Oh yes. The only decent thing on TV at the moment. Hankies at the ready. Today followed Mo Chaudry who owns some water parks in Britain and has 60 million pounds. His parents moved from Pakistan when he was a child and he has basically disowned his Pakistani roots and married a white woman. He even looked quite white, really, with bluish eyes. Not that I'm accusing him of a Jacko style cover-up. He went to stay in 'the curry mile' in Leeds with the cover story that he was 'reconnecting with his Asian roots'. Which of course is what he ended up doing. I was surprised he admitted to being prejudiced about his own community. Not something you hear that often.
The millionaires always go and stay in some flat that looks like the kind of flat that I'd live in and go 'ERGH!' Hey ho. He then went and got a job as an assistant at a gym. He also helped out at the local radio station and someone rang up and abused him for marrying a non-Muslim. Charming.
One thing that annoys me about these millionaires is they are always like 'I did it, so why can't you?' Don't they understand you have to have a hell of a lot of luck to become a successful business person? Fair enough, they've grafted, but it's not like everyone could do it, or everyone would, wouldn't they? Some people don't know how. Some people have other hopes and dreams. it's not that simple.
There was something less heartwarming about this weeks show than normal. The causes didn't seem as worthy. The shop radio guy- like I care. He only trusted you cos you had a fuck-off camera with you. Aw- the 'brothers' comment nearly made me crack though. I wish white people had some sense of solidarity or community. Or do I? I don't know.
I felt like Winston (the gym guy) and his girlfriend were almost begging for money from Mo, something people never normally do. Had they sussed him? But I did cry at the final hurdle when Winston cried. He was speechless.
You got me. You always do. Next week I want to cry from about halfway through though.
Showing posts with label The Secret Millionaire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Secret Millionaire. Show all posts
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
The Secret (Gay) Millionaire
Today's secret millionaire was Terry who made his money from gay clubs and Mr Gay UK. And what a lot of money; he lived with his husband in a great fuck-off castle with a swimming pool. He went to work in a care home in Penzance, which was as grim as can be. That's my worst nightmare of a job, I'd really like to pretend old people don't exist, if possible. If I start to think about the full horror of what the future holds for all of us (if we don't die young, which isn't a particularly appealing alternative) I'd get badly depressed. So he helped out wiping old people's butts for £5.35 an hour. Poor fuckers. The thought of my mum becoming infantalised like that is truly the most terrifying thing I can think of.
He couldn't hack it though so went to work in the chippy instead. Mmm, chips. They looked quite tasty. Good move.
There was the usual 'this is how the peasants live' debate over bread prices (I wouldn't pay a pound for a loaf myself- unless I had to!)
The lovely old couple he befriended with the daughter in the wheelchair was heartbreaking. They were such a close couple. I honestly can't cope with the tragedy. I'm too sensitive. I honestly don't know how I will cope with all of the tragedy that inevitably lies ahead in life. I'm too weak! I just want to bury my head in the sand about it all.
I'm struck in this programme every week how friendly people are! I know there's a camera there but still, there does seem such a lot of genuine people out there. You don't meet people like that too much in London. They are more likely to call you an animal on the tube for asking them to move up an inch.
He couldn't hack it though so went to work in the chippy instead. Mmm, chips. They looked quite tasty. Good move.
There was the usual 'this is how the peasants live' debate over bread prices (I wouldn't pay a pound for a loaf myself- unless I had to!)
The lovely old couple he befriended with the daughter in the wheelchair was heartbreaking. They were such a close couple. I honestly can't cope with the tragedy. I'm too sensitive. I honestly don't know how I will cope with all of the tragedy that inevitably lies ahead in life. I'm too weak! I just want to bury my head in the sand about it all.
I'm struck in this programme every week how friendly people are! I know there's a camera there but still, there does seem such a lot of genuine people out there. You don't meet people like that too much in London. They are more likely to call you an animal on the tube for asking them to move up an inch.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
The Secret Millionaire
I was a bit disappointed with The Secret Millionaire last week. The guy was a bit annoying, even if he did restore Morrissey's favourite Salford Lad's Club.
This week featured a 26 year old self-made multi-millionaire called Ben. Great. make me feel good about earning a pittance. He was quite posh though, so I think daddy probably gave him a bung somewhere along the line. Still, not wanting to be an inverted snob, I gave him a chance. He lives in Mayfair but went to Hackney to try and get shot... er, help. 32 people were murdered there last year. Woo hoo!
Ben volunteered at a youth club. Ben was a crap liar. Some young chav asked him what he did for a living and he nearly cracked! The youth of Hackney didn't seem too bad really. They just needed a cuddle, like David Cameron said. And he just needs a face transplant. But I digress!
Hold up! About halfway through I noticed Ben suddenly had a black eye! He didn't have a black eye at the start! How did this happen? Why no explanation? I guess whoever did that aint going to be getting a windfall. Haha!
It was really wonderful when he gave the youth centre 20K and the guy just broke down in tears and hugged him. That guy worked for free just to support the kids who went there. He gave 10K to a guy who wanted to be a fashion designer. It was lovely when he visited the family as they seemed so close and such lovely people and he offered to pay for their wedding! I don't think the bloke wanted to get married! Still, they'd been together for twenty years.
He didn't just give the cash and fuck off: he stayed involved in the community too.
All in all: feel-good factor equals ten. Posh people are nice! Yay!
This week featured a 26 year old self-made multi-millionaire called Ben. Great. make me feel good about earning a pittance. He was quite posh though, so I think daddy probably gave him a bung somewhere along the line. Still, not wanting to be an inverted snob, I gave him a chance. He lives in Mayfair but went to Hackney to try and get shot... er, help. 32 people were murdered there last year. Woo hoo!
Ben volunteered at a youth club. Ben was a crap liar. Some young chav asked him what he did for a living and he nearly cracked! The youth of Hackney didn't seem too bad really. They just needed a cuddle, like David Cameron said. And he just needs a face transplant. But I digress!
Hold up! About halfway through I noticed Ben suddenly had a black eye! He didn't have a black eye at the start! How did this happen? Why no explanation? I guess whoever did that aint going to be getting a windfall. Haha!
It was really wonderful when he gave the youth centre 20K and the guy just broke down in tears and hugged him. That guy worked for free just to support the kids who went there. He gave 10K to a guy who wanted to be a fashion designer. It was lovely when he visited the family as they seemed so close and such lovely people and he offered to pay for their wedding! I don't think the bloke wanted to get married! Still, they'd been together for twenty years.
He didn't just give the cash and fuck off: he stayed involved in the community too.
All in all: feel-good factor equals ten. Posh people are nice! Yay!
Sunday, 11 November 2007
The Secret Millionaire
I loved this programme when it was on last year: I found it genuinely heart-warming. My boyfriend says there is something a bit distasteful about this rich person deeming who is worthy of help: but I say fuck it, they don't have to help ANYONE, (and I'm sure many millionaires don't) so good on them.
Gill Fielding went from being poor to having fifteen million as a 'wealth creator'- sounds pretty good. She went back to the East End of London where she grew up and pretended she was making a documentary about that area, whilst looking for likely anti-victims to give a wedge of cash to.
It was a bit of cringeworthy when she was in the shop going 'It's fun not to have money! How much is a pint of milk?'. But I liked her direct style of getting a job in a cafe then asking all the customers 'are you managing financially?' They weird part was, they all went 'yes' which showed that even poor people are proud. Good on them.
Jill got involved with a woman who helps deprived families and a local ailing theatre school. I really am amazed by people who genuinely go out of their way to do good for others, and seek no thanks for it. You don't think people like that exist anymore. But they do, and most don't get visited by a secret millionaire. They just go on slaving.
I was shocked when Gill said she spent £20,000 a month on 'knick-knackery'. Wowee, those must be some knick-knacks. There must be such a fear of being poor though, once you're rich.
I just cried solidly for the last half hour of the show. I'm such a baby. It's just so rare to see something on TV which actually acknowledges and rewards kindness. It reminds me of Faking It in a way, as that was also inspirational TV as opposed to the lowest common denominator of cruelty.
She was very generous too, sometimes I've seen them only give people ten grand or something, but she put £80,000 deposits on houses for people! And she sent a kid to stage school for five years. Good on her. Proper good stuff. Watch the rest of the series!
Gill Fielding went from being poor to having fifteen million as a 'wealth creator'- sounds pretty good. She went back to the East End of London where she grew up and pretended she was making a documentary about that area, whilst looking for likely anti-victims to give a wedge of cash to.
It was a bit of cringeworthy when she was in the shop going 'It's fun not to have money! How much is a pint of milk?'. But I liked her direct style of getting a job in a cafe then asking all the customers 'are you managing financially?' They weird part was, they all went 'yes' which showed that even poor people are proud. Good on them.
Jill got involved with a woman who helps deprived families and a local ailing theatre school. I really am amazed by people who genuinely go out of their way to do good for others, and seek no thanks for it. You don't think people like that exist anymore. But they do, and most don't get visited by a secret millionaire. They just go on slaving.
I was shocked when Gill said she spent £20,000 a month on 'knick-knackery'. Wowee, those must be some knick-knacks. There must be such a fear of being poor though, once you're rich.
I just cried solidly for the last half hour of the show. I'm such a baby. It's just so rare to see something on TV which actually acknowledges and rewards kindness. It reminds me of Faking It in a way, as that was also inspirational TV as opposed to the lowest common denominator of cruelty.
She was very generous too, sometimes I've seen them only give people ten grand or something, but she put £80,000 deposits on houses for people! And she sent a kid to stage school for five years. Good on her. Proper good stuff. Watch the rest of the series!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)