Who's the boss?

BRACE yourself.

Because coming to a screen near you - most probably in the corner of your living room - is Boss Swap, a story of plastic bags, chocolate biscuits and an arduous run along Bournemouth beach.

Filmed in the same vein as Wife Swap, the fly-on-the-wall programme follows businessmen and women as they have a stab at a different profession.

And in one episode it tracks the 12 days PR guru Lee Peck spent running Dorset plastic bag makers Decomatic - time which saw Decomatic's Bryan Dion getting to grips with Southampton public relations firm Leepeckgreenfield.

The motivation for the PR company to take part in the programme was, they readily confess, purely commercial.

Quite simply, they hope the prime-time publicity will fatten their client base.

It's a brave move - fly-on-the-wall documentaries are capable of making fools of us all.

Well aware the experience could prove a dignity tightrope walk over dark pits of crippling humiliation, even former television presenter Peck admits to being wary when approached about the project.

The decision to take part is described as either "a huge gamble" or "pure serendipity".

"We're very keen to work at the edge. That doesn't mean to say that we're irresponsible," he adds, checking his mobile phone for activity.

They received a preview tape before Christmas so know what's coming.

Then, in order to capitalise on the exposure, they've cannily produced cinematic-style adverts in which Greenfield looks as though he might have walked in off the set of Brideshead Revisited, with open-necked stripy shirt, a hint of nestly chest hair and a rueful grin.

Peck, for his part, is poised for action, in a lazy-eyed, lopsided smile, move-over-Bruce-Willis kinda way.

You sense he might suddenly take out terrorists or, indeed, a journalist.

In the flesh Peck and Greenfield are a slick production - even when they're both brimming with cold virus.

A buoyant company, healthy client list and pristine offices are no doubt the fruits of long hours, teeth-gritted determination and buckets of smooth-talking.

Peck is currently working on ten pitches for potential clients.

The spiky-haired 50-year-old, dubbed the Gordon Ramsey of the PR world, confesses: "I'm knackered."

He then apologises both for running late and for using his mobile, the ring tone for which could be a Tchaikovsky waltz.

Bubbling with nervous energy, he paces the office, sits on the edge of his desk, paces again, drapes himself over a chair, then stands up and leans over me, making sweeping gestures with his hands, as if conducting proceedings.

Even when the body pauses, the arms don't - the silver button-shaped cufflinks darting through the air.

The emotion of it all makes him occasionally flush.

Growing up in a Scarborough council house, Peck dreamed of finding fame and fortune on the TV screen.

One day he attained his goal, landing the job presenting Game For A Laugh.

When he was dropped from the programme a year later, the bottom fell out of his world and it took him 12 months to recover.

But recover he did.

Peck picked himself and, in 1988, formed Lee Peck Communications.

Three years ago the company merged with Greenfield Computer Marketing to form (deep breath) Leepeckgreenfield - a name obviously tapped out on a typewriter without a space bar.

Now Boss Swap will put the business under the scrutiny of the nation and, maybe, net more work.

For Peck, filming meant two 76-hour weeks.

"I was up at 6am running along Bournemouth beach. But then I had to run ten times for the camera. And then I had to do a full day's work and motivate this team of people."

The production company asked him to make five changes to the running of Decomatic.

Naturally he made 17.

One of his first moves was to gather the company's 16 employees together and present them with plates of chocolate biscuits.

Then he changed the signage, designed a brochure, did a spot of sales training, changed two job specifications, relaunched the company with a 70-guest party, changed the website and redecorated reception.

And then, I suspect, he went for another run.

"I tried to engage," he says, those cufflinks slicing through the air.

"I learned huge amounts. The biggest thing I learned is that I can do it. I've only ever appointed myself. But to parachute into another business, into a burning plane, to have people take notice of what I say who don't know me, was quite a revelation."

Greenfield is an able foil for his exuberant fellow managing director.

Sucking on a peppermint, he chips in between Peck's verbal flick-flacks with his opinion of the programme: "Lee's well known around here. I'm a bit part."

You suspect this couldn't be further from the truth.

Peck retaliates with: "I look really chinny. He..." (here he points to Greenfield, looking hurt) "...is great on the TV. He looks really sleek and I look like a real muppet."

Greenfield sniggers, which only heightens his colleague's mock offence.

Apparently (inhale) Leepeckgreenfield as a whole has benefited from the Boss Swap experience.

"We were all hugely empowered and I think, ultimately, everyone will think it's a moment in time for them," says Greenfield.

"It's that 15 minutes of fame as well. It's a massive truism that people want to be recognised."

Why merge your companies three years ago?

"Sexual chemistry. That's a joke," he continues wryly.

"We're still trying to work out who wears the trousers, even now. Deep down we're fundamentally similar characters - we're entrepreneurs."

Professionally, the men are clearly closely attuned.

Greenfield finishes Peck's sentences and carefully listens to him talking with his head lowered, concentrating hard.

When he speaks it's in measured tones (which belie the speed of his brain).

But for all the jolly quips and witty asides public relations and advertising are tough, unforgiving industries, teaming with showmanship and bravado.

Within this, the brace of bosses at Leepeckgreenfield (still no space bar) confess they are only too aware of the "30 mouths to feed" in the form of their account executives, designers and assistants.

One of their clients is Southampton's WestQuay.

For them walking through the shopping centre provides an echo of Peck's past television career and his still-loyal fan base.

"People say 'Hello Lee' - mostly middle-aged ladies," Greenfield declares straight-faced - in order to get a reaction from Peck.

As expected, it arrives right on cue.

See Lee Peck and Stuart Greenfield in action on Channel Four on Tuesday, 27th January at 9pm.