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Mancunians dismiss BBC fly-on-wall documentary as negative stereotyping Mancunians dismiss BBC fly-on-wall documentary as negative stereotyping
(about 3 hours later)
If BBC Three's fly-on-the-wall documentary People Like Us is to be believed, Harpurhey in inner-city Manchester is a breeding ground for alcoholics, the obese and the destitute.If BBC Three's fly-on-the-wall documentary People Like Us is to be believed, Harpurhey in inner-city Manchester is a breeding ground for alcoholics, the obese and the destitute.
But locals see it rather differently, claiming the programme's makers have manufactured supposedly real-life situations and shown an unbalanced account of life in the neighbourhood. But locals see it differently, claiming the programme's makers have manufactured supposedly real-life situations and shown an unbalanced account of life in the neighbourhood.
"Not like us," said one lady, at a meeting chaired by local councillors Monday evening. Up to 300 residents of north Manchester gathered in Harpurhey's sleek North City Library as part of a campaign that calls for the withdrawal of the six-part series, which they believe is denigrating the image of the area. "Not like us," said one woman at a meeting chaired by local councillors on Monday evening. Up to 300 residents of north Manchester gathered in Harpurhey's sleek North City library as part of a campaign that calls for the withdrawal of the six-part series, which they believe is denigrating the image of the area.
The local Labour MP, Graham Stringer, has vowed to write to the BBC Trust chairman, Lord Patten, and campaigners are threatening to march on Media City, the BBC's Salford home, if their complaints are ignored.The local Labour MP, Graham Stringer, has vowed to write to the BBC Trust chairman, Lord Patten, and campaigners are threatening to march on Media City, the BBC's Salford home, if their complaints are ignored.
Pat Karney, a Harpurhey councillor, said: "We are now collectively going to go down and talk to the BBC about this disgraceful programme. People are up in arms – public money has been used to run down the Harpurhey area."Pat Karney, a Harpurhey councillor, said: "We are now collectively going to go down and talk to the BBC about this disgraceful programme. People are up in arms – public money has been used to run down the Harpurhey area."
Residents are accusing Dragonfly TV, the show's producers, of misleading and manipulating the community, with residents claiming they were initially told the series would focus on the positive aspects of the neighbourhood. Residents accuse Dragonfly TV, the show's producer, of misleading and manipulating the community, with residents claiming they were initially told the series would focus on positive aspects of the neighbourhood.
Some community leaders, including the Rev Mike McGurk of Christchurch Harpurhey, pulled out of filming last summer once the intentions of the show became apparent.Some community leaders, including the Rev Mike McGurk of Christchurch Harpurhey, pulled out of filming last summer once the intentions of the show became apparent.
Many of the those at the meeting claimed some of the cast members were not Harpurhey residents and were brought to the area by producers specifically for filming. One young woman told the audience she had been filmed on a night out in Manchester, where producers bought her drinks for much of the evening and subsequently asked her to have a fight with her friend for the benefit of the cameras.Many of the those at the meeting claimed some of the cast members were not Harpurhey residents and were brought to the area by producers specifically for filming. One young woman told the audience she had been filmed on a night out in Manchester, where producers bought her drinks for much of the evening and subsequently asked her to have a fight with her friend for the benefit of the cameras.
Richard Searle, a local government worker, said his 21-year-old daughter, Rosie, who featured in the programme, was bought drinks by the programme makers. "Then they turned the cameras on and started asking questions," he said. "This Jeremy Kyle-style, laugh-at-the-chavs type of television has run its course and the BBC of all institutions should not be propagating this harmful and misleading image of the working class. It has real consequences for real people and real lives."Richard Searle, a local government worker, said his 21-year-old daughter, Rosie, who featured in the programme, was bought drinks by the programme makers. "Then they turned the cameras on and started asking questions," he said. "This Jeremy Kyle-style, laugh-at-the-chavs type of television has run its course and the BBC of all institutions should not be propagating this harmful and misleading image of the working class. It has real consequences for real people and real lives."
Lisa Walker, mother of 19-year-old Dale, who is portrayed on the show as an unemployed wheeler-dealer, said: "We weren't aware the show was going to come across like that and we're really worried about what's going to be in future shows as it's not the show we were told it was going to be." She insisted her son was on a two-year apprenticeship at the time of filming. Lisa Walker, mother of 19-year-old Dale, who is portrayed on the show as an unemployed wheeler-dealer, said: "We weren't aware the show was going to come across like that and we're really worried about what's going to be in future shows as it's not the show we were told it was going to be."
Karney said: "We thought they were going to celebrate the area, show the positive side of the area. This is just cheap, trash television and the BBC should be ashamed of itself." She insisted her son was on a two-year apprenticeship at the time of filming.
A BBC spokeswoman said: "We are listening to the range of feedback from the area and contributors, many of whom have been positive. People Like Us takes a warm and at times unflinching look at the reality of life for young people in Harpurhey A BBC spokeswoman said: "People Like Us is an observational documentary series and the production company followed BBC editorial guidelines during filming. Another contributor involved in the filming of this scene confirmed they bought their own drinks.
"We are listening to the range of feedback from the area and contributors, many of whom have been positive. People Like Us takes a warm and at times unflinching look at the reality of life for young people in Harpurhey.
"The series does not focus on negative stereotypes, indeed many of those featured are resilient, resourceful, ambitious young people with positive stories to tell – from running their own businesses to planning their future careers – and they do so with captivating wit and enthusiasm.""The series does not focus on negative stereotypes, indeed many of those featured are resilient, resourceful, ambitious young people with positive stories to tell – from running their own businesses to planning their future careers – and they do so with captivating wit and enthusiasm."
Karney and Stringer are planning on taking their complaint to Patten in order to seek a public apology and the withdrawal of the remaining four episodes.Karney and Stringer are planning on taking their complaint to Patten in order to seek a public apology and the withdrawal of the remaining four episodes.
Stringer said: "I know Harpurhey extraordinarily well and, although it's not a perfect community, I know that the vast majority of people living in Harpurhey care about it and are decent people who want to contribute positively to the community."Stringer said: "I know Harpurhey extraordinarily well and, although it's not a perfect community, I know that the vast majority of people living in Harpurhey care about it and are decent people who want to contribute positively to the community."
In 2004 Harpurhey was named the most deprived community in England; an unwanted title that many community leaders have attempted to shake off through local initiatives.In 2004 Harpurhey was named the most deprived community in England; an unwanted title that many community leaders have attempted to shake off through local initiatives.
Joan Tipping, 68 and a life-long resident of Harpurhey, helped set up the North Manchester Health Forum in 1999, a project that runs various activities in the area to promote the importance of physical health, nutrition, and social inclusion.Joan Tipping, 68 and a life-long resident of Harpurhey, helped set up the North Manchester Health Forum in 1999, a project that runs various activities in the area to promote the importance of physical health, nutrition, and social inclusion.
She said: "The health forum, like everybody else in the area, has been working ever since 2004 to raise people's aspirations, but that first episode completely wiped out all the hard work we've been doing."She said: "The health forum, like everybody else in the area, has been working ever since 2004 to raise people's aspirations, but that first episode completely wiped out all the hard work we've been doing."
Many people voiced their concerns that the programme would harm future investment in the community. A spokeswoman for the Redrow Homes housing development in Harpurhey talked of prospective buyers cancelling viewings since the show began on 6 February.Many people voiced their concerns that the programme would harm future investment in the community. A spokeswoman for the Redrow Homes housing development in Harpurhey talked of prospective buyers cancelling viewings since the show began on 6 February.
Other residents complained that their children who attended school in other areas were experiencing bullying as a result of the show's portrayal of the neighbourhood.Other residents complained that their children who attended school in other areas were experiencing bullying as a result of the show's portrayal of the neighbourhood.
Debbie Weatherilt, a mother of two, said: "I told my daughter that you've got to be proud of where you're from. And we are proud of Harpurhey; we're hard working. We're not going to be tarred with the brush of the BBC, after they made up this imaginary stereotype."Debbie Weatherilt, a mother of two, said: "I told my daughter that you've got to be proud of where you're from. And we are proud of Harpurhey; we're hard working. We're not going to be tarred with the brush of the BBC, after they made up this imaginary stereotype."