living on nothing programme

geordie_joe

katholicos wrote: »

perhap he didn't fair too well with the challenge?

I remember people complaining that benefits were not enough to live on, so the PM (Maggie Thatcher) sent an MP to Newcastle to live on benefits for a week, to show people that it was possible to live on benefits.

He didn't make it! Got called back on "urgent business" and was never heard of again.



.

mioliere

Thanks for this! I'll definitely watch it.

ceridwen

I'm up for watching it too - in my case online after the event.

Would it be possible for someone to give a direct link to the programme after it has been broadcast please?

terryw

geordie_joe wrote: »

I remember people complaining that benefits were not enough to live on, so the PM (Maggie Thatcher) sent an MP to Newcastle to live on benefits for a week, to show people that it was possible to live on benefits.

He didn't make it! Got called back on "urgent business" and was never heard of again.



.

Well, not entirely the case. He was not sent by Maggie Thatcher and is definitely still heard of! Stuart Parris did the experiment for his own reasons, and was well mellowed by the experience. He revisited again about five years ago and this again was the subject of a tv ''programme. My biggest memory of this programme was that he was dismayed by the amount of fat on the locals that he met, and the enormous use of prescription drugs for depression. Here's a link to a Times article

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article1004584.ece?token=null&offset=12

The new programme tonight could be very interesting.

terryw

thriftlady_2

Wasn't it Matthew Parris?

terryw

thriftlady wrote: »

Wasn't it Matthew Parris?

Yep, you could well be right. Alcohol destroys brain cells, so they say:o. must have overdone it it over the holidays. thanks.

terryw

ceridwen

Errrr....I've lost track of when that living on nothing tv programme is on and cant find the thread about it - can anyone help purlease?:D

*zippy*

Is this it

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1385239&highlight=living+on+nothing+tv+programme

Looks good, thank you for posting

geordie_joe

terryw wrote: »

Well, not entirely the case. He was not sent by Maggie Thatcher

He, and Maggie may be saying that now, but he himself said it while filming.

terryw wrote: »

and is definitely still heard of!

Not in Maggies government he wasn't.

terryw wrote: »

Stuart Parris did the experiment for his own reasons, and was well mellowed by the experience.

So he says now, but what else could he say after Maggie distanced herself from it.

Mellowed, I prefer to use the word defeated.

terryw wrote: »

He revisited again about five years ago and this again was the subject of a tv ''programme.

I know, I watched it.

terryw wrote: »

My biggest memory of this programme was that he was dismayed by the amount of fat on the locals that he met, and the enormous use of prescription drugs for depression.

My biggest memories were him going to a football match then to the pub where he stayed until closing time bumming drinks of real unemployed people.

I also remember his neighbour going to invite him round for tea and sandwiches and to meet other neighbour. She said he was sitting huddled up to a gas fire and the flame on the fire was smaller than the pilot light. He did go round to the neighbours, and ate every sandwich himself, the others didn't get any. The neighbour said she thought he hadn't eaten for two days.

At the time he said he had been called back on urgent business, now he says he gave up because he realised that even if he lasted the week people would say "a week is easy, try living like that for a year".

The truth is, after he blew most of his money on the football he was reduced to visiting neighbours and asking "if the kettle was on" and also asking for biscuits and other food. Not to mention dropping heavy hints about not having money for the gas and being freezing.

The people were told not to give him any food or money, as it would spoil the program. But it was an "open secret" that the film makers wanted him to fail.

terryw wrote: »

The new programme tonight could be very interesting.
terryw

I think you may be confused here? The artice says "For the Benefit of Mr Parris Revisited, ITV1 tomorrow, 10.30pm."

But the article was written in 2004 and refers to the second program.

onetomany

thinks its 2moro night hun 8pm