Poundland founder's TV swap to show son his roots

1 hour ago

Ed James,BBC Radio WMand

Andrew Dawkins,West Midlands

News image — Steve Smith and son Joe swapped their Claverley family home for one in Stafford

Emporium Productions Two men, one in a blue top and trousers and another in a grey T-shirt and blue jeans down to the knee, are standing a fair way from the camera. They are standing outside a large home - the brown building has three storeys and, photographed outside from this side, could have three rooms on each storey on this side. — Steve Smith and son Joe swapped their Claverley family home for one in Stafford

The founder of budget chain Poundland took part in a TV home swap programme because wanted his son "to have an experience like I was brought up with".

Steve Smith and son Joe lived on a budget of £38 budget for a week during their appearance on Channel 5's Rich House Poor House.

The Smiths, who have a "beautiful home" in Claverley, Shropshire, changed places with a family of seven who have a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Stafford.

"The first day we [were] living in their house I broke the glass kettle," Steve Smith said, "I had to find a £5 kettle to replace it, which came out of our budget."

Asked how the show came about, the entrepreneur brought up a near-death experience, when he was "given three hours to live".

"I went to Dubai for a friend's 50th birthday and while I was there, I made several flights.

"When I came back, I had a pain in my heart and next thing I know I was in intensive care and I had a blood clot, deep vein thrombosis... from all the flights.

"In those three hours, we managed to find a test drug."

He said the experience changed his perspective and as a result "I drive my wife mad if anybody asks me to do something I've never done", adding he always said "let's have a go".

Emporium Productions Three people are on a stall with clothes above and below them. Smith in the centre has his arm around a long-serving stall holder, a woman, on the left and Smith's son, Joe, is on the right. They are looking at the camera. — Steve Smith (centre) said he used to be on a market stall when he was aged two and "learnt how to sell and buy"

Steve Smith, who spent time on his parents' market stall since he was two, said: "We don't forget where we came from.

"I was on Bilston market with my mum and dad, because they couldn't afford a babysitter and we used to live with my nan and grandad in [a] council house."

Decades later, despite living in a property that had "beautiful grounds" and lakes, he said aspects of his life remained grounded.

"My wife still buys Coke when it's cheap on the supermarkets and still makes my sandwiches every day."

Following the swap with the Deeming-Thomas family, Joe Smith said it was "eye-opening to be put in that position", but "good".

"A lesson for me really was that I probably need to be a bit more careful in my spending and habits and things like that."

Emporium Productions Five people, including the father and son to the left, are sitting around a table in the middle of a room. Purple curtains are open and the carpet is partially purple. A camera with a screen is on the right of the photo. — The father and son swapped places with the Deeming-Thomas family

Since appearing on the show, Steve Smith has tried to help the couple he swapped houses with, Jon and Kelly.

"We've tried to help them out. We've bought 'em a van because they [were] doing plastering from a car, which is very difficult. How do you get plasterboard in a car?

"We are [also] putting Jon through his driving lessons.

"I'm trying to get him trained up how to put bathrooms and kitchens in."

Reflecting on the show, the Poundland founder recalled the family "enjoyed finding the swimming pool" and the gardens in Shropshire.

"They had a lot more budget, so it was nice seeing them having a big Indian meal the one night."

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.