Fairy Jobmother: the Gok Wan of work
Dean and Maxine are unemployed and living on benefits. Luckily for them though, Channel 4 are here to help and send employment expert Hayley Taylor up to Middlesbrough with one thing in mind - to get the work-shy pair a job. writes Todd Nash
Dean and Maxine are unemployed and living on benefits. Luckily for them though, Channel 4 are here to help and send employment expert Hayley Taylor up to Middlesbrough with one thing in mind - to get the work-shy pair a job writes Todd Nash.
In typically Channel 4 style, it's decided that the best way to help the jobless couple is to spy on them or 'observe their routine' as Hayley puts it. This seems to involve little more than sleeping on their sofa for the night and having a root through the fridge in the morning.
When she does go looking for some breakfast though, all she can find is a piece of cheese, a yoghurt and half a can of spaghetti, hardly fitting for the most important meal of the day.
Fortunately, she finds exactly what she's looking for in Dean who, as he finally surfaces, decides that the job-centre is too large a task for his day.
"I don't see why I should get up and get a job that's crap, with crappy wages" says Dean, who blames his lack of employment on the influx of Polish labour.
"If I had my own business, I wouldn't employ foreigners" he rants, getting ahead of himself as he forgets that he's barely done a days work himself in the last five years.
Luckily, his mentor is understanding: "Dean and Maxine are so typical of so many couples that are trapped in this system." she says, but when she tots up their benefits she's in for a shock.
The pair get £261.62 a week, totalling £1040 a month in benefits – more than some working families.
But the name of this game is to get them back into work, so to help build up their confidence, they're sent out on work experience.
Maxine will be working behind the make-up counter at Boots. "That's mint that is" says Dean before he finds out what he's doing. He's going to be a binman. He's chuffed to bits. "Nobody's given us a chance before" he sobs.
And fair play to them, both take to it like ducks to water and soon Hayley's lined up interviews for each of them; a trainee beautician role for Maxine and fitting kitchens for Dean.
Maxine's falls through, but it's a big moment for Dean. He needs a makeover first though - "Tattoos, no front-teeth and a skinhead – you look like a thug" is the damning assessment of his appearance.
But Dean pulls it off in the interview, answering patiently and politely, and despite some doubts he is thrilled to hear those magic words - 'can you start Monday?'
Two months later and Dean is still working and loving it. He's even grown his hair and looks half-decent. Eat your heart out Gok Wan - the fairy godmother won't just give you a makeover, she'll get you a job as well.
