大象传媒

What's it like to have a job that guarantees you'll spend your working life being loathed by the public? To work in a profession where your heart sinks when asked "what do you do?"

James Walton has been looking at those jobs we just love to hate. In the programme he meets six people with very different roles, but one thing in common.

"I can spot estate agents a mile off." We have all met estate agents and there is often no avoiding them when you want to rent, buy or sell a house. James Walton meets an estate agent who admits that in his younger days he was "a bit of an idiot".

But what if it's your job to fire people, all day, every day? Corporate downsizers are hired by bosses to dismiss colleagues on their behalf. Surely having a job like this isn't a great way of making friends at work.

I know what you're thinking. They get all the laughs, what could be so hated about that profession?! Surely it's quite a life-affirming job choice? Just think about when you're stood up on stage in front of a large audience and a joke goes badly wrong. Awkward.

"Journalists make it all up!" or "They force people to talk!" are the accusations frequently hurled at this profession. What if it's part and parcel of your daily routine to go knocking on people's front doors?

So it's one thing having everybody you meet on a daily basis disliking your job, but what about an entire stadium-full and beyond of people who want you to feel their pain as your decision just cost their team the match? Some 18 year old trainee football referees that James Walton spoke to are adamant that they just shrug off abuse from spectators and players. But when the insults get really personal and nasty, are they so easy to shut out?

When you have gotten over your involuntary shudder, think about how counter-intuitive it really is to dislike this job. These people are here to save your bacon. What is it about Health and Safety that drives us so mad?

Listen to with James Walton.