Three party boys have swapped their wild, boozy nights out for a week of prayer and silence in an 800-year-old monastic order, experiencing a profound culture shock. Max Stone, Luke Louvieris, and Alan Christie reluctantly handed over their phones and took vows of silence, embracing a life of hedonism turned holiness.
A Week of Austerity and Prayer
The trio entered the Carmelite Friars' priory in Oxfordshire, facing brutal 5.30am starts and 10 hours a day without speaking. Fashion-conscious lads were given just £15 each to outfit themselves from a charity shop, then tasked with cleaning chores interrupted only by daily prayers.
Father Alex of the Carmelite Friars explained: "Our whole life is prayer. I suppose they will think that we are strange beings." Friar Luke added: "Being a friar is a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week life. You don't plug in and plug out."
The Participants' Perspectives
Max, 24, a barber and influencer from Manchester who counts Romeo Beckham and darts star Luke Littler among his clients, admitted: "The no hair, the praying, the silence, worries me." He added: "I've diagnosed myself with FOMO. When you see everyone around you having a good time, it's impossible to stop."
Luke, 23, a fashion brand owner from Hemel Hempstead, said: "I can be very unmotivated. I'll just ditch my to-do list and go out to a rave. The thing I will struggle with most is following rules."
Alan, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Glasgow, added: "I'm pretty irresponsible. On Saturday, I turn into a complete degenerate. Before going into the priory I thought it might be quite intense."
Unexpected Moments
While some things were inevitable—Max's phone alarm going off during silent prayer before being confiscated, fits of giggles, accidental swearing, and naps during meditation—the monastery was not entirely what they expected. The friars spotted a way the tech-savvy trio could help, recruiting them to boost their online presence. The result saw hooded monks dancing in a TikTok video aimed at delivering Jesus Christ's teachings to Gen Z.
Luke said: "It was so funny we couldn't stop laughing. They said they wanted a viral video and we smashed it out of the park. Their sense of humour was really surprising, and how much banter they had. I never expected it."
A night of bowling brought out 80-year-old Sub Prior Liam's competitive side. Luke recalled: "They were all jumping up and down and doing knee slides. It was mental."
Lessons Learned
For all three, the toughest part was staying quiet and not having their phones. Luke said: "It did feel refreshing not to be scrolling on social media all the time, but at first it was like, 'What do I do?' We ended up playing Uno all week."
Alan added: "The worst bit was trying not to laugh all the time. I felt bad because it's meant to be a serious place and I'm in stitches."
Ultimately, the trio took away vital lessons. Luke said: "I'm better behaved, more productive, and seeing how they are like a family, I have started spending more time with my family." Alan said: "I've learned to never judge a book by its cover, to be kind and help out." Max added: "The week solidified that being selfish is just one of the worst things you can be."
After a week of abstinence, the lads are determined to change—but thrilled to get their phones back. Trading Places continues on Channel 5 at 10pm tonight.
