A NEW TV drama about a group of Irish people living in Britain has faced a backlash on Twitter.
Scores of tweeters responded to a message from the London Irish Centre who asked some of their 4000 plus followers for their opinion on London Irish, Channel 4’s forthcoming show.
Dozens took to their keyboards to accuse the programme’s producers of negative stereotyping, however, there were some messages of support for Derry born writer Lisa McGee.
On Channel 4’s press release, the show is pitched as a comedy drama laced heavy with alcohol.
On Twitter, Keith M. O’Brien said: “Frankly it’s insulting. The blurb touches on some real issues, and some funny ones. But why is it just about us being drunks?”
Kelly O’Flaherty tweeted: “That press release blurb is dripping with negativity. Seems to only encourage the negative stereotype, won’t be watching.”
The centre, in London’s Camden, declined to comment on the flood of messages until they had seen the show.
In part, Channel 4’s press release reads: “London Irish is about a hard-drinking, hard-living ex-pat community of Northern Irish twenty-somethings who live in London and someone who knows all about that is writer and Derry girl Lisa McGee. For these four friends it's not easy navigating their way through London life, particularly when they’re too drunk to know where they’re going, or remember where they’ve been”.
When contacted by The Irish Post, Channel 4 said they had yet to receive any official complaints in relation to the programme which has yet to be aired.
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