Back in Time for Birmingham

Father Vishal and 19-year-old son Akash arrive first and are shocked at the accommodation available in 1950, a dingy room with a bed they must share on a rota, and access to a basic kitchen and bathroom. While Vishal puts in a shift at one of Birmingham's many factories, Akash's limited culinary skills are put to the test by a 1950s larder.

By the 1970s, many South Asian families had realised that running your own business was the best way to get ahead in Britain, so the Sharmas are now the proud owners of a shop. The Sharmas quickly discover that a shopkeeper's life involves long hours and plenty of manual labour to keep the shop stocked, priced and competitive.

This time it's the 80s and 90s, decades in which the hard work of South Asian families was beginning to pay off, with success reflected in everything from the huge stereo to the embossed gold wallpaper in their living room.

Guided by BBC Asian Network's Noreen Khan and historian Yasmin Khan, the Sharma family reflect on their time-travelling journey through British Asian history and discover how things have changed in the 21st century.