Citizens Of Somewhere

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Milton Keynes

20210819

John Harris of the Guardian presents a new series telling the story of the UK in 2021 through the voices and stories of ordinary people in four places with a distinctive identity. In this first programme John and his producer Leala Padmanabhan visit Milton Keynes, a new town founded in 1967 in Buckinghamshire. Often caricatured as 'soulless' and full of concrete, in fact they discover a place rich in community spirit, green space and a can-do optimism which can be traced back to the original vision of the early Milton Keynes pioneers.

From the very beginning Milton Keynes welcomed immigrants moving there in search of a better life, and John hears several stories from MK settlers, including those who came in the first wave from London, and a family of Ghanian heritage who left South London in search of a safer and more peaceful life in the affluent suburb of Oakgrove.

In Woughton and Netherfield, two of the more deprived communities, John talks to people about how they are tackling housing, inequality and other social issues as we emerge from the Covid pandemic; and explores these challenges with the leader of the borough council, Pete Marland.

Many in Milton Keynes have aged together in a cohort and John finishes his visit by talking to residents of a retirement village about how they have tackled the challenges of ageing, rediscovering a spirit of optimism, design and forward thinking.

The programme contains some references to roundabouts.

Producer: Leala Padmanabhan.

John Harris talks to people in Milton Keynes about their lives and how they see the future

John Harris talks to people around the UK about their lives and how they see the future.

Perth

20210909

John Harris present the last programme in his series about the lives of people in four places in the UK with strong identities. This week he and producer Leala Padmanabhan are in the Scottish city of Perth. How do its citizens feel about their lives in 2021 and how do they see the future?

Perth - once the capital of the medieval kingdom of Alba - is in the centre of Scotland. Often described as the 'Gateway to the Highlands', the city is surrounded by countryside.

John begins his journey at an arable and fruit farm on the outskirts of the city, talking to farmer David Leslie about Brexit, labour shortages, Scottish independence and the climate emergency - a theme which has risen to prominence this summer and in the run up to the COP 26 summit in Glasgow in November. Climate change is a theme which runs throughout the programme and John also visits a renewable energy company based in the city which develops hydro electricity projects across the Highlands.

In Perth city centre John chats to shoppers about emerging from the pandemic, the state of the high street and the prospect of another referendum on Scottish independence.

Although a relatively affluent city, Perth also has areas of disadvantage, including the North Muirton estate, where John talks to residents and local campaigners about efforts to improve the environment and community life.

John and Leala also join a weekly well-being walk round Perth's North Inch park, organised by local Chinese takeaway owner Pete Chan to help people who became isolated during the Covid lockdown.

Producer: Leala Padmanabhan
Mixed by Hal Haines

John Harris talks to people in Perth about their lives and how they see the future.

John Harris talks to people around the UK about their lives and how they see the future.

Stoke-on-Trent

20210902

John Harris of the Guardian presents a new series telling the story of the UK in 2021 through the voices and stories of ordinary people in four places with a distinctive identity.
In this programme, he and his producer Leala Padmanabhan visit the Midlands city of Stoke-on-Trent, a place steeped in history - the pottery industry, coal mining and the birth of the musical sub culture Northern Soul.
The city also reflects some changes that have recently re-aligned British politics. Nearly 70 per cent of Stoke's voters backed leave in the 2016 EU referendum. Its three parliamentary seats were held by Labour for decades, but are now Conservative. The city is one of the key places the prime minister Boris Johnson says he wants to 'level up' by improving infrastructure, opportunities and community life. We ask the Conservative leader of Stoke city council, Abi Brown, for her views on 'levelling up' and what she wants to see central government deliver for Stoke's citizens.
People in Stoke's towns of Tunstall and Burslem tell us about their lives - emerging from the pandemic, the state of their communities, work, Brexit and how they think the city should be improved.
We discuss the impact of the decline of the pottery industry with some describing it as a 'bereavement' for the city but we also visit one of Stoke's enduring and successful ceramics firms, Royal Stafford in Burslem.
Finally, we visit the buzzing cultural quarter in Hanley to talk to young entrepreneurs, including the owner of a craft ale bar and restaurant, Bottlecraft.

Producer: Leala Padmanabhan
Mixed by Hal Haines and Annie Gardiner

People in Stoke-on-Trent talk to John Harris about their lives and how they see the future

John Harris talks to people around the UK about their lives and how they see the future.

Swansea

20210826

John Harris of the Guardian presents a new series telling the story of the UK in 2021 through the voices and stories of ordinary people in four places with a distinctive identity.

In this programme, he and his producer Leala Padmanabhan visit Wales's second city, Swansea, to talk to people about their lives, work and how they see the future.

Once a centre of copper, coal and steel, Swansea is now a post-industrial city in which retail, leisure and higher education play a big role. In a city which is also famous for its many call centres, John and Leala find friendly people happy to share their hopes and fears as Swansea emerges from the Covid pandemic into an uncertain future.

Shoppers and business owners describe deep sadness at the loss of major stores such as Debenhams, Clarks and Toys R Us, a decline sharply accelerated by the pandemic, with some predicting a 'bleak' future for the city centre. Others have high hopes of a £1bn regeneration project around Swansea's upmarket waterfront.

In the Mayhill area of the city, John and Leala explore the aftermath of a riot which took place in May. Some attribute the eruption of violence to frustration after months of Covid lockdown. John talks to a delivery driver whose home was targeted about his recovery and his hopes of a better future for the Mayhill community.

We also visit Swansea University and the Volcano community theatre on Swansea high street to talk about emerging from the pandemic, devolution and questions of identity - discovering strong enthusiasm for Welsh independence among the teenage theatre performers.

The programme features music by the Swansea group Bandicoot and the voices of many seagulls.

Producer: Leala Padmanabhan.

John Harris talks to people in Swansea about their lives and how they see the future.

John Harris talks to people around the UK about their lives and how they see the future.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Comments
Milton Keynes	20210819	John Harris of the Guardian presents a new series telling the story of the UK in 2021 through the voices and stories of ordinary people in four places with a distinctive identity. In this first programme John and his producer Leala Padmanabhan visit Milton Keynes, a new town founded in 1967 in Buckinghamshire. Often caricatured as 'soulless' and full of concrete, in fact they discover a place rich in community spirit, green space and a can-do optimism which can be traced back to the original vision of the early Milton Keynes pioneers. From the very beginning Milton Keynes welcomed immigrants moving there in search of a better life, and John hears several stories from MK settlers, including those who came in the first wave from London, and a family of Ghanian heritage who left South London in search of a safer and more peaceful life in the affluent suburb of Oakgrove. In Woughton and Netherfield, two of the more deprived communities, John talks to people about how they are tackling housing, inequality and other social issues as we emerge from the Covid pandemic; and explores these challenges with the leader of the borough council, Pete Marland. Many in Milton Keynes have aged together in a cohort and John finishes his visit by talking to residents of a retirement village about how they have tackled the challenges of ageing, rediscovering a spirit of optimism, design and forward thinking. The programme contains some references to roundabouts. Producer: Leala Padmanabhan. John Harris talks to people in Milton Keynes about their lives and how they see the future John Harris talks to people around the UK about their lives and how they see the future.
Perth	20210909	John Harris present the last programme in his series about the lives of people in four places in the UK with strong identities. This week he and producer Leala Padmanabhan are in the Scottish city of Perth. How do its citizens feel about their lives in 2021 and how do they see the future? Perth - once the capital of the medieval kingdom of Alba - is in the centre of Scotland. Often described as the 'Gateway to the Highlands', the city is surrounded by countryside. John begins his journey at an arable and fruit farm on the outskirts of the city, talking to farmer David Leslie about Brexit, labour shortages, Scottish independence and the climate emergency - a theme which has risen to prominence this summer and in the run up to the COP 26 summit in Glasgow in November. Climate change is a theme which runs throughout the programme and John also visits a renewable energy company based in the city which develops hydro electricity projects across the Highlands. In Perth city centre John chats to shoppers about emerging from the pandemic, the state of the high street and the prospect of another referendum on Scottish independence. Although a relatively affluent city, Perth also has areas of disadvantage, including the North Muirton estate, where John talks to residents and local campaigners about efforts to improve the environment and community life. John and Leala also join a weekly well-being walk round Perth's North Inch park, organised by local Chinese takeaway owner Pete Chan to help people who became isolated during the Covid lockdown. Producer: Leala Padmanabhan Mixed by Hal Haines John Harris talks to people in Perth about their lives and how they see the future. John Harris talks to people around the UK about their lives and how they see the future.
Stoke-on-Trent	20210902	John Harris of the Guardian presents a new series telling the story of the UK in 2021 through the voices and stories of ordinary people in four places with a distinctive identity. In this programme, he and his producer Leala Padmanabhan visit the Midlands city of Stoke-on-Trent, a place steeped in history - the pottery industry, coal mining and the birth of the musical sub culture Northern Soul. The city also reflects some changes that have recently re-aligned British politics. Nearly 70 per cent of Stoke's voters backed leave in the 2016 EU referendum. Its three parliamentary seats were held by Labour for decades, but are now Conservative. The city is one of the key places the prime minister Boris Johnson says he wants to 'level up' by improving infrastructure, opportunities and community life. We ask the Conservative leader of Stoke city council, Abi Brown, for her views on 'levelling up' and what she wants to see central government deliver for Stoke's citizens. People in Stoke's towns of Tunstall and Burslem tell us about their lives - emerging from the pandemic, the state of their communities, work, Brexit and how they think the city should be improved. We discuss the impact of the decline of the pottery industry with some describing it as a 'bereavement' for the city but we also visit one of Stoke's enduring and successful ceramics firms, Royal Stafford in Burslem. Finally, we visit the buzzing cultural quarter in Hanley to talk to young entrepreneurs, including the owner of a craft ale bar and restaurant, Bottlecraft. Producer: Leala Padmanabhan Mixed by Hal Haines and Annie Gardiner People in Stoke-on-Trent talk to John Harris about their lives and how they see the future John Harris talks to people around the UK about their lives and how they see the future.
Swansea	20210826	John Harris of the Guardian presents a new series telling the story of the UK in 2021 through the voices and stories of ordinary people in four places with a distinctive identity. In this programme, he and his producer Leala Padmanabhan visit Wales's second city, Swansea, to talk to people about their lives, work and how they see the future. Once a centre of copper, coal and steel, Swansea is now a post-industrial city in which retail, leisure and higher education play a big role. In a city which is also famous for its many call centres, John and Leala find friendly people happy to share their hopes and fears as Swansea emerges from the Covid pandemic into an uncertain future. Shoppers and business owners describe deep sadness at the loss of major stores such as Debenhams, Clarks and Toys R Us, a decline sharply accelerated by the pandemic, with some predicting a 'bleak' future for the city centre. Others have high hopes of a £1bn regeneration project around Swansea's upmarket waterfront. In the Mayhill area of the city, John and Leala explore the aftermath of a riot which took place in May. Some attribute the eruption of violence to frustration after months of Covid lockdown. John talks to a delivery driver whose home was targeted about his recovery and his hopes of a better future for the Mayhill community. We also visit Swansea University and the Volcano community theatre on Swansea high street to talk about emerging from the pandemic, devolution and questions of identity - discovering strong enthusiasm for Welsh independence among the teenage theatre performers. The programme features music by the Swansea group Bandicoot and the voices of many seagulls. Producer: Leala Padmanabhan. John Harris talks to people in Swansea about their lives and how they see the future. John Harris talks to people around the UK about their lives and how they see the future.