Desperate Scousewives?

[mc_squared]

Desperate Scousewives and Mersey Shore: Northern versions of The Only Way Is Essex will fuel 'regional racism', claims MP

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

 

Last updated at 9:32 AM on 12th July 2011

 

 

Northern versions set in Liverpool of The Only Way is Essex and Made in Chelsea will fuel 'regional racism', an MP has claimed.

TV programmes Desperate Scousewives and Mersey Shore will reinforce the negative stereotype cast on Liverpool life, Labour MP Steve Rotheram claimed.

Wannabe contestants queued round the block for the chance to star in MTV's Liverpool version of Geordie Shore, while auditions for the Merseyside twist on American mega-hit Desperate Housewives are yet to take place.

 

Only way is north: A Liverpool version of 'reality' show The Only Way Is Essex, pictured, could fuel regional racism, an MP has claimed

 

 

 

 

Overnight stars: Wannabe contestants queued in Liverpool for a shot at fame, like Essex girls Amy Childs, left, and Jessica Wright

 

 

TV insiders said the Liverpool shows would give Southern rivals The Only Way Is Essex and Made In Chelsea a run for their money.

 

But Mr Rotheram, a former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, said the programmes will do more harm than good with fame-hungry contestants putting themselves in the firing line.

Mr Rotheram said: 'TV programmes about our great city seldom portray the positive side of Liverpool life. I think they often simply reinforce the stereotype so I'm not looking forward to it.

 

Liverpool life: Mersey Shore and Desperate Scousewives will give an insight into the former European Capital of Culture, claim TV producers

 

Concerns: MP Steve Rotheram said the shows will reinforce stereotypes

 

'We've got to break this cycle. For some people down in London, Bread and Brookside were documentaries.

'You don't get the same suspended belief in Manchester about Shameless or Coronation Street or with cockneys about EastEnders or Only Fools and Horses.

'Why they think that something being made in Liverpool portrays ordinary Liverpool life I don't know, I don't understand.

'I don't think there is any doubt. It's one of the last great isms that needs to be tackled and it's regional racism. I'll definitely be switching off.'

The former bricklayer added that he too sometimes feels victimised by the prejudice aimed at his Liverpool roots.

He said: 'No doubt about it, I get it all the time. It's so tired.

'This year Liverpool is hosting the Labour Party Conference and even people on my own side are saying: ''If I come down in my car my hubcaps will be alright won't they''.'

A spokeswoman for E4 confirmed that Lime Pictures was developing Desperate Scousewives for the channel, but said nothing had been confirmed yet.

 

Mersey Shore is already in production. Bosses there are reportedly keen to sign up Wayne Rooney's cousin, glamour model Natalie.

 

They said there had been a 'massive' amount of interest from young people hoping to follow in the footsteps of stars such as The Only Way Is Essex cast member Amy Childs.

 

The show will follow the lives of a group of 20 to 30-somethings from Liverpool.

Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah has described Geordie Shore - another version of the 'scripted reality shows' - as exploitative and 'bordering on the pornographic'.

He believes that young people are being exploited and plied with alcohol to present an outdated, misleading and insulting portrait of Newcastle.

[Petit Prince]

I watched the trailer, awful programme.

 

Off course it's gonna reinforce negative stereotypes but I'm sure most people will realise that it isn't exactly a documentary.

[mc_squared]

I watched the trailer, awful programme.

 

Off course it's gonna reinforce negative stereotypes but I'm sure most people will realise that it isn't exactly a documentary.

 

Judging by the type of people you get on "Jeremy Kyle", I'm not so sure!:P

Anyway, the programme title is fab, even if the show's likely to be dire.

These shows are like Big Brother, really, with members of the public playing up to the cameras.

The only difference is, it's set in a city, not in a house.:dozey:

[Petit Prince]

Aren't they supposed to be running a club in town? This would actually make it worse because some viewers might think it's just normal people when it isn't really because most Liverpudlians wouldn't want to be associated with the programme.

[mc_squared]

Aren't they supposed to be running a club in town? This would actually make it worse because some viewers might think it's just normal people when it isn't really because most Liverpudlians wouldn't want to be associated with the programme.

 

Well the stupid thing about that "Geordie" programme on MTV is that a few of them weren't even Geordies! They brought them in from outside for effect!

These shows are just a total sham.

TOWIE is scripted, and I'm pretty sure this will be too. They're just soaps in disguise, really.:dozey:

[Petit Prince]

I haven't watch it. Where are they from?

[mc_squared]

One of them's from Sunderland, anyway.....................

 

Denise Robertson, who offers advice on ITV1’s This Morning, was offered a part in a special edition of the show, which features eight northerners, including Sunderland’s Charlotte Crosby

[Petit Prince]

One of them's from Sunderland, anyway.....................

 

Denise Robertson, who offers advice on ITV1’s This Morning, was offered a part in a special edition of the show, which features eight northerners, including Sunderland’s Charlotte Crosby

 

That's ridiculous! They probably just tried to find the craziest people in the North East and most viewers won't be able to tell the difference anyway. :dozey:

[mc_squared]

That's ridiculous! They probably just tried to find the craziest people in the North East and most viewers won't be able to tell the difference anyway. :dozey:

 

Yes, and more to the point, most people who watch that kind of garbage couldn't give a monkey's in the first place!:rolleyes: