Channel 4 launch a new series called Skint Britain: Friends Without Benefits tonight (Wednesday, February 13th).
The series will follow the residents of a small town in the north of England, who are queuing up for the roll-out of Universal Credit.
Having found one of the documentary crew on Instagram, we were able to explore the series and its location a little deeper.
- Shipwrecked: Battle of the Islands: Location, episode guide and narrator!
- How to apply for the next series of Masterchef in 2020
- Has Channel 4’s Pure been renewed for a second series?
What is Skint Britain About?
Skint Britain follows some of the life-threatening problems for those who moved onto the government’s new Universal Credit system last year.
It follows individuals such as David, who’s told that he will receive just £5 for his monthly Universal Credit budget.
There are also those who have taken to drastic measures when it comes to finding their next meal, such as rabbit hunting.
Episode 1 airs on Wednesday, February 13th, on Channel 4 at 9 pm.
There are two more episodes in the series, both of which will air on Wednesday.
Where is Skint Britain Set?
The series was filmed in the town of Hartlepool, which is located in County Durham.
The population of the town is around 90,000 but has become synonymous with poverty of late, ranked in the top 30 poorest towns and cities in the UK by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
In 2018, local newspaper the Hartlepool Mail reported how 43% of children lived in poverty in the Victora and Manor House wards of Hartlepool.
These wards were closely followed by Jesmond at 41% and Headland and Harbour at 40%.
Unemployment was a key factor in these statistics.
Skint Britain on Instagram
Phil Turner is a documentary maker for Channel 4 and the BBC, and he helped to piece together the Skint Britain: Friends Without Benefits doco.
He posted some of the most eye-opening pictures from time filming characters and from around Hartlepool.
Check them out…
WATCH SKINT BRITAIN: FRIENDS WITHOUT BENEFITS EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON CHANNEL 4.
Meet the Shipwrecked 2019 Tigers and Sharks heading for the final on Instagram!