Channel 4's statement on Tower Block of Commons

15 July 2022

 

“At the DCMS Committee meeting on 19 May 2022, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries MP alleged that contributors to the 2010 Channel 4 series Tower Block of Commons, in which she appeared, were paid actors, in acting school and/or not living in the homes in which they were portrayed in the series as living.

Channel 4 takes any allegations of misrepresentation extremely seriously and always rigorously investigates any such claims.

In keeping with standard practice Channel 4 asked Love Productions, who produced the programme, to conduct a thorough investigation into the concerns raised. The investigation, overseen by their external lawyers, encompassed contributors who were ordinary members of the public and with whom The Secretary of State had significant interaction. It involved speaking with many of those involved in the making of the series, including contributors and crew, and retrieving and reviewing relevant documentation and footage, including 85 hours of raw footage filmed for the series.

Channel 4 then reviewed Love Productions’ findings and undertook its own internal document searches and review.

Neither Love Productions' investigation nor Channel 4’s internal inquiries revealed any evidence to support the allegations made about the programme.”