Trinny & Susannah Undress the Nation, Wednesday 9pm, ITV1

Posted by Jane Murphy

Prior to sitting through the first episode of Trinny and Susannah's new show, I'd only ever been able to watch them for two or three minutes at a time without flying into a violent rage. I've always found the boob-grabbing busybodies patronising, trivial and downright rude - and fully expected them to deliver more of the same this time.

This series-opener focused on the pair's attempts to "challenge the nation to shop with success". Apparently, we spend £47 billion on clothes each year - but 80% of our purchases are never worn.

What's more, most women fall into one of two categories: shopaholics, who can't stop splashing the cash; and shopaphobes who are reduced to tears by the mere mention of a trip to Dorothy Perkins.

Trinny and Susannah managed to track down plenty of both types in Bluewater shopping centre (yep, even shopaphobes can be coaxed out when there's a TV crew around) - and set about changing their dysfunctional ways.

Their tactics? A mixture of stating the bleedin' obvious ("You don't need a new brown cardigan if you've already got two identical ones at home"); useful advice ("Work out your budget and make a list before you hit the shops"); and the downright bizarre (er, wear an electrode-covered swim-cap). The latter involved persuading three women to wear said caps to measure, then analyse, their brain activity during a shopping trip - which provided some surprising results.

Needless to say, there were plenty of tears, tantrums and several unnecessary sightings of Susannah's bra along the way - but I have to confess I managed to sit through the entire show without shouting at the TV.

Still, I did get a subtle sense of triumph from the fact I was wearing three brown cardigans, mismatched pop socks and a pair of deely-boppers all the time I was watching - and Trinny and Susannah could do nothing about it.

Picture: ITV

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Comments

[Cynthia]

I watched this last night and found it possibly the best and most useful episode I've seen. Very good, and not uncomfortably or gratuitously personal or emotive.

Well done.

[girl]

I never mastered who is T who is S but yes, they are 2 bullies, that put me off from watching their programme. The skinny one looks great in anything but the bigger one, although dressed carefully, sometimes she still needs some 'attention' herself.

[Jordioo]

Well if you are going into a violent rage why watch it at all ?
i watched it and i think these people do need help and trinny and susannah do it very well