Channel 4 (UK) Documentaries

Obsessive Compulsive Hoarder: The Big Clear Out (2012x31)

Air date: Jul 26, 2012

The story of Richard Wallace and his attempts to deal with his extreme hoarding. When he first appeared on TV, chronic hoarder Richard Wallace was living in squalor. His hoarding was so out of control that his own life was in danger. Mountains of papers and packaging filled his home from floor to ceiling and, worryingly, surrounded his gas cooker where he made his boiled eggs and toast. Richard was shunned by many of the residents of Westcott Village until landscape gardener Andy Honey offered to help. Becoming Richard's closest friend, Andy rallied the village to help clear over 60 tonnes of rubbish from Richard's garden. Six months later, Andy is still by Richard's side. Now they are trying to deal with the bigger problem of clearing Richard's home to make it safe, but Richard can't let anything go. Inside the bungalow the dangers have got worse and he now has an extraordinary 'death tunnel' in his kitchen that he has to crawl through every day. Progress is slow and, despite Andy's best efforts, the local NHS mental health team for professional support were called in. Led by clinical psychologist Sophie Holmes, they visit Richard to make an assessment. Opinions in the village about Richard are mixed. Some residents want to cook him meals and help clear the house, but others are frustrated by the ongoing mess and cost to the local council. And when Andy and Richard's friendship takes an unexpected twist, some locals start to question Andy's motives for helping.