In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we peel back the layers of the notorious 2014 documentary series Benefits Street, zeroing in on its explosive first episode. We explore how the show, the tabloids and even the government framed poverty, constructed narratives of the “deserving” versus “undeserving” poor, and used editing to transform real lives into sensationalist entertainment. And just how did a mortgage crisis in the USA contribute to austerity in the UK?

Join us as we unpack how a single episode became a national talking point—and a case study in the power (and danger) of televised storytelling.

To watch the first episode of Benefits Street discussed in this podcast on YouTube Click here

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And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

GAZER HOMEWORK: Next Week we dissect an episode of UK cult sci-fi drama Blakes 7 from 1980. Click here to watch

Welcome to The Problematic Gazette, a bonus addition to our main show. Our Dave and Dr Lee chew the fat, read out Gazer comments and discuss things we've seen, read and heard this week.

To watch video versions of our full episodes check out The Problematic Gaze YouTube channel here!

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Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.

And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we step back into 1979 with Series 3, Episode 1 of Mind Your Language — a British sitcom that turned cultural stereotypes into punchlines and classrooms into chaos. Once celebrated as lighthearted comedy, the show now raises serious questions about race, representation, and the politics of humor.

We unpack the episode’s jokes, characters, and reception — asking: What did 1979 find funny? How did the show reflect Britain’s uneasy relationship with multiculturalism? And what can today’s audiences learn from revisiting a sitcom that both entertained and offended in equal measure?

Join us as we explore how nostalgia meets discomfort in the world of Mind Your Language — and how comedy’s “classroom of errors” still echoes through pop culture today.

To watch the episode of Mind Your Language discussed in this podcast on YouTube Click here

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Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.

And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you!

GAZER HOMEWORK: Next Week we dissect an episode of UK documentary Benefits Street from 2014. Click here to watch our chosen episode on YouTube