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US fans of The Office want Slough house swap

Emily Ford
BBC News
Andrew Maine Andrew poses for a selfie, he is looking at the camera smiling and his wife, Jennifer, stands behind him grinning too. Andrew has light brown short hair and a beard and wears a short sleeved black t shirt which has white stripes on the shoulders. Jennifer has auburn coloured hair tied back in a ponytail and wears a black t shirt.Andrew Maine
Andrew and his wife Jennifer are looking for people from Slough to do a house swap

What do the American city of Scranton and the Berkshire town Slough have in common?

For many TV fans, it's the UK and US versions of The Office, starring Ricky Gervais and Steve Carell as comical managers David Brent and Michael Scott respectively.

More than 20 years since the UK version first aired, both shows continue to be binge-watched by fans across the world.

Now, one couple from Scranton, Philadelphia, is looking for people from Slough to do a house swap so they can compare the two.

Andrew Maine and his wife Jennifer have lived in Scranton together for almost three years and think the town wasn't shown in the most flattering of lights.

"If you mention Scranton to an outsider, the show is usually the first thing that comes to mind," Mr Maine told BBC Radio Berkshire.

Listen: US couple tell BBC Radio Berkshire they want a cultural swap in Slough

"Most people around here feel the show didn't do a good job of representing our area," Mr Maine explained.

"A lot of locals take offence the showrunners picked the area because it is economically depressed, boring and doesn't have much going for it."

With websites dedicated to tours of Scranton for the show's fans, the couple feel the show has had an impact on how people see the city, which is near New York.

Andrew Maine Andrew and Jennifer pose for a selfie. Andrew is wearing a dark grey hoodie, as is Jennifer. They are standing close together looking at the camera and smiling.Andrew Maine
The couple have lived in Scranton for almost three years

Mr Maine continued: "There's so much to offer here, but we really feel like it's under-utilised.

"Hundreds of fans of The Office still make pilgrimages to Scranton every year.

"The local government and businesses lean into this to a degree - there are several murals, a few exhibits, a walking tour and some merchandise."

'Unique link'

"I love the show and it got me thinking, what impact has The Office had on Slough - is it the same as here?" Mr Maine said.

That is where the idea to do a cultural exchange came from and the couple is now looking to do a house swap or host some Slough locals.

Mr Maine continued: "We could show them our area and then we could do the same thing over there.

"We thought it would be equal parts humorous and interesting. Sure, other cities have connections on a global scale, but ours, linked by a television show, is truly unique."

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