Videos: Blackburn's Shadsworth estate outraged by BBC Panorama 'hatchet job'

10:02am Thursday 13th September 2012 in News

MP Jack Straw is outraged by the documentary's treatment of Shadsworth MP Jack Straw is outraged by the documentary's treatment of Shadsworth

SHADSWORTH residents’ anger has grown following the broadcast of a TV documentary on their community, branding the film a ‘hatchet job’ and ‘a farce’.

Blackburn police chief Bob Eastwood said the the Panorama programme ‘Trouble on the Estate’ was not was not a ‘true representation of life on the estate’ He added: “I would be disappointed if people thought it was.”

The programme has also provoked Blackburn MP Jack Straw to write a letter of complaint to the BBC Trust over its portrayal of Shadsworth as a den of crime, drugs, joblessness and broken families.

As the row grew, the BBC last night defended it as “a fair and balanced portrayal of life on the estate”.

Kathleen Shuttleworth, of Patterdale Avenue, said: “I think it was an appalling programme. A farce. The BBC should be ashamed of themselves.

“How are we ever going to sell our houses now?”

Alison Critchley, of the Shadsworth Tenants and Residents Association, said: “It was a hatchet job, just like we feared.”

Chief superintendent Eastwood said: “It was an accurate picture of the life of a few families on the estate but misrepresented the life of the majority of the people on Shadsworth.

“I still maintain that Shadsworth is not rife with drug dealing on street corners.”

Blackburn with Darwen council leader Kate Hollern said: “I have been contacted by many upset and angry residents. I am saddened and angered by the film.”

Cou Jim Shorrock said: “I am not impressed. It certainly was a hatchet job.”

A Panorama spokesman said: : “We stand by the programme as a fair and balanced portrayal of life on the estate.

"All of the main contributors to the programme have said that they are both happy with it and their contribution to it. Indeed the programme makers have been thanked by some residents.

"We spent many months on the estate and reflected both what we were told and what we filmed, including the view of the police.

"However, the many residents we spoke to told us that anti-social behaviour and drugs are a real problem there.

"Whilst the programme makers are happy to defend their journalism, they believe that the criticism it is currently receiving deflects attention from the issues which are of genuine concern to many residents on the estate and the wider public.”

Video rebuttals

Blackburn with Darwen Council posted two videos on YouTube offering an alternative perspective on life at Shadsworth.

  • An interview with Coun Jim Shorrock about the documentary.

  • The Voices of Shadsworth Estate features interviews with people from the area.

Comments(33)

shellybelle says...
10:10am Thu 13 Sep 12

PANA-DRAMA- I was born and bred on Shadsworth. To two hard working parents, who's work ethics were passed on to me and my siblings. I have worked since I was 16 apart from when I was on maternity. I trained in beauty therapy 10 years go after working in the retail industry since leaving school. Then in 2010 I graduated as a qualified tutor after studying for my certificate in education. I am currently studying for a degree in complementary medicine and will graduate next year.
I have 3 wonderful children who have morals and principles, and understand right from wrong. My 15yr old daughter is already showing strong work ethics and worked over summer. And has aspirations to do well in education and work. My stepson is a soldier who has lived with us on Shadsworth since he was 14, and he has not been held back, if anything he has grown into a wonderful person, as all my other children are. Not causing bother.
Shadsworth has a fantastic social inclusion programme which reaches out to all ages from Bingo, breakfast club, art club, creative club, fathers club, toddler group, majorettes &healthy living. Shadsworth residents have contributed enormously to society, there are nhs workers, county council workers,soldiers, teaching assistants, retail assistants, labourers and the list goes on.

Yes there is a handful of people on Shadsworth who spend their money/benefits on wine,cannabis and other drugs, which could be spent on carpets, wall paper, curtains,birthday and christmas presents, and clothes,etc etc however there are affluent estates such as Wilpshire, brockhall village, Langho where alcohol and drugs are a problem too. Living on Shadsworth or any other council does not give a person a predisposition to not having any high aspirations or problems with drugs and behaving inappropriate. It's about attitude and being positive. I would like to say a big thank you to all Shadsworth residents who have contributed and dedicated your lives to improving the lives of others through these difficult times, when government funding is being cut. Well Bloody done and keep up the hard work. Thank you from me and lots of other residents who appreciate their efforts, and stay positive don't let the negative people bring you down. Let's show everyone we are better than that. I've had positive feedback from clients who know people from Shadsworth who are disgusted at panoramas shock tv tactics. It's just a cheap trick to increase ratings and unfortunately it worked. Let's not give them the control to anger us. Let's move forward with are heads held high.

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spike t says...
10:22am Thu 13 Sep 12

Every town has it rough areas. Panorama was factual but what they need to know is that there are much worse places than Shadsworth in Blackburn

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lwg76 says...
10:22am Thu 13 Sep 12

Not really different to the Hatchet Job done by this Newspaper all the time.

Sensationalising the Bad and ignoring the Good.

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alf-abett says...
10:42am Thu 13 Sep 12

The BBC never intended nor accomplish a programme to only show one side of the coin, they recorded what they saw and if the fat, lazy drug using fraternity on the state chose to appear on camera then it is their fault that the estate is shown in the light it was.

In my post yesterday I attempted to encourage some response from the decent people of the estate, was it forthcoming, NO, so what are they complaining about. Speak out as one or all be tarred with the same brush. SIMPLES.

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midas says...
10:59am Thu 13 Sep 12

Is it any surprise that all thse with a vested interest, the MP, the Council leader, the local councillor, the police chief and the residents association are all complaining that its not a fair reflection of life on the estate!!!
.
The best has to be this one - Kathleen Shuttleworth, of Patterdale Avenue, said: “I think it was an appalling programme. A farce. The BBC should be ashamed of themselves. How are we ever going to sell our houses now?”
.
Why would anyone want to sell their house if life in Shadsworth is so good?

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Andy Young says...
11:07am Thu 13 Sep 12

Ordinary people going about their business, which no doubt makes up the majority of residents on Shadsworth, would make for an extremely mundane piece of television. As someone who works in 'social' housing in Scotland but originates from the Blackburn area, I can tell you that Shad estate is replicated throughout the UK and is probably not even the worst estate in Blackburn. It certainly wasn't when I worked there. There was a tv programme called 'The Scheme' (which is Scottish parlance for 'the estate') set in Kilmarnock on this side of the border last year and there are many similarities with the Panorama programme. The decent folk of Kilmarnock were also up in arms about it. The aspect of the Shad programme that bothered me the most was the frustrations of the family that worked in low paid jobs. The way the working poor are being hit by the welfare reforms is an absolute disgrace, is never really reported, and goes against what the supposed policy intention is. I also noticed that no solutions were put forward by the programme makers.

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Accyasain786 says...
11:12am Thu 13 Sep 12

Should have nuked the lot of them.

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Kermit The Frog says...
11:28am Thu 13 Sep 12

Accyasain786 wrote:
Should have nuked the lot of them.
Nah, save the nuke for Audley Range

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roverfoxy says...
11:37am Thu 13 Sep 12

So because Shadsworth is not being shown in a positive light are we meant to just forget the dole dossing, parasites on soceity whose taxes we are currently paying? the woman shown looked like she was being hard done by, being made to get the bus all the way into town to go to the Job Centre, First time in SIX weeks - I for one don't know how she copes!! Glad to see there are some decent families there however like the cleaner & his wife, good on you!!

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Bat E Karen says...
11:53am Thu 13 Sep 12

Instead of the Shadsworth residents being angry and upset about the programme makers, why don't they channel their energy into seeing what can be done about the drug dealing and dole dossing minority, who are the real villains of the piece?

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jojo29 says...
12:02pm Thu 13 Sep 12

i think the programme was appauling i grew up in shadworth and went to shadsworth school and i aint no druggie or chav fair enough i dont work but im trying to rectify that as my youngest child has just started school so im doing an open university course to try n better my career prospects at the end of the day dont tar everyone with the same brush that programme didnt show the working familys or the ones that have brought there kids up to respect were they live and others around them and as for them lads that say nobody under the age of 30 work i think they have that wrong i know lots of people up shad under the age of 30 that work hard 4 a living and bring up young children. There are estates like shad all over the country not just in blackburn

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chris283 says...
12:25pm Thu 13 Sep 12

ye course its friendly NOT they would rob your glasses and come back for your eyes lol

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abdullah says...
12:50pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Me thinks all the troubles on this estate can be blamed on the muslamic ray guns,at least someone on the estate knew how to graffiti ****,at least thats a start lol

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abdullah says...
12:52pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Blame it on the designer drug being bubble,bubblicious,b
ubbling along in life,no pay no job,who cares state pays,live a drean in a bubble,fantastic lol

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district01 says...
1:05pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Shadsworth is no different than many of the other problems within Blackburn. The never seeming to end traffic and parking problems, the drug menace and prostitution on our streets to name but a few. Many people voice their concerns to the council but what is ever done . . .

Nothing!

The present New Labour ruled Blackburn with Darwen council will always be the preferred political party for historical reasons but why should we have to put up with the failures and feeble excuses all of the time. The problems are all there for everyone to see and those with the power to do something get very well paid to do that job. But all we ever get are excuses whenever those concerns are brought to their attention.

Why is nothing ever done to put the wrongs right?

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shellybelle says...
1:11pm Thu 13 Sep 12

alf-abett wrote:
The BBC never intended nor accomplish a programme to only show one side of the coin, they recorded what they saw and if the fat, lazy drug using fraternity on the state chose to appear on camera then it is their fault that the estate is shown in the light it was. In my post yesterday I attempted to encourage some response from the decent people of the estate, was it forthcoming, NO, so what are they complaining about. Speak out as one or all be tarred with the same brush. SIMPLES.
PANA-DRAMA- I was born and bred on Shadsworth. To two hard working parents, who's work ethics were passed on to me and my siblings. I have worked since I was 16 apart from when I was on maternity. I trained in beauty therapy 10 years go after working in the retail industry since leaving school. Then in 2010 I graduated as a qualified tutor after studying for my certificate in education. I am currently studying for a degree in complementary medicine and will graduate next year.
I have 3 wonderful children who have morals and principles, and understand right from wrong. My 15yr old daughter is already showing strong work ethics and worked over summer. And has aspirations to do well in education and work. My stepson is a soldier who has lived with us on Shadsworth since he was 14, and he has not been held back, if anything he has grown into a wonderful person, as all my other children are. Not causing bother.
Shadsworth has a fantastic social inclusion programme which reaches out to all ages from Bingo, breakfast club, art club, creative club, fathers club, toddler group, majorettes &healthy living. Shadsworth residents have contributed enormously to society, there are nhs workers, county council workers,soldiers, teaching assistants, retail assistants, labourers and the list goes on.

Yes there is a handful of people on Shadsworth who spend their money/benefits on wine,cannabis and other drugs, which could be spent on carpets, wall paper, curtains,birthday and christmas presents, and clothes,etc etc however there are affluent estates such as Wilpshire, brockhall village, Langho where alcohol and drugs are a problem too. Living on Shadsworth or any other council does not give a person a predisposition to not having any high aspirations or problems with drugs and behaving inappropriate. It's about attitude and being positive. I would like to say a big thank you to all Shadsworth residents who have contributed and dedicated your lives to improving the lives of others through these difficult times, when government funding is being cut. Well Bloody done and keep up the hard work. Thank you from me and lots of other residents who appreciate their efforts, and stay positive don't let the negative people bring you down. Let's show everyone we are better than that. I've had positive feedback from clients who know people from Shadsworth who are disgusted at panoramas shock tv tactics. It's just a cheap trick to increase ratings and unfortunately it worked. Let's not give them the control to anger us. Let's move forward with are heads held high.

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vicn1956 says...
2:32pm Thu 13 Sep 12

What made olwen? control her daughter? - the threat of losing her house!
A judge who says burglars have courage!
Drug use and crime out of control on these estates-
SEE ANY CONNECTION?

My heart goes out to the family who would rather work than claim dole and ensured their kids were brought up properly. Those are the families who deserve support!
I was lucky I could afford to get away from an estate like that- I feel for those who can't and have to put up with people who make life hell for others and put up with those in authority unwilling to do anything about them!

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lostforwords says...
5:08pm Thu 13 Sep 12

What did the people of Shadsworth expect. The people who make these films are expert at editing footage to there own ends. Panorama hasn't done proper investigative journalism in decades.

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happycyclist says...
6:07pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Give over. I'm sure there are plenty of decent people on Shad, but it 's had a reputation as a sh*thole for decades. I certainly wouldn't want to live there.

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ste.g says...
8:24pm Thu 13 Sep 12

truth hurts.well all you decent residents need to start cleaning the estate up of all the ones that are letting the estate down.
shop the druggies and spongers.outcast them and make them feel ashamed.then maybe just maybe they will start to change their ways...
but you wont because you all put blinkers on and hide behind your doors pretending its not there and it will all be ok

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ste.g says...
8:24pm Thu 13 Sep 12

truth hurts.well all you decent residents need to start cleaning the estate up of all the ones that are letting the estate down.
shop the druggies and spongers.outcast them and make them feel ashamed.then maybe just maybe they will start to change their ways...
but you wont because you all put blinkers on and hide behind your doors pretending its not there and it will all be ok

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grabbi5 says...
10:54pm Thu 13 Sep 12

It sounds like to me that the peolple who say "I grew up in Shad and im ok." no longer live there, if thats the case then why?

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ste.g says...
11:03pm Thu 13 Sep 12

stopped at mill hill for lunch today.saw a young couple with a pram and what looked like a two year old girl.the guy opened a strong can of larger and past it to his partner.she then poured some into a kiddy cup and gave it the two year old.
absolute scumbags

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goz says...
11:26pm Thu 13 Sep 12

I grew up in Shad, a lot of good people on there. We were in poverty when i was there in the 70's, difference was we hadn't a clue and didn't care anyway. We went to school, came home and played out, made flat wagons, went brook jumping, ran the length and breadth of the deck access flats and wore the wiggly slide thin. bring back the wiggly slide I could just do with one more go.

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Pommie Art says...
12:22am Fri 14 Sep 12

i wonder what the percentage rate of decent working people is on the estate is.
there shall be decent people trying to do the right thing, but they are in the minority i can imagine. ask the decent people this question if they had the opportunity to get away from the estate & maybe buy a home if the situation arose would they stay or leave, decent folk im talking about now. i can only imagine if that opportunity came along i bet they would jump ship at the 1st opportunity.

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coates warder says...
7:05am Fri 14 Sep 12

ste.g wrote:
stopped at mill hill for lunch today.saw a young couple with a pram and what looked like a two year old girl.the guy opened a strong can of larger and past it to his partner.she then poured some into a kiddy cup and gave it the two year old.
absolute scumbags
so u reported them...right?

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fabinribblevalley says...
7:43am Fri 14 Sep 12

I can understand people's anger over the programme but that is the TV/News industry sensationalising everything believing wrongly that this is what the public want. There are these situations in every town or city where people seem to have no dignity or pride in themselves or their property and a total disregard for the law and authority.But on the other side of the coin the people they portrayed are on almost every estate a total disgrace and a large blot on the respectful tenants who look after both the family and home. You were shown a woman and youth's who said they would not work because they got money from society so why should they work.Well if it was up to me these people would get nothing that woman and people like her would be evicted from her council house and also given nothing,I know there is little work around at this time but that is no excuse to be a drunken drugged up lout in fact it is more reason to look after yourself and your property because you have time on your hands. Let authorities do what they used to do, if council houses were not being looked after the tenants were warned as to their position and would lose their tenancy, no one was allowed rubbish stacked up in their gardens nor car wrecks without wheels in the street. If we don't get a grip now Britain is going to look like Pakistan and Indian slums VERY soon.

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Carl_24 says...
11:50am Fri 14 Sep 12

What aload of rubbish like I've said before the camera never lies the programme was focusing on the points that need improving you go on to the park and you'll see epidemic needles, used condoms and broken bottles and cans of beer all over, drug dealers dealing right outside my door, fighting in the streets, drunks yelling abuse at folk, chavs on motorbikes racing up and down Arran Trail, noise nuisance thanks to drug users banging their rubbish music out of their bedroom windows and nothing is being done about it..
I've reported trouble time and time again first time I reported it to Jim Shorrock and he told me to tell the police what was it he said in that video clip "No one has been knocking at my house about drug issues and concerns in recent times" the lying b*****d and that Ron O'Keefee is useless he doesn't live on Shadsworth so why he is the Councillor of this estate is beyond me it's alright for him he lives in a posh area on the other side of town it's just typical of the council to sweep the trouble under the carpet and think everything is rosie in the garden when it's not.

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slimitus says...
4:37pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Typical BBC type behaviour. Good to see the good old BBC conservative gruffs kickin the poor people just like Cameron does.

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slimitus says...
5:18pm Fri 14 Sep 12

slimitus wrote:
Typical BBC type behaviour. Good to see the good old BBC conservative gruffs kickin the poor people just like Cameron does.
Thumb me down all you want, you know its true. Cameron and the BBC have been forever treating the poor like scum. This was a golden opportunity for them to prove and minute number are problems.

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slimitus says...
5:20pm Fri 14 Sep 12

slimitus wrote:
slimitus wrote:
Typical BBC type behaviour. Good to see the good old BBC conservative gruffs kickin the poor people just like Cameron does.
Thumb me down all you want, you know its true. Cameron and the BBC have been forever treating the poor like scum. This was a golden opportunity for them to prove and minute number are problems.
Unless you were brought up there or lived on the poverty line on a council estate, don't judge people. If anything, the rich are the biggest scumbags on the planet.

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mishel says...
2:36pm Sat 15 Sep 12

I live on Shad with my partner, We have lived here for a cpl of years and yes we both work, have a car, clean home and our children dont go without, In any area you will have your good and bad parts, I hear friends who live in higher croft saying its out of hand in there area and friends in Mill Hill say the same so your always going to get the scumbags ruining it for others, I tell people i live in Shad and you can tell by there reaction there suprised but its honestly not that bad, I aim to keep my children on the right path and i would happily continue to live here, So have a thought for those of us who work hard to pay bills and to have a car and kids that have respect, Were not all dole dossers on drugs who dont care bout our children, U have to live in Shad to see for yourself that theres far worst places to be, Obviously the tv programme was going to find the worst parts to report on cause thats what makes tv these days and gets an audience unfortunalty.

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