- Title: Wifeswap Germany
- Date: 19th October 2004
- Description:Two women who have never met agree to swap homes,children and husbands for two weeks to see what they can learn about their own lives. The women have to cope with a new spouse,be mother to other people's children and then meet up with the other couple at the end of the two weeks to tell each other how it all went. During the first week the new wife is expected to do everything that the real wife does at home and to the same standard whether they agree with it or not. The second week then brings about the opportunity for the new wives to show these families how they do things and how they think they can improve the family's lives. The families,usually coming from very opposite worlds,inevitably clash on issues such as child rearing,house keeping and life style choices Narrator: Ken Lorimer Produced and Directed by: Suzanne Lynch (Episode eleven: Germany) Sharon Thomas and Andy Davis live together on the outskirts of Bristol with children Jody 8,Morgan 4 and 15-year-old Jade. Sharon is a housewife and part time nurse while Andy works as a supervisor in a factory. Andy says he is the boss at work but when he comes home Sharon is the boss,she does all the disciplining and the children see dad as the push over. Sharon rushes the housework so she can have time for herself to go shopping. Andy cooks dinner in the house which usually consists of something from the freezer eaten in front of the telly. Andy also cleans and washes up afterwards as Sharon doesn't like to ruin her nails. Sharon goes out regularly with her girlfriends and Andy will pick her up whatever time it is in the morning. Gerhardt and Anna-Christina Schmitt have been married for 19 years and live in Veil,Germany,with children Lottie 17,Julius 16 and Victoria 9. The Schmitts live a traditional life with the mother staying at home and dealing with everything to do with the family. Gerhardt is the breadwinner for the family and runs his steel sales business from his study whilst Anna is the ultimate house-frau with a very German style of organisation. Anna does everything for the family including cooking freshly made meals eaten round the table everyday. After dinner the family play parlour games around the table,they say it is more challenging and fun then just watching television. Well organised German housewife Anna-Christina has a shock when she arrives in England to find a four-year-old who is addicted to TV and chocolate,a husband that works and cooks and cleans and very little for her to do. At first the rest is frustrating for Anna but she soon sees the benefits of giving herself some time to pamper herself and once her rules come into play she also manages to get the family off TV and chocolate and on to healthy meals eaten round the table and quality time playing with remarkably little resistance. Gerhardt is surprised to meet out-spoken Sharon who immediately tells him she doesn't agree with the way he lives,much to his horror she brings in a wide screen TV and makes him do all the cooking and washing up whilst she goes to get her nails done. At the end of the swap both families have changed for the better. Anna has learnt to stand up for herself and her teenage children and husband now help her in the house and work more as a team. Having realised how much she has used Andy,Sharon is truly sorry for not appreciating him enough,she now makes his sandwiches in the morning,cooks healthy meals which they eat at the table and to show how much she really loves him,Sharon proposes and Andy accepts.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Entertainment
- Producer:RDF Media Ltd.
- Programme Episode:Episode 11
- Transmission Date:19/10/2004
- Rights:UK and Eire
- Decade: 2000s