Monday, February 9, 2015

Participants of Benefits Street spin-off nervous about being stereotyped


Residents filmed for a Benefits Street spin-off have spoken about their fear about how they will be portrayed on screen.


Benefits Street series two - filmed in Stockton’s Kingston Road on the Tilery estate - is set to air in just weeks.


Immigration Street is a spin off from the original show - also soon to be shown on Channel 4.


And residents filmed for the show, that’s now been cut down from its original length after protests, say they're anxious about how they will come across on screen.


“I know how I am going to be portrayed,” says Barrie Short, 43, the landlord of the Old Farmhouse pub, near Southhapmton’s Derby Road, which is where the Love Productions show has been filmed.


He also told The Guardian he was scared about being stereotyped as “the skinhead b*****d at the end of the road”.


Raj Banga, who owns a supermarket and off-licence at the end of Derby Road, said: “I think when the show comes out it will all blow up,”.


Kieran Smith, the creative director for the programme at Love Productions, said: “The model was to take a street that is ethnically diverse, in an area transformed by immigration and which continues to be a place that immigrants come now, and film it for about six to nine months.


“It’s very simple...and people can choose to take part or not.”


:: You can keep up to date with all the latest Benefits Street news here.



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