Britain's Strangest Village

[shazzabell]

Did you watch this programme? Discuss.

[thikasabrik]

I live near Botton and it is a brilliant community. They have an open day each year and the queues of visitors stretch for miles. They are totally self sufficient and their bread, jams, chutneys etc sell in our local shops and are delicious. The programme did not show the community in its best light and made it look like an episode of League of Gentlemen. I objected to the comment that it was too institutionalised. What is the alternative - a return to the Victorian lunatic asylums?

[Bearworld1]

I agree, it's the least institutional way of way of life that people with these kinds of disabilities can have, Botton is a great place, I used to live near there and supported it through sponsorship.  Althought I'm glad the tv programme was shown, I can't help but agree about the league of gentlemen comment too, and the trailers channel 4 ran advertised it as some kind of "freakshow" to be gauped at by the  viewing public.  Botton's very essence is its quiet, gentle privacy, a place where villagers can exist with the rest of the world on their terms, long may it blossom.

[airbolt]

I read a review of the programme which summed it up. What TV wants is confrontation - You can see it in any number of shows ie " Holiday Showdown " . So I wasn't in the least surprised when the director emphasised the conflict between two of the people in the woodwork shop.

I think this Village deserved a lot better than this particular approach.