Councillors hit out at People Like Us - The Solihull Observer

Councillors hit out at People Like Us

Solihull Editorial 6th Nov, 2014 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

COUNCILLORS have hit out at controversial documentary which follows the lives of residents of Chelmsley Wood.

The second series of the BBC documentary People Like Us was first broadcast on Wednesday, October 29, and has already been slammed by three Chelmsley Wood councillors for misrepresenting their constituents.

Coun Karl Macnaughton argued that the first episode did not show the Chelmsley Wood that he ‘knows and loves’ and did not offer a rounded impression of the area.

He added: “The producers were out to create an entertaining programme about with characters who fit the stereotypes they were looking for but it seems they couldn’t even find enough of them in Chelmsley Wood that the show has covered other areas in East Birmingham as well.




“If the producers put out leaflets looking for characters who are ‘larger than life’ then it was never going to show a fair cross section of local people.”

Another councillor, Chris Williams, joined the backlash, highlighting the show’s alleged exaggeration of unemployment in the area, when the actual figure is only six per cent.


But it was Coun James Burn who hoped fewer people would tune in next week, slamming the programme for its failure to show a real interest in local people and their lives.

He said: “Frankly, this TV show is hardly going to win awards for broadcasting is it?

“I mean, a good ten minutes was about bin bags – is this the best the producers could come up with?”

Coun James Burn. s

Coun Karl Macnaughton. s

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