Jacob Rees-Mogg’s new reality show is out next week (Image: Getty)
lifestyle is poles apart from the average Brit. Boasting an estimated £150 million fortune, he lives in a luxurious Grade II-listed building with his heiress wife and their six kids—and he insists on a personal servant ironing his boxer shorts on a daily basis.
Despite that, the pair are determined not to be seen as “awful, out of touch people” – and now they’ve given viewers a front-row seat into their “domestic life” with a new fly-on-the-wall reality show, which will be available to stream from December 2 onwards on Discovery+.
I’ve had a sneak preview, having watched the first episode in its entirety – and here’s what to expect from perhaps the most unlikely reality TV stars of the century so far.
Cameras followed then MP Jacob throughout the summer election campaign, which ended in the most sweeping defeat since 1906 – and wife Helena wasn’t exaggerating when she warned: “He has the political fight of his life on his hands.”
As he attempted to defend his seat as a Tory MP for North East Somerset, he was pursued by furious protestors plotting “revenge” against the man they branded a “posh t**t” and bombarded with “Down with the ” chants.
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Meet The Rees-Moggs streams on Discovery from December 2 (Image: Getty)
It seems many members of the public have had a change of heart following Labour’s win, with nearly three million signing a petition in the past week calling for a new general election. Yet at the time, some were so fiercely opposed to the —and in particular Jacob—that an organisation called Mogg Watch campaigned in the streets to have him ousted.
Appearing in the first episode, one member of the opposition raged: “Almost everything he stands for is bad”, before taking a swipe at his “integrity” and urging others to “vote tactically” to get him out. “Everyone is sick of the Conservatives, but what everyone really wants to do is get rid of Rees-Mogg!” insisted another, as he was branded “far-right” and “dangerous”.
Even Jacob’s own young son – one of six kids he shares with wife Helena – wasn’t defending his dad as he mischievously quipped that election season is the time when “politicians stop lying for a bit”.
Gently breaking the news to another son about the extent of the lead and the animosity towards their family, Helena exclaimed: “Let’s hope it’s not a massive humiliation.”
However, with passers-by fiercely arguing that Jacob should be “put in the stocks” and pelted with cabbages – incidentally one of the few vegetables that he willingly agrees to eat – it wasn’t looking good.
His election loss ended up derailing what he had believed would be a “deeply political” docu-series discussing his work as an MP – and instead he had to hastily pull together other footage to “fill the gap”.
Don’t miss… [EXCLUSIVE] [SHOCKER] [CONFESSION]
Jacob Rees-Mogg and wife Helena at the Q&A for their show (Image: Jacob Rees-Mogg wife Helena Q&A Meet The Rees-Mogg)
It’s not all doom and gloom though, as viewers of the first episode will spot one of his gleeful young sons, who shares the same birthday as , recalling the fun he and the family had had at the ex-PM’s party to celebrate his 60th.
They’ll also see an insight into how Jacob practises his Catholic faith – something which has proved controversial as it’s shaped his belief that he’s “completely opposed to abortion”, even in cases of rape and incest.
Viewers will learn that the multimillionaire is horrified by lounge-wear and jeans, even quizzing one of his aides on whether a pair of fashionably distressed jeans she’s wearing means he’s “not paying her enough”.
Discussing it with a fellow employee later, she explained that it was merely “the style” and nothing to do with poverty, but her pal shot back: “You should have said no and got a pay rise!”
Meanwhile, Jacob is guaranteed to raise laughs when he’s seen chatting with his only daughter Mary, who has been earnestly attempting to teach him slang.
As she tried to explain what a “wasteman” is, Jacob asked: “Does he collect the rubbish?”, only for her to set the record straight and insist: “No, he is the rubbish.”
Trying again, her dad asked: “So a wasteman’s not rizz then?”
Is Jacob Rees-Mogg out of touch? Possibly – but in fairness, I’ll let his political policies be the true test of that, rather than how many servants he employs to smooth out the creases in his boxer shorts.
Either way, there’s no denying that the most unexpected show of the year so far makes for compelling viewing.
Watch the first episode, streaming on Discovery+ from December 2