A 26-year-old woman who calls herself a ‘full-time Princess’ and boasts a designer bag collection with everything from Dior, Gucci and Chanel in her closet broke down in tears when she realised she’d have to spend one week at a hippie commune.
Saffron lives a life of luxury in Essex – but had to give it all up for seven days, in a new Channel 5 programme, Trading Places, which sees people plunged into unfamiliar lifestyles.
In the first episode, which aired on Sunday, she joined a host of other ‘materialistic’ twentysomethings at a retreat in Cornwall’s Chyan farm, with communal showers, compost loos – and plenty of nature.
The community are all expected to chip in with five hours of labour each week, be it cleaning or helping with one of the ventures which fund the commune, such as making local apple juice or providing aerial dance lessons.
But before Saffron – who can’t even have a balcony in her house because it invites in insects – could even unpack her suitcase, she was ready to leave.
‘I can’t f***ing do this,’ she said, crying as she struggled to trudge her suitcase uphill, sporting an all-pink designer outfit with a fur coat. ‘I really don’t want to do this anymore, it’s too much… the bees and the climbing.’
Saffron (centre) lives a life of luxury in Essex – but had to give it all up for seven days, in a new Channel 5 programme, Trading Places, which sees people plunged into unfamiliar lifestyles. She joined with fellow ‘materialists’ Bridie, 22 (left) and Umar, 20 (right)
However, after being calmed down and encouraged by one of Chyan’s members, Babu, she decided to tackle the rest of the week with influencer Bridie, 22, and Criminology student Umar, 20.
The trio was most tested when it came to taking part in one of the farm’s least glamorous tasks – shovelling the old waste from the communal, non-flush compost toilets.
Saffron refused to take part while Umar initially couldn’t even bear to look at the waste, even though Bridie assured everyone it just looked like regular soil.
Despite eventually helping move some of it in a wheelbarrow, Umar claimed that the endeavour ‘felt like human torture’.
He was also not convinced by the commune’s sustainability mission.
‘Twenty people aren’t really going to do anything to help the environment,’ he said. ‘You’re torturing yourself. It’s weird.
‘I’m not meant to work. In my brain I’m like “why am I working” when I know it’s not something I’m going to do forever.’
After being calmed down and encouraged by one of Chyan’s members, Babu (left), Saffron decided to tackle the rest of the week
It proved to be a continuous struggle for Umar – who revealed he ‘contributes nothing’ to his household, where he lives with his father and sisters.
Family members told the programme that Umar gets whatever he wants, following his mother’s death three years ago, as his father admitted he doesn’t want to deny his son anything, especially after losing a parent.
But despite initially thinking that hippies are ‘caveman-like’ and ‘unhygienic’, Umar concluded the week by rediscovering his love for creativity, the arts and music.
Meanwhile, influencer Bridie, 22, made a vow to transform her life after being touched by Chyan’s sustainable way of living.
Becoming emotional, she admitted her work sometimes becomes ‘disgusting’ with how much waste it accrues.
‘I think it’s quite inspirational what you guys have got going here,’ she said. ‘I often feel guilty getting parcels, PR gets sent to me and I just chuck it in the bin. Packaging, packing, packaging, the amount of rubbish makes me feel like s**t.
‘Initially it’s like, “yeah, parcels!” But then you unbox them, and then that tiny five seconds of dopamine that you get is over.
‘And then you get all this packaging, that’s kind of disgusting… There comes a point where it’s not fun and cool anymore.’
She told the programme that being at the commune, living humbly for a week and getting stuck in with gardening, making apple juice and the local fair, had ‘put things into perspective for her’.
‘I think when I get back there’s going to be a few changes,’ Bridie said. ‘I’m going to be more sustainable.
‘I’m going to try to sit outside with my feet bare on the grass… I’m going to try and meditate.
‘I’m definitely going to keep in touch with this lot.’
Trading Places – whole series available now to Watch|Stream on Channel5
