Jody McKenna and The Secret Millionaire (show to be aired Sunday 26th April 09 Channel 4) (1/2) By Michelle Dee

(1/2), (2/2),

Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget was the title of singer/songwriters Jody McKenna and Dave Saxby latterly of The Peasants debut album /music05/albums/stevepeasants.html . Jody could be forgiven for thinking those dreams of grandeur and prosperity had finally been realised when Channel 4's Secret Millionaire presented him with a cheque for twenty grand.

I caught up with Jody in the back room at the Adelphi Club in Hull where the extraordinary series of events began. It's late January as I wandered down De Grey St in order to catch Monday's Musicians Night in Hull. As I approached the club I noticed a camera on a tripod, set up on the pavement outside. I spoke to the two camera crew and enquired as to what they were filming. Their response was vague and somewhat confusing.

They asked if they could film me walking into the club. I said that that would be fine and I left them to their filming. There were quite a few strange faces in the Adelphi that night, more cameras and something that looked like a young person's survey going around. Much to my dismay, I'd missed Jody's set. He'd been on first and had already been filmed by the cameras, playing live. It wasn't until Wednesday that week, that I learned the reason behind the television cameras presence at the Adelphi Club, on a damp Monday night.

Tonight I asked Jody how he came into contact with the Channel 4 programme and what it was like spending time with an undercover millionaire. He explained that initially Channel 4 had contacted Stewart Baxter, Arts and Music Coordinator at The Warren. They had told him they were doing a piece on young people's experience of services in Hull with particular regard to lifestyle and social development

Stewart put Jody forward and the opportunity to speak with the research team landed on his doorstep quite literally. Jody began to be interviewed on film by a man known to him only as Martin. He asked Jody about his life and in particular about how The Warren staff, services and facilities had benefited him. Jody spoke about his life, his passion for writing and music and how he and his musical aspirations had been valued and supported by the Warren.

In particular he spoke about the work of Stewart Baxter and the team working in the Arts and Music Department at The Warren. Their mission is to engage, encourage and support young people in Hull in order to develop their creative skills. Those same young people age16-25 years, are often described as being difficult or challenging and hitherto have been missed by other services.

As the week of filming progressed, suspicions and concerns were intermittently flagged up. When questioned as to the name of the programme, the nature of the show and pressed for more information, the answers coming back from the crew and Martin were vague and unconvincing. 'Loads of stuff didn't tally up,' Jody explains.

Continued .... Next Page (2/2)

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