NOT many people can say they have spent 22 hours in a cage with a men's magazine model, an organic farmer and a student for company.

But Exeter personal trainer and diet guru Simon Lovell, 29, agreed to be shut in a sow stall after being approached by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Simon, from Alphington, took part in the social experiment as part of a one-off programme on Channel 4 called Jamie Saves Our Bacon.

Part of the series Great British Food Fight, the 90- minute programme follows Jamie Oliver as he tries to find out why Britain's pig farmers are going out of business and what can be done to support them.

The programme will show how pigs live and die before ending up on our plates, and aims to help consumers make more informed choices.

Named Pig Brother, the sow stall experiment is designed to highlight the plight of pigs in other countries.

The animals often have to live in poor conditions for up to five years before they end up on plates.

Simon said: "I wanted to help Jamie demonstrate how cruel it is for animals in those conditions so we can promote organic farming and to keep people buying British food because of the inhumane conditions abroad."

Producers on the Channel 4 show Big Brother were hired to help with the experiment.

Each of the volunteers was given their own cage, with portable toilets and decency curtains.

Simon said: "It was quite a daunting experience.

"We were in these cages where we were only able to stand up and face forward.

"We had to drink from hamster feeders and were fed an incredibly disgusting diet of lettuce, soya and other rubbish, and not even the pigs will eat that, apparently.

"The hamster feeders were hard to get water from.

"We weren't allowed to turn around in our cages and the lights went out in the evening."

Simon found the experience physically and mentally challenging.

He felt tired, found it difficult to sleep and his mood changed over a short period of time.

"Initially, it was quite fun, but it started to get annoying," he said.

"You can only talk about things for so long before you want to sleep."

But he felt the experiment was worthwhile.

Simon hopes the programme will encourage shoppers to ensure they buy only British pork.

"I feel as if I have really done something for the nation," he said.

"I feel quite humble about having given my input on this show.

"Hopefully, people will think of me and the three other people in that cage when they go and buy their food."

There will even be an appearance by actress Joanna Lumley, a strong promoter of pigs, according to Simon.

He enjoyed working with Jamie. He said: "He fed us all afterwards, thank God.

"It was a very pleasurable experience and he was a very nice guy."

Jamie Saves Our Bacon will be aired on Channel 4 on Thursday, January 29.