Quote of the week, from Rich House, Poor House.

Is it worth watching on Catch Up, phoenix? I wanted to see the last episode of Prime Suspect.

Watched Prime Suspect, watching this on plus 1.

Second quote of the week "I wouldn't want to get my feet wet and then put on my Jimmy Choos"

Closely followed by some comment about not being able clean a toilet someone else had used

merlot good for a damn good "you spoilt little brat, ffs wake up and meet the real world" type rant!

Better not let DH watch it then.

To be fair, although the young woman from the rich family was very cossetted, both she and her Mum and Dad were very admiring of the poor family and how the mother managed her money. I thought that both families seemed very nice and there was no bitchiness on either side.

I saw the trailer for this and decided against watching it. I hate these rich /poor , take it away,/benefit scrounger programs we seem to be inundated with at the moment.

They are all equally obscene and seem to be laughing at the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

I wouldn't say that this program was laughing at anyone gillybob in fact it seemed to show admiration and respect for the family on the low income.

The mother had 3 jobs, one of which was cleaning, hence the comment from the daughter of the well off family about toilets.

Generally, I would agree with you gillybob but I think this programme was different - it didn't demonise either family and showed both in a good light. If it had been the sort of programme that sets one lot up against another and watches them bitch about each other (and, of course, there are plenty of those programmes), I would have turned off.

I have only watched the first in the series, but agree with Eloethan that they were all good people who were well portrayed.

Oh I see. Thank you phoenix and Eloethan I might give it a try on catch up then. I jumped to the (obviously wrong) conclusion that it was going to be yet another one of those programs mocking the poor and vulnerable.

Thank you

I think the saddest bit was when the single mother's daughter said how happy her mother had been all week because she hadn't had to worry about whether she was going to be able to pay for her shopping.

I did expect the programme to have some sort of conclusion though, that the families met up or something. Like in Wife Swap and that families on holiday one. Or that they helped each other out with tips etc. It just showed how each family lived and that was it.

I am glad that I wasn't born into riches. I'm not the type.

Some say that money doesn't buy happiness (maybe they are the ones who have plenty of it) but it can and does buy peace of mind. How can anyone ever be happy when they are constantly worried about paying the bills?

I thought they all seemed to be nice, caring people. It was a sweet programme.

I watched this program tonight. It was exactly as I thought it would be.
Shameful. Talk about rubbing someone's nose in it . Very very

I didn't see tonight's program, Gillybob, what was it about it that made you think ^^?

Genuine question, not being "funny" (as my ex MIL used to say) just that last weeks episode seemed well balanced, and some other posters agreed.

I was out so I didn't see it.

Extreme poor family living in a high rise flat in Walthamstow. Single mum of three (lovely) children. The eldest son forced to sleep on the sofa as not enough room. Living on the breadline.

Swap house with a very rich family with a six bedroom farmhouse in the Essex countryside. Masses of land, animals, swimming pool, tennis courts etc.

The "poor" mother almost had a heart attack when she was handed the £1600 in cash the rich family have per week for food, eating out, treats etc.
Being used to a budget of only £113 she must've felt like a millionaire.

The rich family "tolerated" living in the high rise flat for the week and seemed to exist on tinned food, presumably thinking "this is only one week and we will be going back to our lovely life"
The children especially from the poor family seemed devestated to be going back to their life of poverty, street crime and depravation. Who wouldn't be?

I felt bitter for them that having seen for themselves "how the other half live" and really fail to see the point of the whole exercise other than to make them feel even worse than they probably already did. I won't be watching again that's for sure.

I haven't watched it but reading your post gillybob I don't think I will.
I wonder if it makes the rich family think twice - and perhaps offer a holiday once in a while to the 'poor' family?
£1,600 per week for food and spends?

I am glad that I wasn't born into riches. I'm not the type
But not everyone is like that rubylady, some people use their wealth to help others. OK, it may make them feel better about themselves but it is doing some good, eg Bill Gates, John Bird, George Michael etc
www.theguardian.com/society/2012/mar/07/new-philanthropists-wealthy-people

Perhaps, though, ruby there is a difference between people born into riches and those who have earned it themselves.

Tonight, "but I can't live without smoked salmon!"

But as they found out, smoked salmon is available, not expensive and very tasty from Aldi!