Secret Millionaire

Secret millionaire visits Rochdale; the Channel 4 show focused on Falinge and Syke areas studied by the VI form students. But it exposed a few myths about what it is like to live in one of the country's most deprived estates. Lesson, be careful about making unsupported value judgements.

Hilary travels to Rochdale just a few miles from where she grew up, and will be living undercover for ten days on the Falinge estate. With a reputation as a no-go area, the estate is notorious for having the highest percentage of people on incapacity benefits in the country. It's something that doesn't sit easily with Hilary's views on benefits.
With the undercover story that she's making a documentary about moving back to her north-west roots, Hilary starts her mission by getting a job in a pub, hoping it'll be a good place to meet people.......

After a couple of days in Rochdale, the initial shock of the area has worn off and Hilary is beginning to recognise the positive aspects of a close community – something she doesn't have back at home: "I had a very nomadic childhood and didn't put down grassroots. To have a lifestyle which is like theirs where everybody knows each other, and they all have the local pub, the local restaurants and local community centres, I think would be lovely."After a couple of days in Rochdale, the initial shock of the area has worn off and Hilary is beginning to recognise the positive aspects of a close community – something she doesn't have back at home: "I had a very nomadic childhood and didn't put down grassroots. To have a lifestyle which is like theirs where everybody knows each other, and they all have the local pub, the local restaurants and local community centres, I think would be lovely."