‘I went on Channel 5’s Rich Kids Go Skint but it was very scripted’

A Rich Kids Go Skint star has claimed the Channel 5 show is ‘very scripted’ and ‘fake’.

Since 2018, the broadcaster has dispatched young adults from privileged backgrounds to exchange their lavish lifestyles for the humbling reality of residing with a family living on the breadline and battling to make ends meet.

Throughout each episode, the wealthy participant discovers the stark truth and undergoes an eye-opening experience, which frequently leads to emotional moments.

It has now been claimed that producers encourage the “skint” family to overstate their financial circumstances. This allegation emerged after series one participant Cleo spoke out about her time on the programme and alleged it was “all fake.”

She featured in the show with her mother, Anna Nichols, and three younger siblings, who welcomed Chelsea boy Fergus Prutton into their Croydon household.

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During the episode, Fergus was taken aback to learn that childcare worker Anna’s £1,000 monthly salary barely covered rent and childcare costs, and he confessed to spending that amount on a single evening out.

Meanwhile, the mother-of-four was left stunned by his £6,000 Rolex watch, which his father had given him as a 21st birthday present, reports the Express.

Offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse in a viral TikTok clip, Cleo alleged: “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.”

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She claimed: “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 instalment also featured Fergus attempting to purchase the household’s weekly groceries for merely £40.

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He abandoned the task after spending 40 minutes attempting to fill two baskets, confessing he typically spends £130 weekly on himself alone.

Mirror has approached Channel 5 for comment.

You can stream Rich Kids Go Skint on Channel 5.