Allison Henry, 42, of Hydney Street, swapped roles with mum Michelle Gibbs from Northampton for a week and found the household was run very differently.

Mrs Henry said, "She is quite strict with her children and I am not with mine. That was the main difference I found.

"Her children did a lot of housework such as making dinner. My children do not have to do any of that as I do everything for my children.

"Michelle's children were not allowed to backchat. They also had set bedtimes.

"I believe in youngsters having free speech and don't believe they should be scared of their parents.

"Children are not children for very long. I was told by Michelle that I was not setting my children an example. But they are not writing on the walls or smashing up the house.

"There are a few rules I make them abide by such as not being disrespectful to others.

"My children do not overstep the mark, are always in bed by 10pm and all get good marks at school."

Mrs Gibbs spent a week playing the role of mother to Mrs Henry's five children — 14-year-old Jessica Gill, 12-year-old Olivia Gill, Sophie, nine, Billy, seven and six-year-old Tilly.

She got them to do household chores such as washing up and hoovering.

But both families had a lot of fun, according to Mrs Henry.

She said, "I made Michelle's family realise that it is not always a good thing to be strict.

"She has said she'll have a softer approach from now on.

"I was made to feel very welcome by her family when I arrived."

Mrs Henry spent a week in Northampton back in February after her children encouraged her to contact Channel Four while they were all watching the show in her bedroom.

The family was then interviewed by producers a few weeks later and told they would be on the programme.

Her children were excited over the constant filming from the camera crews.

Mrs Henry said, "We had no access to our phone, we were not allowed to be left on our own or go into any room without the camera crews there."

But she described her TV appearance as a 'life-changing experience' for her family.

She said, "My husband Richard is currently recovering from bowel cancer.

"Michelle seemed to think he was wallowing over it and encouraged him to do an apprenticeship for a day, which he did in plumbing.

"It made him realise that he'd like to work again when he gets the all-clear.

"He was diagnosed with cancer a year-and-a-half ago and has been in remission for eight months."