Benefits Street series two starts filming despite locals’ opposition

A council leader has said the makers of the controversial reality TV show Benefits Street have ignored pleas to stay away from his town.

Filming for the second series of the Channel 4 show has begun in Kingston Road, Stockton-on-Tees, despite opposition from local MPs, residents’ groups and the local authority.

Kingtson Road is a terraced street north of Stockton-on-Tees town centre where a three-bedroom house would sell for about £50,000, according to the Zoopla property website.

Channel 4 confirmed on Tuesday that the six-part second series would be broadcast in 2015, with the show’s producer insisting that film-makers had been “invited to share in the lives of the residents of one street where many people rely on benefits to survive”.

Kieran Smith, creative director for factual at Love Productions, the company responsible for Benefits Street, added: “It’s an incredibly close community and whilst people may not have much they do have one another to turn to for help.”

The first series of Benefits Street made a star of Deirdre Kelly, better known as White Dee, who is currently appearing in Celebrity Big Brother.

Filmed in James Turner Street, Winson Green, Birmingham, it set out to depict a close-knit community where many of the residents received benefits.

Critics of the show claimed it exploited the participants and branded it “poverty porn”. Ofcom received 900 complaints about the shows, first broadcast in January, but it cleared the broadcaster of breaching any rules.

Stockton council leader Bob Cook is concerned the show will damage his town.

He said: “I am deeply disappointed to learn that the programme-makers have chosen Stockton despite the local residents’ associations, residents, MP and council all making it clear that they aren’t welcome.

“They have ignored us in pursuit of their own needs and I am extremely concerned about the way in which the fantastic people who live and work in Stockton borough will be portrayed by this programme.

“The vast majority of people know that the programme plays to negative stereotypes and I’m certain it won’t reflect the amazing sense of community we have here in Stockton.”

However, Channel 4 defended the show, with head of documentaries Nick Mirsky saying it fitted perfectly with the broadcaster’s remit of “producing programming that stimulates discussion and debate, the first series did this on a national scale”.

Love Productions is working on spin-off documentary series with a working title Immigration Street focusing on Derby Road, Southampton, which has also provoked opposition from local politicians.

Cook added: “We understand the difficulties many of our residents are facing given the current economic situation but that’s why we are focusing our efforts on protecting our most vulnerable residents, attracting investment and jobs as well as improving facilities.

“It’s a shame that the programme won’t be showing any of the recent brilliant examples of great community spirit such as the 1,245 Sunflower Project, Stockton’s community carnival or our residents’ involvement in Sky TV’s Big Town Dance.

“Let’s not forget, the borough has had a whole host of accolades in the last few weeks which highlight what a fantastic place Stockton is and that the economy is performing strongly.

“No doubt this programme won’t highlight the excellent work that is ongoing to make our town an even better place to live and work.”

Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North, where the show is being filmed, was “deeply disappointed”.

He said: “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.”

Cunningham was on holiday but said he will visit the street when he returns.

“I would hope we can still get people to pull out,” he said.

James Wharton, Tory MP for Stockton South – the neighbouring constituency to where filming is happening – said: “Lots of great things are happening in Stockton and I worry this programme will ignore that and reflect badly on the town.

“I don’t want them here making a programme which will show people in the worst possible light and potentially do such huge damage.

“For the producers it’s easy ratings for a few weeks, but the damage they do can last much longer.

“They should think again, not just about coming here but the whole nature of the programmes they make.”