Like StephenFrySaidSo when my depression was at its worst, my house was neglected. I also used to pretend to be out, and avoid letting people in. It was in some ways worse than the one on the programme, although my grill pan was never that bad.
I do think its different, in the sense that I was single, broken hearted, depressed, trying to cope with 2 very sad dc because daddy had introduced them to his gf less than 6 weeks after he left. That couple on the tv had 2 adults, surely between them they could have kept the house clean? Although, that said, I don't know what their mental states are.
In my case, ss got involved, and I had weekly planned, and occasional unannounced visits from them, and a family worker. They did things like make me a4 sheets to go on the walls in every room, listing what had to be done and how often, eg Hoover twice a week, that kind of thing. Similar to the rehabilitation officer maybe?