Plot

The Haslems have three children, 12 restaurants and three thousand pound a week to spare. They swap with a family with four children but a weekly budget of just 140 pounds.

The Haslams from Chelmsford swap homes, budgets and lives with the Brimicombe family from Watford. They live just 54 miles away from each other but their financial circumstances are worlds apart.

Steve and Jo Haslam are among the wealthiest 10% of people in Britain. They have three children: Oliver, 12, who's still at school, aspiring professional golfer Holly, 16, and 24 year-old Paige, who lives around the corner. They live in three-storey, six-bedroom, five-bathroom house near Chelmsford. Together, Steve and Jo own and manage 12 restaurants. Their weekly budget, after bills, is just over £3,000.

The Brimicombes are in the poorest 10%. This blended family lives in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house on a housing estate. Neil works in a window factory and has a son, Alfie, from a previous relationship. Louise is on maternity leave from her job as a retail assistant after the birth of baby Summer and she also has two children, Louisa and (another) Alfie, from a previous relationship. The Brimicombes' weekly budget is just over £140.

The Haslams' spending includes almost-nightly takeaways, three cars and several trips a year to their holiday home in Spain. The pursuit of Holly's golfing career is also costly, with a personal coach, physiotherapist and a personal trainer clocking up over £20,000 per year.

Steve left school at 15 and built the family firm from its origins in a cleaning business. But, with wife Jo away on business for the week, how will Steve cope as a single parent when he's never even worked a washing machine?

Because of their financial circumstances, the Brimicombes must often forgo a joint of meat in their Sunday roast, replacing it with frozen sausages. So how will they adapt to eating out, luxury pamper sessions and expensive shopping trips?