Love Thy Neighbour

3 March 2011

Episode 1

In this first episode the villagers have to confront their feelings on racial diversity as a young black family compete against a Yorkshire man, his girlfriend and her three teenage children. 

Simone and Phillip, both 35, have three children, sons Lewis aged 7, Joel aged 4 and Elliot aged 3. They currently live in Epsom Downs and felt the move to Grassington was too good an opportunity to miss. However, as a young black family they are conscious that they are very conspicuous in the largely white, middle class village of Grassington. 

After introducing themselves in the local pub, Simone and Phillip decide to go door-to-door to meet as many people as possible. Phillip is keen to put his aspirations to be an MP to good use and sets up a 'surgery' to help locals with any issues. 

Partners Nicky and Steve aged 48 and 49 want to move to Grassington with Nicky's three children Harvey, 17, Otis, 14 and Matilda, aged 12, and are keen to escape Birmingham - the 'grey faceless city' that is currently home. 

Steve, a strapping carpenter and builder is a Yorkshireman and is quickly welcomed to the village, especially by the ladies. As he offers his skills as a handyman, Nicky takes more of a behind the scenes role and plans a drinks party for the village. 

Undeterred by some frosty responses to the arrival of their family, Simone and Phillip press on proving their worth as engaging potential neighbours. The pair set about organising a variety night in the local town hall with acts of all ages from the village.

Meanwhile, Nicky sends her teenage sons out to deliver invitations to their evening soiree at the cottage, but unbeknown to her and Steve most the leaflets go to village kids before the boys get bored and head off to the chippy. 

As party time arrives it becomes apparent no one from the village is coming, whilst Philip and Simone's variety night is a roaring success showcasing local talent and Phillip as the grand finale with a rendition of the Sinatra classic My Way. 

Have Phillip and Simone done enough to impress the village and guarantee votes, or can Steve's Yorkshire charm carry him a Nicky through to the next round?

Episode 2

In the second episode, the villagers welcome single Mum Sarah who earns extra money life modelling, and same sex couple Donna and Louise seeking to start  family of their own in Grassington.

Life model Sarah, daughter Aysha and son Sol currently live in Glastonbury but are Yorkshire folk born and bred. Keen to make a bold first impression when introduced to villagers in the pub, Sarah sets out her plans to pose for local artists in a life drawing class and to hold a charity auction to win a date with her. Both ideas receive a frosty reception, especially from some of the village wives...

Meanwhile Donna, who works in customer services and Louise, a tiler, have been married four years and tell the villagers they hope to start a family of their own soon thanks to IVF treatment on the NHS. There's a mixed reaction to this news, with more traditional members of the village unsure how they feel about the couple.

In a bid to win over the mums, Donna heads to the village toddler group to talk about their IVF plans. It makes her realise if they can win over their parenting peers they could curry favour with others in the village. They decide to put Donna's baking skills to good use and plan a cookie decorating party in the square for local children.

The two families mentor for the week, Jane Walmsley, hosts lunch on her farm for some of Grassington's key faces to get to know Sarah, Donna and Louise better. But this is not the time for polite pleasantries as the Grassington residents use this time to really grill the visitors about their lives.  Whilst initial reaction to Donna and Louise using the NHS for their IVF throws up some serious questions, they make good headway with their lunch guests. Sarah on the other hand has to defend herself as a nude life model when some members of the group feel she may be perceived as promiscuous.

Events take a turn for the worse when the two families plan to host events at the Devonshire pub, and landlord Stuart faces a walkout from his staff who are opposed to Sarah's charity date auction. Whilst Donna and Louise's karaoke night is a roaring success, Sarah feels the wrath of some locals as her date auction posters are sabotaged throughout the village.

Can she turn things around before the vote, or is village life proving anything but the idyllic dream she hoped for?

Episode 3

In episode three traveller musicians Kate & Corwen are up against self confessed "Del Boy" salesman Jay, his pregnant wife Steph, and their two young children.  Kate & Corwen have spent more than a decade living in a caravan miles from anyone. The opportunity of winning the house would mean being part of a close knit community - something they both crave. Indoor plumbing is also a draw. Their bohemian lifestyle draws some wide eyed disapproval from the community and "freaks people out". But their decision to put on a folk music night for the village goes down well with the more creative locals and their Viking instrument stand in the village square is a winner with the village children.

Meanwhile Jay and Steph are welcomed by many as their young family would mean more children for the village schools. Several believe this makes them a safe bet for the village. However their lack of planning means their Prince and Princess of Grassington pageant descends in to chaos and some in the village begin to question if they are really putting enough effort in to win such a life changing prize.

Both couples are feeling the tension and feedback from the village stirs up emotions. At the half way point, the village is divided right down the middle and beginning to question what it is they really want for their community.

Episode 4

Episode four sees two new couples move into the village and try to win the affections of the community.  This week London based professional couple Sunny and Anoop are competing against southerners Vicky and Andy who'd like to get married but still live with their parents.  Introducing themselves in the local pub Sunny and Anoop reel off their impressive qualifications (Sunny has a PhD from Oxford) and professions (Anoop works in the city) causing a few raised eyebrows and mutterings along the lines of "that doesn't mean an awful lot round here".

Sunny hopes to open minds whist she is in the village but initially the community fear that the couple may feel a bit isolated as there are so few non-white members of the community. Mentor Bunty feels that Sunny and Anoop are wonderfully exotic but is equally delighted by Vicky & Andy's southern accents and Vicky's background in beauty "nails are the thing now apparently". But as bubbly Vicky and Andy pledge to be useful citizens Andy comes across the local window cleaner who "has the area sewn up" and he soon realises that the community may not like someone competing with locals for work.

Vicky feels intimidated by Sunny and Anoop's proactive tactics but as the battle for hearts and votes heats up both couples have their firm fans. Sunny and Anoop's Bollywood themed fundraiser draws in 50 visitors to the cottage but Vicky's Latin dance class gets young and old onto the dance floor. As Grassington goes to the polls which of couple has done enough to win over the locals and secure a place in the next round?

Episode 5

Episode five sees northern couple Craig and Dean compete with a London based Italian family for the acceptance and affections of the village.

Craig and Dean, 31 and 40, have been married for several years and currently live in Bradford with their three dogs Venus, Pebbles and Nelly. Craig is a professional violinist on cruise ships and Dean is a hairdresser. If they were to win the cottage and move to Grassington Craig would like to become a violin teacher and Dean would like to start up a dog grooming business. Dean comes from a farming family and has always dreamt of returning to the countryside.

Italian husband and wife Lello 44 and Anna, 46, are tired of city life and currently live in a small flat in South West London with their two children Nina (12) and Thea (7). These parents yearn to give their children a lifestyle akin to their own in rural Italy, where there is little crime and children can wander freely. Lello runs his own design consultancy business, and Anna is a spiritual and holistic healer who hopes to bring Colour Therapy to Grassington.

 

Episode 6

This week the village must choose between semi-retired Yorkshire couple Paul and Andrea and single mum Laura who relies on benefits to get by. It's not long before the village suspect that Paul and Andrea might have a secret, and while in the village pub Paul admits that he has an alter ego called Linda. 

Grassington has already proved to be a tolerant place, but as this week's battle for votes and acceptance begins who will win the residents round?

 

Love Thy Neighbour. Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 4

As the saying goes, everyone needs good neighbours. But who would you choose to live next door if you had the power to say yes or no to newcomers into your community? 

In Love Thy Neighbour one idyllic village in the Yorkshire Dales invites 12 competing families to win the chance to move in to their picture perfect lifestyle, and they get to decide who stays. 

Welcome to the village of Grassington. It is traditionally English in every way; white, middle class and largely conservative; a tight-knit village community where everyone really does know everybody and their business. But it is in dire need of new blood. 

Are the residents prepared to embrace change as families from all walks of life, with diverse racial backgrounds and sexualities, battle it out to win their hearts, and often change their minds, in a bid to win their dream life in the country and a £300,000 cottage?

Episode 1

In this first episode the villagers have to confront their feelings on racial diversity as a young black family compete against a Yorkshire man, his girlfriend and her three teenage children. 

Simone and Phillip, both 35, have three children, sons Lewis aged 7, Joel aged 4 and Elliot aged 3. They currently live in Epsom Downs and felt the move to Grassington was too good an opportunity to miss. However, as a young black family they are conscious that they are very conspicuous in the largely white, middle class village of Grassington. 

After introducing themselves in the local pub, Simone and Phillip decide to go door-to-door to meet as many people as possible. Phillip is keen to put his aspirations to be an MP to good use and sets up a 'surgery' to help locals with any issues. 

Partners Nicky and Steve aged 48 and 49 want to move to Grassington with Nicky's three children Harvey, 17, Otis, 14 and Matilda, aged 12, and are keen to escape Birmingham - the 'grey faceless city' that is currently home. 

Steve, a strapping carpenter and builder is a Yorkshireman and is quickly welcomed to the village, especially by the ladies. As he offers his skills as a handyman, Nicky takes more of a behind the scenes role and plans a drinks party for the village. 

Undeterred by some frosty responses to the arrival of their family, Simone and Phillip press on proving their worth as engaging potential neighbours. The pair set about organising a variety night in the local town hall with acts of all ages from the village.

Meanwhile, Nicky sends her teenage sons out to deliver invitations to their evening soiree at the cottage, but unbeknown to her and Steve most the leaflets go to village kids before the boys get bored and head off to the chippy. 

As party time arrives it becomes apparent no one from the village is coming, whilst Philip and Simone's variety night is a roaring success showcasing local talent and Phillip as the grand finale with a rendition of the Sinatra classic My Way. 

Have Phillip and Simone done enough to impress the village and guarantee votes, or can Steve's Yorkshire charm carry him a Nicky through to the next round?

Episode 2

In the second episode, the villagers welcome single Mum Sarah who earns extra money life modelling, and same sex couple Donna and Louise seeking to start  family of their own in Grassington.

Life model Sarah, daughter Aysha and son Sol currently live in Glastonbury but are Yorkshire folk born and bred. Keen to make a bold first impression when introduced to villagers in the pub, Sarah sets out her plans to pose for local artists in a life drawing class and to hold a charity auction to win a date with her. Both ideas receive a frosty reception, especially from some of the village wives...

Meanwhile Donna, who works in customer services and Louise, a tiler, have been married four years and tell the villagers they hope to start a family of their own soon thanks to IVF treatment on the NHS. There's a mixed reaction to this news, with more traditional members of the village unsure how they feel about the couple.

In a bid to win over the mums, Donna heads to the village toddler group to talk about their IVF plans. It makes her realise if they can win over their parenting peers they could curry favour with others in the village. They decide to put Donna's baking skills to good use and plan a cookie decorating party in the square for local children.

The two families mentor for the week, Jane Walmsley, hosts lunch on her farm for some of Grassington's key faces to get to know Sarah, Donna and Louise better. But this is not the time for polite pleasantries as the Grassington residents use this time to really grill the visitors about their lives.  Whilst initial reaction to Donna and Louise using the NHS for their IVF throws up some serious questions, they make good headway with their lunch guests. Sarah on the other hand has to defend herself as a nude life model when some members of the group feel she may be perceived as promiscuous.

Events take a turn for the worse when the two families plan to host events at the Devonshire pub, and landlord Stuart faces a walkout from his staff who are opposed to Sarah's charity date auction. Whilst Donna and Louise's karaoke night is a roaring success, Sarah feels the wrath of some locals as her date auction posters are sabotaged throughout the village.

Can she turn things around before the vote, or is village life proving anything but the idyllic dream she hoped for?

Episode 3

In episode three traveller musicians Kate & Corwen are up against self confessed "Del Boy" salesman Jay, his pregnant wife Steph, and their two young children.  Kate & Corwen have spent more than a decade living in a caravan miles from anyone. The opportunity of winning the house would mean being part of a close knit community - something they both crave. Indoor plumbing is also a draw. Their bohemian lifestyle draws some wide eyed disapproval from the community and "freaks people out". But their decision to put on a folk music night for the village goes down well with the more creative locals and their Viking instrument stand in the village square is a winner with the village children.

Meanwhile Jay and Steph are welcomed by many as their young family would mean more children for the village schools. Several believe this makes them a safe bet for the village. However their lack of planning means their Prince and Princess of Grassington pageant descends in to chaos and some in the village begin to question if they are really putting enough effort in to win such a life changing prize.

Both couples are feeling the tension and feedback from the village stirs up emotions. At the half way point, the village is divided right down the middle and beginning to question what it is they really want for their community.

Episode 4

Episode four sees two new couples move into the village and try to win the affections of the community.  This week London based professional couple Sunny and Anoop are competing against southerners Vicky and Andy who'd like to get married but still live with their parents.  Introducing themselves in the local pub Sunny and Anoop reel off their impressive qualifications (Sunny has a PhD from Oxford) and professions (Anoop works in the city) causing a few raised eyebrows and mutterings along the lines of "that doesn't mean an awful lot round here".

Sunny hopes to open minds whist she is in the village but initially the community fear that the couple may feel a bit isolated as there are so few non-white members of the community. Mentor Bunty feels that Sunny and Anoop are wonderfully exotic but is equally delighted by Vicky & Andy's southern accents and Vicky's background in beauty "nails are the thing now apparently". But as bubbly Vicky and Andy pledge to be useful citizens Andy comes across the local window cleaner who "has the area sewn up" and he soon realises that the community may not like someone competing with locals for work.

Vicky feels intimidated by Sunny and Anoop's proactive tactics but as the battle for hearts and votes heats up both couples have their firm fans. Sunny and Anoop's Bollywood themed fundraiser draws in 50 visitors to the cottage but Vicky's Latin dance class gets young and old onto the dance floor. As Grassington goes to the polls which of couple has done enough to win over the locals and secure a place in the next round?

Episode 5

Episode five sees northern couple Craig and Dean compete with a London based Italian family for the acceptance and affections of the village.

Craig and Dean, 31 and 40, have been married for several years and currently live in Bradford with their three dogs Venus, Pebbles and Nelly. Craig is a professional violinist on cruise ships and Dean is a hairdresser. If they were to win the cottage and move to Grassington Craig would like to become a violin teacher and Dean would like to start up a dog grooming business. Dean comes from a farming family and has always dreamt of returning to the countryside.

Italian husband and wife Lello 44 and Anna, 46, are tired of city life and currently live in a small flat in South West London with their two children Nina (12) and Thea (7). These parents yearn to give their children a lifestyle akin to their own in rural Italy, where there is little crime and children can wander freely. Lello runs his own design consultancy business, and Anna is a spiritual and holistic healer who hopes to bring Colour Therapy to Grassington.

 

Episode 6

This week the village must choose between semi-retired Yorkshire couple Paul and Andrea and single mum Laura who relies on benefits to get by. It's not long before the village suspect that Paul and Andrea might have a secret, and while in the village pub Paul admits that he has an alter ego called Linda. 

Grassington has already proved to be a tolerant place, but as this week's battle for votes and acceptance begins who will win the residents round?

 

Love Thy Neighbour. Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 4

As the saying goes, everyone needs good neighbours. But who would you choose to live next door if you had the power to say yes or no to newcomers into your community? 

In Love Thy Neighbour one idyllic village in the Yorkshire Dales invites 12 competing families to win the chance to move in to their picture perfect lifestyle, and they get to decide who stays. 

Welcome to the village of Grassington. It is traditionally English in every way; white, middle class and largely conservative; a tight-knit village community where everyone really does know everybody and their business. But it is in dire need of new blood. 

Are the residents prepared to embrace change as families from all walks of life, with diverse racial backgrounds and sexualities, battle it out to win their hearts, and often change their minds, in a bid to win their dream life in the country and a £300,000 cottage?

Episode 1

In this first episode the villagers have to confront their feelings on racial diversity as a young black family compete against a Yorkshire man, his girlfriend and her three teenage children. 

Simone and Phillip, both 35, have three children, sons Lewis aged 7, Joel aged 4 and Elliot aged 3. They currently live in Epsom Downs and felt the move to Grassington was too good an opportunity to miss. However, as a young black family they are conscious that they are very conspicuous in the largely white, middle class village of Grassington. 

After introducing themselves in the local pub, Simone and Phillip decide to go door-to-door to meet as many people as possible. Phillip is keen to put his aspirations to be an MP to good use and sets up a 'surgery' to help locals with any issues. 

Partners Nicky and Steve aged 48 and 49 want to move to Grassington with Nicky's three children Harvey, 17, Otis, 14 and Matilda, aged 12, and are keen to escape Birmingham - the 'grey faceless city' that is currently home. 

Steve, a strapping carpenter and builder is a Yorkshireman and is quickly welcomed to the village, especially by the ladies. As he offers his skills as a handyman, Nicky takes more of a behind the scenes role and plans a drinks party for the village. 

Undeterred by some frosty responses to the arrival of their family, Simone and Phillip press on proving their worth as engaging potential neighbours. The pair set about organising a variety night in the local town hall with acts of all ages from the village.

Meanwhile, Nicky sends her teenage sons out to deliver invitations to their evening soiree at the cottage, but unbeknown to her and Steve most the leaflets go to village kids before the boys get bored and head off to the chippy. 

As party time arrives it becomes apparent no one from the village is coming, whilst Philip and Simone's variety night is a roaring success showcasing local talent and Phillip as the grand finale with a rendition of the Sinatra classic My Way. 

Have Phillip and Simone done enough to impress the village and guarantee votes, or can Steve's Yorkshire charm carry him a Nicky through to the next round?

Episode 2

In the second episode, the villagers welcome single Mum Sarah who earns extra money life modelling, and same sex couple Donna and Louise seeking to start  family of their own in Grassington.

Life model Sarah, daughter Aysha and son Sol currently live in Glastonbury but are Yorkshire folk born and bred. Keen to make a bold first impression when introduced to villagers in the pub, Sarah sets out her plans to pose for local artists in a life drawing class and to hold a charity auction to win a date with her. Both ideas receive a frosty reception, especially from some of the village wives...

Meanwhile Donna, who works in customer services and Louise, a tiler, have been married four years and tell the villagers they hope to start a family of their own soon thanks to IVF treatment on the NHS. There's a mixed reaction to this news, with more traditional members of the village unsure how they feel about the couple.

In a bid to win over the mums, Donna heads to the village toddler group to talk about their IVF plans. It makes her realise if they can win over their parenting peers they could curry favour with others in the village. They decide to put Donna's baking skills to good use and plan a cookie decorating party in the square for local children.

The two families mentor for the week, Jane Walmsley, hosts lunch on her farm for some of Grassington's key faces to get to know Sarah, Donna and Louise better. But this is not the time for polite pleasantries as the Grassington residents use this time to really grill the visitors about their lives.  Whilst initial reaction to Donna and Louise using the NHS for their IVF throws up some serious questions, they make good headway with their lunch guests. Sarah on the other hand has to defend herself as a nude life model when some members of the group feel she may be perceived as promiscuous.

Events take a turn for the worse when the two families plan to host events at the Devonshire pub, and landlord Stuart faces a walkout from his staff who are opposed to Sarah's charity date auction. Whilst Donna and Louise's karaoke night is a roaring success, Sarah feels the wrath of some locals as her date auction posters are sabotaged throughout the village.

Can she turn things around before the vote, or is village life proving anything but the idyllic dream she hoped for?

Episode 3

In episode three traveller musicians Kate & Corwen are up against self confessed "Del Boy" salesman Jay, his pregnant wife Steph, and their two young children.  Kate & Corwen have spent more than a decade living in a caravan miles from anyone. The opportunity of winning the house would mean being part of a close knit community - something they both crave. Indoor plumbing is also a draw. Their bohemian lifestyle draws some wide eyed disapproval from the community and "freaks people out". But their decision to put on a folk music night for the village goes down well with the more creative locals and their Viking instrument stand in the village square is a winner with the village children.

Meanwhile Jay and Steph are welcomed by many as their young family would mean more children for the village schools. Several believe this makes them a safe bet for the village. However their lack of planning means their Prince and Princess of Grassington pageant descends in to chaos and some in the village begin to question if they are really putting enough effort in to win such a life changing prize.

Both couples are feeling the tension and feedback from the village stirs up emotions. At the half way point, the village is divided right down the middle and beginning to question what it is they really want for their community.

Episode 4

Episode four sees two new couples move into the village and try to win the affections of the community.  This week London based professional couple Sunny and Anoop are competing against southerners Vicky and Andy who'd like to get married but still live with their parents.  Introducing themselves in the local pub Sunny and Anoop reel off their impressive qualifications (Sunny has a PhD from Oxford) and professions (Anoop works in the city) causing a few raised eyebrows and mutterings along the lines of "that doesn't mean an awful lot round here".

Sunny hopes to open minds whist she is in the village but initially the community fear that the couple may feel a bit isolated as there are so few non-white members of the community. Mentor Bunty feels that Sunny and Anoop are wonderfully exotic but is equally delighted by Vicky & Andy's southern accents and Vicky's background in beauty "nails are the thing now apparently". But as bubbly Vicky and Andy pledge to be useful citizens Andy comes across the local window cleaner who "has the area sewn up" and he soon realises that the community may not like someone competing with locals for work.

Vicky feels intimidated by Sunny and Anoop's proactive tactics but as the battle for hearts and votes heats up both couples have their firm fans. Sunny and Anoop's Bollywood themed fundraiser draws in 50 visitors to the cottage but Vicky's Latin dance class gets young and old onto the dance floor. As Grassington goes to the polls which of couple has done enough to win over the locals and secure a place in the next round?

Episode 5

Episode five sees northern couple Craig and Dean compete with a London based Italian family for the acceptance and affections of the village.

Craig and Dean, 31 and 40, have been married for several years and currently live in Bradford with their three dogs Venus, Pebbles and Nelly. Craig is a professional violinist on cruise ships and Dean is a hairdresser. If they were to win the cottage and move to Grassington Craig would like to become a violin teacher and Dean would like to start up a dog grooming business. Dean comes from a farming family and has always dreamt of returning to the countryside.

Italian husband and wife Lello 44 and Anna, 46, are tired of city life and currently live in a small flat in South West London with their two children Nina (12) and Thea (7). These parents yearn to give their children a lifestyle akin to their own in rural Italy, where there is little crime and children can wander freely. Lello runs his own design consultancy business, and Anna is a spiritual and holistic healer who hopes to bring Colour Therapy to Grassington.

 

Episode 6

This week the village must choose between semi-retired Yorkshire couple Paul and Andrea and single mum Laura who relies on benefits to get by. It's not long before the village suspect that Paul and Andrea might have a secret, and while in the village pub Paul admits that he has an alter ego called Linda. 

Grassington has already proved to be a tolerant place, but as this week's battle for votes and acceptance begins who will win the residents round?

 

Love Thy Neighbour. Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 4

As the saying goes, everyone needs good neighbours. But who would you choose to live next door if you had the power to say yes or no to newcomers into your community? 

In Love Thy Neighbour one idyllic village in the Yorkshire Dales invites 12 competing families to win the chance to move in to their picture perfect lifestyle, and they get to decide who stays. 

Welcome to the village of Grassington. It is traditionally English in every way; white, middle class and largely conservative; a tight-knit village community where everyone really does know everybody and their business. But it is in dire need of new blood. 

Are the residents prepared to embrace change as families from all walks of life, with diverse racial backgrounds and sexualities, battle it out to win their hearts, and often change their minds, in a bid to win their dream life in the country and a £300,000 cottage?