Stacey pleased with BBC show
Programme Name: n/a - TX: 20100101 - Episode: n/a (No. n/a) - Embargoed for publication until: n/a - Picture Shows: - (C) BBC - Photographer: Jack Barnes
LUTON-born TV personality Stacey Dooley says it would have been ‘hypocritical’ not to tackle issues in her home town for a BBC documentary when she’s travelled the world to get to grips with contentious topics abroad.
BBC Three Show Stacey Dooley Investigates: My Hometown Fanatics caused a social networking stir as it was ‘trending’ on Twitter when it aired on Monday night, sparking much debate.
But Stacey was happy with how the show, which explored extremism in Luton, came across.
She told the H&P yesterday: “I was nervous about it but the team were great and the director was really keen to get everything done accurately. You’re always going to get people who don’t agree.”
“When the BBC asked me what did I think about it, I did give it a lot of thought because it’s one thing going across the world and talking to people about these issues, but I think it’d have been slightly hypocritical to go abroad and tackle issues but shy away from some in your home town.
“To be honest, I think it would be ridiculous to say there are no problems in Luton because quite evidently there are.
“You’ve got organisations like the Al Muhajiroun and the English Defence League popping up but you have to bear in mind that they are a tiny minority.”
During the show, Stacey visited Luton’s Central Mosque and interviewed EDL leader Stephen Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson).
She admitted it was odd filming in her own town and interviewing someone she recognised from her time growing up here.
She said: “I knew Tommy when he wasn’t part of the EDL and for him to be this figure that’s recognised around the world, I thought ‘oh my God’, it’s nuts.
“It was strange, I haven’t seen him in years but it was important to talk to him because so much is made of Luton and I wanted to make sure it was all done accurately.”
Viewers also saw Stacey involved in a fierce exchange with an Islamic protestor who criticised the way she dressed during a march on Luton Police Station led by extremist preacher Anjem Choudhury back in September.
Stacey stumbled across the protest moments after finishing filming scenes dressed in a niqab in Luton town centre with two young Muslim girls, who she says she can’t speakly highly enough of.
And the contrast between the attitudes of the two young girls and similarly dressed women on the march left Stacey saddened.
“I didn’t even know (the protest) was happening, we’d just dropped the two girls off home and were in the middle of it,” she said.
“To see women wearing similar outfits and using that as an excuse to push messages that most other Muslims don’t agree with is sad.
“It feels gutting that we’re all Lutonians, we should be pally as we’re all young girls, but in Luton there’s a tiny minority and they want to spoil it for the rest of us.”
And Stacey, who shot to fame after initially appearing on Blood, Sweat and T Shirts on BBC Three in 2008, praised the work of council and police efforts to ensure harmony in Luton.
She said: “I think it’s easy to put down organisations that are trying to sort out the situation because they haven’t been able to sort it out straight away, but you have to realise that these organisations are hell bent on getting their message across so it’s not going to change overnight and we have to praise anyone who is trying to sort it out.
“I think we have to not let them get anyone into their way of thinking. It’s a case of non-Muslims and Muslims together against extremists.”
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Comments
There are 10 comments to this article
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Bury-Park-Soldier
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 01:04 AMPMS1975 The people of Hemel woudnt allow it! HAHAHAHAHAHA !! Think some some-one has been smoking the same stuff as zeebadee on the magic roundabout !!! What a numpty! Atleast you've made a friend in Paul R the resident troll !
lu4ton
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 08:31 PMIf we say we don't like whites, we get called extremists but you people all day long leave comments on here filled with hate about muslims and our way of life what does that make you??? Why is Bury Park such an issue? What would you people have made of it anyway?? You scum have got Marsh Farm, Hockwell Ring, Lewsey Farm, Wigmore and Stopsley!!
Paul R
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:51 PMPMS1975 If you really want to know how it happened type "The ethnic cleansing of Bury Park - Luton" into YouTube. At the time the police claimed they were taking it very seriously, 4 years on and I don't remember hearing any more about it after that. Under British rule, there were approximately 30,000 British officials in India, now there are more Muslims than that in Luton alone. They don't intend to integrate, they're here to colonise.
PMS1975
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:35 AMWhat I don't understand is how or why things have got this bad in Luton. The Muslims have been allowed to take over a complete area of Luton and more besides. Why? Islam is like Cancer. If it's left unchecked it will grow and grow. When you realise, it's too late. Look at West Yorkshire: Batley, Dewsbury and other places. The 'white British' driven from their towns and these places turned into predominantly Muslim settlements. This wouldn't happen in Hemel Hempstead. The people of this town wouldn't allow it.
Kyra
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 07:23 PMWell said Lutonmum - totally agree with all your comments. Seems to be very topical to trash Luton............if Lutonions don't stand up for their home town who will?
Lutonmum
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:56 PMI think the programme could have been more in depth. The questions to the participants were not searching enough. For example I would have asked Lennon how he makes his money given that he owns houses and a business but doesn't seem to work. Oh and his 'Tanning shop' is never open. I don't think Stacey did enough research other than rely on her and her mates view of Luton. Research would have told her that Carroll was a former BNP member. Yes there are extremists in Luton, both Muslim and EDL but most people here have no time for either of these minority groups. I'm not saying Luton is fantastic but it's no worse or better than any other large town. Programmes like this one just continue the 'crap town' image we have been lumbered with.
eileen12
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:46 PMI would just like to add that I have lived in Luton 17years, I am originall from Derry N Ireland. I have met many people who live there, some nice some not so nice. You get that in cities all over the world, Luton isn't any diffrent.
Paul R
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:23 PMI found it disturbing that Stacey insisted on referring to most Muslims as moderate even the ones who admitted they want Shar'ia law. Whatever excuses they give, it cannot be justified in a civilized country. I know the BBC have to appear neutral, but "we don't stone adulterers often" isn't what I'd call moderate and I doubt many others would either. We need one law for all in the UK, no exceptions for race, religion or culture. No bigamy, no Shar'ia, no cruel halal or kosher and no genital mutilation of children. Stacey made a good start, but she barely scratched the surface. Muslims need to fall into line with everyone else, not the other way around.
hustler
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:21 PMHi just wanna say Stacey if your reading this then well done for the show you made some good points about the differences between normal Muslims and the Muslim extremists. I am a Muslim myself born and bred in Luton and actually went to the same School you went to Stopsley High School and too be honest i dont remember the name but i remember that face you was few years younger then me. It was nice looking back at my old school and by chance the two teachers on the show Mr Feather and Mr Williets were my ex form tutors. (not changed 1 bit) The whole show was good i feel the same way as you do about Luton we all should respect one anothers religions and hope one day everyone gets along how they should but i feel sad and sorry to say that it wont ever happen due to that small minority of people that want to spoil it for everyone. But like they say you should never give up because i aint. Overall Well done mate.
Third_Eye_Blind
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:16 PMWhilst I applaud the intentions Stacey may have had before making this documentary, I felt it ended up just giving yet another platform to the handful of attention seeking 'Celebrity' extremists on both sides. What about the majority of people in Luton, who don't want anything to do with either the ex Al Mahajoroun lot or want the EDL bringing fear into the town either? By now everyone is well aware of both these groups standpoints, and their utter refusal to see anything other than their blinkered views. Yes they may be entitled to espouse their free - albeit full of hatred - speech, but hope the police are monitoring closely both Saiful and Tommy, and crack down hard if they overstep the mark into incitement
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