Planet Green
Credit: © Chris Ridley
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Episode One:
In 2009 recession and repossession mean homelessness is a frightening possibility for almost everyone. But for five famous volunteers, it’s about to become a terrifying reality.
Former tennis star Annabel Croft, The One Show’s Hardeep Singh Kholi, journalist and writer Rosie Boycott, former Coronation Street actor Bruce Jones and the Marquis of Blandford put homelessness in the spotlight by agreeing to swap their lavish lifestyles, fame and fortune for a world of sleeping rough, soup runs and hostels.
All five have earned success, recognition and in some cases notoriety in their chosen fields, but with everything they value stripped away and just a sleeping bag a symbol of their new life, how will they adjust to being invisible, vulnerable and desperate as they discover what it’s really like to be homeless in London today.
Guided and assisted by John Bird, Editor in Chief and co-founder of the Big Issue and Craig Last, a former youth worker for the charity Centrepoint, the five start this ten day experience being dropped off in different areas of London where they will spend their first three days and nights trying to survive on the streets.
The first night is unnerving and frightening as they each try to find somewhere safe to shelter from the sub zero temperatures and sleep. Each doorway looks as uninviting as the next; there is a constant feeling of threat and with no money, the prospect of begging begins to feel like a greater hurdle than actually getting any sleep.
But emotions run high as the five struggle to cope in this harsh environment and there are tears and clashes before the week’s out.
Episode Two:
Five become four in the second part of this documentary exploring homelessness in Britain today. Beaten by the whole experience of living rough in London, the Marquis of Blandford quits for the home comforts of Blenheim Palace on day three.
Rosie Boycott, Hardeep Singh Kholi, Annabel Croft and Bruce Jones have been stripped of all their money and personal possessions and are experiencing life on the streets first hand. They’ve slept in doorways, queued at soup kitchens and begged for spare change. They are tired, emotional, dirty and hungry and now they’re seeing life from the perspective of a homeless buddy.
Now three nights living with a homeless “buddy” each with a history of abuse, drink or drug problems. But emotions run high as the five struggle to cope in this harsh environment and there are tears and clashes before the week’s out.
The strain is beginning to show as the lack of sleep, food and no longer being treated like a human being starts to take its toll causing clashes, tears and full blown arguments.
Episode Three:
After a gruelling few days living rough with their homeless buddies, the four are finally sent to live in different hostels in London and Glasgow and discover a more frightening and intimidating environment than the streets. Annabel hangs out with former gang members at a young person’s hostel; Bruce witnesses the harsh reality of alcoholism when he stays in a wet hostel; Hardeep struggles to cope with living with hardened drug addicts in his hometown of Glasgow; and Rosie experiences loneliness for the first time on this journey when she moves into a tiny room in a women’s hostel.
The physical and emotional experience of ten days on the streets has challenged their prejudices and preconceptions of homelessness and the different reasons and circumstances that leave someone without the home life or locked doors that we take for granted. But will it change their attitudes beyond the programme when they return to the comfort and safety of their old lives?
