Benefits Street: Residents To Get Right Of Reply In Live Debate

Residents of a Birmingham street furious at their portrayal in Channel 4‘s controversial documentary series Benefits Street will be given a right of reply in a live one-hour TV debate.

Benefits Street, thought to be the broadcaster’s biggest rating programme since the Paralympics in 2012, has prompted a storm of protest from critics who labelled it “poverty porn”, and complaints from people on James Turner Street who claimed they were tricked into taking part.

The debate will air on Channel 4 immediately after the fifth and final episode of Benefits Street on 10 February and will be chaired by Richard Bacon.

Channel 4 head of factual Ralph Lee said: “This is a series which reflects the reality of day-to-day life for some of the residents of a single street who, for the most part, rely on benefits to survive.

“It does not and never has set out to reflect the experiences of every person who receives benefits yet it has triggered a national debate about state welfare at a time in which further welfare reforms are being proposed. We feel it is timely to provide a forum in which these issues can be raised and discussed.”

The programme will not be produced by the makers of the show, Love Productions, but by the producers of BBC1’s Question Time, Mentorn Media.

It remains to be seen which – and how many – residents will take part, but Channel 4 said the panellists would represent “the views across the political spectrum – and crucially those who claim benefits”.

At a public meeting of around 100 people from James Turner Street and the surrounding area in Birmingham on Wednesday night, activist and founder of the Oasis Trust for homeless people Steve Chalke said: “It will give residents the opportunity to have their say. I believe it is a great opportunity and I think you should go for it.”

Chalke, who organised the meeting, said it would be a “live Question Time-style debate”.

But residents, some of whom have claimed that they were conned into taking part in the show under the pretence that it was a programme about community spirit, were unsure whether to take part.

Birmingham city councillor Chaman Lal said: “I know people are very angry with Channel 4 and I don’t think they want to have any dealings with them again.

“The general consensus appears to be that they would like a live public debate to air their views but with the BBC and not Channel 4.”

Chalke said that “one good thing that has come out of this is the fact it has highlighted the problems on the street. Now we need to look to address these problems.”

The second episode of the series on Monday, which focused on immigration, was watched by 5.1 million viewers, nearly a million up on last week’s first instalment.

Benefits Street has polarised opinion between those who believed it victimised people on benefits, and those who claimed it highlighted the flaws in the welfare state.