Rose Ayling-Ellis, known for her advocacy, takes on a new challenge in this heartwarming two-part series. In “Old Hands, New Tricks,” Rose sets out to teach British Sign Language (BSL) to a group of retirees at Hughenden Gardens Retirement Village. Her goal? To see if learning BSL can enrich their lives, foster new connections, and combat feelings of isolation.
With just six weeks to teach the basics of BSL, Rose enlists the help of her friend Marios Costi, a charismatic teacher who brings energy and enthusiasm to the project. The series follows the residents as they tackle the challenges and joys of learning a new language, culminating in a signing karaoke night that celebrates their newfound skills.
But “Old Hands, New Tricks” is more than just a language-learning experiment. It’s about exploring the power of communication, the importance of community, and the ways in which learning something new can bring joy and connection at any age. Find out if Rose and Marios succeed in their mission when the first episode airs Wednesday, March 26th at 21:00 on BBC One.
