- 5 weeks ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm in Essex and I'm on my way to meet the self-styled king of surrogacy.
00:11My name's Barry and this is my partner Tony and together we're going to tell you about how we
00:16became parents. Barry Drewit Barlow was dubbed Britain's first gay dad in 1999 after he and
00:22his ex-husband Tony became the first same-sex couple in the world to be named on the birth
00:28certificate of a surrogate child. I feel like surrogacy as a topic has really split
00:35the camp. I do genuinely have a real interest in the topic as a whole. I'm going to be 40
00:43in two years and inevitably you start thinking about you know if it doesn't happen biologically
00:48what other roads would we look at or go down. Barry's used surrogacy to bring seven children
00:56into the world and has profited from it too. He's a self-made millionaire who owns multiple
01:01successful businesses including a clinical trials company and he's set up his own international
01:07commercial surrogacy agency. This has made him a lightning rod for the criticism around the
01:12practice and he's been accused of creating babies made to order.
01:16Barry's unapologetic approach to creating the perfect baby for himself and his clients
01:31is seen by some as playing God. I think commercial surrogacy I could you know I can understand
01:38there needs to be legislation and I just think are you in a position to be able to really make a decision
01:48if someone's waving underground at you. Barry's business practices which take advantage of the
01:57less restrictive US laws as well as his rumoured treatment of staff have also made him a very
02:03controversial figure. I'm going to be staying with Barry and his current partner Scott who is 23 years
02:09his junior and they have two young surrogate children of their own. Barry's loaded, loaded, quite outrageous,
02:17quite outlandish. I think they might have a swimming pool. Have I brought my bikini? No.
02:24Stop, is this their drive? Please be warned we have protection dogs at this house. If you enter
02:39these premises illegally we'll take no responsibility for injury. Hello? Hello, it's Stacey. Hey Stacey, come in.
02:50Thanks love, thank you. Oh my god. Wow. You're not Barry? No, my name's Richard. Richard? Barry's ballet.
03:02Oh, it's nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. He's ballet? What does that involve? Just looking after his
03:08day-to-day needs. Oh wow. Okay, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. You're Barry's assistant.
03:14Yes please, I'm very excited. I feel like I'm in some kind of super club in Marbella.
03:19Come in. Thank you, that's really kind. Thank you.
03:23Can I take you back? Hi. How are you? Good, how are you?
03:29Hello mate, nice to meet you. How's it going? You're okay.
03:31This is bonkers. Barry, who made this chair?
03:35An artist called Jimmy Martin. He was the guy who did Madonna's chair.
03:39So if it's good enough for Madonna? I thought, do you know what?
03:42It's good enough for you Barry. If the Queen of Pop can have it,
03:44so can the King of the gay stories of the world. Wow. And I mean, this art is beautiful.
03:50I'm assuming that's you, is it Barry? On the end. On the far right, yeah.
03:55Next one. They're your kids? Yeah, Aspen and Sapphire.
03:58Is that an Amex? Yeah. Platinum card? Of course.
04:02Of course, yeah. It's actually Scott. Is this you?
04:05Aspen or Slimmer, yeah. Scott, well I feel honoured to see you in all your glory.
04:09The night's still young. Lucky Barry, yeah.
04:14I felt very lucky in those days.
04:17Very lucky. Now that I've got a port with 13 years later.
04:2013 years in, yeah, yeah, yeah. But you're still very much in love?
04:26I'd say so. Yeah. Come on.
04:28Is that a goldfish floor? Can I stand on it? Yeah, come on.
04:33This is the biggest indoor, non-commercial aquarium in Europe.
04:40Wow. What an entrance.
04:42So I've obviously met Harry and Richard.
04:46Yes. Do you have multiple staff?
04:48Yeah. How many?
04:51That work here, about 15 in total.
04:55Wow. Are you shocked?
04:57I'm floored. Do you want to have a quick tour of the house while it's a bit quiet?
05:01I would love that. Come on.
05:02Will I take my shoes on? No, no, no. Leave them on.
05:04No, no, no. Okay.
05:07This is the bathroom.
05:10If you're easily offended, now would be a good time to fuck off.
05:14Perfect mantra. Perfect.
05:19Hello. How are you? Are you the chef?
05:21This is David the chef.
05:23It's really nice to meet you, David.
05:24What's for dinner later?
05:26Yeah, what is for dinner?
05:27Main course is first date with homemade chefs.
05:29Wow. Great. That will do.
05:31I've just had a bag of crisps in the car, so this sounds completely wonderful.
05:37Have you just got the one dog?
05:39No.
05:40Got loads?
05:4050.
05:415-0?
05:425-0.
05:45Are you big into football?
05:48We actually own a football club, so, yeah.
05:50That was his Christmas present.
05:51So, you gifted Scott the club?
05:54Fine.
05:55And what a gift.
05:58Finally, I get to meet the two children Barry has had with Scott.
06:01Four-year-old Valentina and two-year-old Romeo.
06:04Hi, baby!
06:06Valentina, say hi.
06:07How old are you?
06:08Say hello.
06:09Four!
06:10Oh, hi, baby!
06:12It's not a cute train!
06:14Oh!
06:15What's your name?
06:18Romeo.
06:19Romeo?
06:20Is it Romeo?
06:21Have you been in the swimming pool?
06:23Is it cold?
06:24No, it's not cold.
06:25It's warm in there.
06:26It's heated.
06:27Have some decorum, Stacey.
06:28It's heated.
06:29Yeah, it's heated.
06:31Well, come on.
06:32Let me show you your room.
06:33Thank you very much.
06:35Oh, this is stunning.
06:36Thank you so much.
06:39What'll it do for you?
06:40This'll do.
06:41Good!
06:41This'll do.
06:42My own balcony.
06:43Got your own balcony?
06:44I am absolutely gobsmacked.
06:51This is my viewing area.
06:54There's two TVs in here.
06:58Because I can't be expected to stay in a bedroom with only one television.
07:02You know, I'm not daft.
07:03I was expecting, like, over-the-top glam.
07:06But this is, like, off the chart.
07:09It's so far away from my world.
07:14I mean, what did we do last night at my house?
07:19It was me, Kev, the baby.
07:21My folks were there.
07:22And there was, like, three sweet potatoes.
07:24And we were fighting over who was going to have the sweet potato.
07:26And a chicken in a bag.
07:35Hi.
07:37Hey.
07:37Do I need to help with the table or whatever?
07:41Set the table.
07:41Yeah.
07:42No.
07:43I'll just sit and wait.
07:44Yeah.
07:44The first guest to arrive for dinner is Saffron, one of the five surrogate kids Barry had with his ex-husband, Tony.
07:51Do you like a drink, though?
07:52Are you waiting?
07:53Yes, please.
07:53I need to test her bar skills out because she's never actually done a proper day's work in her life.
07:58So, I'm making her work on the bar on Monday at the football club.
08:02Is that legit?
08:03Or I worked as a project manager, actually, for their product testing company.
08:08There's a difference between her kind of work and what a normal person would work.
08:11That hard graft.
08:12Yeah.
08:15How you were brought into the world.
08:17What are your thoughts on that?
08:20I just think it's normal, yeah.
08:23Like, because I've not known any different.
08:25To me, it's just what I'm used to.
08:28Yeah.
08:28Is this for Zarchi tableware?
08:32Yeah, if you touch.
08:33Yeah, okay.
08:35It's always this formal, yeah.
08:39Valentina, you come sit here.
08:41Also joining me for my first meal with the Druitt Barlows is Scott's mum, Mandy.
08:46Your dad's will show me your playground.
08:49Is it dad and dad?
08:51Dad and daddy.
08:52Dad and daddy.
08:52Who's who?
08:54I'm dad.
08:54Your dad.
08:55He's the daddy.
08:56Cheers, everyone.
09:00Cheers.
09:02Cheers.
09:02Nice to meet you.
09:05You always wanted to be a dad.
09:06Yeah, but I was always told I could never be a dad because I was gay.
09:11Because remember, it was the 90s and everybody was against everything.
09:15It was hard.
09:16Essex County Council ran a couple of adverts for foster carers and adoptive parents.
09:21So I thought, if I'm qualified as a social worker and as a social worker, I can remove somebody's kids from them and put them into local foster care or whatever.
09:29Why can't I be one of those foster parents?
09:32So Tony and I made the very first application to social services as a couple.
09:39And ultimately, after about two and a half years, we got a resounding absolutely no way.
09:46And I'm standing there thinking, well, you know what?
09:50Fuck you, because you think I'm good enough to go and qualify somebody else to be a parent, but you don't think I'm good enough to have a family and raise it on my own.
10:01Well, fuck you.
10:02I'll find another way.
10:03And then I just got on a plane to Los Angeles and I found a woman who would give me her ex and another woman who would carry the baby for me.
10:11And the rest is history.
10:13Yeah, kind of.
10:15And then we hit the news, like, why are these gay men wanting to have a kid?
10:18They must be pervs or they must be something.
10:21Do you know what I mean?
10:22Now, there's over 200,000 same-sex families in the UK.
10:27It's a lot.
10:28And you were the first?
10:29You were the first.
10:29Legally?
10:30Yeah.
10:30You've changed history, really.
10:32Yeah.
10:35Wow.
10:37So, who's in charge of, like, domestic duties?
10:41What do I actually do?
10:42Yeah.
10:43I do Richard!
10:49Fine, understood.
10:50OK, thanks, mate.
10:51What do you tend to do, Scott?
10:54Around the house.
10:55So, when anything needs to be done, I'll obviously tell Richard.
11:00Right, I'll leave you to it.
11:06Thank you so much for today.
11:07You're very welcome.
11:08So grateful.
11:09Are you going to bed now?
11:10Yeah.
11:11It's half past eight?
11:12Yeah.
11:13Are you having a laugh?
11:14I'm totally serious.
11:15On a Friday night?
11:16What time will you be going to bed?
11:18Probably about one, half one.
11:20You go to bed about one a.m.?
11:21Yeah.
11:21Are you working?
11:23Yeah.
11:23You're a hard-working man, Barry.
11:24I love it.
11:26Bye-bye.
11:26Don't forget we've got a party tomorrow afternoon.
11:29All right, I'll make sure I look the part.
11:31All right, there you go.
11:32See you later.
11:32Have a nice one.
11:33See you later.
11:33Bye.
11:34Bye.
11:34Today has been so interesting.
11:42I could easily be seduced by this kind of life.
11:46That's the thing though, isn't it, with all these situations, you know?
11:51First glance, it all feels very enticing and, you know, oh my God, this is amazing.
11:58I'm sure there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes that we're not privy to.
12:19Morning, Richard.
12:20How are you doing?
12:20How are you?
12:21Well, thanks.
12:22You sleep OK?
12:23I did, thank you.
12:24I slept like a baby, actually.
12:25It's my first morning staying over at the Druitt Barlow £6 million Essex compound.
12:32Would you like a cup of tea or some breakfast?
12:33Do you know what?
12:33I'd actually love a cup of tea.
12:35A cup of tea?
12:35Am I allowed to come through?
12:37Of course, yeah.
12:37So sorry, I know you've just done the flaws.
12:39And I'm easing my way into the family's luxurious lifestyle.
12:44I get the impression that for Richard, it's whatever is asked of him, he will feel he has to deliver.
12:53It's like, don't bore me with the details, just get it done.
12:58Barry's vast wealth from various businesses, including a medical research company, gave him the opportunity of having his seven surrogate children in the United States, where the practice of commercial surrogacy is legal.
13:11You look beautiful, Valentina.
13:13But this approach has been heavily criticised in the media, as Barry has been accused of genetic engineering.
13:20The headlines have been, you've designed your babies, you know, you were specific about what you wanted your kids to look like.
13:28Well, we chose the sex of our kids.
13:30Some people have an issue with that, don't they?
13:32Oh, a lot of people have an issue with it.
13:34The thought of going into an agency and looking through a catalogue and going, oh yeah, I like that one, I like that one, let's meet and bring them in, I want to talk to them, see what they like, what's their personality like.
13:42However, in the UK, when you go for egg donation, it's all blind.
13:49You don't get to see a picture of the woman who's given these eggs.
13:54Why the hell would I do that?
13:56Look at it this way.
13:57If he would have been a girl, we'd have met in a bar, we'd have had a fancied, fancied her, and we'd have gone home, we'd have got it together and we'd have had a baby.
14:06It would have been our light by light.
14:08Not some strange woman who I've never met or seen a picture of that could look like the elephant woman.
14:14I'm sorry, I'm just not about that at all.
14:17Some people think that's a step closer to selective breeding, that's a step closer to eugenics.
14:24If I really would have agreed with that, I'd have asked for my money back months ago or years ago, because the ones that I got are definitely not those designer kids that are all, you know, hoo, hoo, hoo.
14:34They're just normal kids, do you know what I mean?
14:38Barry's very public investment in his kids must have had an effect on how they're perceived.
14:44Saffron, we need to tell your dad to invest in a masseuse.
14:49I know, yeah. That would be lovely.
14:52I'm wondering how his first daughter, Saffron, deals with the inevitable scrutiny.
14:56What was it like growing up?
15:02Well, we've always been called, like, spoiled, but I think I got it worse than everyone.
15:08But, I mean, I know I'm spoiled, but I'm appreciative of everything I've ever been.
15:13But, obviously, people always have something to say about it, don't they?
15:17I suppose when you're younger, it's difficult to not get upset.
15:21Yeah.
15:22I used to read all the comments, even on, like, my dad's post, but now I don't care, because I don't really care what anyone thinks anymore.
15:29Whereas back then, I did care.
15:30Sure.
15:31Were there any negatives?
15:33Is there anything that you struggled with?
15:36No, I don't think so, because we never were short of love or anything, do you know what I mean?
15:40Yeah.
15:40Like, we always had everything, not even just, like, materialistic.
15:45If we ever needed help with anything, we always had the help, the love, everything.
15:49Yeah.
15:49So, I don't think, really, there was any negatives within what other people had to say.
15:54And do you work now?
15:56No, I don't work now.
15:57Like, my dad still pays me, like, on a salary.
16:01How much is that?
16:03It's never, like, below, like, £5,000.
16:06Really?
16:07Yeah.
16:09So, your dad will give you £5,000 a month?
16:11Yeah.
16:12Just living expenses?
16:13Yeah.
16:13What a relief, financially.
16:15Yeah.
16:16But do you think it's slightly bizarre that you'll never know what it feels like to have to save up for something?
16:23Yeah, definitely.
16:23I know that not many people would get, like, their house paid for, or, like, their car paid for, and then their bills paid for, and stuff.
16:32Hugely fortunate.
16:33Yeah.
16:35Do you think people judge you immediately?
16:37Yeah.
16:38Just from hearing, like, what they hear or seeing what they see.
16:41I think you're quite shy, a bit more reserved than your dad.
16:44Yeah.
16:44The only one who I'd say he's flashed, to be fair, is my dad.
16:47Really?
16:48Yeah.
16:51Saffron's work ethic may not mirror her father's, but it's clear she's still very much the apple of his eye.
16:57We're going to party hard.
17:00Some of their pals are coming round.
17:04Let's have a barbecue.
17:06And I'm told there's karaoke.
17:09I actually love karaoke.
17:10I really love karaoke.
17:14One night in the Philippines, I sang karaoke for about 14 hours straight.
17:19It's a true story.
17:20We'll all sort of congregate outside, have some food, and see where the night takes us.
17:27As last-minute preparations for the barbecue keep the staff milling away.
17:31Hello.
17:32Can I come in?
17:33Yeah, come in, dear.
17:34Hi, Harry.
17:36Hi.
17:37So you're just getting ready for the pool party?
17:45I want to find out what the 23-year age gap has meant for Barry and Scott's relationship.
17:50Wow, I wonder whose closet this is.
17:53What I pulled Scott out of.
17:56Do you share each other's clothes?
17:58No.
17:59You've got a slightly different style, I would say.
18:01Really?
18:02I suppose you're a bit louder.
18:05Me?
18:05Yeah.
18:06How much have you been there?
18:07You're a bit louder.
18:07I mean, in your sartorial choices.
18:10And Scott, I think you're a bit more...
18:14More what?
18:14Straight?
18:15No, not straight energy.
18:16I don't get straight energy from you, no.
18:17Really?
18:18No.
18:18No?
18:19No.
18:20No.
18:20No.
18:20I ain't.
18:21The minute I saw Scott, I thought, cocky little Essex boy.
18:26I only met him the once and he stalked me on Instagram and found me and then started messaging
18:34me and then we ended up meeting for a drink and what have you.
18:38I thought, it's not bad him.
18:41Did you fancy Barry straight away?
18:43Pretty much, yeah.
18:44Did you?
18:45Yeah.
18:46So he won the Rolls-Royce then?
18:48It's not that.
18:48It isn't that.
18:50Whatever it was that put a spell on Scott, Barry still seems to have a way of convincing
18:55people around him to do whatever he wants.
18:58He's going to do a fashion show for us.
19:00Come on.
19:00Oh, brilliant!
19:02Yes!
19:02Come on.
19:03I love this.
19:03Let me see the pink shorts on you.
19:07We're here.
19:07You've got an audience.
19:09He loves an audience.
19:11You do.
19:14Just get Richard to model them, then we'll pick which one.
19:17He can be your model.
19:18Where are they?
19:20What's the point in having a manservant when the manservant's elsewhere?
19:25Richard, we need you to model something for us and then if they look nice on you, Scott's
19:30going to wear them.
19:31Don't feel obliged.
19:32As quick as you can.
19:34I feel bad.
19:35Why?
19:35In case they feel embarrassed.
19:37Why would they be embarrassed?
19:39Yeah, maybe.
19:40Turn around.
19:43Perfect.
19:44If you could stay like that now all day, Richard, Miss Stacey would like her drinks
19:48served just like that, apparently.
19:51You look fantastic, Richard.
19:52Really great.
19:53Oh, my God.
19:55This is not how I envisioned today playing out.
20:01But here we are.
20:03I think Barry's definitely the one who rules the roost.
20:07Yeah, trying on the boxers was, I did feel slightly like, oh, God, and I kept saying, please
20:14don't feel obliged, please don't feel obliged.
20:17I was a bit, I don't want anyone to feel like they have to perform.
20:21Barry's millions have afforded him the opportunity to have very compliant stuff.
20:31And I'm wondering what the story is with his romantic relationship.
20:37I'm eager to hear from Scott and his mum, Mandy.
20:41You two have always been close.
20:43You've always had a close relationship.
20:46Oh, yeah.
20:46Always.
20:46And he's your youngest.
20:48Yeah.
20:48Can you remember when Scott told you, look, I've met this guy?
20:53Yeah.
20:54Well, yeah, he was in the garden.
20:57I was in the lounge.
20:59He texted me saying, I'm gay.
21:02And I just said, and.
21:05Nobody was surprised.
21:07How did you feel?
21:08Were you surprised?
21:09No.
21:09Not to be honest, no.
21:10And was it a relief to sort of tell your mum what was going on?
21:15Yeah, because I didn't know how anyone was going to take it,
21:18because obviously I met an older guy.
21:21Because he's much older.
21:21I've always been with women.
21:23To be honest, I was concerned.
21:26I said, like, as long as you're happy and you both know what you're doing,
21:31then.
21:32And the kids accepted him because he'd got small children at the time.
21:36Yeah, and suddenly you'd become a stepdad, essentially.
21:39Yeah.
21:40So you would have been how old when you and Barry got together?
21:43Just turned 19.
21:44That's young.
21:45Yeah.
21:46And so you said, of course, I had concerns about the age gap initially.
21:49Yeah, in the beginning.
21:51Like, anyone would.
21:52Yeah.
21:52And what were your concerns?
21:53Like, the power imbalance or?
21:55I think it's because he was so young and inexperienced, if you know what I mean.
22:00But they're both completely different.
22:02He loves doing, like, physical and, like, building things.
22:07Barry's, like, got the brain and, like, the business.
22:11Well, we've both got the brain.
22:12We've both got the brain.
22:13But, yeah, me and Barry's more headstrong, nose and then I'm the good.
22:19Yeah, business-like.
22:20You have different strengths.
22:21Yeah.
22:22And you play to your strengths.
22:23Yeah.
22:24Yeah, absolutely.
22:25So we were good as a team.
22:26It's just really nice.
22:27And you can see how much Valentina and Romeo absolutely adore him.
22:31So, yeah.
22:32Yeah.
22:33There's a lot of judgmental people.
22:35Oh, there's so much judgment.
22:35Yeah.
22:36Yeah.
22:37You're the parent universe.
22:40Scum, scum, scum, scum, scum, scum, scum, scum.
22:44Woo!
22:53God, stay away!
23:01Tequila!
23:01Barry and Scott are very different people, at different stages in their lives, but they've
23:16found a way to make their relationship work and bring two loved children into the world.
23:22Tequila!
23:22I'm keen to find out from other guests what their thoughts are on the man that seems to
23:31get whatever he wants.
23:33So, how do you two know Barry?
23:35We both work for him.
23:37Currently?
23:38Yes.
23:38Yes.
23:39What company, because I know he's got loads of companies, what one do you work for?
23:42We work for the cosmetic research company.
23:45Okay.
23:45It's really interesting, actually.
23:47You know, we get to sample lots of products before they go on the market.
23:52Yeah.
23:52So...
23:52Deodorants, how do you care sprints?
23:54Yeah.
23:54Because when I ask him, you know, what's your...
23:56What do you do for a living?
23:57He says, I sniff armpits.
23:59Oh, yeah.
24:00So that would be a deodorant study, yeah.
24:01And we have a lot of them studies.
24:03Men or women are not allowed to wash their armpits.
24:06He's then got to smell their armpits and then give them a grade of how bad they are.
24:10Wow.
24:10What the odour is.
24:11And then we have to wash them and then apply product and then he will then smell them again
24:15to see if that product that we've been testing works.
24:18And it's a lucrative business.
24:19Yeah.
24:19Yeah.
24:19We're talking millions and millions and millions.
24:21Oh, yeah, definitely.
24:22He's down to having a nose for it, so to speak.
24:25What kind of a guy is Barry?
24:27How would you describe Barry?
24:28Because I think there are conflicting ideas in the media.
24:33Some people say he's hot-headed, he's bad-tempered, some people say he's extravagant.
24:37I'd tick all of them boxes.
24:39Depends what mood he's in.
24:42All of the above.
24:42I would definitely say all of the above.
24:44Yeah, definitely.
24:45I mean, he just wants perfection the whole time.
24:48You could get emails from him at like one o'clock in the morning.
24:50Yeah, definitely.
24:52Saying what?
24:53Just seeing if something's been done.
24:55Like he'd be doing his work, so I would wake up the next day.
24:57But I'd be like, Corey's been doing emails at one o'clock in the morning.
25:00Literally.
25:00So it's constant.
25:01The hustle is constant.
25:11They didn't.
25:11Barry's grip over his staff appears to overstep the mark at times.
25:30I get the impression that, you know, Barry, Barry's in charge, right?
25:36Barry's the boss.
25:37He's very strict and he's a perfectionist.
25:41He said that himself.
25:42And I think at times he can be maybe a bit hot-headed.
25:45I wonder if anyone would stand up to him, even if they wanted to.
25:49I'm sleeping over in the home of multi-millionaire Barry Drewitt Barlow,
26:05who created his family of seven by using surrogates.
26:10It's the morning after a raucous house party.
26:13Hi, David.
26:14Morning.
26:15Good morning.
26:16Your hair still looks amazing.
26:19You've got that kind of vush to it.
26:21Saffron's upstairs struggling, I think, Loverot.
26:24Oh, bet she is.
26:25Saffron's upstairs struggling.
26:26Oh, she was knocking those shots back in half.
26:29Barry's wealth clearly affords those closest to him a lavish lifestyle
26:33and a band of staff, including a dog grooming team,
26:37that look after his prized poodles.
26:39Are you ready to shave a puppy?
26:40Yes, I am.
26:41Can you get me a shaver?
26:42I've never groomed a dog before.
26:44It's only like shaving your private bits.
26:47Yeah.
26:48Well, I've done that, yeah.
26:52I'm finding the constant shadow slightly unnerving.
26:57Wherever you are, the dog is, Harry is and Richard is.
27:01Yes.
27:02That's how you like it?
27:03It is.
27:04Why?
27:05Well, because Richard's my valet and he's my security.
27:09And then Harry is my assistant, so our job never ends,
27:13so his job never ends.
27:14You know, if I'm working, he's working.
27:16You know, and that's the same for most of the staff.
27:18They know that.
27:19If I have to work, they're working with me.
27:21It's not a one-man show.
27:22It's not faulty towers.
27:24I rely on people.
27:26You know, I'm not running from the desks to this to that.
27:28I need the people around me to help.
27:30According to reports, Barry earns around tens of millions a year from his cosmetic research company,
27:36his surrogacy agency and other investments.
27:39How does someone that wealthy manage his fortune?
27:42So it literally is.
27:44Oh, literally like you would shave your legs?
27:46Shave your legs.
27:47And how often do you have to do this?
27:50Really about every other week, but I've probably got about ten groomers that work for me full-time.
27:56You've got ten groomers, Barry?
27:58Yeah.
27:58How many members of staff in total do you think you have?
28:01Just over 500 members of staff between all of our businesses.
28:07Does that weigh heavy?
28:08Yeah, it does.
28:09Sometimes I wake up in a cold sweat when I think I've got payroll that week.
28:12And what do your outgoings look like?
28:17Oh, you don't even want to go there, love.
28:19I mean, obscene.
28:21Obscene.
28:22Small, small poor countries, deficit, mate.
28:26You don't know me well enough, but if you'd have been able to spend like a month with me or something,
28:31you would see how much I work non-stop.
28:35All my kids have got that, apart from Saffron, I've got that total workaholic kind of thing.
28:43So why do you think Saffron hasn't inherited that work ethic?
28:49I think it's totally my fault.
28:51It's too late for her now.
28:54Really what she needed was one of those very wealthy husbands.
28:56What's the most outrageous thing you've bought little Valentina?
29:01Me and Scott bought Valentina an apartment in Miami, Miami Beach.
29:07And so do you intend on raising Valentina differently to Saffron?
29:16100%.
29:16She's definitely going to work.
29:18I'm going to train her to be my little mini-me.
29:21Barry's money enabled him to create his own family by design in America.
29:28This afternoon, he's having a catch-up with Heidi, who lives in California,
29:32the surrogate of their youngest child, Romeo.
29:37Hi.
29:38Hello.
29:39Hello.
29:40Hi.
29:41Hi.
29:41How are you?
29:42I'm good.
29:44Very nice to meet you.
29:46The laws in the States allow surrogates to be paid handsomely.
29:49How does turning childbirth into a lucrative transaction affect the carrier of the child?
29:55You carried Romeo.
29:56Please may you talk me through how that all played out.
30:00So I had been a surrogate two times before I met Barry and Scott.
30:05And then I saw on Facebook that there was a famous couple looking for a surrogate.
30:11So I was intrigued, and we got to meet each other, and we talked, and I couldn't say no.
30:19Like, Barry and Scott, they're just so lovely.
30:21So you have carried three children for two families.
30:26Correct.
30:27How does it feel carrying a baby that you know isn't yours?
30:31For me, it's not making that connection.
30:35It's fun having those moments, like when you're feeling the baby kick and stuff like that.
30:40But the most special part for me is being able to share that with the parents,
30:45and them being able to kind of experience it with you since they can experience that process.
30:53Why do you do it?
30:53Yeah, even when I was younger, I would hear people say that they, like, struggle with, like, infertility.
31:01And it was just like a natural reaction to be like, oh, I'll carry your baby.
31:05You know, everybody watching this will be thinking, did you do it for financial purposes?
31:12Did you do it for financial gain?
31:14It's a perk.
31:16Is it a lot of money?
31:18At the beginning, no.
31:20You know, Barry and Scott, they did pay heavily, and that was very nice of them.
31:27So you'll find the extra that they gave as well.
31:31But financially, no.
31:32When I'm at Barry and Scott, I already own two homes.
31:36We have four cars.
31:38You know, we don't live paycheck to paycheck.
31:41So, no, I didn't do it for the money.
31:44It's nice to have it because it is a lot that you're putting your body through.
31:48What are we talking, sort of ballpark figure?
31:52It was $25,000 for the first pregnancy.
31:57Then the second time around, when we did it, we cut out the agency because obviously we knew each other.
32:04We were comfortable.
32:05And I had only asked for $35,000.
32:09So we're going to let you go, but thank you so much for talking to us.
32:15Thanks, Heidi.
32:16Heidi's perspective on carrying children that will never be her own is fascinating, and she's not the only participant in the process.
32:24And how did you find your egg donor?
32:26The egg donor we found on a catwalk.
32:30A model?
32:31In Miami.
32:32What drew you to her?
32:33Initially, her looks.
32:34It was her looks, completely.
32:36And you're honest about that?
32:37Oh, am I absolutely honest about it?
32:38Why the hell not?
32:39When I saw her on the catwalk, I looked at Scott and I went, oh, fuck, she is stunning.
32:46I tell you, her legs were six feet in the air.
32:49We've got hundreds of those models on our books right now.
32:52That reasoning, from your point of view, will infuriate some people.
32:57Absolutely.
32:58Just buying a baby.
32:59That's what people say.
33:01A beautiful baby.
33:02Most people could do a lot worse than spend one month of their life on drugs to give some embryos for $50,000.
33:12Do you worry it's a slippery slope if we just start saying, oh, we just want beautiful kids?
33:18No.
33:19Really?
33:20That's so interesting.
33:21Well, what do you want me to say?
33:22No, we need to be honest.
33:23We need ugly ones as well.
33:24For me, I just...
33:25Sorry, I just can't lie.
33:26No, but which, listen, I would much prefer...
33:28Nobody wants an ugly kid.
33:30Sometimes we get them, but we don't always want them.
33:32And we deal with it and carry it on.
33:34I just don't think that would be a priority for me.
33:37If I were to go down that route, the idea that it's got to be stunning, I think that's what gives people...
33:42That's what rubs them up the wrong way.
33:44Well, I really couldn't give a flying fuck about rubbing anybody up the wrong way.
33:48That's not what I'm about.
33:49I couldn't care less.
33:50But in an honest world, you want your kids to have a chance.
34:00Barry's extreme obsession with looks is not something I subscribe to.
34:05But having constant conversations about childbirth, as if it's such a straightforward process, strikes a chord with me.
34:13You know, I've experienced what it's like to struggle to have a child.
34:25We obviously wanted to expand our family, and then last year I fell pregnant, and then actually it was...
34:35You know, it didn't go brilliantly.
34:37It was ectopic.
34:39I'm so sorry, because this is so predictable.
34:48I sat here crying on a bed.
34:51It was ectopic and, you know, it was really fucking difficult.
34:56It was like...
34:57There was an internal rupture, and there had to be, like, emergency surgery, and...
35:07You know, of course, when you go through something like that, you're forced to think about alternatives.
35:13Well, you know, shit happens, and then if you want a, you know, if you want a bigger family, you have to think about how you're going to do that.
35:27It's my final day with the Druitt Barlow family in Essex.
35:40Hello!
35:41How are you going?
35:43It's so nice to meet you.
35:44Four of Barry's children from his relationship with his first husband have flown in from Florida, where they split their time with their other dad.
35:52So, this is Aspen Stacey, and Aspen is Saffron's twin.
35:57This is Orlando.
35:59He was actually created at the same time as Aspen and Saffron, only he was put on ice and then born three years later.
36:08Wow!
36:09I know.
36:09That's so cool.
36:11This is Jasper, and this one is Dallas, and they're twins too.
36:16Great.
36:17Yeah.
36:17Incredible.
36:17And you're all tight, you're all sort of, you know.
36:22Group hug!
36:22Group hug!
36:23Come on, come on.
36:24They're like Dad.
36:25Come on, come on, come on, come on.
36:27Yay!
36:28Over the weekends, I've learnt how Barry's fortune has allowed him to spoil his blended family with huge gifts.
36:36And before I leave, I'll get the chance to experience the most recent extravagant acquisition he's bought for his long-term partner, Scott.
36:44Moulden and Tiptree have their biggest game of the season, and it's another chance for Barry to take centre stage.
36:50So does everybody know what they're doing?
36:53Everyone knows.
36:54So we've got a hospitality...
36:55Will you stop talking, you fucking rabbit?
36:58Although the club was bought for Scott, it's quite clear who's in charge.
37:02Where's David's...
37:03No, not you.
37:04Chef David.
37:06Mr. Wu?
37:08Wu's there.
37:08I need David and Mr. Wu to put on a brilliant spread.
37:14Then we've got a new barmaid who's going to help out on the bar.
37:17And you're going to look after her, aren't you?
37:20Show her how to pull the pints and how to take the money and all that kind of stuff.
37:23Any questions from anybody else?
37:25All right, we're going to finish there.
37:27All of you find your jobs and what you're doing and all of that kind of stuff.
37:31If you need any help, look for Stacey Dooley.
37:34She's our supervisor today.
37:36OK, good luck, everyone.
37:37And if you've got any questions, just ask.
37:40Yeah?
37:41Come on.
37:47Before he puts me to work, I'm eager to learn how the outside criticism of Barry affects those closest to him.
37:54I think with Barry, some people are so sort of starry-eyed in terms of what he's achieved historically.
37:59And with anyone who's public-facing, other people don't echo those praises.
38:05How do you feel, boys?
38:06Because that's your dad.
38:08I think we've had it for so long.
38:09He's always been criticized by people.
38:11I think a lot of people like to think they know my dad when they don't because they just see what's on the television.
38:16And that's obviously a bit more dramatized and he's going to be a bit more flamboyant and things like that.
38:20But in reality, he's a really caring dad.
38:22And he likes to take care of people that mean important to him, who are important to him.
38:26So, yeah.
38:28To me, my dad's my hero.
38:29I know it sounds a bit cringy to say, but I look up to my dad.
38:32So, anything they say to them, it don't really mean anything to me.
38:35They can say anything they want about my parents, but I know who they are and what they mean to me.
38:39So, your dad's your hero?
38:43When you say it like that, it sounds a bit...
38:45But, yeah.
38:47I look up to both my parents a lot, yeah.
38:49That's right, because Tony's your other father.
38:51Yeah.
38:51Yeah, yeah, yeah.
38:52Both my dads mean the world to me, yeah.
38:53And they've done so much for me and they've done so much for all of us.
38:55And what do you reckon, Jasper?
38:56How would you describe your father?
38:58I'd say the same thing, probably.
38:59He's very fair, but, you know, you just have to act in the proper way and he'll treat you fair.
39:07Safran, are you going to work at the club?
39:09Yeah.
39:10What are you going to do?
39:11Whatever he wants me to do.
39:13Anything to keep him happy and make him happy, I'll do it.
39:17Here is she!
39:18Ha!
39:19Ha!
39:19Ha!
39:20Ha!
39:20Ha!
39:20Ha!
39:20Ha!
39:20Ha!
39:20Ha!
39:20Ha!
39:20Ha!
39:20She actually got out of bed to put her face on and came out to work!
39:25Ha!
39:25She's just been saying how she can't wait for you to put her to work.
39:29Oh, my God.
39:30Oh, my God.
39:31Oh, my God.
39:37A bud and a stella.
39:38A bud and a stella.
39:39Look at that!
39:45It's my one talent.
39:46After making sure everyone's got their pre-match pine, it's finally kick-off.
39:50And it seems I've given Barry and Scott some competition when it comes to popularity on
40:01the terraces.
40:02Come on, man, let's shoot!
40:08Come on!
40:10Yeah!
40:10Yeah!
40:24Moulden have taken an early lead and spirits are high in the stands.
40:28I'm interested to hear how supporters have taken to their new boss.
40:31What are your thoughts on Barry as an owner?
40:35He's a legend.
40:36He's a legend.
40:37What have you made of what he has brought to your club?
40:40There's a lot of sceptics about Barry.
40:42Yeah, very right.
40:43Obviously, people read about things, read stories, but it's give and take, you know.
40:47He's got a heart of gold and he's proven it as well.
40:49Barry bought our club, but we adopted Barry at the same time, so he's going to love him
40:53in a short space of time.
40:54Not just because he's completely loaded.
40:56That helps!
40:57That helps!
40:58That helps!
40:59That helps!
41:00He's got a heart of gold and he shows it to all of us.
41:02He's a nice guy.
41:03Since the moment he's come, he's cared about the community.
41:05It's amazing.
41:06You're going to make me cry, you fuckers.
41:08I'm gay!
41:09He's proved us all wrong.
41:11He's proved a lot of people wrong, anyway.
41:13David!
41:14Yeah!
41:15Yeah!
41:16Yeah!
41:17Yeah!
41:18Yeah!
41:19Yeah!
41:20Yeah!
41:21Yeah!
41:22Yeah!
41:23Yeah!
41:24Yeah!
41:25Yeah!
41:26Yeah!
41:27Yeah!
41:28Yeah!
41:29Yeah!
41:30Yeah!
41:31Yeah!
41:32Yeah!
41:33Yeah!
41:34Sexy.
41:35Sexy?
41:36Oh no!
41:37Barry's extreme wealth has allowed him to control so many aspects of his life.
41:44How his family was created, the staff around him, and now a legion of football fans.
41:50His unapologetic views and dominant personality may be offensive to some, but it feels like
41:55those close to him are happy to be taken along for the ride.
42:00Yeah!
42:01What a way to end the weekend.
42:04You just must be on cloud nine.
42:06I am.
42:07I'm on cloud nine.
42:08I'm way above that.
42:09But listen, I'll leave you to it.
42:10Thank you so much for this weekend.
42:12I really appreciate it.
42:14All the best.
42:15All the best.
42:16Thank you, Barry.
42:17Oh, you're welcome.
42:18Thank you for your time.
42:19I will, yeah.
42:20Up the Jammers.
42:21Up the Jammers.
42:22Have a lovely evening celebrating.
42:23See you later.
42:25Up the Jammers!
42:28I think for sure it's totally fair to say that Barry is a divisive character.
42:33You know, some people really love him.
42:35Some people think his ambition and his can-do, sort of no-shit approach is brilliant and other
42:42people don't.
42:43Um, so it's been, yeah, it's been hugely enlightening.
42:47An amazing end to a fascinating weekend.
42:51I'm off to go and have a bath because I stink of beer.
42:55I'm off to go and have a drink of beer.
43:25I'm off to go and have a drink of beer.
43:26I'm off to go and have a beer.
43:27It's CF
43:32It's another smartphone in the market.
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