris Ryan guides the families, whose first challenge was a six-day tall ship voyage where they encountered gale force winds and violent sea sickness.
All 10 families had to man the ship in shifts - climbing the 45metre masts in all weathers and at all times of day and night.
The first task was back in the Autumn and the Sutherland family were one of five to sail through to the next round. But Jim is remaining tight lipped about how far the South Yorkshire family got.
What we do know is that successful families went on to endure a commando course, a fire and rescue team activity and an undercover operation. The two remaining families then went through to a grand final in the Australian outback.
Jim said: "It really was a once-in- a-lifetime thing to train with Marines and go on the tall ship - things that you would never have the chance to do. It was fantastic."
After the challenges the family were left exhausted - but still had to turn up for work and school on the Monday morning!
And for Jim, who is a GP at a surgery in Killamarsh, it was tough to juggle the TV tasks with family life and work.
"It was quite taxing to do that with a family of six!"
Youngsters Fiona, nine, and Andrew, 11, couldn't join the rest of the family as the challenge was open to over-14s only.
"I think they did feel as though they were missing out - we are used to doing things as a family," says Jim, of Union Street.
But the family are more than used to outdoor pursuits with Mark, of Wales High School, an avid rugby player and Clare, of Sheffield High School, a keen sailor.
Jim said: "We go camping and do a lot of orienteering so we are quite comfortable outdoors. I have climbed for years and both Mark and Clare like climbing.
"We had to be fairly fit for the challenge and they provided a trainer for us so it was pretty all-consuming. When it finished we felt fairly flat."
"My patients don't know anything about it!" he laughs. "I think I'll go for a bike ride on Wednesday night!"
Pushed to the Limits: Britain's Toughest Family will be screened tomorrow on BBC1 at 8pm.
Fit family take it to the limit in TV test
TV executives wanted to find Britain's toughest family. It was an offer the Sutherland family, from Harthill, near Kiveton, just couldn't refuse.
After wife Ruth received an email advertising the challenge, Jim thought the family should give it a try.
So the set of keen orienteers, who moved to the area to pursue their love of outdoor pursuits, fired off an application.
"We decided to go for it but we didn't expect to get anywhere," said Jim, aged 46.
But they did.
And tomorrow 'Pushed to the Limits: Britain's Toughest Family' will be aired on BBC1 when Jim, Ruth, 44, and two of their four children Clare, who was then 15, and Mark, 14, will take part in the first challenge.
In the series 10 families will battle it out through a string of endurance, stamina and team-building adventures.
Ex-SAS soldier Chris Ryan guides the families, whose first challenge was a six-day tall ship voyage where they encountered gale force winds and violent sea sickness.
All 10 families had to man the ship in shifts - climbing the 45metre masts in all weathers and at all times of day and night.
The first task was back in the Autumn and the Sutherland family were one of five to sail through to the next round. But Jim is remaining tight lipped about how far the South Yorkshire family got.
What we do know is that successful families went on to endure a commando course, a fire and rescue team activity and an undercover operation. The two remaining families then went through to a grand final in the Australian outback.
Jim said: "It really was a once-in- a-lifetime thing to train with Marines and go on the tall ship - things that you would never have the chance to do. It was fantastic."
After the challenges the family were left exhausted - but still had to turn up for work and school on the Monday morning!
And for Jim, who is a GP at a surgery in Killamarsh, it was tough to juggle the TV tasks with family life and work.
"It was quite taxing to do that with a family of six!"
Youngsters Fiona, nine, and Andrew, 11, couldn't join the rest of the family as the challenge was open to over-14s only.
"I think they did feel as though they were missing out - we are used to doing things as a family," says Jim, of Union Street.
But the family are more than used to outdoor pursuits with Mark, of Wales High School, an avid rugby player and Clare, of Sheffield High School, a keen sailor.
Jim said: "We go camping and do a lot of orienteering so we are quite comfortable outdoors. I have climbed for years and both Mark and Clare like climbing.
"We had to be fairly fit for the challenge and they provided a trainer for us so it was pretty all-consuming. When it finished we felt fairly flat."
"My patients don't know anything about it!" he laughs. "I think I'll go for a bike ride on Wednesday night!"
Pushed to the Limits: Britain's Toughest Family will be screened tomorrow on BBC1 at 8pm.