Wife Swap (Wife Swap (Channel 4))

Member Name: justathought

Product:	Wife Swap (Channel 4)
Date:	14/08/09 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting

Disadvantages: slightly disturbing concept when you think about it!

Wife Swap is one of the many reality TV programmes that comes on channel 4.

What happens is that is that two families will swap the 'wife of the family with each other, and adopt their 'new' lifestyle and family (i.e living in the house, doing the same routine that the normal wife would do) for 2 weeks. For the first week, each 'wife' has to live by the others rules. This is done by the normal wife leaving a manual for the new one, detailing what her role will be, and what it's like being her. For the second week, the wife can implement her own rules, or change the family's normal rules as they see fit.

Usually the 2 families in the show are very different in their attitudes, lifestyles and the way they choose to bring up children. One episode that was quite famous featured a woman who had 8 kids and who was on benefits, as was her partner. The people they swapped with both worked, and earned less than the benefits the other family were getting.

There have been some episodes where the wife couldn't stand the people they were assigned to, and left early, whereas others, where the wife had a really good time and realised that they had been little more than a servant in their own home!

At the end of the show, the couples meet up and talk about their experience in each others roles and their opinion of the other couple. At this point, things are very sensitive and a lot of people get offended, fight, or are extremely civil, despite the other couple being unreasonable. A lot of couples admit that they've learnt something, will improve something, or have learned to appreciate how much their partner does, which can be very touching.

Near the end of the show, the couples are shown reunited with their family. At the end of the show, we're told about any changes that were made, which often happens even if people were unwilling to admit it in front of the 'rival' couple before!

Summary: Interesting and very watchable