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People are wont to say that television takes the piss out of its viewers. This programme, the first of four exploring Britain after dark, redresses that imbalance, by handing the piss right back to them.
For this documentary – made in the same spirit as Channel 4’s recent hit ‘The Fried Chicken Shop’ – cameras were installed in the loos of Crawley club JJ Whispers for a week. The constants (apart from the sinks and loo-roll holders) are the toilet attendants in both the ladies and gents. The narrator reminds us that they’re not paid a wage; that their income is solely garnered from tips. Dami and Peter both came from Nigeria five and eight years ago respectively. Both wanted a better life in the UK.
Whether this involves getting shouted at over the price of Chupa Chups or seeing men who slide their boxers down below their entire bum while standing at a urinal is unclear. What is certain is that this will instantly remind you of ‘Chicken Shop’ so, how do they compare? Like its forerunner, certain subjects are lined up and introduced one-by-one. It’s a convenient device, but it also starts to grate when you realise the focus isn’t on the location or action, rather on the backstory of the particular punters. Dare us to say it, but it may just be that the kebab-eaters of Clapham are more interesting and engaging than the cocktail-swigging clubbers of Crawley.
Still, it’s a novel idea that works as a one-off. Let’s hope Channel 4 haven’t broken the seal.