A 26-year-old woman who identifies as a 'full-time Princess' and possesses an extensive collection of designer handbags from Dior, Gucci, and Chanel was reduced to tears upon realising she would have to spend a week at a hippie commune in Cornwall. Saffron, hailing from Essex, leads a life of opulence but was compelled to relinquish her comforts for seven days as part of Channel 5's new programme, Trading Places, which immerses participants in drastically contrasting lifestyles.
The Challenge Begins
In the inaugural episode broadcast on Sunday, Saffron joined other 'materialistic' twenty-somethings at Chyan Farm in Cornwall, a retreat featuring communal showers, compost toilets, and abundant natural surroundings. The community mandates that each member contribute five hours of labour weekly, whether through cleaning or assisting with income-generating ventures such as producing local apple juice or offering aerial dance lessons.
Before Saffron could even unpack her suitcase, she was overwhelmed and ready to depart. Struggling to drag her suitcase uphill while dressed in an all-pink designer outfit with a fur coat, she exclaimed through tears, 'I can't f***ing do this. I really don't want to do this anymore, it's too much... the bees and the climbing.' Her aversion to insects is so pronounced that she cannot even have a balcony at home due to the potential presence of bugs.
Finding Support
After being calmed and encouraged by Babu, a member of Chyan, Saffron resolved to persevere through the remainder of the week alongside fellow 'materialists' Bridie, 22, and Umar, 20. The trio faced their most significant test during one of the farm's least appealing duties: shovelling waste from the communal non-flush compost toilets. Saffron declined to participate, while Umar initially could not bear to look at the waste, despite Bridie's reassurances that it resembled ordinary soil.
Although Umar eventually assisted in moving some waste with a wheelbarrow, he described the experience as 'human torture'. He remained unconvinced by the commune's sustainability mission, remarking, 'Twenty people aren't really going to do anything to help the environment. 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.'
Personal Transformations
Umar, who lives with his father and sisters and admits he 'contributes nothing' to his household, has been indulged since his mother's death three years ago. His father explained that he does not want to deny his son anything after such a loss. Despite initially viewing hippies as 'caveman-like' and 'unhygienic', Umar concluded the week by reconnecting with his passion for creativity, the arts, and music.
Influencer Bridie, 22, was moved to transform her lifestyle after experiencing Chyan's sustainable way of living. Becoming emotional, she confessed that her work often generates 'disgusting' amounts of waste. '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 noted that living humbly for a week, engaging in gardening, making apple juice, and participating in the local fair, had 'put things into perspective'. 'I think when I get back there's going to be a few changes,' Bridie stated. '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 is available to watch and stream on Channel 5.
