Channel 4 commissions second series of Benefits Street

26 August 2014

Channel 4 has commissioned Love Productions to make a second series of ‘Benefits Street’, the observational documentary series that sparked a national debate around poverty and the welfare state in Britain earlier this year.

The new 6x60 series has begun filming on a street in Stockton-On-Tees, near Middlesbrough, and is set to air next year.

Channel 4’s Head of Documentaries, Nick Mirsky, who has commissioned the new series, said: “Benefits Street fits perfectly with Channel 4’s remit of producing programming that stimulates discussion and debate, the first series did this on a national scale.

“It brought a very human focus to an issue that is at the heart of who we are in Britain today. I’m sure the new series will advance that debate and introduce viewers to a new group of compelling residents.”

Love Production’s Creative Director for Factual, Kieran Smith, added: “Like many places in the UK Stockton has been hit hard by the recession and economic decline. Those who are reliant on welfare for the majority of their income are some of the hardest hit.

“We have been invited to share in the lives of the residents of one street where many people rely on benefits to survive. It's an incredibly close community and whilst people may not have much they do have one another to turn to for help.”

Series one of Benefits Street, transmitted on Channel 4 earlier this year, resulted in extensive media coverage and intense political debate about the state of the welfare system in Britain.

It also attracted an audience of more than seven million viewers and the residents of James Turner Street in Birmingham, such as ‘White Dee’, became national figures.

 

Executive Producers: Trish Powell, Kieran Smith, Richard McKerrow

Production Company: Love Productions

Commissioning Editor, Head of Documentaries: Nick Mirsky