Thanks to a sneaking suspicion that The Tories are going to get in to power, people have gone class-mad. For a while, the whole class thing has been on the back burner as the buoyant housing enabled loads of people to shift from working class, to something that seemed much more middle class. Then, people started thinking about 'those middle class gits' in the blue corner and everyone became confused again. Then, a credit crunch happened and everyone went from feeling 'kinda middle class' to 'kinda poverty stricken'. Class, is back on the menu. So we had John Prescott looking at the class system (well, he looked at the class system and the show itself did its best to make Prezza look stupid) and now, we have Rich Kid, Poor Kid (Channel 4, Thursday, 13 November, 9pm).
UPDATE: To read a review of the programme, go here.
Like most TV shows now, the programme title has to be all Ronseal. There's no room for being clever now. This show has to do exactly what it says on the tin. There's not a hope they could've called it 'Down and Out in Modern Britain' or 'Young, Classless and Free?' Nope. It has to leap out in the digi-listings. I'm almost surprised they didn't call it 'Horseys and Coarses' or 'Chavs and The Haves'. Still, I'm guessing they might be a little too cryptic as well.
Anyway, this show is from Cutting Edge and looks to explore the gap between rich and poor in the UK. Handily, the producers have found two teenage girls of similar age who live on the same street, one born without, the other with plenty. Alice and Natalie live just a stone's throw from each other, but never meet, and their experiences of life are very different. Like, durrr. Anyway, could be interesting, could be lazy and sloppy. Well worth a punt though.
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the rich girl, makes me sick
the rich snob who does she think she is im a working girl with my own house but i would never speak about people like that her mother would want too sort her out fast before something happens too her and get some dress sense for someone whos rich
At the end the day, some people are less fortunate than others. Alice completely takes the mick of the less fortunate i think she is to stuck up, i couldnt care less if she has more money than someone else , she shouldn't rub it in, i think its pathetic how some people could live down the street from someone and is afraid to get out of their car because of somebody elses race or the way they dress , people should respect others no matter what they look like!
I would really like to donate a b.day pressie to the poor kid, I been there and now live like the rich kid. where do I contact the poor kid???
I think that 'the rich kid' is a complete and utter idiot. She should be the one who dies, I am absolutely appalled at the things she has been saying and how she has been completely two faced and discriminative. I am outraged that she would think that people who live off the council are, in her words, lazy and that she showed utter disrespect towards 'the poor kid' before she had even got to know her!! She is rude and obnoxious and it shows how much her parents have failed in bringing up a young girl who should be showing respect for others, not only does the daughter not show any respect, but the parents also show a lack of respect. As a middle class citizen, I for one welcome anyone into my life and never judge anybody until I get to know them. This family is a disgrace and I think they should swap the roles of each family and see how each family would get on because how I see it is that the poor kid and her family deserve the money and the rich kid and her family deserve to rot in hell. Pathetic excuses of people I have ever encountered.
umm, i can see alices point,
she got mugged,
and tbf her mum has taught her to think that way
she should be more considerate sure but
i do see where she is coming from,
i dont think she deserves all this abuse
I'm a mum of four teenage kids, a completely average family, but I would be ashamed if my kids behaved like the 'rich kid' and judged people like she does. I don't blame her though, I blame her pretentious middle class parents. Obviously insecure about themselves they pass their prejudices and racism onto their kids.I went to private school and we respected people and didn't judge. Is that mum a teacher? A fine example if she is. However it is sad that families still have to live like the 'poor kid'-her and her brother deserve the same chances in life, but will she get them,I doubt it.
How can you publish all the rude comments threatening her?? Is that even legal? It's a programme! How can people who haven't even met her threaten her, no one is threatening the other girl, so just stop it and grow up.
And 'white trash' is really offensive.
And has it occured to anyone that rich family are probably not that rich, otherwise they wouldn't have agreed to go on a programme where everyone will just abuse them afterwards.
Alice is absolutely awful. She said she comes across as stupid 'sometimes' ... I beg to differ ... it's all the time.
I am from a poor family and was brought up in a council house by two very hardworking parents. I went on to gain a First Class Degree and a Masters Degree from The University of Nottingham.
I hope the credit crunch has a disasterous effect upon Alice and her family and she has to go to state school and be poor ... her 'worst case scenario'. My worst case scenario is meeting a family like Alice's
oy guys, yea alice went a bit ott, but i used to live in a place just like that, i never went to a private skl and i am the only workin person in my family after my dad died but there were at least 30 people living on benefits on my street and not one of them knew me but one day someone got out that i was a kid from a private skl just coz my family was the first ones with a car and i have a stab wound in my left shoulder from a bloke who left school when he was 15 and never has had much cash, the steriotype that people living on benefits are 'chavs' or are more likely to stab you is true mostly so she just doesnt know, leave off her will ya guys i actually like her
Not as interesting as other cutting Edge films, didn't learn anything we didn't know. That was funny when mother and daughter were in the car scared. But this is how it is now, too many people and people get forgotten. The fact why there are so many people, pushing inwards all boundaries of cities, is why rich and poor and now living side by side, there isn't a (geographical) cut-off line anymore. The government can't seem to help those in need.
:S that rich girl is so stuck up what a ugly personailty
I think the rich girl is ugly on the inside and the poor girl is a very caring, grown up girl who looks after her family. The rich girl is ignorant and needs to grow up. I am watching it at the mo and they seem to be getting on. I don't agree with the racist comments people are making. There are good and bad people in all races. Racism and anything like that is pathetic. I do understand how gangs of youths in the street are threatening. The people making these racist comments are only proving the point. I have friends from all races and not all white people are like Alice.
I am thirty something with children, I was truely embarrased to watch this programme tonight. Alice's parents are obviously oblivious to how others may be living, Natalie was a well adjusted 17 year old, with a strong personality, which like it or not, won Alice over, hats off to her.
Actually, it is Alice I feel for, she is being brought up with false expectations of what life is like, she will probably have to marry for money, rather than love, and may have to deal with agoraphobia as she gets older as her parents are teaching her that anyone who doesn't go to private school is a worthless drain on society, who will probably attack her given half a chance.
If I thought I was bringing up my children in such a manner I would be ashamed.
Well done Nathalie, your brother needs you, he needs school and some friends, your mum has had hard times, but perhaps if Alices mother wasn't married to a Chartered Accountant, or didn't have the good fortune to be intelligent enough to be a teacher, she may have problems too.
Also, since when did 'upper class' live in a terrace in Clapham. I thought if you 'work' that you are 'working class', no matter how you speak.
One extra little point, I did notice that Alices's younger brother seemed far more with it and less affected by his parents, to the point of even being 'keen' to step out of the car in their neighbourhood and go to the supermarket...
Some comments this programme have provoked are unacceptable, and I can only apologise, as editor of the site, that some slipped through the net. This programme has provoked a very strong reaction, that much is clear. All abusive comments have been removed. We do not condone threatening behaviour to others in any way shape or form, and comments of this nature will not be accepted on this site.
Maybe some of the other commenters didn't watch till the end of the program?? I thought Alice - rich kid - was very self aware at the end and she was ashamed of her earlier comments - an attitude which does her credit. I was also proud of Natalie - very moving when her little brother was so proud of the bed and room she had done for him. Even when we are in bad situations we can make the best of them and make a nicer home for ourselves - and Natalie did that on her own for her brother - love to her and him - and Alice.
I don't think alice was that bad, just a product of her parents and upbringing, she certainly seemed to think about things after meeting the other girl, it was her mother that was totally obnoxious.
i live on a council estate and i dont blame alice for how she is, i think its very much to do with the way she was brought up,her parents obviously made her belive that the outside world is a dangerous place and keeped her wrapped up in there own little world i really dont think she noes any better.
All credit to Alice for her comments at the end of the programme. Some of what she had said earlier in the programme was acutely embarassing but she realised this when she had had the opportunity to meet Natalie and see a way of life she'd never encountered before.
Alice was very much a product of her sheltered upbringing and you can't blame her for that any more than you can blame Natalie for her upbringing.
I think the program refelected well on both girls who both encountered very different ways of life and reacted very positively.
I think however the programme reflected very badly on both mothers.
Alice's mum came acros as a snob who'd really done her daughter no favours by filling her mind with her own prejudices.
Natalie's mum came across as lazy and happy to let her daughter shoulder too much responsibility.
What a remarkable girl Natalie is.She has been caring for the family I would suspect since being a young child.It is shameful in 2008 that we still as a society do not address mental health problems. We will eventually as a species ,recognise the massive spectrum of issues this covers and the effects on us all as physical health probelms do.This marvelluus girl has (without help)had to be the cog in this family as her mother has a significant illness but as it is depression it has been neglected.Well done to you Natalie,your intelligence,humour and caring shines through.
...what is wrong Alice's upbringing. Two hardworking professionally qualified people contributing to society having worked for the whole of their adult lives, paying tax which as we know goes into education, health, benefits etc whilst trying to do the best they can in giving their children a good education, and who wouldn't do the same if they could. It very difficult not to have negative feelings to people living close by to them when the only contact they have had is mugging and stealing, I defy anyone not to feel the same way. I lived in that road a long time ago and every day someone has spat on my car, it was keyed and broken into at least once a month and I woke up to burglars in my house while my two young children were asleep upstairs - it is terrifying and no one can justify or make any excuses for that kind of behaviour, it doesn't matter how little anyone has. Also no excuses can be made for little Gabriel who slept on a floor for the first five years of his life, everyone is entitled to a few luxuries in life but fags, booze and dog food might have paid for a bed a long time ago. Both Natalie and Alice were great girls, Natalie older by at least a couple of years and who has obviously had a tough time and all credit to her for coping the way she has and taking on some if not all of the parenting for her brother but I have no doubt Alice would have done just the same if she had been in the same position. I say shame on the loan sharks and the editor of the programme for making something so predictable.
First of all, i think that was a great show, i must say i was extremely disgusted at Alice's attitude. I thought Natalie was great, she was smart, nice and caring. Alice may be well off but her parents should be very ashamed, they could only wish that Alice could be like that. As a young black woman trying to do well for myself i was very offended, i'm currently studying law at a top london uni, and aim to become a barrister. Listening to comments Alice and her extremely ignorant mum made me me feel very sad. Yes, there are some that succumb to the sterotypes, but we are not all like that.And someone should tell Alice that, given the opportunity most unemployed people on benefits would love to get a good job. I was LIVID, she obviously has no clue about the world,despite the fact i am British, as a black person with an african name it is a 100times harder for me to get a good job than it is for anyone else, and that includes other ethnic minorities. Does she think that people actually enjoy being poor? I could go on for ages, but i have to get back to my assignment. But i will end it by saying that watching that almost me ashamed to be British, and before some stupid ignorant idiot tells me go back home, Let me say that i would love nothing more than to go to Africa and live like a queen but unfortunately SOMEONE took all our natural resources and enslaved all our people. And anyone who has had the cheek to stick up for that disgusting excuse for a human must be just as bad, thats just like saying that i because i've i have been attacked by racist white people i should hate all white people, thats just stupid,(yes, i;m talking to you Sara) i don't know every white person. Alice forget your fancy public school, go get a real education.
P.S I pay taxes, your parents pay taxes, you? you pay nothing! Idiot
The rich lot sickened me.
The rich mother, in her car stated that there's no white people around a certain area, after another comment about race. I'm 17 years old and I understand whats right and wrong and I screamed at the television countless times. [Post moderated] Also for having a private education, Alice seemed the less educated of the two. I disagree with Alice's upbringing resulting in her attitude, yes maybe it has had an effect, I know this is the usual thing people say but I blame the media. It was an interesting show to watch, infact I watched it again the night after with the use of the genius on demand option. I cried when little Gabriel got a proper bed.
Sarah
If Alice is a product of her parents, then I would hope her mothers employers (she is a teacher) are taking a very careful look at who they have employed to teach our country's children, I would not want that person to be partly responsible for my childs ethics and education.
She and her product (Alice) are a discrace, but I do hope Alice can become a better person for taking part in the programme.
Does no-body think that Alice's sudden feeling of guilt, at the end, for her earlier comments, stems from worry of the public reaction? You could see the panic in her eyes as she was reminded of the ignorant statements she made. I agree, it seems this girl has been brainwashed with the ignorant views of her parents, but at the age of 15, she should be forming her own opinion. I feel her behaviour on last nights programme was sickening, almost to the point of being unbearable and I hope it was the wake up call that family need to loose the prejudice.
Gabriel is a credit to Natalie and her family. That little boy has the decency and respect to appreciate how hard his sister worked to decorate his bedroom and make his bed. Alot more respect than Alice, who continued to tell her mother to shut up and call her a bitch, with as much gusto as you would expect from a playground bicker. But this wasn't, It was her mother!
Well done Natalie for portraying yourself as a sensible, caring, friendly person.
Rich Kid: Disgrace
Poor Kid: Respect her
I'm a teenager myself, but I was never brought up to speak about others in such a shameful way.
The way the rich girl is talking you would think never went to private school because her opinions are mindless bits of information.
Whereas whenever the Poor Girl raised her better informed opinions it was refreashing to hear.
Clearly, from this one can see that as the programme began with the rich girl suggesting Labour take from the rich and give to the poor when clearly if we elected a conservative government with a leader who himself and most his cabinent where educated in top schoold the divide between these two social circles will be even more so prominent.
Thank you
I used to live 100 yards from Alice's House. In the end I had to move due to the crime in the area. There were four yellow boards - asking for witnesses to attempted murders or murders within 200m of my flat in the last year. My estate agent got mugged after a viewing. My car had its roof slashed, my flat was burgled. A policeman was beaten up outside my front door, it goes on and on.
I also run a recruitment agency and know that if you want work there is work. How have the polish managed to florish in the UK. Something about work ethic I think.
Alice did come over a little aloof but there are good reasons for her views. Views I also shared, but would articulate in a different way.
People do need to take responsibility for themselves. It doesn't matter whether you are born into a priviledged or non priviledged family you still have to work to either maintain that position or better your position.
I NOT LIKE DA RICH ONE
I really don't agree with that Liz. Could Alice not have changed her mind simply because she realised she was wrong? The girl is 15-years-old! She's learning about life. She comes from a sheltered background. This programme was perhaps the first time she had encountered other points of view. Yes, her views were wince-inducing, but anyone and everyone is allowed to change.
I don't think we can blame Alice, even though she was horrid and vile, she did change...
Blame the parents, its all their fault for bringing her up like that! God her a mum a teacher too, mind you prob a private school?? Mum and dad looked so old and bewildered.. sad really. but working all time, prob never had much time for their children
Perhaps Paul, but it was quite coincidental that she was visibly panicked when reminded and then decided to redeem herself. I suppose things are edited sometimes, to achieve effect. I do understand that teenagers have alot of maturing to accomplish but she seems a very clever girl.
I cnt stand the mother. These people are brainwashing their children''s minds into thinking that this divide and segregation is right. And the cheek she had to call her daughter "Chavvy" after chewing gum.
Irate Natalie so much she looks after her family(Yes, including the mother) and can't evven have a proper life of her own attending college and probably going on to Uni Alice's view on state school pupils is totally and I hope she's chnaged for the better and has opened up her horizons because whens he goes out into the Big wide world she's going to have so many things thrown at her and she won't be able to handle because her silly upbringing.
Crystal, 15 years old
I think both girls are intelligent and their opinions are formed out of their completely different cicumstances.
My heart went out to the children living in squalor. I would also like to donate a present to those children. Can someone please let us know how they can be reached.
I would be proud to have a daughter like Natalie. It was very moving to see the way she took responsibility for her family. She cared for her mother and brother at a time in life when she should be the one who is cared for. Her little brother's appreciation for her was touching. As for Alice. She is not a bad kid. But what terrible racist and classist parents. Never mind she will see through it all and do well anyway.
i think alice needs to grow up..she has been put in a little bubble by her parents and told not to go certain place because thats wher all the chavs hang and that people from council estates are full ov chavs..well im sorry but i have been braught up on a council estate and hung about on street corners with a beer, i went to a state skool and to be quite honest iv turned out pretty f****n well i did my G.C.S.E'S got reasonable grades now at college...she shouldnt need the money iv got a family who loves me and thats all that i need...my mam lives of benefits and we have got by just fine..so take a look at urself alice watch back wat u said and have a long deep think about wot and what u really are and i think ur mother needs to pop that little bubble shes in and have sum respect for the people u call "chavs". also ur mum works so hard for a private school as a teacher so she could earn sum brass, that she probably had no time for you thats why u turned out to be such an iggnorant snobby cow......but well done for coming to ur senses at the end and never ever again judge sum1 by the way they look...
Anna 17
Why is everyone slating Alice? She said nothing wrong in that documentary. I totally agree with her views and opinions, I'm rich and I never go to certain streets in London because I don't really want to get stabbed or shot. As for her views on state schools, chavs and council estates I also have the same opinion as her on them. You are inferior if you go to a state school and if you grew up on a council estate then you will probably claim benefits like every poor person does because they are so god damn lazy! I loved Alice!
I think that whilst she came across badly this was not entirely of her own doing, the makers of this show portrayed her in a very diffferent light to that of Natalie, whilst we were shown what an angel Natalie was and her harrowing home life, we were not shown any of Alice's and whilst the documentary makers harrased Alice for her views of Working class britian we were not presented with Natalies opinions of middle class britian, and this in my opinion does not lead to a balance documentary.
I have younger brothers and have to listen to horrendous tales everytime they come home frm a nigth out, in a society where a middle class teenage boy is scared to sit on the top floor of a bus for fear of attack, adn thst might sound drastic but it has happened, adn a world where in Mayfair of all places he watched his friend be beaten so badly he was hospitilised, we can't critque teenagers for have strong and outspoken views, we are living in a society where knife crime is on the rise, adn parden me for saying it, but it is not middle class children on the whole who are commiting this acts, and thus they are scared adn through being scared outspoken views are breed.
In conclusion i believe that althought Alice's views were hard to hear and stomach she was just voicing the concerns and views of the middle class teenagers of today.
The mother of Alice should be ashamed of herself. She has brought up a stuck up, ignorant idiot who has no experience of the real world. She really thought so highly of herself it was laughable, she ought to look in the mirror. As I watched this programme Princess Diana popped into my mind. She was someone with money and position and used it to highlight others problems and plights. She held the hands and comforted some of the worlds most poor. This family should really think more about helping others rather than judging others.
I was actually disgusted by the ignorance the girl Alice portrayed the fact that she believed that the amount of wealth your parents have defines you.
As a teenager from a moderately wealthy background I have always been taught that everyone is equally valuable to the world. Some of the most affluent people have come from nothing! Look at Sir Alan Sugar.
My parents chose not to send me to private school in order to not get caught up with the class divides, they themselves had worked their way up. I have now just started university and feel no opportunities have been taken away from me.
Alice's mother as a teacher should have taught her daughter better morals.
Yes at the end she did apologies for her ignorance but I do not know if I believe it with so much hate for the lower classes being indoctrinated into her from obviously such a young age!
I think the whole program was disappointing. First of all, they got an ignorant and spoilt wealthy girl and put her up against a respectable and conscientious poor girl. Is that typical of each extreme? Hell no. Alice does not represent your average private school girl and neither does Natalie represent your average young lady in a struggling family. This has of course has given an unbalanced view point causing a lot of anger. Get a bad poor girl and pit her up against or bad rich girl or get a good rich girl and pitch her up against a good poor girl. Then you have a programme.
I think the rich girl, Alice, was completely ignorant. And i blame the parents. I've actually seen her around a lot, because i live on the 'council estate' opposite. I wouldnt say i'm poor at all, i'm 17 and my family is doing well with money, we are not lazy we all work. So all she's been saying is complete bull and i think she needs to keep her prejudice, and stereotypes quiet.
Hmmm, I think that the whole documentary could have been done better as it was very bias with a lot of harassment on behalf of the 'rich kid', nobody is mentioning that when Alice went home she said Natalie was nice whereas Natalie insulted Alice when she went home... Also, Natalie was saying that robbing people was justified because they needed the money.... hmmmmm what about getting a job? I wouldn't say that all people on benefits are lazy, but I would say that for some it is the easier option, those that get their way out of there, well done I say, you have given yourself an opportunity, those people I have no problem with. Its the ones that want to sit back and let themselves be kept. Someone said that Alice's family don't deserve their money.... this is very wrong because the parents will have worked their arses off to earn that money.
I'm from leeds and there are places that you just don't go down because they are known for being rough, thats all Alice was getting at. If you aren't from that area you normally stand out and you get picked on for it. I wouldn't go somewhere if I had been robbed twice in 6 months by people from that estate, whats the point in putting yourself in harms way? And when she said she wouldn't give up her phone and her i-pod... would you want to appear weak and say yeah I would give it to you... I think not, its natural to try and make yourself look tougher, its a defence mechanism, just like when Natalie said that she wouldnt like to go on holiday to anywhere other than Butlans.... LIAR!!! but no thats ignored.
I didn't like what Natalie said about Alice not being able to come into a council estate world but that she had no problem going into the rich world.... well obviously, in most cases people always strive for more, nobody will complain if they are given a chance to be in nice surroundings, but if someone sticks you in something which is much more minimal i.e kids don't have beds, than what your used to, your not going to be as happy about the situation.
At the end of the day not all people are one way in any one class in society, but there are people who ruin reputations for a whole society through their actions. I think that no more can be expected. You can only understand fully what you yourself have experienced so the bias views that came across were inevitable.
i couldn't bear alice. she tarred everyone with the same brush. 'people who go to state school should die' what a thing to say! i was so incensed! she thinks she's superior because she knows people on the rich list, mummy and daddy give her everything...it disgusted me! i warmed to natalie straight away. she's tough, no nonsense and loves her family to pieces. she obviously dotes on gabby like he's her own child, and good luck to her and her mum in the future, i hope they can get the help they deserve, maybe even jobs, to provide a stable home for gabby. one point is, gabby could have had a bed and natalie could have had a nice birthday treat long ago if they were to give up the fags, booze and dogs. good luck to natalie and good riddance to alice!
i think everyone on here is being harsh on Alice. She is 15 for gods sake!! and with a mother like hers!! she has never known any difference. But towards the end she realised she had made a huge mistake and did a very grown up thing and admitted it! and as for Natalie...i really really like her and she is absolutely fantastic with her little brother and i wish her all the luck in the world! and it would be interesting to know wether they keep in contact.
All state schooled people are inferior and should die huh? What a shame that I finished school, did my A Levels, went to a very good university, got my degree and am now doing a postgraduate degree at one of the best universities in the country and also have an offer to do a PhD.
What a throughly inferior human being I am. Luckily I don't hold much credit to an inexperience 15 year old child with more money than class. Utter and complete ignorance. And the way she talks to her mother? I wouldn't put up with that in a million years.
Mummy and Daddy's money can buy you nice clothes and a nice place to live, but evidently can't buy you manners and class.
I think people are being too harsh on Alice. She's 15!
When she made the most obnoxious comments when she was sitting on her own in the park alone with the interview, it was a WEEK after she was MUGGED outside her own house. Think about that, of course that would have an effect on you and how you perceived things. Especially if you were 15.
Most of her comments were before she met Natalie. And Natalie wasn't perfect. When Alice went back to her house after the first meeting, she said how lovely Natalie was, but when Natalie went back to her house, Natalie said mean things about Alice.
Not saying that Alice didn't say stupid things. But I felt sorry for both Alice and Natalie. They are both a result of their upbringings. Both mothers were awful. As for when Alice called her mother a bitch right at the end, it was linked to things her mother was saying to her. I wasn't sure about the exact timescale, but it seemed her mother was criticizing her for changes in her behaviour which may have been linked to her association with Natalie.
Alice's family aren't rich. They are middle class. And they seem to have insecurities about the money they do have. When she was talking about the Rich list, they weren't parents of her friends she was commenting on, but people she'd read about. She clearly didn't think she was anywhere near as rich as them and her mother clearly has issues. She most likely goes to school with children whose parents are far wealthier than her family which may go some way of explaining her mother's clear insecurities.
did anyone actually watch this programme? It is true to say Alice's view were expressed in a inappropriate way but she had right to say what she said.
The mother of Natalie in my eyes was appalling. She took a loan out so that Natalie could go out for her birthday yet let her son sleep on the floor? She also didn't work, obviously wasn't fit enough to bring up children either. Watching her smoking away my taxes whilst her overweight daughter ran around 'getting rude' to the camera man made my blood boil. People like this shouldn't be allowed to breed.
you'rs all being pathetic! she's 15, shes had a good up bringing but alot of prejudice being put into her from a young age! I agree some of the comments were out of order but its not that bad! I agree Natalie seems very respectable but I don't think alice deserves all the abuse and ridicule that she's recieving!!!
I am a parent of a child that attends the school that Alice's mother teaches at. The school is very multicultural and while it is a private school not every child who attends is from a wealthy background. I am shocked that this teacher displayed her obvious racism and outrageous snobbery on national television. How foolish! I don't blame Alice for her unpleasant views, (which will now haunt her for long time) because they are obviosuly inherited from her parents.
Alice is such a nice person, I go to the same school and she's so lovely. The director told her to be un-politically correct. When she said "all state school people should die"
SHE'D BEEN MUGGED THE DAY BEFORE AND THE PERSON SHE WAS WITH WAS IN HOSPITAL FOR SERIOUS HEAD DAMAGE.
Of course she's going to be reeeally, REALLY annoyed and upset. They'd also been filming her for 6 months so she's going to be frustrated and say stuff she wouldn't normally.
Also, on Friday morning, she came into school and was in tears within the first 10 minutes. I feel so, so sorry for her and you all shouldn't judge her at first glance.
Please believe me; she is such a lovely, amazing, kind person.
Well i have to say I found the program extremely interesting and I learnt alot about the people of London ... I was scared of Natalie most of the time and found Alice to be open, honest and attractive, I could see me and Alice getting along very well x x x
I think it is terrible how people are reacting to Alice. There is one reason why she acted like she did and that is because of her ridiculously sheltered upbringing. The only experience of meeting less well of people than her is being mugged which bred with the attitudes of her parents is certainly going to breed ignorance and a feeling of superiority. In no way am i saying what Alice said is ok, i just think that she cannot be blamed and she wasn't a bad person, showed by her comments at the end, just terribly ignorant and prejudiced. She is definitely not a "bitch" and she came to some very promising conclusions at the end.
To JD: Obvious troll is obvious
To Sophie: I lol'd at that
the documentary was so biased and not objective, I mean talk about setting Up Alice to look the bad girl, yes her comments were bad, but take her circumstances and the attitudes of her mother you would not blame her. Natalie was saying about how poor people mug those with mroe money cos they are poor, condoning or justifying it?!
I think the producers of the show were thoughtless to the repurcussions for this 15 year old girl once this was broadcast. They showed where is lived also and having criticsed coucnil estate people, she has hundreds on her doorstep who will have seen this and knwo where she lives. the kid is 15 give her a break, she needs her eyes opening and i think the documentary did portray her progress in this, but her mother was so snobbish and her attitudes stunk, so of course her daughter is just a product of her mother.
How unfair the interviewer was pushing Alice for un pc comments and provoking her, that sint what responsible balanced journalism is about, so how was this documentary remotly fair?
I hope everything settles down quickly for Alice and she can just get on with her life without this haunting her and getting thrown in her face constantly.
And Natalies mother? My god give up the fags and get a job - your little boy had no bed! even putting a few quid a week aside woudl have eventually brought him one, not fags or pet food.
Hold tight Alice if you read this, the dust will settle. And Alice and Natalies mothers? Look in the mirror
Joanna
...yeah, sure! I bet her mum is too.
Alice really should have thought more before she said those things but I think the main problem is that she is young, she has lived in a middle class bubble and hasnt had contact with enough people who are outside of that bubble. I don't blame her for thinking that people that live off benefits are lazy, that is what it seems like, they just get money for doing nothing, what Alice doesnt know - because of her bubble life - is that there are reasons that these people can't/don't work. It is such an ignorant middle/upper class view to blindly state that everyone can work their way up and have the same amount of money as them, it does happen, but only to a very very very small amount of people. I think Alice has taken on views of her parents and her bubble and when she leaves home to go to university I hope that in her halls she has a wide variety of people there from different backgrounds and she is taught a few lessons about how the UK really is.
Alice, whilst initially vile, was in fact merely immature and impressionable, a product therein of her socially inept and judgmental climate, I hasten, her father seemed to have a little more nous about him, but to think that my child might ever be taught by the likes of her mother, fills me with great dread. Her mother ought to be truly embarrassed. What a fright. I cant fathom such ignorance. But I could write an essay on the utter disgrace and excuse of a human Alice's mother appeared to be. But I shall not waste my time, I think she did herself a great disservice publishing such intolerable thoughts and people will see her for exactly what she is, and I give the Great British Public credit enough to realise she was representing herself, alone, and I hope to goodness her sort are few and far between.
I was moved by Nat-Nat's character and think she really deserves a break. She can hold her head up high. I was so impressed by her spirit.
she's really nice really...
You can't really blame Alice for her views on 'poor people', she only takes on her mother's opinion. Yes, she is stuck up, and yes, she isn't a very nice girl, but that is not her fault, it's her mother's.
Alice's attitude towards people who are less privaledge. As for he remarks on state schools and council estates i am disgraced. See shouldn't judge everyone from their background or w/e. On the other hand I do understand where she is coming from because she has been made to think it is, from what she has seen and her parents obviously brought her up to think in that certain way. I go to a State school but I do not live in a council house, and i'd say i'm quite well-off theirs a reason why i choose not to go to private school that is because everyone ends up like snobs like her. The poor kid was a better person, she was beautiful in the inside and thats what mattered as for the rich kid, she is the most, disgusting, ugly, self-centered person i've seen in my like. Even though the rich kid had a good life the poor kid seemed much happier than her.
This is for Anna. The girl who is suposedly 'rich'. Firstly i would like to say that i got to a state school in which i am doing extremely well in. Infact i am an A* student! Wealth is transient whereas humility and love for ones family is solid. Natalie has portrayed intelligent opinions which has touched everyones hearts but yours. Alice on the other hand has shown disgusting inhumane views that can only infuriate those who aren't rich. Alice's views are also dickensian and show that she is easily brainwashed. I would prefer to be a state school pupil and be empathetic to those who are less fortunate than myself rather than be a bigotted snob! I think that the divide in our society is perpetuated by people like you and i would hope that in my lifetime people change their views and become more sympathetic to the less advantaged.
Florence - Age 15
Alice's Mum and dad ovbiously earn a few. And theres nothing wrong with that. It's just the fact she thinks she is better than everybody else because of the fact she's rich. She said people that go to a state school should die? Why should they.. I'd really really like to sit down and talk to her about everything. She's not right in the head.. The things she is coming out with weren't fair! She's giving people the image that every person who has a lot of money speaks like that. The stuff she was saying ?! Where does she think she is.. She reminds me of the Aga Saga Woman of the catherine tate show i know that sounds stupid but the longer she stays like that the more of a habit it's growing into. I actually have hate for her and hates a strong word! and also i have never seen OR spoke to her but i hate her.
when i first saw alice , i got a big erriction .
last night when i wet the bed i was thinkin of all you twats that comment on her and i would like to give you all a verry..VERRY good christmas.