Naked Parents: Children from naturist families tell of being bullied at school

For most teenagers the sight of their parents dancing is embarrassing enough, so the thought of seeing them naked doesn't bare thinking about.

But for a rising number of British families naturism is the norm, with parents indulging in the lifestyle regardless of the impact on their children's lives – despite the fact that many face bullying and teasing at school because of it.

In a revealing new documentary on Channel Five called Naked Parents factory worker Les Sherwood, 48 and wife Sharon, 46, explain how they spend all their time at home in the nude and will only occasionally put on clothes if visitors call round.

The couple admit the situation has caused problems for their sons growing up because they were ridiculed by school friends.

Rod Stewart lookalike Les, who has a Prince Albert piercing on his genitals, said: "It is a personal choice. We are naturists, not porn stars and I think some people struggle with that. We always walk about the house with nothing on. There is nothing wrong with the human body.

"It doesn't matter if you are a doctor, a lawyer or a plumber – when you are naked there is no class difference."

But son Sean revealed that at times the teasing was difficult to bare. He explained: "My dad won a radio station prize after promising to do a nudist bungee jump. Then everyone knew and at school the teasing really started. They would say things like 'you can't afford new clothes' all the time."

The couple are filmed doing their household chores such as cleaning and ironing in the nude and in one scene Les is shown sitting at the kitchen table completely naked, chatting with his other son Stewart's fiance Rachel and young grand-daughter Ruby.

But both boys claim that growing up in naked household has better helped them get on better with opposite sex, because they are less intimidated by women.

Naked Parents also features size 22 Diane Parsons, who along with son James, was introduced to naturism by her third husband David. After years in abusive relationships she revealed how her self esteem had hit rock bottom when she first met David, but that while she had reservations at first both she and her son have now taken up the lifestyle and it has helped with her body issues.

She explained: "I always used to get changed with the lights off and didn't want anyone to seem. Naturism has helped me come to terms with my body. I always felt fat and ugly and now I feel better about my fuller body. I am not 100% there but I am on my way."

Diane claims son James was the first to embrace nudism after watching David cook and clean around the home with no clothes on, and that she later followed their lead.

Actress Goldie Hawn famously revealed that she and partner Kurt Russell often wandered around the house naked, and encouraged their children to do the same

Naturism has enjoyed a renaissance over the past five years with nudist society British Naturism reporting a 700per cent jump in requests for information on nudist holidays and beaches.

The organisation's commercial manager Andrew Welch told the Daily Mail: "The actual number of naturists in the UK is difficult to measure as most people choose to do it at home or on holiday abroad. We have seen a large increase in people trying it out.

"Socially and culturally society is changing and people are starting to be more accepting that the body is nothing to be ashamed of or kept secret."

Mr Welch added that business were increasingly realising the spending power of the "buff pound".

He explained: "Lots of companies are finding that – particularly at quiet times of the year – there is money to be made from hiring out venues to groups of naturists."