Bolton mother who went on strike in her own home appears on reality TV show

A Bolton mother has launched a “strike” against housework as part of a new Channel 5 reality show.

The series entitled “Mums on Strike” follows unequal households in which one partner – usually the woman – does more housework than everyone else in the household.

The show was originally called “Wife on Strike” and has been relaunched for 2024. The first episode will air on Sunday, July 21.

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Heaton mum Gaynor Eckersley was one of two mums from Greater Manchester who appeared in the first episode.

On the show, Gaynor says she feels like she’s the “only one who does all the housework” – leaving everything she can to her husband Paul and their twin sons Dylan and Devon, both 17.

On the show, Gaynor says she feels like she’s the “only one doing all the tasks.” (Image: Proper Content / Channel 5 Television)

Speaking to The Bolton News, the 60-year-old hairdresser, who founded her own online business to “motivate responsibility” for menopausal women, said: “I just wanted to express where I am at because I am going through the menopause.”

“Since I hit menopause, I’ve found it really hard to find the energy for anything else, including work, and this was the outcome I wanted. They recognised that and it has strengthened our relationship.

“My husband has always helped out, but I really wanted him to support me with the boys – the show itself was great.

“The production, the producer, the girls who came and filmed us, it was just an incredible opportunity and the experience was something I’d never experienced before, but I loved it – it was amazing.”

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Gaynor added that she believes “communication is key” in any family.

She said: “It’s not just about women, it could be a family where the man does everything – it just needs to be divided. Have a family meeting, sit down together and say, ‘This is what needs to be done, these are the different tasks, who wants to do this task?’

“Give them choices, don’t make demands and don’t say ‘this is your job, why should I do it?’. I may have approached it that way because I wasn’t myself – I was exhausted from the menopause and from going to work and then doing all the things I needed help with.

“It’s definitely about communication and I think if you deliver it in a calm way, they’re more likely to accept it.”

The first episode of the second season of Mums on Strike is now available to stream on the Channel 5 website.

The second episode of the series will air on Sunday, July 28, at 9 p.m.

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