Skint - Itv - 9.00Pm

[silliemillie]

Did anyone watch this program?
Apart from it being diabolical....
At the end it said 'In Memory of Gordon' I didnt pay too close attention to their names, who was this please?

[sara3]

I know someone who lives in a rough area of London, a strict single parent with 3 kids. one of them got involved with the London riots and ended up with a criminal record.

personally, I'd have picked up those kids and moved to another area a very long time ago. I know I'm making it sound simple but let's face it.. single mother with 3 kids, she wasn't likely to end up on the streets. I just wouldn't bring my kids up in such an area.

[chrisgel]

The worrying thing is that there's no way of putting the genie back in the bottle.
Things will either stay like this or, more likely, get worse.

[B00]

What struck me is the harshness which the children are dealt with.

One example is Lea the 12 year old girl who was on a daily report thing from school for previous bad behaviour. As she was proudly showing her step dad the ticks she got on it, her immediately focused on the bad marks on it and claimed that she's constantly in trouble and will be again. I felt so sorry for her, she looked crushed.

[sara3]

and B00, what she said about her dad was heart-breaking. so sad.

plus the mother and step-father laughing when she was caught shoplifting. shameful.

[B00]

Yeah i forgot that bit too sara. Fancy telling her that her dad didn't care for her as he's got a new baby!

It could very well be true, but you certainly wouldn't tell them that, it'd break their hearts.

It's hardly surprising the children grow up to become feral, heartless creatures is it really?

[cazzz1975]

and chances are the parents are also the product of this level of dysfunction

[mccfluff]

i switched of pretty much at the start with the dyslexic boy who had to get up to go to boarding school and he and his mum were just shouting at each other

[B00]

"the mother and step-father laughing when she was caught shoplifting. shameful. "

Well seeing as the dad openly admitted (and showed stuff out of his fridge) of stuff they'd got from previously being stolen, they could hardly do anything else could they?

I actually watched the programme with open mouthed horror, as did Mr Boo, and we both agreed that if we're in the middle of such a neighbourhood, surrounded by folk such as these we'd do our damnedest to move as far away from them as possible, id even use our tent if necessary. I couldn't and wouldn't live surrounded by them- they frighten the BeJesus out of me.

[Bella28]

I watched the same programme ( SKINT )
was not impressed with the outlook of those on the estate :(
I came from a poor family where manners & morals were instilled from a early
age, I hope the children grow up with some degree of right from wrong, although given their teachers I doubt it :(

[Snafu03]

Despite his many poor qualities as a parent and a role model I did warm to the main male charachter (sorry, cant remember his name) He seemed good humoured and genuinely loved his family despite his lack of ability to 'do the right thing'. He had a pragmatic approach to his situation in life.

[MadMen]

I felt really, really sorry for the majority of the people, but mainly the kids.
That poor 12 year old girl has no chance. He parents are happy to buy bacon and cheese off "junkies" who shoplift to order, yet wonder why she's not thieving from shops herself. What kind of an example are they setting her, for goodness sake.

I do agree with Mamya's comment though, in that these are desperate people in desperate times.

The kid with the learning difficulties (sorry, forgot his name) made me feel quite sad.
His mother was trying her best but, to be fair to her, he is just way out of control and without a father figure around there's only so much she can do. I was shocked at the way he was speaking to her, but then it seemed to be the norm :(

[sebhfhion]

The type of children featured in this programme, I see and deal with a lot through voluntary work. Its heartbreaking as I see little monsters turned into witty,intelligent caring souls through giving them encouragement and praise as well as a defined line in the sand you just don't cross. Try putting back kids into a bus that are begging to stay with you 'we'll live in the barn' 'we can help out every day with the goats' knowing they are going back home to what you saw on the programme. Probably a very idealistic view and I only deal with a very few children for a very short time but I think the genie is out of the bottle and left the building and haven't a clue what can be done to address what is a growing problem.

[Matheous-2]

A compelling 'show' that's infuriating and disgusting! I can ,to a limited extent understand the father with all these step kids' mentality that having worked twenty-odd years and then flung on the heap now only seems to live for fags & booze and sex, but what kind of example is he passing on to these children? I also thought it totally unnecessary to show his 'snip' to the camera. What sort of message did that convey?
The other yobs in the estate should be sent to a boot camp!

[Connemmara]

hi all - anybody care to tell me if this programme will be on again - I take it was on last night Monday. Thanks

[Matheous-2]

It's a series- on again Channel4 May 20th at 9pm

[MadMen]

Urgh yeah, what was all that about! I had no desire to see his balls. Minging.

I watched it on 4od.

[Mamyalynne]

Can watch it here...


http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4od

[Connemmara]

thanks matheous and mamy - Con

[northboy]

what I found funny was the mattress you seen left out in the street.....I thought it was put there for that prostitute.lol
what a classy bird she was!!!!!!!!!!NOT

[Mamyalynne]

Found no comedy in it at all - goes to show what true addiction can do to a person , the whole thing was tragic.