Cutting Edge: RICH KID, POOR KID
Channel 4’s Cutting Edge strand continues with this emotionally powerful film which explores the gap between rich and poor, following two teenage girls of similar age who live on the same street, one born to poverty, the other to a life of plenty.
Alice and Natalie are both teenagers. They both have younger brothers. They are both very strong-willed. They both straighten their hair at the weekend. They live just a stone’s throw from each other, but their experience of life, from holidays to daily pre-occupations, are a million miles apart. What happens when their lives collide?
Thursday 13 November 2008
9:00pm, Channel 4
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Omggg. I think the rich girl is stuck up, i’m pretty sure most people don’t choose to be born into poverty and it’s not as easy as ‘working your way up’ when people clearly have that view, such as potential employers etc who will obviously favour someone who looks more well off than someone who isnt.
She needs to get her head out of the clouds, not everyone who lives in council houses are how she thinks. She isn’t better than someone becauase her parents have good jobs or nice cars.
I think this programme presented a true image of real life situations which is important for people to realise the truth behind the money divide in britian.
The ‘rich’ Girl on rich kid poor kid has really annoyed me !!! she is so stuck up! im 18 and have worked since i was 12 but have jus had to go on benefits as im pregnant. saying that everyone on benefits are bums is really rude and personally i want to slap the little bitch! i hope she can grow up before someone brings her down to earth, living in london with her attitude yeah i hope she does get whats coming to her!! she is so stereotypical as well saying that she can tell what a chav is by the way they walk or just because they live in a council flat! its aload of crap! NOT IMPRESSED!!!!!
Totally agree. That rich girl needs to be shot!
So far quite an aggravating documentary.
Alice makes me cringe at her naivety, and Natalie also for falling into stereotypes.
I swear they picked the most stereotypical people around.
I hope they both learn something from each other…
I think the ‘rich kid’ is really annoying, what gives her the right to think she’s better than anyone else, just because she’s well off. She’s so horrible to her mum aswell, she needs to learn some respect. Really awful, can’t stand her.
ARW, I don’t think they’ve picked sterotypes at all. I don’t know many girls in Natalie’s situation who would take over the role of a parent for a young brother, build him a bed and get him into a school. She was rough around the edges, admittedly, had clearly made some mistakes in the past, but from what I could see had a heart of gold. If I had to choose either of them to be a kid of mine, Natalie would win hands down.
People need to see it’s not how you talk or how you dress that defines you, but your actions. Can you imagine the cloistered little brat Alice stepping up and taking care of an infant? I think not.
Unfortunately there is no way that Alice is a stereotype in the sense that she’s not a good representation of reality. I’ve met so many students like her, who shamelessly voice the same opinions. I feel furious after watching this documentary,partly with myself for not expressing how I feel after watching this when I actually overhear people like that. It’s definitely inspired me to do try and do something to change such a horrific situation.
It’s a pity that someone so young could have such strong negative opinions about people she knows little about. But how did she develop these negative opinions? Listen to her mother and you know she came to have such ignorant and arrogant ideas. Are they a reflection of how the middle class family thinks. The mother made a comment about not having any British people around “they are all blacks”. Hellooo, its possible they are Black British! Black people are human too, woman!
I sincerely pray that neither her or any member of her family find themselves dependent on the state one day!
We have to wait for our own CHANGE in the UK.- “YES WE CAN”
Seriously, the only thing the rich girl has done is say what a lot of people think – go one street over in London and it is scary! I like Nat, and she can’t help her circumstances, and she shows that people who live in council flats DO care, but Alice has spoken honestly (because of her age no doubt) about what a lot of people think.
What I have said isn’t the PC thing to say, but it is the truth.
XXXX
gd the snob ws a rite bitch – i go 2 a private skl and do hv money but i wud much rather be mates wiv natalie
the rich girl ws so stupid and has no common sense
twat
how can the rich girl be so posh when she lives on the same street as someone that is so supposedly ‘different’ to her xxx
Not as interesting as other cutting Edge films, didn’t learn anything we didn’t know (unlike Dana, the 8 year old anorexic). There are so many people now, that rich and poor get pushed side by side, there isn’t a geographical cut-off line anymore, and the crime from the council estate spills into the rich area. The government can’t help those in need, and the police can’t control the crime. Britain 2008? Nat did seem to have more character, Alice was bit scared and constricted, then why did she agree to take part. I don’t think either learnt anything.
Just finished watching it too. An absolute eye-opener. Alice is going to regret this so much as she grows up. In a way it shows, by virtue of the fact that her family were willing to be showcased on television, that they aren’t really as ‘posh’ as they perceive themselves to be. I think many ‘upper middle class’ Britons have this world view but know that it is controversial and so steer clear of publicising their opinions in this fashion. It doesn’t do anything for their popularity. This (silly) family didn’t realise how ridiculous they would look.
I thought it was hilarious when Alice said ‘She’s butters, mate’ – very Sloane slang, not to mention her mentioning the King’s Road. Her mother’s statement about there being no white people walking around the ‘bad end’ of their road was also extremely amusing, especially when her young son pointed out that she was racist – out of the mouths of babes! It actually seemed as if this family was suffering from a tremendous inferiority complex (as the nouveau riche often do) and that their shared strategy for dealing with this was by comparing themselves to far less privileged people. Evidence of this came when Alice stated that she enjoyed feeling superior to ’state school’ children and that she was rather disappointed that her local drama class had made her realise that they were much like her.
On a more positive note, Natalie was a breath of fresh air and although her trepidation at meeting Alice was palpable in the beginning, she seemed to settle into herself very well as time went by. She is a young lady with huge responsibilities and I was blown away by her dedication to her family. Her fierce protective instincts, particularly of her mother (you might recall the conversation about Gabriel’s bed) were indicative of a large burden being carried gracefully by an extremely capable young woman.
I must say, in Alice’s defense, that her honesty -intended or not- was refreshing and really did provide a view into the psyche of her set without very much colouring for the cameras. And she came good in the end. Sort of. Right?
I agreed to all your sentiments at first but I just watched this documentary, and loved it!
It made me cringe at first (i thought it was hopeless), then uncomfortable because i could feel nothing but total empathy/sympathy,respect and admiration – for Natalie. I totally hated Alice, i thought she had no redeeming features – i thought it was almost hopeless.
Natalie is Diamond – however after they both got to know each other a little bit, properly, I softened more to Alice -when she finally removed the stick from her ass – implanted firmly by her parents (a life lived on fear – no back-bone, no strong role models anywhere, her Dad is a SAP, her mum is neurotic with fear/snobbery to the point of making me ill)..
Anyway, Alice regains her dignity when she realises that her life has been lived in neurotic fear and totally rejcts her mums, calls her a bitch and walks off.
I dont blame Alice (she is what, 15? )its all about her guardians hopeless, insuffocating, love-less influence that makes me hate her parents more…
I liked this film alot!
i am in her peer group and she is getting an incredible amount of abuse right now.. from everyone, she’s even been asked to leave the school and received death threats.. if you knew her family you would understand where her views come from
To the person above, if she’s receiving abuse and death threats, it’s hardly a good idea to go round telling everyone where she goes to school is it?
i think alice was completely correct
poor people are bellow us, and being a member of the upper-middle class i completely agree with her. I alwayss feel superior to the common twats..such as natalie-who by coincedence is a whale
I think the dreadful mother was much worse than Alice. Scary to think she teaches young children. Typical ‘aspiring’ middle class family just like the family on the Catherine Tate Show – yuk!
The one who really stood out on this programme was the hideous ‘rich’ mother who seemed completely disappointed that Natalie wasn’t overwhelmed with envy at their house. Natalie was polite, intelligent and astute – her friendly praise of their garden was met with a ‘it’s a bit small’ from the mother – pure exclusionist comment when she was well aware Natalie didn’t have a garden at all. Vile, vile woman – no wonder her poor daughter has turned out the way she is. The hero of the show was Natalie – what a great girl. Here’s hoping she get’s the life that she deserves and isn’t a victim of circumstance for the rest of her life.
award-winning director, where? So he filmed two kids, and, so what?? Alice is not responsible for Nats situation. There are lots of Alices and there are lots of Nats. Of course their worlds would naturaly nevr meet, why would they?
This was a stupid doc which was totally edited, (at times) highlighting Alice’s prejudices… but did Nataliee think Alice was holy perfect, I think not either, so what is all the fuss about?
Great documentary. I was really eager to watch this show last night and am glad I did. I was, like most people here have said, quite annoyed by what Alice was spewing verbally. But her “mother”. That weird, weird, ignorant “mother”. If she thinks she is up there with the REAL upper class people, why is she living in one of the most culturally diverse parts of London? I cannot believe she’s a teacher and brain washed her daughter to think as she thinks. I was glad to see towards the end that Alice was able to see for herself what was outside her bubble. I hope she, Alice, can learn from other people and not be so close minded. And Tact. My goodness, she needs to learn about tact!!!
But Natalie, what a gem. Really, I hope she finishes her education, lives a healthier lifestyle and polishs up that gem surface she has.
i know what Alice said was silly and not thought through but we can obviously tell this is her mother speaking not her. she doesn’t deserve the abuse she is getting. after all she IS 15. she seems like a child who was brought up by a evil puppet master and it has been drummed into her head to act in such a way. yes what she said was highly offensive and rude but give the girl a break I’m sure she sees the error of her ways.
Well I feel compelled to express my feeling of superiority to odious twats/trolls like Hazza who, despite receiving a quality of education that I haven’t received, struggle to spell five-letter words.
Well, I feel compelled to express my feeling of superiority to odious twats/trolls like Hazza who, despite receiving a quality of education that I haven’t received, struggle to spell five-letter words.
I didn’t like either of them particularly. Alice appeared stuck up and closed minded, but Natalie clearly has a massive chip on her shoulder too. She showed herself up in a big way when she threw a hissy fit all because she didn’t like one of the questions being asked.
I strongly believe that Alice had been brought up to think and feel this way about people that are not as wealthy as her. She had very stereotypical views and should of thought about what she said before she said it. I felt offended a great deal when she made the comment about kids that go to state school can die according to her. When showed the picture of Natalie she said “mate she’s butterz”…what was the need for that comment, she’s just plain disrespectful. Natalie showed more manners than her. Also they way she spoke to her mum was unacceptable! She called her mum a bitch…how dare she, and the mum just laughed it off….not good parenting at all. I would hate to EVER meet Alice in my entire lifetime, and really hope i don’t ever come across her in the streets. I have no respect for the girl and personally think that she doesn’t deserve the time of day. She had me fuming watching that last night, absolutely FUMING!!!!!!
Are there no moderators on this site? I think it’s quite wrong that a surname and school have been given on this forum.
About the documentary: Alice made some unacceptable comments, but let’s keep it in perspective – the girl is only 15. She has a great deal to learn, but who doesn’t at that age? I’m amazed that her parents let her put herself in such a situation. I have little doubt that the documentary was edited to make “good” TV and to make us feel sorry for Nat and dislike Alice. I’m too cynical, and so are some that have posted above, but I think many people will have been taken in.
That girl alice stole my life the only thing different about her and me is that she is 15 and i am 14, i go to private school, live in a 6 bedroom house in SW London, i do drama classes with state school kids, My Brother supports arsenal, I have a bigger grand Piano than her yet i don’t think at all like her her mother is a terrible influence and she should probably listen to her little brother who seems sensible enough. She has been asked to leave her school which she deserves if i were her i would be very scared walking anywhere on her street now.
She portrayed every private school girl like her when i can tell you we are soooooo not like that. i am glad that she learned something from the programme.
i say leave off the rich one cos she can only say what she has had experiences of and if shes been mugged and that and she hasnt ever socialised with common people then she can only assume that all poor people are dangerous and lazy etc. many are rough because they may think they have to be, just because the posh girl isnt too bright and cant see that you have to look past the outer appearance and judge them as a person, doesnt make her a bad person herself
while some of alice’s comments were offensive. If she had been mugged twice adn was clearly scared to go to ,many areas (because of fear of being mugged again) it doesn’t mAke her a bad person to suddenly react by avoiding people who have many things in common with the people who stole from her. When natalie said that “she’s used to being the one doing the robbing” it made me feel what a vile person she really is.
If natalie really didn’t like her situation she could have worked hard at school and been successful. For example over half of the students at oxford and cambridge previously went to state schools so many people do just that.
Alice is highly susceptive of others and also very ignorant of others, however I think that her mother has had the biggest impression in her life and has certainly not brought her up in the appropriate manner. I admire Nathalie, her brother Gabby and her mum for actually gaining in life and doing the best that they can with the abilities available to them and not actually moaning when life becomes too tough.
I go to a private school and have nothing in the world against state school children, Yes they may live a different way of life in terms of money, but I have friends at state schools and it does not affect their personalities in the slightest. Personally I prefer state school kids, to private school kids as they get on better in the world around them and with the people
Don’t blame Alice, the comments and prejudices have been inherited from the mother. Furthermore, what was she thinking allowing her daughter to expose her ignorance and racism to the nation.
I want to know which sick headmaster thought it was a good idea to employ that vile woman to teach children.
I think you should give this girl alice a break.
She said some horrible things about state school people but she never ever deserves death threats and being expelled from school. She is only 15 (i’m the same age) can she has a long time to grow up and understand what is really right in the world. It is all her mother’s fault as you can tell by her racist comments on the programme.
please can you get rid of her surname and school from this site.
I am very worried for her safety because you can tell exactly what house she lives at because of the terrible editing.
i think if she just changed her views slightly she would be a lovely girl. just give her a chance and you might find out.
This girl seems like a lovely girl if she would just move away from hating state school people. She was lovely to Natalie when she met her and they seemed to get on really really well. She also said to her mum later that she was a lovely person and really chatty so i think this shows she did actually like her.
I agree with the comment above completely.
I think the worst thing about the programme was the awful awful editing. It made her look horrible when it was very obviously in some parts that the editors had just put different thing she had said together to make her look worse.
For instance, when she found out natalie’s dad was shot she looked really sorry then the editors cut a seen from something else (later on in filming) with her saying ‘that’s really unfortunate’ this makes her seem horrible when i am pretty sure she did feel extremely sorry for natalie and her family.
She even admitted a few times that she knew she grew up in fear and in an enclosed bubble.
Please can everyone give her a break and leave her alone. (eeeven though she idd have some very terrible views at some points- jsut after she had be mugged)
couldnt watch all of this show…sickening
this girl goes to a school near me and there is a big reaction vs this frm every1 there. my sis went there and honestly she knew no one like that. tbh, a lot of ppl in her position ARE aware of where they stand and make a huge effort not to be snobby or clueless or all the things she was. ‘posh’ is a painful word but this girl was clearly a v. v. stereotypical posh hate figure whose mum couldnt accept this. clearly what she has to understand is perspective, just cos you dont see urself as posh that means absolutely nothing.
The poor girl has been exploited. She will be looked down upon and with her limited means unable to escape the condemnation of those who were disgusted by her living conditions.
The rich girl’s family can move away and avoid any harrassment.
participation in this was an ill conceived decision on the part of both families.
yes i agree!
people have taken this way too far… i go to state school and i was shocked when she said ’state school people can die for all i care’ but i think it was just a spur of the moment thing. At the end she actually seems really nice.
Can people please just let her be it’s not fair on her…she went in for the documentary to show to herself how her feeling about being superior to other people are wrong.
At the end she said she was wrong and i believe that’s what she felt.
i feel really sorry for her. people have put her through too much now.
Please just leave her alone now
yh i aggree with all the comments above about letting her be.
Shes only 15 leave her ALONE.
Guys, can’t we give her a break.
She’s obiously saying things that pop into her head, i do it all the time just not on TV (obviously i take them all back but it happens)
She, like me, is only 15 and we can only draw on experiences thta we have known.
So give her break cos shes gonna get so much abuse in reality she doesnt need it here as well!
x
However her state school comment was awful. Unlike her i dont go to private school but (I could definately afford it), but I go to one of the top schools in the country and i get it for free! I have ‘chav’ mates and hugely well of mates. Its just the way it goes.
PLEASE CAN SOMEONE REPORT THE GROUPS ON FACEBOOK…
there are death threats and people being even ruder than she was so i don’t get how she can’t get away with it but THEY can?…as someone said it’s a contradiction by being rude to her when you don’t even know her.
people have taken this too far and i think people to realise that they are acting WAY worse than she did …by doing this.
by the end she seems actually really really nice. i can’t believe people have put her address and phone number etc up.
omg the comments are so TRUE! i thought i was the only one feeling really sorry for her!…. poor girl… people have been saying she’s ‘ugly’ but i actually think she’s really really really pretty.
she redeemed herself by the end. and ANDY comment…yeah i’ve reported the groups but if some one else does they may get deleted which i think is all we can do to help a terrible situation for her.
XOXOXO
will everyone calm down.
of course to make good television the producers are gonna pick out the worst parts and blow them way out of proportion.
The producers themselves are stereotyping kids with more money available to them, they’re not all convinced that they’re gonna get shot walking past council estates and not all kids on council estates have dead fathers and depressed mothers.
The rich girl kind of dug a whole for herself to fall into, I think they exposed where she lived too much and she obviously doesn’t think before she says anything.
I think it is really unfair all this vitriol and hate towards alice(the rich girl). Yes, some of the things she said were offensive but she had only said it because she had just been mugged for a second time, anger always brings out the worst in people. In the start of the show, what she said about Chavs, i didnt find offensive, i thought it was amusing at how naive this girl was.
Thought this show was gd. I go to a private school, but went to a state school for juniors. I think maybe a few girls in my school are a bit like her, but not really. I think she was mainly like that because of the way she was brought up – just listen to her mother! I think she had learned her lesson by the end, and was essentially a nice girl.
Nat was nice, and although she came off as the victim in this scenario there were some things which made me a bit synical. I mean, her brother had no bed, but they had a dog , laptop and she had hair straighteners! PRIORITIES! Although in the end I think she was doing her best in a difficult situation.
Well, I think these were the two extremes of working and middle class in the UK, but it’s not an accurate portrayal of Britain.