Brat Camp episode puts family on TV

Montana Whitlock (48), of Pagham Road was driven to bare her soul on Channel 4 by the difficult behaviour of Natasha.

While the Chichester High School for Girls student's behaviour was driving her mother to despair, it was Ms Whitlock's secretary who came up with a novel solution '“ a spell at Brat Camp, which was seen by millions on Tuesday night.

Ms Whitlock applied on behalf of Natasha for the hit show where a group of out-of-control teenagers are sent to a tough American wilderness camp in the desert.

So mother and daughter were soon on the plane to Arizona.

With visions of an Indian reservation where days would be spent relaxing and making traditional craftworks, the Whitlocks found the complete opposite. They were to be separated on arrival for the entire first fortnight as part of the Anasazi philosophy, a wilderness therapy programme which focuses on rediscovering an individual's '˜heart of love'.

Even more shocking for Ms Whitlock, owner of Whitlock's estate agency, was the prospect of walking for up to six hours a day during an icy Arizona winter, with only a sleeping bag '“ minus tent '“ to fall into at the end of each day.

Despite her complete lack of preparation, Ms Whitlock found the process enlightening and, or so she led her mother to believe, did Natasha. At the end of the initial three weeks and against the professionals' advice, Ms Whitlock brought Natasha home without the benefit of a counselling programme. 'I couldn't bear to leave my baby,' she said. 'I listened to my heart instead of my head.'

Before their plane had even landed back in the UK, she realised her offspring had again charmed her round her little finger. The old Natasha was back.

However, very slowly, things did indeed start to change. Ms Whitlock still defends her daughter's actions by laying the blame on herself for not being firmer with her only child. She believes the success of her personal Arizona adventure was in improving her own self-esteem.

As for Natasha, her mother says that now, ten months later, she's like a different person.