Travellers attack Channel 4 over My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding series | Media | The Guardian

Travellers attack Channel 4 over My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding series

Gypsies demand air time for a right of reply, saying the series fuels hatred and suspicion of their communities

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• Henry McDonald, Ireland correspondent
• guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 February 2011 20.33 GMT
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It's the complex dresses that wow viewers. A dressmaker works on one similar to those she makes for travellers' weddings. Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian

Irish Travellers living in Britain have attacked the Channel 4 series's My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding , claiming it fuels hatred and suspicion of Traveller communities.

The Irish Traveller Movement in Britain tonight called upon Channel 4 to give Britain's Gypsies and Travellers air time for a right of reply. It described the documentary series as leaving its community "extremely disappointed and angry" over what it said was the narrow portrayal of the Gypsy and Traveller communities.

"We are hearing every day distressing accounts from parents whose children are being bullied and called names. Venue bookings are being cancelled. We are hearing about the deep sense of embarrassment and shame many have been left with by such a narrow, misrepresentative and unjust portrayal of their community and culture," the organisation said.

The Traveller movement said it believed the selective examples used in the series needed to be contextualised and Britain's Gypsy and Traveller communities given the opportunity to describe their diverse cultures and beliefs.

A recent research report commissioned by the movement on economic and social inclusion highlighted the diverse range of work and life experiences and practices within its communities. Such diversity was sadly not captured in My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, the organisation added. The programme has been one of Channel 4's success stories, drawing around 8.7 million viewers.

Romany Gypsies have also complained that the programme creates the impression that the only Gypsies in Britain are Irish Travellers. The Travellers Times website points out that Irish Travellers make up only 10% of the Gypsy and Traveller community in the UK.

Travellers' Times has reported the programme to the broadcast watchdog Ofcom. The website has argued that the portrayal of the Gypsy community is not only inaccurate but also "misleads the audience and leads to harm and offence".

One of the most controversial parts of the series is the concept of "grabbing", where young men physically grab young women in a dating-ritual at weddings.

The programme does have celebrity fans, including Shayne Ward who won the X Factor in 2005 . The 26-year-old was born into a large Irish Traveller family. He said: "The moment the word 'Traveller' comes up is the moment people start saying horrible names. I'm glad this show paints the travelling community in a better light.'' The singer said the programme has given the public a more positive image of the Gypsy and Traveller communities.

Channel 4 has defended itself against the criticism. In a statement, it said: "The series features a mix of Irish Travellers and Romany Gypsies and the programme makes a clear distinction between these different groups. Whenever a person is introduced, we are careful to identify who they are and what community they come from.

"The series is an observational documentary and made predominantly from the perspective of Gypsies and Travellers talking about their own experiences.

"We have intentionally avoided many commonly held stereotypes and attempted to provide a balanced view."

via guardian.co.uk