Pop Buzz UK

A new show titled ‘The Secret Millionaire‘ began Wednesday night on Channel 4 in the UK. The basic premise is over the course of the 5 part series, 5 different millionaires will move out of their safe and happy world and into a different environment for 10 days. They will spend that time, mixing in a less well off, more humble place, learning about the people and their needs and wants. Then at the end of their stint, they have the opportunity to decide where to give some of their wealth. All through this time, the millionaire’s true identity is kept secret (you might have guessed from the title) with the explanation being that a TV documentary is being filmed about transposing rural poor with city poor. It’s a great concept and the first show worked amazingly well.

The ‘secret millionaire’ of episode 1 was 26-year-old dotcom entrepreneur Ben Way (pictured above). He was sent to work in a youth centre in the London borough of Hackney. A place the programme was very keen to paint as the ‘gun mile’. Ben was welcomed into the area and soon began his time as a youth worker in the Pedro Club, a youth centre for the borough’s disadvantaged youngsters. Ben, who is worth about £25 million, lived on the breadline as a local for the 10-day duration of his stay. The people he met included Ufu Niazi, the manager of the Pedro who worked for the club for 2 and half years with no pay after a member of staff embezzled cash from the group. Without Ben it’s likely the group would have shut or at least be struggling badly. The youth club receives no public funding, instead relying on donations and grants.

The hour-long programme followed Ben as he met and got to know members of the club and volunteer workers. All this time he has been deciding and mulling in his mind, who is most worthy of receiving the help his money could give. In the last part came the reveal, the point of the programme when the secret millionaire reveals himself to his new friends and declares to them they are receiving a cheque from him. In this first episode, Ben decided to give £20,000 to the Pedro club, or more specifically Ufu, for renovation, wages and to build a recording studio on the premises. There are tears of joy as Ufu realises what this means. Ben also gives money to another volunteer worker from Pedro called James, for a wedding to his long time girlfriend who has put off the big day during a 19-year engagement due to lack of money. The last and most poignant person to receive a chunk of money from the secret millionaire was a young fashion designer called Wayne, who currently works from his bedroom stencilling jeans and selling them on the streets. Ben handed him a cheque for £10,000 and basically instructs him to make his dream come true. He wants to work with him and get his unique designs in to shops rather than the mean streets of Hackney.

The show ended with the after scene, set a few months later. The Pedro club was being regenerated, and the new recording studio will hopefully be up and running and available for renting out at £40,000 a year, enough to keep it open and lots more besides. They also showed James’ wedding that wouldn’t have happened if this programme hadn’t existed. Last but not least, the young fashion designer was now shown selling his stuff in high street shops, which snapped up all his stock. It was a real moment of joy for both men and made me smile while watching too. This programme is fantastic and is a real change for reality TV where the participants are out to give something rather than receive fame and fortune. It’s rare for a programme to lift my heart rather than fill it with dread these days but this one certainly filled the void. The series continues next week at 9pm and I’ll definitely be tuning in. Excellent and highly recommended.

The Secret Millionaire, Ben Way, Pedro Club, Hackney, Channel 4