Akin to James Turner Street in Birmingham, a deprived road on the Tilery Estate, Kingston Road, has been chosen for six part programme, despite many locals complaining that the show is mere ‘poverty porn.
Ofcom received 1,800 complaints when the first show aired, while many residents on the Birmingham street argued they had been misled about the inital reason for filming, arguing that they were told it was to show ‘community spirit’ in the local area.
Locals from the Stockton area have already complained about the presence of camera crews with some saying the producers were “exploiting people’s difficult lives for the sake of entertainment.”
John Hening, a retired engineer who’s lived on the street for 40 years, said he believed the makers of the show didn’t care what chaos they brought upon residents.
He added: “They don't give a damn as long as it brings in the viewers. They don't care if anyone gets hurt. We are getting it 24/7 down here. They will edit the truth so it looks like lies and edit the lies so it looks like the truth.
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“The crime is sky high here. I am getting attacked by neighbours. Benefits street can't show the street in a bad light as it has been a bad light since day one.”
A spokesperson for Love Productions countered the complaints and said they were just trying to “to give a voice to a community that don’t really have a voice” but Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North sided with the locals, saying:
“There is no doubt this is about exploiting vulnerable people in order to make money. I know they will say it is about trying to give people a voice, but all they will do is expose them to the full glare of the national media.”
The show is set to air next year, on Channel 4.