By JANE ROBINS
A British family aren't finding much to laugh about living in an African mud hut in a remote part of Swaziland, being filmed for reality TV.
The Nestors from London, and their children - Daniel, 13, Chloe, 8, and Calum, 4 - are immersing themselves in a world where the comforts of home are non-existent.
"They are living in a remote rural homestead of about 20 adults and 30 children," says Stephen Lambert of RDF Television, which is making the African Village series for Britain's Channel 4.
"There is one pit lavatory, no electricity and no running water."
The main source of tension has been Lyn Nestor's shock at the demands on an African wife. She has to get up at 4 am to work on the land and must comply with Swazi tradition by wearing a veil and a long skirt to keep her knees out of sight.
The dress code for her husband, Robert, is more relaxed and he is finding the life of a Swazi man a much easier affair.
This hit a nerve when it transpired that Robert, as a man, could take a hot bath but Lyn could not. Robert is black, of Dominican descent, and Lyn is white.
"We thought it would be interesting to see if the British black experience in Africa would be different from the British white experience," Lambert says, "but so far gender seems to be the bigger factor."
The Nestors are now two weeks into their stay and the children are still in a state of shock about the lack of television and Playstation. Daniel must walk 9km to an English-speaking school.
The experiment is the next stage in the development of the "manipulated documentary" commonly known as reality TV. "That approach doesn't simply have to be entertainment," Lambert says.
"It can be used to approach more serious documentary subjects about different societies or our society."
The format is a natural progression from Channel 4's success with its 1900 House and 1940s House.
Lambert pioneered docusoaps that included The Cruise, Pleasure Beach and Vets in Practice.
Brits grin and bear it
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