THEY'RE the people who you live closest to… but just how well do you really know your neighbours?
If they're anything like the characters in latest Channel 4 drama The Couple Next Door, which features plenty of sex and swinging, they could certainly be hiding a secret or two.
At the start of the new six-part series, couple Evie and Pete move to an idyllic suburban neighbourhood, and soon befriend the couple living next door, traffic cop Danny, and his yoga-teacher wife Becka — who turn out to be in an open relationship.
The two couples become progressively entwined, as Evie begins an affair with Danny, with the series described as a “deliciously dark, psychological drama, exploring the claustrophobia of suburbia and the fallout of chasing your deepest desires”.
If this piques your interest and makes you wonder what your neighbours are really like behind closed doors and if they're hiding any saucy secrets, there might actually be some signs.
From a gravelled driveway to their fruity knocker, here's what to look for if you think they might be living a double life.
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And who knows…you might even unintentionally be sending out signs that suggest you're looking to spice up your marriage too…
Rock hard
Thought those white rocks in your driveway gave your home an air of sophistication? You might be suggesting more than you think.
According to Urban Dictionary, if you're being propositioned by a swinger couple it may be referred to as being "white rocked".
This comes from the urban legend that a house with decorative white rocks in the front garden indicates swingers live there.
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This suggestion has been further supported by Cooper S. Beckett, who hosts the Life On The Swingset: The Swinging & Polyamory Podcast.
Writing on his blog, he says: "Some have placed white rocks in their front yards to reaffirm their 'secret code swinger status'.”
Grass is greener?
Pampas grass was once a common shrub, adding an exotic feel to front gardens up and down the country.
But an unfortunate association with swinging quickly brought this to an end, according to The Telegraph, with avid gardeners too embarrassed to purchase the plant.
In fact, sales actually plummeted after it was revealed to be a secret signal to passersby that its owners were fans of swinging.
Broadcaster Mariella Frostrup once said she inadvertently identified herself as a swinger by planting the grass outside her home, saying she was inundated with unwanted enquiries.
Writing on X – formerly known as Twitter – in 2011, she said: "Who knew that pampas grass plants are a signal to fellow swingers?
"Bought two and put them on my balcony. Neighbours have been swarming!"
Knob clue
You might think a "wacky" door knocker is just a bit of fun, but if your neighbour has opted for a pineapple design, it could be a very revealing clue about what goes on behind closed doors.
According to alternative lifestyle website Bigger Love, they’re a secret symbol that the residents are swingers – especially if they're upside down.
In fact it's perhaps not so secret – on TikTok, the hashtag #UpsideDownPineapple has racked up over 149 million views.
This is a symbol that is particularly significant if you're in the supermarket, and also on cruises.
It can also be worn as a pattern on a dress or shirt as a subtle message to those in the know.
Mind your gnome business
They may look sweet and innocent, but it turns out "quirky" garden statues like gnomes and flamingos can also indicate there is a swinger in the midst.
It's a fact a real estate agent has written about previously, saying: "Turns out that homeowners keep gnomes on the front lawn as an indicator.
"My client looked online to see if this was a joke or real and sure enough, there’s a website out there with info all about it."
Flamingos are another sign, apparently most commonly used at caravan parks.
Hot tubs
A hot tub is an amazing way to relax after a long, hard day at work, or to socialise with friends – but it could also indicate you're looking for a little more "risque" fun too.
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In response to one poster on Mumsnet asking if it would be a good idea to get a hot tub in the garden, one clued-up reader replied: "People will think you are swingers – hot tubs are the new pampas grass you know."
With that in mind, maybe you'll think twice before hopping into next door's tub…
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