Featured Image Credit: Instagram/DonBarrie1
Topics: UK News, Channel 5, TV and Film
Emily Brown
A millionaire who agreed to take part in Channel 5's Rich House, Poor House has admitted that he initially didn't want to go on the show and return to his previous 's***y council house life'.
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow made his appearance in the first episode of the latest season of the series, which - in case you couldn't guess - takes people from a 'rich house' and makes them swap with someone living in a so-called 'poor house'.
In Barrie's episode, he had to leave behind one of his seven luxury mansions to live with his fiancé Scott and their kids in a two-bed council estate flat usually occupied by single mum Ocean.
Following his appearance on the show, Barrie told Fabulous he 'actually didn't apply', claiming instead the creators asked them if they'd be interested in taking part.
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“I was not keen at first to be honest with you," Barrie said. "I thought ‘hell no, I’ve lived that s***y council house life and I never want to live it again.”
However, he eventually decided it 'might be nice' for his family to experience life on a smaller income, and the family were challenged to live on £57 for the week.
It didn't take long for Barrie to start trying to break the rules though, and he's admitted to trying to sneak food into Ocean's flat.
“I tried to sneak in food but the production company checked my case and took out the Super Noodles and Harrods hamper I had sneaked in a case," he said.
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“I thought we would be able to get away with all sorts but they had a production crew with us 24 hours a day. We were given £57 total, it was a struggle.
“How on earth does anyone survive on £57? Especially with a kid and household bills.”
Barrie also wanted to push the limits when it came to his budget for Ocean, as he noted the family usually just 'buy what [they] want' rather than limiting themselves to a budget.
“The show producers wanted us to give a maximum of £2,000, which is, they said, the maximum that anyone normally gives," he said.
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“I said that I would not do the show unless I could give a more realistic amount and even though it could not be the amount we normally spend, I wanted it to be at the very least £5,000.
“This way, it could be somewhat more realistic to what I thought they would have a great time on and I wanted to allow the new family to enjoy my house.
“They told me later that they had never been given a budget of £5,000 before.”
Filming on the show was split over five nights and six days, and Barrie admitted there were moments he nearly gave up and went to a hotel, but in the end he concluded it was a 'super good experience'.
As he returned back to his regular life, Barrie sought to help Ocean by gifting her an investment of £250,000.
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LADbible has contacted Channel 5 for comment.