Wife Swap

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  • 2010
  • 1 Season
  • 5.0  (301)

Wife Swap is a reality television show that aired on Channel 4 from 2003 to 2017. The premise of the show involves two families who swap wives/mothers for a period of two weeks. The show explores the different lifestyles and beliefs of the families involved, and how they cope with the change in routine.

The show became famous for featuring celebrities swapping lives with regular families, such as Samantha Fox, Olivia Williams, and Jade Goody. The celebrity episodes gained popularity due to the intrigue of seeing how the lifestyles of the rich and famous differed from that of regular people.

In each episode of Wife Swap, two families would be chosen based on their differing lifestyles and beliefs. The first week of the swap would involve the visiting wife/mother adhering to the routine and lifestyle of the family she has joined. This often proved to be a challenge, as the visiting wife would have to adapt to new surroundings and a new set of rules.

The second week of the swap would see the original wives/mothers return to their respective families, and they would then have to adapt to the changed lifestyle that their partner has introduced. This often led to clashes and disagreements as both parties struggled to find a way to coexist.

The show was known for its controversial moments, particularly when it featured families with extreme beliefs or lifestyles. For example, in one episode, a strict vegan was forced to live with a family of avid meat-eaters, and in another, a family who believed in strict gender roles was paired with a feminist family.

Despite the conflicts that arose from the swaps, the show was often heartwarming and emotional, as the families involved had to learn to see things from a different perspective. Many participants reported that the experience helped them to appreciate their own families more and gave them a greater sense of gratitude for their lives.

Throughout its run, Wife Swap gained a reputation as a thought-provoking reality show that challenged viewers' preconceptions and beliefs. It was a refreshing departure from other reality shows that focused on competition and drama, instead embracing the opportunity for personal growth and self-reflection.

Sadly, the show ended in 2017 and has not been aired since. However, its impact on reality television and popular culture has been significant, and it remains a beloved show amongst fans to this day.

Wife Swap
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Seasons
The Gianstefanis and the Aytons
26. The Gianstefanis and the Aytons
February 10, 2008
A millionaire's wife who lives a luxurious lifestyle exchanges with a freegan Jesus Christian who scavenges for food from bins.
The Menfesawi-Imanis and the Wilkinsons
25. The Menfesawi-Imanis and the Wilkinsons
February 17, 2008
A mum who believes in structure and routine swaps with a mum who puts fun first and education last.
The Roberts and the Frenchs
24. The Roberts and the Frenchs
February 24, 2008
Judith and Glen Roberts are devout Christians who follow the Bible to the letter. They have two children: nine-year-old Alice and three-year-old Layton Reece.
The Buncles and the Sages
23. The Buncles and the Sages
March 2, 2008
David and Michele Buncle are a traditional family living in rural Devon with their six children and 50 pets! It's a simple back-to-basics life. While Michele is in charge of running the…
The Newmans and the Butlers
22. The Newmans and the Butlers
August 17, 2008
Suzanne and Paul Newman are a busy family from suburban Essex. Both parents work, and their two daughters have a diary packed full of activities and after-school classes.
The Browses and the Geldens
21. The Browses and the Geldens
August 24, 2008
Young couple Jon and Raquel Gelden have a strict approach to parenting. Their two boys, Tyson (seven) and Rhys (five), believe that if they are disciplined, it means they must try harder.
The Hamlins and the Zendel-Ellis'
20. The Hamlins and the Zendel-Ellis'
August 31, 2008
Emma Payne and Lee Hamlin are full time parents to their ten children, and run their house with structure and discipline. The family works as a team, with set mealtimes and everyone…
The Seniors and the Jordans
19. The Seniors and the Jordans
September 14, 2008
Andy Jordan and his partner Jason Lombard have been together for two years. They recently got engaged and live in Milton Keynes with Andy's 17-year-old daughter, Ayesha, from his first…
The Gibbs and the Henrys
18. The Gibbs and the Henrys
November 22, 2008
Alison Henry has one priority in life: her five children. She cooks, cleans and runs around after them all day, every day.
The Griffiths and the Youngs
17. The Griffiths and the Youngs
November 28, 2008
Julie Young and her teetotal husband Tim are both Labour party councillors, and politics is top of the family agenda.
The Berrisfords and the Pearson-Faiths
16. The Berrisfords and the Pearson-Faiths
December 19, 2008
Jess and Lou Pearson-Faith are a lesbian couple from Essex. They live together in a council flat with Jess's three children from a previous marriage. Two years ago Jess met Lou and…
The Hefferans and the Walshs
15. The Hefferans and the Walshs
January 23, 2009
Penny Hefferan has been blind from birth and is fiercely independent. She works full time for a number of charities, as well as running a tight ship at the family home in Loughborough…
The Ahmeds and the Escotts
14. The Ahmeds and the Escotts
February 27, 2009
Nuzhat Ahmed is the mother in a devout Muslim Pakistani family who pray five times a day. The backbone of their family philosophy is based on Islamic principles and their three teenage…
The Vyas and the Strevens
13. The Vyas and the Strevens
April 10, 2009
The Strevens household is an all-male domain. After John and his wife separated, his two teenage sons decided to live with him in Birmingham. John lets his kids lead their own life;…
The Spencers and the Dryers
12. The Spencers and the Dryers
May 8, 2009
Jason and wife Sally live the 'good life' in the Cambridgeshire countryside with their two children, having chosen to turn their backs on conventional society.
The Courtenays and the Darby-Dhyans
11. The Courtenays and the Darby-Dhyans
May 15, 2009
Marbella socialite Anna and her husband Chris enjoy the kind of lifestyle many would envy: a five-bed Spanish villa with a pool, three domestic staff to run the house, a beach close by and…
The Burkes and the Howes
10. The Burkes and the Howes
June 14, 2009
Sue and Kevin Burke live on a 200-acre farm in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and have been married for nearly four years. They live with three of Sue's five children from previous marriages:…
The Murphys and the Moystons
9. The Murphys and the Moystons
June 21, 2009
A driven perfectionist swaps her life with a woman who adores life in the slow lane.
The Ramos' and the Griffiths
8. The Ramos' and the Griffiths
June 28, 2009
In Sheffield, Anita Ramos and her Brazilian husband Marcelo spend every day together, working as professional acrobats and performers. They've been inseparable since they met 14 years ago…
The Hornbys and the Berners
7. The Hornbys and the Berners
July 5, 2009
Self-confessed wannabe WAG Andrea Hornby swaps places with Kathy Berner, a working mother whose busy life doesn't leave much time for herself or romance.
The Hollicks and the Willis'
6. The Hollicks and the Willis'
July 19, 2009
Beautician Tara Hollick and her husband Alan believe in liberal parenting. They would rather their children feel free to express themselves in front of their parents than go behind their…
The Duncans and the Bonnars
5. The Duncans and the Bonnars
July 26, 2009
Michele Duncan thinks nothing of cleaning her Stoke-on-Trent house from top to bottom for eight hours each day; even brandishing a toothbrush to remove every last speck of grime from the…
The Sheriffs and the Wards
4. The Sheriffs and the Wards
August 2, 2009
A born-again Christian mother swaps places with a mum who describes her family as more like the Osbournes than the Waltons.
Stevens/Thomson and Rayfield/Collins
3. Stevens/Thomson and Rayfield/Collins
August 9, 2009
A publican from Cornwall who gives her everything to running her pub 24-7, swaps with a working mum from Gravesend who shares an unconventional home life with her partner.
The Carters and the Dales
2. The Carters and the Dales
December 19, 2009
It's the last ever Wife Swap, as Bentley-driving lady-of-leisure Torre Carter from Kent, swaps with mum-of-seven Sam Dale, who lives in one of Britain's largest council estates in Hull.
The Curtis' and the Pinchens
1. The Curtis' and the Pinchens
January 29, 2010
What happens when a traditional country mum swaps lives with a working mum who doesn't believe in rules or discipline?
Description
  • Premiere Date
    January 29, 2010
  • IMDB Rating
    5.0  (301)