‘Marriage makeover’ for Glenshesk man
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Niall McCaughan, Angie Best and Karen Mc Caughan will take part in the BBC programme ‘You’re not the man I married’ this Friday night.
COUPLES celebrate their marriage in front of family and friends, but when the big day is over what happens in the marriage usually takes place behind closed doors.
But not for one Ballycastle man and his wife who will be letting the whole of Northern Ireland take a look into their marriage this Friday night.
Niall McCaughan, who is originally from Glenshesk, but now living in Derry with his wife Karen, are allowing a team of experts and Angie Best, ex-wife of the late George Best, to give them a 'marriage makeover' in an uplifting and emotionally charged reality series with a twist for Friday nights on BBC One Northern Ireland.
This Friday night (November 21) at 8.30pm it's Niall and Karen's turn to star on You're Not The Man I Married.
The six-part series, which began on October 31, is produced by Green Inc Film and Television Ltd for BBC Northern Ireland, and seeks to revamp husbands and reignite the spark in the marriages of the six featured couples. Green Inc. describe the series as, "Inspirational real life love stories each of which celebrate marriage and highlight all the fun, commitment and hard work any relationship needs for happiness and survival."
It's a well known saying that the course of true love never runs smooth - this series empowers the couple featured on each programme to hold up the mirror on the current state of their marriage and then get practical advice on making it stronger and happier.
Angie finds out how each couple want to improve their relationship and then brings in her team to get to work. The wife is sent off for two days and the husband's makeover begins.
The experts include David Kavanagh a Systemic Family Therapist, Kevin Dundon, one of Ireland's Michelin starred chefs and Cathy Martin, stylist to the stars.
The BBC contacted the Playhouse in Derry, where Niall is manager, about the programme and one of the members of staff there suggested that Niall and Karen take part.
“I had to bribe Karen, just a bit," said Niall. "I had some initial information from the BBC and knew that they would be taking Karen away for two days for some pampering so she loved the idea of that and she agreed. When the filming began though, they were with us for several weeks."
Niall's not sure how himself and Karen will look on television on Friday night, but he's certainly looking forward to it.
“I thought it'd be quite humorous but it'll be interesting to find out how it is edited and how we look," he said.
“We both enjoyed making the programme. I watched the first two and they were quite serious and we think ours will be more light hearted but there would also be a serious angle to it too.
“I work in the Arts, so I have knowledge of the media and I deal with them and I thought we had an interesting angle on what they were looking for.
“I do a lot of overtime and it's certainly not a nine to five job and I thought taking part in the programme would show what working in the Arts sector is like.
“I do get caught up in my work because I do so much out of normal work hours and I do find it hard to get the balance right between work and family life," said Niall.
Niall and Karen have three children, two girls - Gemma who's 12 years and Hannah who's five - and one boy, Andrew who's 10.
“Our marriage is good, but taking part in the programme did show where I can improve a bit more, like in the work/family balance."
