Flatmates bare all for programme

IMAGINE having every single thing you own taken away from you for three weeks – your phone, crockery, kettle, soft furnishings and even your clothes?

This is what happened to flatmates Andrew, Tom and Georgia from Cardiff when they appeared on Channel 4’s Life Stripped Bare last night.

And it might go some way to explaining to some residents of Cathays why three young people were rummaging, naked, through their recycling a couple of months ago.

The trio applied for the show after their landlord sent them an email about the production company which was looking for participants – so they threw caution to the wind and signed up.

Their possessions – including their clothes – were locked away in a storage unit are they were allowed to retrieve just one item each day.

Speaking about the experience, Andrew, a 29-year-old customer services representative from Rhiwbina, said: “They took absolutely everything off us – phones, underpants, even the curtains and lampshades.”

With the soft furnishings also locked away, it meant they had nothing to cover them up as they raced to get some clothes back on the first day.

“The only thing we were allowed was hot water and toilet paper, but they were rationed also.

“The first day we had to streak down North Road, it was the middle of Saturday afternoon. There was loads of traffic and students everywhere. We were allowed to cover ourselves with what we could find on the way, so we were rummaging through recycling bags. Me and Georgia were fine, but Tom wasn’t so lucky!

“Looking back now I have absolutely no idea why we agreed to do it.”

Tom has no regrets and says he would do it again, even though it involved sleeping naked on a floor in February and and trying to cook bread in a baked bean tin on a radiator.

“I really enjoyed the experience, I would go back and do it all over again. The first night was tough, we had no bedding, or clothes, so we had to sleep on the floor, Georgia and I didn’t get any sleep at all,” said the 27-year-old.

“Our priorities were getting heat, nourishment, dignity, followed by a bit more dignity, then luxury.”

The three weeks without possessions taught them to view life a little less materialistically.

“When we got everything back, I realised I didn’t need half the stuff. I sent off a pile of clothes taller than me, and I got rid of a third of them after the programme,” said Andrew.

Tom added: “I gave away half my stuff to charity shops too. I’m a little bit worried my colleagues will have seen me naked by tomorrow morning.”