Last night I happened on the BBC documentary Famous, Rich And In The Slums.
The premise of the programme is not new. This time four ambassadors for the Red Nose Charity (Comedan Lenny Henry, Actress Samantha Womack, DJ Reggie Yates and veteran Newswoman Angela Rippon) are transported to the slums of Kibera in Africa where they have to eek out some sort of existence with the families they are "boarded " with.
Of course the resulting documentary showed much angst and tear staining from the privileged Westerners, and much resilience and dignity from the poor Africans....and as a piece of television , it was powerful, moving and of course had the desired effect to galvanise the audience to support the red nose charity.
However it was one fairly short and unexpected clip that had me crying like a baby. In it ,non nonsense Angela Rippon was saying goodbye to a lady with whom she had worked . The two women had walked miles together to scrub clothes for hours on end and I suspect Angela's non flowery but ever so British "let's get on with it" attitude and friendly nature caught the African woman by surprise for when they eventually parted the woman was genuinely upset at the prospect of "her friend" leaving her.
Angela coped with the parting with pragmatism, but she too broke down as she drove away when she realised that the woman was not indeed grieving for a benefactor of sorts, but for the company and support of a fellow woman and friend.
It was Angela's reaction coupled with her guilt at leaving the slum -albeit briefly- ( and probably for a hot shower) that I found so moving.....in a matter of seconds she had the guts to show her personal guilt and shame of being a voyeur to the terrible poverty on show even though she had officially rolled up her sleeves and had gotten stuck in.....
Off to my Brother's house today....and just wanted to end by thanking our Neighbour Trevor, who after reading my sister's blog on the fund raising ASDA bagpack last Sunday, came around to our house last night to give his individual donation...it was very sweet of you
"like a window opening up into a rainstorm" what a lovely sentence.
ReplyDeletex
I have to admit that I always cringe a bit when 'red-nose day' comes around, but I do know that they do a lot for people, and all the celebs involved genuinely care about what they do, as it sounds like A.R. did.
ReplyDeleteLenny Henry is a genuinely nice bloke, I think, and my mate who lives in Bath who knows him, says that he is.
Totally agree John. It was very moving and quite sincere in the way it unravelled. I've always been a bit wary of the concept and presentation of this format of tv programme in the past, as some of the previous models have often come across to me as commercially superficial and patronising towards the less fortunate subjects, but this was clearly for real and thus sent some important, stripped down to bare, basic human value messages.
ReplyDeleteI've alwys been a bit of a distant fan of Angela Rippon too. Behind her often missunderstood facade is a good, unpretencious and genuinely no nonsense human being. I believe. Bravo to her.
Sorry! But P.S...forgot to add on above comment:- Can't you and your tribe up there rustle up a 200th follower this weekend, even if you have to kidnap one at 'leek point'!
ReplyDeleteIf you dont grab one by monday morning, I think we ought to launch a blogger wide appeal for you. Try putting a card up in the post office window...'Blogger Follower Wanted - Free bag of leeks on signing up. This weekend only.'
I didn't see it, but am impressed by your description. Rippon's usually such a 'staid' person, it's good to hear that she has genuine feelings. Let's hope they raise lots of dosh; and put it to good use!
ReplyDeletePerhaps the BBC should send a new bunch of celebrities to board in Trelawnyd. I'd pick Paul Gascoigne, Peter Sutcliffe, Sue Pollard and Ann Willycome. The end result would be fascinating and they would ALL drive away crying - with relief.
ReplyDeletenow THAT would be a good programme PUD.....however my choice of celebs would be
ReplyDeleteMatt Cardle, Russ Crowe, Maggie Smith and perhaps Amy Winehouse for some balance and colour
Tom
ReplyDeleteLenny cried like a good one throughout the programme...he seems a bit of a sweetie
T&B: thank you!
Phil:lol its all a bit like having 3000 friends on facebook! lol
Being where I am, I have not seen the show mentioned. I haven't seen an American version of it either - if there is one. I imagine it is quite enlightening!
ReplyDeleteA bit of a conscience-puzzler, dealing with the sheer relief of having the luck to be born in a privileged-western society versus the guilt for same.
ReplyDeleteI guess, in the end, it's all about what you do with that privilege.
we don't have "red nose day" in Canada. I would love to see that programme, but I doubt it will air in Canada.
ReplyDeleteGill
Just wondering if all your Foreign commentators could watch it on iplayer? xxx
ReplyDeleteThats BBC iplayer
ReplyDeletegill for your information you should be able to watch the programe on bbc iplayer, google it and will bring up the link. regards
ReplyDeletehumm I have an idea that you cannot access iplayer out of the UK
ReplyDeleteHello John,
ReplyDeleteWish we got that program too and you had me getting teary just reading what happened! I have to tell you that ever time I see you write 'Pud' to Yorkshire Pudding I get a 'start'....that's the nickname my Dad gave me when I was just a baby. My step family still call me that and I'm 58! Hope your day has been a good one so far.
Maura :)
Ah what a wonderful sentence. Like a window opening up into a rainstorm.'
ReplyDeleteYou're right, John. BBC iplayer can't be accessed outside the UK for videos, but we can access the radio programmes. (Which I do, frequently.)
ReplyDeleteHope you all have a blessed weekend, John. ♥
ReplyDeleteHi John.
ReplyDeleteRe: Accessing of BBC iPlayer outside of the UK.
I just wanted to let you and some of your overseas followers know that you really can access BBC iPlayer from outside the UK.
All they need to do is download ‘Expat Shield’ to their PC’s (Its Free & completely safe) and they will be able to access previously blocked or inaccessible sites like iPlayer and Spotify, from anywhere in the world.
Expat Shield is a form of proxy service which basically just protects/shields the anonymity of the user from the sites they would normally be blocked from, like iPlayer.
I have friends and Blogger friends living abroad who use this service to watch iPlayer and other video streaming tv sites in the UK and the USA, all the time. Works perfectly.
Here is the link to Expat Shield: http://www.expatshield.com/
And here is a Help/Tutorial link on the same subject:
http://pcsplace.com/tips-n-tricks/how-to-unblock-access-bbc-iplayer-outside-uk-free-vpn-service/
Hope this helps. Didn’t want to tread on anybody’s ‘toesy woesy’s’ so to speak!
I saw this too (very rare for me to watch TV) and was surprised by how good it was. I thought the lady in the hospital was especially good - though I have absolutely no idea who she is or why she is famous!
ReplyDeleteI saw your name and comment at Titus's and thought I'd peek in. Love your brood, your doggies, your geese - the whole menagerie!
ReplyDeleteOh, and the Margo Channing line is the best!
Is Lenny Henry still married to Dawn French?
Will be swinging by again,
Kat
I mean ducks, of course.
ReplyDeletenice to have you swing by
ReplyDeletedo come again!!!
I'm sorry I missed it - it sounds excellent.
ReplyDeleteyou claim to be moved, yet clearly not enough to say the name of the country. it is as dismissive as watching Berlusconi's antics and reffering to Europe as a whole or mexico's drug problem and claiming thats North America is becoming a narco state.
ReplyDeleteIt was Kenya BTW.
sigh
ReplyDeleteI am getting a little fed up of being "told off" by self important and in this case cowardly individual........who quite stupidly associates not stating the country in question with being in anyway dismissive.
I suggest the person who left the comment signs his name or shuts the fuck up...
As a fist time visitor and a Kenyan to boot I'd like to firstly thank you for focusing on a show about my homeland.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, Expat sheild does work if only intermittently.
Thanks
I just saw the program on you tube. You should be able to see it there.
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