Big Ron Atkinson had a glittering 50 years in football from player to manager to commentator. But a racist remark five years ago cost him his job. Maggie, his wife of 27 years, tends to Ron’s every need. But romantic Ron showers her with gifts. Romance is something Olympic legend Tessa Sanderson yearns for. Tessa lives with former judo champ Densign White in East London. The first British black woman to bring gold home prides herself on being a black role model. What happens when Tessa and Maggie swap lives? How does Ron fare under new management?

Sunday 16 August 2009
8:00pm, Channel 4

The X Factor’s Creative Director, Brian Friedman, has recently spoken out about his annoyance at Cheryl Cole’s criticism of his choice of outfits for some of the finalists during the show.

Brian helped boyband JLS come up with their outfits and choreography during Big Band week but Cheryl wasn’t impressed and called the boys outfits ‘dated’.

‘I didn’t think their jackets were dated at all,’ Brian told Now magazine.

‘They were made recently, they fitted great, and they looked smooth. Who’s Cheryl to say sequins are dated?’ ‘I thought Cheryl was a bit hypocritical. She was just doing it for the reaction.’

Brian also revealed that he’d had differences of opinion with Louis Walsh too.

‘The thing is Louis is 100 years old,’ he said, adding, ‘His vision is clouded. it need dragging into the 21st century.’

Lesbian comedian Rhona Cameron has reportedly been signed up to appear in Celebrity Wife Swap alongside fellow comedian Stan Boardman.

The pair will trade partners for an edition of the Channel 4 reality show which is due to air early next year.

A show source told The Sun: ‘Stan’s very old school. We’re expecting fireworks from the off.’

While Stan Boardman’s friend, Pete Price, added: ‘He’s definitely a male chauvinist pig, out of control and zany, always late and unpredictable.

‘From what I’ve heard, he’s been to every local cafe as she can’t cook. And apparently, the chemistry hasn’t been the best between them – and that’s putting it politely.’

Both comedian’s have appeared on reality TV shows before; Rhona was in the first series of I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here and Stan was one of the housemates on Channel 4’s Kings Of Comedy in 2004.

Whilst filming for an upcoming episode of celebrity Wife Swap for Channel 4, 80’s pop star Sinitta gained ten pounds in weight due to the diet and lifestyle of Coronation Street actor, Bruce Jones.

As part of the show Sinitta had tro live with Bruce for a week, and he had her eating fish and chips and regularly hitting the pub.

“They are very different people and it wasn’t easy for her,” a source told the Sunday Mirror. “She told him to get a grip on his drinking. He is just like Les Battersby. He took her down the pub and had her eating fish and chips and drinking Guinness. Now she is on a strict detox diet.”

When Sinitta’s turn came to run the house though, the situation quickly changed….

“When it came to her turn, out came the juicer and the steamed veg,” the insider added.

The episode airs on March 23 at 8pm on Channel 4.

The new series of BAFTA-award-winning Wife Swap continues. This week two Christian wives with a difference swap lives for two weeks. How will the strict Christian wife of a pastor cope living as a born again Christian with no rules who gambles and drinks? And can a ‘no rules’ mum find her faith in the home of a pastor? 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. Glen is a pastor in Huddersfield and everything he and wife Judith do is governed by God. Judith is a traditional wife, doing everything for her family from waking husband Glen in the morning with a cup of tea, to working on a mountain of chores in the home.

Dawn and Scott French are also Christians, but they have a very different take on religion. They have three children, two-year-old daughter Summer and Dawn’s two sons, nine-year-old Ashton and 11-year-old Bradley. Dawn is a far from traditional wife, there are no rules in the house, she rarely cooks and she leaves all of the cleaning to husband Scott. Dawn doesn’t let being a mum get in the way of having fun and often spends time gambling in the bookies or playing bingo with her friends. She also likes a good drink and will often consume at least a bottle of vodka on a night out with the girls.

Can strict Christian mum Judith cope in a house with no rules? Will fun-loving Dawn be able to live as a traditional housewife? How will Judith’s principles be put to the test when she is asked to drink and gamble? And can Pastor Glen help Dawn find her faith? Wife Swap: The Aftermath follows immediately afterwards on E4.

Sunday 24 February 2008 8PM, Channel 4

The new series of BAFTA-award-winning Wife Swap continues. A mum who believes in structure and routine swaps with a mum who puts fun first and education last. Education is a priority for Ife and Pablo Menfesawi-Imani, and structure doesn’t stop at the school gate. So their three young children do their share of the chores. And to give their children the boundaries and discipline they believe they need to succeed in life, the Imanis have done away with some of life’s distractions, including TV.

Jeff and Debbie Wilkinson believe that life is all about having fun, and fun at the Wilkinson house means no rules. Their four children are free to do whatever they want – even deciding whether or not to go to school – while Debbie cooks, cleans and does the childcare, as well as going out to work. While an exhausted Debbie runs around after her family, the Wilkinson men relax by performing together once a week in their comedy band “Chuckletruck”. Can Ife, who believes in sexual equality, become a dutiful housewife?

How does Debbie feel when her new children do the chores? Can a dad who gives education a thumbs-down help his truant son develop structure and routine? And what happens when a strict vegan dad sees his children eating sweets and having fun?

Sunday 17 February 2008, Channel 4, 8PM

Reports have emerged today, suggesting that former Coronation Street actor, Bruce Jones and 80’s pop sensation Sinitta have become the latest celebs to sign up for Channel 4’s Wife Swap.

“Les Battersby and Sinitta may seem like a match made in hell but we reckon it will be telly heaven,” a source told The Daily Star.

“Bruce is keen to do this. He feels people need to see the real him. He is aware that plenty of people think of him as Les Battersby.”

After last week’s celebrity opener, the new series of BAFTA-award-winning Wife Swap continues with an ex-pat episode: Marbella socialite Anna Courtenay and her husband Chris swap places with “back-to-nature” Dan and Kara Darby-Dhyan, who live on an eco-friendly boat.

How does Anna cope with getting her hands dirty tending the land, no modern conveniences and living off a mere six-Euro weekly budget? And how does Kara handle “sleeping with the enemy” as she has to endure everything she has come to despise about modern life?

Sunday 3 February 2008
8:15pm

Freddie appeared This Morning today, to promote Celebrity Wife Swap with Sam Fox, but gave a confusing and rambling interview, culminating in a bizarre comment about wanting to get Sam pregnant at the final meeting where both couples discuss their experiences from the past week.

“Really?” asked an incredulous Phillip

“Yeah, surrogate father” Freddie replied, in reference to Sam having a female partner.

“There you go, you’ve got an offer” Ruth said to scared Sam

“Myra, help!” Sam joked calling out to her partner

Former page three girl Sam Fox has admitted to feeling broody after taking part in Channel 4 TV show, Wife Swap.

In the show Sam moves in with Comedian, Freedie Starr and helps to care for his baby daughter, Ebony and his two older step children. Her partner Myra lived with Freddie’s wife Donna.

Sam told The Sun: “I’ve always had a maternal instinct. It’s something I’ve always thought about, babies, and that I’d always want a baby.”

Sam admitted that she and her lover and manager Myra Stratton, 53, had been thinking about having children for a while.

She added: “It’ something Myra and I have spoken about, but as for when, and how, and if, it’s something really personal to us. But I know I’d make a good mummy.

“I was hoping to have that experience with the baby, I changed my first nappy and enjoyed my time with the baby.

“The best moments were being alone with her in the mornings before Freddie got up. I had so much fun it was amazing.

“It made me sad when I got her out of the cot and she was going ‘Mummy, mummy’ and really crying.

“I thought ‘I’m not her mummy’. Imagine how she must have felt. But I was as good a mummy as I could be, and gave her lots of kisses and cuddles.

“I love kids – my sister’s got three – but I was nervous about the responsibility of looking after a baby especially when I had to give her a bath as I was scared of hurting her.”

Sam’s mum Carole Fox added: “They’ve talked a lot about having children or adopting one maybe. But it could be difficult with Sam’s lifestyle as she works a lot. But I think they’ll make good parents.”

Celebrity Wife Swap, C4, Sunday, 8pm