New details have emerged about Channel 5's hit reality series, Rich Kids Go Skint. Since 2018, the broadcaster has sent young adults from wealthy backgrounds to swap their luxurious lifestyle for the humbling experience of living with a family that lives on the breadline and struggles to make ends meet. Throughout the episode, the affluent star learns the harsh truth and has an eye-opening experience, which often results in tearful exchanges. It has now been alleged that producers ask the 'skint' family to exaggerate their financial situation.
This came to light after season one star Cleo opened up about her experience on the show and claimed it was 'all fake.' She starred in the show alongside her mum, Anna Nichols, and three younger siblings, who moved Chelsea boy Fergus Prutton into their Croydon home.
Behind the Scenes Allegations
During the episode, Fergus was shocked to discover that child care worker Anna's £1,000 monthly wage only just covered rent and childcare, and he admitted to splashing that on a single night out. Meanwhile, the mum-of-four was left gobsmacked by his £6,000 Rolex watch, which his dad gifted to him for his 21st birthday.
Sharing a behind the scenes look in a viral TikTok clip, Cleo claimed: 'So unfortunately, our episode, it was all fake. They said that our local park was that dead, dusty park, where my brothers would go and play, which is completely untrue, my brothers had never played there in their lives.'
'They took us to Addington and the scene where we had to pretend we were scared because people were following us, they even got the security man that was with us involved to heighten everything and pretend we need to get away quick, like we're in danger. That was all fake.'
She alleged: 'They sent my mum to a corner shop in Heath, my mum doesn't live in Heath and my mum doesn't shop in corner shops. It's a bit strange.'
'They also gave her a £40 budget and basically said, pretend this is your budget, you would use for a weekly shop. My mum doesn't do a £40 budget for a weekly shop, so again, they're trying to portray us as being a really poor family from Croydon.'
Cleo concluded: 'It was just very fake, very scripted. My family are not poor, far from poor.'
The episode also saw Fergus being tasked with buying the family's weekly food shop for just £40. He gave up after spending 40 minutes trying to fill two shopping baskets, admitting he usually spends £130 a week on himself alone.
