Famous, Rich And In The Slums

Sometimes a certain scene in a drama or documentary catches you unawares, and opens up the emotions like a window opening up into a rainstorm.
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