Post by Teddy Bear on May 27, 2015 18:22:52 GMT
Besides the criticisms levelled n the article below at the BBC over this planned programme, I will predict that the BBC will use it as a propaganda piece in line with their usual agenda.
Any bets?
Any bets?
New low for the BBC? Bosses creating show which pitches jobless, under-employed and minimum wage workers against each other in battle to win £15,000
By Lucy Crossley for MailOnline
A new BBC reality show will pitch the unemployed and low paid workers against one another in a battle to win £15,000, it has been revealed.
The programme, which has the working title Britain's Hardest Grafter, will see 25 people - a mixture of the under employed, jobless, and minimum wage workers, compete in a series of challenges with the aim of being crowned the hardest worker.
The winner will receive a prize of around £15,000, but there have been fears raised that the programme could potentially exploit its contestants and leave vulnerable jobseekers 'heart broken'.
New BBC reality show Britain's Hardest Grafter will pitch the unemployed and low paid workers against one another in a battle to win £15,000
Production company Twenty Twenty has put out a casting call for the new series, which promises contestants 'the opportunity to prove yourself through a series of challenges and win cash prizes'.
Would-be contestants must be aged over 18, and have an annual income of less than £15,500 to apply.
According to a BBC pitch for the show, those taking part will carry out a series of 'real-world jobs', sometimes within 'the confines of a specially created factory, a warehouse space which over the course of five episodes will be transformed to cover the UK's largest blue collar sectors'.
It continues: 'The contestants are all there for one reason: to make money. The least effective workers will be asked to leave until only one is left, to be declared Britain’s Hardest Worker.'
The pitch says the series will tackle 'some of the most pressing issues of our time', including low productivity in Britain, the benefits system, and whether immigrants 'work harder than Brits', or are prepared to accept a lower wage.
It signs off: 'Who in Britain still knows how to graft? It’s time to find out.'
Careers advice website Graduate Fog, which was sent the casting call by Twenty Twenty in order to publicise it to site users, has expressed concern that young people desperate for work or money could be at risk of exploitation, and said that the project 'feels distinctly Hunger Games'.
The post-apocalyptic film and book series starring Jennifer Lawrence tells the story of young people forced to battle with one another to the death for entertainment.
'It's a reference to young people being pitted against each other for entertainment value,' founder Tanya de Grunwald told MailOnline.
'It's a dark idea. I'm questioning the tone of the advert and if that is reflective of the show.'
After receiving the request to run the advert from Twenty Twenty, which also makes popular shows including First Dates, The Choir and Extreme School, Ms de Grunwald asked producers whether participants are paid during the series, and if there will be any financial reward for taking part.
She was told: 'All contributors will receive compensation for their time as part of filming for the show (it will be filmed across two weeks) – we’re still working out the specifics but obviously it will not be below the national minimum wage. Sorry I can’t be more specific at this stage.'
Ms de Grunwald said she hoped that the programme would be more sensitive and thought-provoking than the pitch suggests, but added that she was 'alarmed' when she was sent the advert for the casting call.
Programme makers told her the flyer she was sent was specifically aimed at young people, but they wanted people of all age and background to take part.
'I always question these sorts of shows,' she said. 'We have seen things like this but not from the BBC, and certainly not from BBC2.
'It's not really clear what the format will be. It's important to remember to be really careful and sensitive when dealing with unemployed young people, who may be more vulnerable.
'I would question whether some subjects should be off limits for entertainment purposes.
'There is something about them being eliminated in each round which breaks my heart. These are young people who are struggling and to be told you are being kicked off a show might just be more rejection that they don't need.
'What's the after care? What happens when they get kicked off, especially if they have been humiliated in the public arena? Where do they go from there?
'It might be more fun to watch than to take part in. And there is the idea of luring them in with a cash prize - £15,000 is a lot of money, especially for someone who hasn't got much.'
News that the programme was being made met with distaste from some Twitter users, with one labelling it 'Austerity UK'.
Anne Godden tweeted: 'As disgusting as it gets. BBC makes a game out of young unemployed. Shameful.'
User @murfalizer added: 'It’s all about how hard you are willing to #work these days…'
However, others suggested it could be a good idea and would show that many people are willing to work hard.
Twitter user Lazarus Nunya wrote: 'Those who have little or no job experience get to prove they DO want to work,and can work, and that they're not the "scroungers" the Tories paint them all as! That they are SO *desperate* for work they are prepared to potentially embarrass themselves on a TV show in order to GET work!
'Could have both positive and negative effects for the "stars" and the wider working poor dependant on how we're shown.'
A spokesman for the BBC and Twenty Twenty said: 'Britain's Hardest Grafter is a serious social experiment for BBC Two which investigates just how hard people in the low wage economy work.
'Each week the contributors - who are all in work or actively looking - will experience a different "blue collar" role as the series explores the truth about Britain's work ethic.
'Throughout the series, the contributors are rewarded for the work they do.'
- Britain's Hardest Grafter sees 25 people compete in series of challenges
- Contestants will be eliminated after each stage in two weeks of filming and winner crowned 'Britain's Hardest Worker'
- Concerns raised reality show could exploit young people for entertainment
By Lucy Crossley for MailOnline
A new BBC reality show will pitch the unemployed and low paid workers against one another in a battle to win £15,000, it has been revealed.
The programme, which has the working title Britain's Hardest Grafter, will see 25 people - a mixture of the under employed, jobless, and minimum wage workers, compete in a series of challenges with the aim of being crowned the hardest worker.
The winner will receive a prize of around £15,000, but there have been fears raised that the programme could potentially exploit its contestants and leave vulnerable jobseekers 'heart broken'.
New BBC reality show Britain's Hardest Grafter will pitch the unemployed and low paid workers against one another in a battle to win £15,000
Production company Twenty Twenty has put out a casting call for the new series, which promises contestants 'the opportunity to prove yourself through a series of challenges and win cash prizes'.
Would-be contestants must be aged over 18, and have an annual income of less than £15,500 to apply.
According to a BBC pitch for the show, those taking part will carry out a series of 'real-world jobs', sometimes within 'the confines of a specially created factory, a warehouse space which over the course of five episodes will be transformed to cover the UK's largest blue collar sectors'.
It continues: 'The contestants are all there for one reason: to make money. The least effective workers will be asked to leave until only one is left, to be declared Britain’s Hardest Worker.'
The pitch says the series will tackle 'some of the most pressing issues of our time', including low productivity in Britain, the benefits system, and whether immigrants 'work harder than Brits', or are prepared to accept a lower wage.
It signs off: 'Who in Britain still knows how to graft? It’s time to find out.'
Careers advice website Graduate Fog, which was sent the casting call by Twenty Twenty in order to publicise it to site users, has expressed concern that young people desperate for work or money could be at risk of exploitation, and said that the project 'feels distinctly Hunger Games'.
The post-apocalyptic film and book series starring Jennifer Lawrence tells the story of young people forced to battle with one another to the death for entertainment.
'It's a reference to young people being pitted against each other for entertainment value,' founder Tanya de Grunwald told MailOnline.
'It's a dark idea. I'm questioning the tone of the advert and if that is reflective of the show.'
After receiving the request to run the advert from Twenty Twenty, which also makes popular shows including First Dates, The Choir and Extreme School, Ms de Grunwald asked producers whether participants are paid during the series, and if there will be any financial reward for taking part.
She was told: 'All contributors will receive compensation for their time as part of filming for the show (it will be filmed across two weeks) – we’re still working out the specifics but obviously it will not be below the national minimum wage. Sorry I can’t be more specific at this stage.'
Ms de Grunwald said she hoped that the programme would be more sensitive and thought-provoking than the pitch suggests, but added that she was 'alarmed' when she was sent the advert for the casting call.
Programme makers told her the flyer she was sent was specifically aimed at young people, but they wanted people of all age and background to take part.
'I always question these sorts of shows,' she said. 'We have seen things like this but not from the BBC, and certainly not from BBC2.
'It's not really clear what the format will be. It's important to remember to be really careful and sensitive when dealing with unemployed young people, who may be more vulnerable.
'I would question whether some subjects should be off limits for entertainment purposes.
'There is something about them being eliminated in each round which breaks my heart. These are young people who are struggling and to be told you are being kicked off a show might just be more rejection that they don't need.
'What's the after care? What happens when they get kicked off, especially if they have been humiliated in the public arena? Where do they go from there?
'It might be more fun to watch than to take part in. And there is the idea of luring them in with a cash prize - £15,000 is a lot of money, especially for someone who hasn't got much.'
News that the programme was being made met with distaste from some Twitter users, with one labelling it 'Austerity UK'.
Anne Godden tweeted: 'As disgusting as it gets. BBC makes a game out of young unemployed. Shameful.'
User @murfalizer added: 'It’s all about how hard you are willing to #work these days…'
However, others suggested it could be a good idea and would show that many people are willing to work hard.
Twitter user Lazarus Nunya wrote: 'Those who have little or no job experience get to prove they DO want to work,and can work, and that they're not the "scroungers" the Tories paint them all as! That they are SO *desperate* for work they are prepared to potentially embarrass themselves on a TV show in order to GET work!
'Could have both positive and negative effects for the "stars" and the wider working poor dependant on how we're shown.'
A spokesman for the BBC and Twenty Twenty said: 'Britain's Hardest Grafter is a serious social experiment for BBC Two which investigates just how hard people in the low wage economy work.
'Each week the contributors - who are all in work or actively looking - will experience a different "blue collar" role as the series explores the truth about Britain's work ethic.
'Throughout the series, the contributors are rewarded for the work they do.'