Tv Critic

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 12, 2008

Byline: LIZ LAMB

THEY always say you can tell old money from nouveau rich.

Those born with a silver spoon are said to be rich folk, of good breeding and oldfashioned manners, while the other lot, are brash and common.

If you needed any proof of this theory then check out Personal Services Required, a new series on Channel 4, which is a bit like The Apprentice mixed in with Supernanny.

The reality show follows a group of domestic servants who are vying for jobs with prospective employers.

Last week personal assistants were in the firing line and this week it was the turn of housekeepers who were sent to the home of the two prospective employers for a trial period.

The first family was a business couple with one child who lived in a huge detached house with a couple of flash cars on the drive.

It was pretty clear from the outset that the wife didn't just want a housekeeper, but a nanny and a chauffeur all rolled into one.

There was a hilarious moment when she asked in all seriousness whether a male housekeeper would don a chauffeur's cap on the weekly shop to Tesco.

No wonder he curled his lip in disgust.

Another potential housekeeper was left unimpressed when the same lady asked her to do a spot of childminding as well as her domestic duties.

She was not amused and less so when she opened a letter offering her a job and found the salary probably worked out at less than the minimum wage.

The other choice of employer was a couple who ran a dog hotel and spa which included the housekeeper taking dogs for a swim and cooking them scrambled egg for breakfast.

None of the housekeepers were ecstatic about this including a mature lady called Vivienne who used to have five servants at her home in Africa and felt housekeepers should have the role of buying rice!

What else can you expect from the people who brought us Wife Swap?

There is nothing like a reality show to bring out people's inner weirdo.

CREDIT this week must go to the BBC for screening the excellent thriller Criminal Justice.

This was the best drama I've seen on television in the past year.

Excellently written, brilliantly produced, and the performance by rising star Ben Whishaw was worthy of a BAFTA nomination.

Screened in one hour episodes every day, the programme was gripping enough to tune in for the next instalment.

I cheated and watched it all in one go on catch-up TV.

What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

We need more of this on the box please BBC.

CAPTION(S):

UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS: Personal Service Required