Pubco chief in TV defence

Pubco chief and millionaire Tony Callaghan has defended his decision to take part in Channel 4's reality TV series Millionaires' Mission.

Some of the mainstream press have branded the show "weird" and "insensitive" and questioned whether Channel 4 is being exploitative.

Development agency World Vision challenged eight wealthy Britain's to improve the living standards of a Ugandan village.

Each participant donated £15,000 of their own money to take part and spent six weeks in the village in two separate trips in January and May of this year.

The village has no running water or electricity and is one of Uganda's worst malaria-affected areas.

Callaghan, managing director of the Yesteryear Pub Company, worked with other millionaire volunteers to establish an eight room hotel.

Here visitors could stay for $10 a night, and in return are asked to teach English to the village children for a couple of hours a week.

All 'Teach Inn' lodgers are put through the same legal checks as people who work with children in the UK. Half of the money raised will go towards running costs while the remainder will go direct to the village.

Callaghan said: "I have got two small children and I can give them most of what they want - to go then and see children dying around you whether it be Aids or malaria, it breaks your heart."

Other projects worked on during the series include providing drinking water and electricity for the local maternity ward.

Episode three and four will be aired on October 3 and 9, respectively, at 9pm.

To book a place or find out more visit www.teachinnuganda.com