A DOCUMENTARY maker has defended a controversial show being filmed in Southampton and said it had “no agenda”.

Channel 4 executive Ralph Lee said Immigration Street, which is based around the Derby Road community, is being made to tell stories about “some of the distressed parts of our society” and not to show anyone in a negative light.

A follow up to the heavily criticised Benefit Street which focused on people in Birmingham living on the dole, Immigration Street follows people in St Mary's, where a large proportion are immigrants.

The production, which began in April, has seen camera crews pelted with eggs and flour while others have called for its name to be changed.

Mr Lee, who is head of factual programming at the channel, said some of the opposition was “a form of censorship”.

He said: “We can't let this kind of criticism have a chilling effect on making programmes. In a way what they are calling for is a form of censorship and I am always really suspicious of that.

“I defend our right - and the necessity - to tell the stories of some of the distressed parts of our society.”

He admitted that people in Southampton, where Immigration Street is being filmed, were “very split” on the idea of the show.

He said: “Some are very happy to show their lives, others less so, and those who aren't have received a lot of support and encouragement from everyone from the local MP to community groups.

“Rather than just close the door and ignore it, people have tried to obstruct it. That's a real shame. They seem to assume there is a malign intent, a guaranteed negative impact of trying to tell the story about immigration and integration. We don't have a malign intention; there isn't an agenda.”

But Mr Lee remained ambivalent about changing the name.

He said: “We could change the title or we might not. The danger now is we would look like we were backing down.”

Southampton City Councillor Satvir Kaur, who lives in the area, responded saying that while the programme makers may have set out with the "best of intentions" she fears for the aftermath.

She said: "Our concerns are with the direct consequences and the fact that it's going to have a negative outcome for that roda, my community and the city as a whole .

"The representatives of those agencies that sent that letter through Southampton Connect are experts in their own fields. 

"They know their own communities a million times better than Channel 4 ever could."

Cllr Kaur added that having concerns for the community wasn't censorship.

She said: "They're not going to be in Southampton when they show is aired to pick up the pieces. It's going to be us."