Vernon Didn't Win The Pools (Skint)

Member Name: eyedo6789

Product:	Skint
Date:	01/04/09 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very Interesting & Entertaining

Disadvantages: None, I Rate It As Top Notch TV

This is a BBC television show that follows exceptionally poor people who live in Birmingham. It is done in pretty much a fly on the wall documentary style with the TV director or producer sometimes asking questions to the poor person that they are filming.

Some people have criticized the programme as poking fun at the unfortunate or for being exploitative.

I don't agree with this at all. In the programmes that I watched they followed a chap called Vernon and the guy although very much down on his luck seemed to love being filmed and reveled in it.

I dare say he was paid a fee too which would have meant a lot to him. He also gained a little fame in the process and because he was a musician he was able to make a little money after the show had aired by selling some of his music CDs.

The programme followed Vernon's day to day struggles with cash and his attempt to make ends meet. It also revealed some of his hopes and fears and showed a guy who although had suffered a lot of knocks and perhaps wasn't someone everybody would want to be best buddies with still had some joie de vivre.

The main ways he achieved money to survive were through state benefits, busking, selling the big issue and by pawning some of his goods.

In my opinion he was both an inspiring figure and a slightly pathetic figure. You felt that he'd never quite get out of a rut but also that he'd never give up hope of getting out of a rut and would always think that tomorrow would be a good day or a better day.

I liked Vernon even if I thought some of the things he said were slightly loopy and a funny part was where he and a mate went to a government funded business course and looked totally out of place even though they really wanted badly to start a successful business in kitchen and bathroom fitting.

Vernon is a real character and brightened up my TV screen as well as made me think about the issues of poverty. I think that the producers of this programme treated the subject with the right level of sensitivity whilst retaining its cutting edge and its humour.

Summary: Look Out For This Show, It Is Ace