‘I didn’t get a fair deal on TV’s Wife Swap’
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| Tina Griffiths with her children Gareth Griffiths, 17, Craig Griffiths, 15, twins Paige and Kelly Caparn, 10, and partner Dean Caparn |
A MUM from Basingstoke who took part in the hit Channel 4 show Wife Swap has been left with mixed emotions after seeing the finished show.
Tina Griffiths, of Warwick Road, Winklebury, traded places with a woman in Colchester for 10 days with cameras following her every move. The episode was screened on Sunday evening.
Miss Griffiths said that she found the episode funny but thinks it did not show enough of the positive sides of her character or the life she leads with partner Dean Caparn and her four children in Basingstoke.
The 39-year-old, who enjoys evenings at the pub and has never voted, found herself stepping into the shoes of teetotal, churchgoing borough councillor Julie Young.
Meanwhile, Mrs Young left behind her councillor husband Tim and their three children to take on Miss Griffiths' role as a full-time housewife.
Miss Griffiths said: "I was really disappointed because they did not really show my life. I go to the gym and go out with my friends. They made it out as if I stay in the house all the time."
She is also concerned that the show made her look bad when it showed her quarrelling with an elderly lady and with Mr Young's friends at a party, and did not include footage of the fun times she shared with her "new family".
Miss Griffiths said: "What they fitted in the show made me out to be a nightmare. When I was arguing with the old lady, they didn't show why."
Overall, however, Miss Griffiths said she and her family enjoyed watching the episode and, so far, they have had lots of positive feedback from people who saw it.
She told The Gazette: "I thought it was okay and everybody really enjoyed watching it. We were in fits of laughter."
The family have also learned some lessons from the show, and they now help Miss Griffiths more with the housework.
9:38am Thursday 17th May 2007
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CommentPosted by: thankgod I m out !, Essex on 9:51am Thu 17 May 07
After working this show, I m glad I moved away from Basingstoke! i thought Essex had the Monolpy on Chavs but after watching that show looks like the cheaper Chavs in Amazingstoke!
Great look for Basingstoke town! and let's hope Mum Chav not working in Basingstoke Hospitallooking after old people!!!!!
After working this show, I m glad I moved away from Basingstoke! i thought Essex had the Monolpy on Chavs but after watching that show looks like the cheaper Chavs in Amazingstoke!
Great look for Basingstoke town! and let's hope Mum Chav not working in Basingstoke Hospitallooking after old people!!!!!
Posted by: M White, Basingstoke on 11:10am Thu 17 May 07
How bad did that family make us look? I have lived in Basingstoke my whole life and I was so ashamed and embarressed by the parents of this family. They absolutly did not do us any favours. I hope that if I never have the misfortune to be nursed by her!.
How bad did that family make us look? I have lived in Basingstoke my whole life and I was so ashamed and embarressed by the parents of this family. They absolutly did not do us any favours. I hope that if I never have the misfortune to be nursed by her!.
Posted by: Mrs B on 5:12pm Thu 17 May 07
I am ashamed to say that I live in Basingstoke after this programme.
Goodness knows what the rest of the UK must think of this town after seeing it that programme.
We ARE NOT all this family some of us are decent, working, law abiding citizens.
I am ashamed to say that I live in Basingstoke after this programme.
Goodness knows what the rest of the UK must think of this town after seeing it that programme.
We ARE NOT all this family some of us are decent, working, law abiding citizens.
Posted by: Jane, Basingstoke on 5:18pm Thu 17 May 07
I did watch this and this is a poor reflection on Basingstoke, I cringed and thought OMG people must think we are such Chav's in Basingstoke. Which is NOT True a very small minority are and sadly they want to appear on the telly! :O(
I did watch this and this is a poor reflection on Basingstoke, I cringed and thought OMG people must think we are such Chav's in Basingstoke. Which is NOT True a very small minority are and sadly they want to appear on the telly! :O(
Posted by: Proud to be from Basingstoke!, Basingstoke on 2:15pm Fri 18 May 07
What a family!!!!!!
Did so much for Basingstoke! what a joke no wonder BASINGSTOKE has so much bad press, then the Chav wannaby family go on telly!!!!
Shame they did not all go to Colchester and stay there!!!
Well done to the family! bet your Mum's are proud of you both!!!!!!!
What a family!!!!!!
Did so much for Basingstoke! what a joke no wonder BASINGSTOKE has so much bad press, then the Chav wannaby family go on telly!!!!
Shame they did not all go to Colchester and stay there!!!
Well done to the family! bet your Mum's are proud of you both!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jade, Brighton on 10:38pm Fri 18 May 07
Watching this show made realise what a great decision I made leaving Basingjoke at the age of 18! I couldn't got out of there fast enough. Yes, it's a wealthy(ish) town with some intelligent, decent people but all I remember are those like vile Tina Griffiths. Ignorance should not be rewarded with primetime television.
Watching this show made realise what a great decision I made leaving Basingjoke at the age of 18! I couldn't got out of there fast enough. Yes, it's a wealthy(ish) town with some intelligent, decent people but all I remember are those like vile Tina Griffiths. Ignorance should not be rewarded with primetime television.
Posted by: FRANK MARITN, colchester & london on 10:49am Mon 28 May 07
[bold][bold]What Mr Young failed to do and channel 4 was reveal that his own personal[/bold] criimnianl history was worse than decent hard working darrens...Young was convicted back a few years ago for attempting to run a police officer over in serious circumstances...They also tried to paint a picture of being better than the griffiths, when they have only just moved to that new house in colchester, after living for years in a house similar to the griffiths in another part of colcheater:::the only reason they moved was that they had to jump ship, because that part of colchester is being moved out of the politcal boundary area of colchester akin to a town 15 miles away called witham, which would have made them political hypocrites even more so...their constituancy was 7 miles from where they use to live...it was the biggest council housing estate in europe at one time..the only place in colchester where young could get votes..he has tried twice to become MP for colchester and failed miserably...He comes from clacton, when he lost his job with a national insurance company he does not appear to have any other work than being a part time councellor...he was in PR and promotions so he used this show to try and promote himself, beacause he thinks the local Lib Dem guy is going to retire at the next election...As for his church going cronnies...Tina picked up on them bang on, they are part of a small band of nast middle class clique' mob in the town associated to the catholic church...most of them only going to church to get the children into the famous catholic school in colchester, then you will never see them again for dust...Dont worry they backbite and talk behind everyone, just tina caught them taking the urine out of her, to the sufference of many people in colchester...young has caused a lot of trouble in colchester and been in a lot of trouble...he wont go back to clacton where he came from and practise his politics there because he sees colchester as an easy target, plus the boys in clacton dont stand for much..his wife is more complexed than him...but the show picked up on that night quite appropriately..darre
n and tina are 100 times better than them::: They the youngs have used the show as a publicity launch pad weeks before the show it was covering pages of the local papers...[/bold]
What Mr Young failed to do and channel 4 was reveal that his own personal criimnianl history was worse than decent hard working darrens...Young was convicted back a few years ago for attempting to run a police officer over in serious circumstances...They also tried to paint a picture of being better than the griffiths, when they have only just moved to that new house in colchester, after living for years in a house similar to the griffiths in another part of colcheater:::the only reason they moved was that they had to jump ship, because that part of colchester is being moved out of the politcal boundary area of colchester akin to a town 15 miles away called witham, which would have made them political hypocrites even more so...their constituancy was 7 miles from where they use to live...it was the biggest council housing estate in europe at one time..the only place in colchester where young could get votes..he has tried twice to become MP for colchester and failed miserably...He comes from clacton, when he lost his job with a national insurance company he does not appear to have any other work than being a part time councellor...he was in PR and promotions so he used this show to try and promote himself, beacause he thinks the local Lib Dem guy is going to retire at the next election...As for his church going cronnies...Tina picked up on them bang on, they are part of a small band of nast middle class clique' mob in the town associated to the catholic church...most of them only going to church to get the children into the famous catholic school in colchester, then you will never see them again for dust...Dont worry they backbite and talk behind everyone, just tina caught them taking the urine out of her, to the sufference of many people in colchester...young has caused a lot of trouble in colchester and been in a lot of trouble...he wont go back to clacton where he came from and practise his politics there because he sees colchester as an easy target, plus the boys in clacton dont stand for much..his wife is more complexed than him...but the show picked up on that night quite appropriately..darre
n and tina are 100 times better than them::: They the youngs have used the show as a publicity launch pad weeks before the show it was covering pages of the local papers... Posted by: D Swann, Colchester on 11:00am Mon 28 May 07
[italic][bold]YES I AGREE WITH FRANK MARTIN, YOUNG ESCAPED A CUSTODIAL SENTENCE IN CROWN COURT BECAUSE HE WAS A LABOUR COUNCILOR..THE £2000 FINE COMMUTED TO A GRAND WAS PALTRY. IF HE HAD BEEN ANYONE ELSE HE WOULD HAVE GONE DOWN...[/bold][/italic] IT WAS NOT A CLEAR DISPLAY OR INDICATION OF THE WANNABE POLITICIAN:THE LABOUR PARTY IS WELCOME TO HIM, SHAME WE HAVE TO PAY FOR BOTH OF THEM REALLY.
YES I AGREE WITH FRANK MARTIN, YOUNG ESCAPED A CUSTODIAL SENTENCE IN CROWN COURT BECAUSE HE WAS A LABOUR COUNCILOR..THE £2000 FINE COMMUTED TO A GRAND WAS PALTRY. IF HE HAD BEEN ANYONE ELSE HE WOULD HAVE GONE DOWN... IT WAS NOT A CLEAR DISPLAY OR INDICATION OF THE WANNABE POLITICIAN:THE LABOUR PARTY IS WELCOME TO HIM, SHAME WE HAVE TO PAY FOR BOTH OF THEM REALLY.
Posted by: jim tarrant, colchester/ipswich on 1:20pm Fri 29 Jun 07
Dont Worry Tina: You got it bang on love when you caught the lot of them taking the u....e out of you at the party: They do it to everyone at Colchester. There part of a group call the Bar-B-Q Set(In The RC Church): I loved every moment of it you caught ol youngy with his trousers down there, it just got to much for him. Its about time they got a taste of their own medicine and what a good spoonful that was love:Take it from us love you were not wrong and well done to you. Youre probably the second person in history, next to the Judge that knicked him, to have ever brought him to book: Dont feel anything other than a hero: They thought they were getting a swap with Tory Councellors, you and Dean are much better than that:::Well done Tina for PM, of the Smiley Party!!!
Dont Worry Tina: You got it bang on love when you caught the lot of them taking the u....e out of you at the party: They do it to everyone at Colchester. There part of a group call the Bar-B-Q Set(In The RC Church): I loved every moment of it you caught ol youngy with his trousers down there, it just got to much for him. Its about time they got a taste of their own medicine and what a good spoonful that was love:Take it from us love you were not wrong and well done to you. Youre probably the second person in history, next to the Judge that knicked him, to have ever brought him to book: Dont feel anything other than a hero: They thought they were getting a swap with Tory Councellors, you and Dean are much better than that:::Well done Tina for PM, of the Smiley Party!!!
Posted by: UNIDENTIFIED FOR FEAR OF REPRISAL., basingstoke on 4:56pm Sat 29 Mar 08
HELLO ALL, YOU MIGHT THINK THIS IS PEROSNAL, BUT IT IS NOT, SADLY FOR MY YOUNG AND LOVELY FAILY AND THAT OF MY FRIENDS WELL WE HAVE TO LIVE NEAR THIS SCUM.
TINAS SON STEALS DEALS DRUGS, SMASHES UP CARS AND FENCES, STEALS KIDS TOYS AND MAKES PEOPLES LIVES A MISERY. THANK GOD HERE WE CAN REALLY HAVE OUR DAY, AS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THEIRS FOR YEARS.
WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH HER SCUMMY DRUG DEALING CHILDREN. I DONT CARE WHAT ANY ONE SAYS, WHEN SHE IS SKIDDING AND NEARLY RUNNING OVER ALL THE LOCAL KIDS IN HER SAD CHAV MOBILE AND GIVING ABUSE TO THE SHOPKEEPERS THEN YOU WOULD SEE THE REAL PEOPLE, I DONT EVEN KNOW THEM, ONLY BECAUSE I HAD TO CHASE HER SON AWAY SEVERAL TIMES FROM MY ALLEY AS I WAS TERRIFIED FOR MY KIDS I AM A TINY PERSON AND WAS VERY SCARED, BUT RATHER THAT THAN A GANG OF UP TO FIFTEEN INCLUDING HER SONS DEALING DRUGS IN THE ALLEYS WHERE LITTLE KIDS LIVE. WELL DONE YOU LOT. BASINGSTOKE IS INDEED A PLACE TO BE ASHAMED OF, GROW UP AND GET A LIFE. THREATENING BEHAVIOUR AND DRUNKENES AT THEIR AGES IS SAD AND FRANKLY EMBARESSING. JUST GOES TO SHOW WHY THE NHS IS FALLING DOWN. I THINK ILL AVOID THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE,
THANKS FOR MAKING WINKLEBURY A SCARY PLACE TO LIVE AND YOUR DAUGHTERS, WELL THEY TERRORISE THEIR YEAR AT SCHOOL AS YOU KNOW. THANKS A LOT. I HATE IT HEREAND IT IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
I HOPE YOU LEARNT A LOT FROM THIS SHOW, I KNOW THE OTHER GUY WASNT AN ANGEL EITHER BUT THIS IS TRULY CAR CRASH TELLY.
HELLO ALL, YOU MIGHT THINK THIS IS PEROSNAL, BUT IT IS NOT, SADLY FOR MY YOUNG AND LOVELY FAILY AND THAT OF MY FRIENDS WELL WE HAVE TO LIVE NEAR THIS SCUM.
TINAS SON STEALS DEALS DRUGS, SMASHES UP CARS AND FENCES, STEALS KIDS TOYS AND MAKES PEOPLES LIVES A MISERY. THANK GOD HERE WE CAN REALLY HAVE OUR DAY, AS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THEIRS FOR YEARS.
WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH HER SCUMMY DRUG DEALING CHILDREN. I DONT CARE WHAT ANY ONE SAYS, WHEN SHE IS SKIDDING AND NEARLY RUNNING OVER ALL THE LOCAL KIDS IN HER SAD CHAV MOBILE AND GIVING ABUSE TO THE SHOPKEEPERS THEN YOU WOULD SEE THE REAL PEOPLE, I DONT EVEN KNOW THEM, ONLY BECAUSE I HAD TO CHASE HER SON AWAY SEVERAL TIMES FROM MY ALLEY AS I WAS TERRIFIED FOR MY KIDS I AM A TINY PERSON AND WAS VERY SCARED, BUT RATHER THAT THAN A GANG OF UP TO FIFTEEN INCLUDING HER SONS DEALING DRUGS IN THE ALLEYS WHERE LITTLE KIDS LIVE. WELL DONE YOU LOT. BASINGSTOKE IS INDEED A PLACE TO BE ASHAMED OF, GROW UP AND GET A LIFE. THREATENING BEHAVIOUR AND DRUNKENES AT THEIR AGES IS SAD AND FRANKLY EMBARESSING. JUST GOES TO SHOW WHY THE NHS IS FALLING DOWN. I THINK ILL AVOID THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE,
THANKS FOR MAKING WINKLEBURY A SCARY PLACE TO LIVE AND YOUR DAUGHTERS, WELL THEY TERRORISE THEIR YEAR AT SCHOOL AS YOU KNOW. THANKS A LOT. I HATE IT HEREAND IT IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
I HOPE YOU LEARNT A LOT FROM THIS SHOW, I KNOW THE OTHER GUY WASNT AN ANGEL EITHER BUT THIS IS TRULY CAR CRASH TELLY.
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