School Swap: UK to USA review – full of beautiful moments that make you cry big, blobby tears

This exchange between teens from south London and Trump-loving Arkansas is funny, touching and hugely eye-opening – in ways you do not expect

‘There are still pockets of liberals in the community,” says David Maxwell, principal of Mena high school, Mena, Arkansas, USA. He’s in a contemplative, serious mood – you can tell because he’s not wearing his cowboy hat. “But that’s fine, you have to have that. You don’t want everybody one way.”

Mr Maxwell is on British telly as part of School Swap: UK to USA, a documentary that sets up a good old-fashioned exchange trip. At first, it seems it might be a cheap, even dangerous stunt: teenagers from the racially diverse Elmgreen school in Tulse Hill, south London, are sent deep into the American south, Trump country. It’s five hours to the nearest airport, everyone has a gun and Confederate flags are proudly flown. And the south London kids are coming here…