Celebrity Wife Swap, Sunday Channel 4, 8pm

Posted by Jane Murphy

 

It’s five years since former football legend Ron Atkinson suffered a spectacular fall from grace following that shock racist remark on live radio. Since then, he’s been pretty much off-radar - although he’s often been named in the tabloids as a possible contestant on various reality series, such as I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! or Celebrity Big Brother - the go-to shows for out-of-favour stars wanting to win back approval from the public.

But Big Ron’s reality TV moment came instead with last night’s Celebrity Wife Swap. Instead of eating kangaroo testicles, he just had to share his home with Olympic superstar and black role model Tessa Sanderson for a few days - which surely couldn‘t be that difficult. Wife Maggie, meanwhile, was packed off to live with Tessa’s partner, former judo champion Densign White.

Long before the racism row blew up, Ron was already famed for his somewhat “traditional” views about women. Needless to say, this is reflected in his home life: wife Maggie does all the cooking and cleaning, while Ron puts his feet up. So when Tessa made him live by her rules for a couple of days, we got to see Big Ron half-heartedly cleaning the kitchen floor with a pretty pink mop.

However, the focus of the show was very definitely the 2004 race row - even though there seemed to be very little left to say about it. Both Tessa and Densign felt obliged - or, presumably, egged on by producers - to bring the subject up at some point. But they did so in a careful, measured and non-confrontational way - with varying results.

Maggie seemed genuinely enlightened when Densign explained exactly why people were offended when Ron referred to former Chelsea star Marcel Desailly as a “lazy, thick n*****” . Ron, on the other hand, became incredibly defensive and didn’t want to talk about it. “People are fed up with me apologising,” he insisted.

It’s actually hard to know what this programme aimed to achieve. After all, having worked in football for most of his life, Ron’s met plenty of black role models. During his management days, he mentored some of the country’s best young black players. But he still said what he said five years ago - and he doesn’t know why. Maggie doesn’t know either. Nobody does.

Having lived with Big Ron, Tessa claims he’s basically a nice man who should be given a second chance. But if this programme was his second chance, he didn’t exactly grab it with both hands.

What did you think of last night's Celebrity Wife Swap? Tell us here.

Picture: Channel 4

SEE ALSO:
More Wife Swap: when Jilly met Alexander >>
Big Ron’s back on the box! >>
More must-see reality TV: our verdict >>

Comments

[Mark]

Interesting.

So.. You can make a racist remark yet not be racist?

Please explain this to me as you all are obviously experts on racism

And what do you all then class as being racist?

If a picture was to appear in one of the tabloids tomorrow of Desailly hanging from a tree and Ron and his mates surround the tree smiling, smoking and drinking (basically a lynching), would it be fair to say he was racist then ?

Just wondering lol

[Russell Eldridge]

Just an excuse to appease the PC brigade.More reality junk basically.

[David]

Great show. Ron's definitely not a racist - he seems a really nice guy. Maggie's lovely and is obviously devoted to him - and he gives her sports cars and holidays abroad - so he really loves her and enjoys showing his love. Tess is a nice woman - although a bit bossy. Densign should show her some more love though - she's a special lady for her work at tyhe sporting academy. Good on you, Tess. And nice to see you again, Ron. All the best, mate. Lots of love to you and your lovely missus Maggie. Love and regards - David.

[Scot]

I enjoyed the show - and I don't think Ron's a racist. He seems a real nice bloke. He treats Maggie very well - so he obviously loves her a lot. Tessa was rather bossy - although a lovely woman. Densign must be very submissive. Maggie seems very nice as well. Good to see you again,Ron. All the best mate.Love to you and lovely Maggie.

[debt reduction]

i really didnt like the show at alll

[Leon]

Ron Atkinson was rightly maligned by the press for his stupid and thoughtless comments -- clearly made out of exasperation for the lack of performance (in his opinion) of a well known black player. OK, so let's move on! We don't need to deliberately prolong the misery of this guy and his charming wife forever. Ron Atkinson is clearly not a racist and it is a disgrace that he has been treated like a leper and a criminal. Forgive and forget! I look forward to seeing and hearing Ron Atkinson's excellent football commentaries again -- and, please, let some enlightened producer hire this guy's exceptional talents to replace, one of the many boring nonentities that seem to dominate the current viewing and listening times on many of the sports TV and Radio stations.

[jono]

Big Ron said what he'd heard growing up in the fifties and sixties without knowing what it means.
To lose his livelyhood to make an example of him is a bit much!
As stated, Ron is 70 years old!
This political correctness is going too far!

[Tina Connor]

Just what I was expecting - a proper old dinosaur

Nice woman Ron's wife but has overdone the Botox - shame 'bout that !

[Vicky Wilcock]

I thought the show was a little unfair to Ron are people forgetting this man is 70 years old and the way he and his wife live are very similiar to that of many other 70 year olds. While what Tessa does is amazing this is her job she gets paid to do and ramming down your throat how you should put back into the community is all very well Ron probably struggles to hold his bladder all day due to age!!!!I thought Ron and his wife were blissfully happy and are an inspiration to still being in love 40 years down the line. I felt Tessa is an amazing partner and under valued by Densign she should cut her losses and find someone to love this special lady the way she deserves to be loved.

I don't think Ron is a racists I think he was slating a well paid footballer for not doing the job he is paid to do but didn't choose his words wisely.

[Anon]

The show was great for highlighting the stupidity of Ron and the total and utter ignorance of his wife. Good on Channel Four for making these people look even more stupid that I thought they were.

[KATHERINE]

It was very good but it was meant to be 'wife swap' but hey at the end of the day Ron had the chance to apologise with a passion and instead he was a bit uncomfortable. He didnt want to bring it up again. It was a Vile remark, be's paid for the damage. His wife is lovely. But Tessa was a bit pushy. They all learned from the wife swap experience in the end.

[Clive Bisby]

good show I like big Ron the race comment was a lot of fuss about nothing, keep on trying Ron nice to see you.

[veronica castellani]

I thought it was a really boring show, basically the whole thing was based around the race row and nothing else, very disappointed. It went no further forward as an insight to their lives than before.