Share with:
Part two of the ground-breaking BBC One documentary – Famous, Rich And In The Slums – that sees four UK celebrities swap their life of luxury for the harsh reality of Africa’s largest slum, airs tonight at 9pm.
Last week saw Lenny Henry, Angela Rippon, Samantha Womack and Reggie Yates left to fend for themselves for three days and find work. This week, the four move in with local residents.
Comedian Lenny moves in with a family of orphans - 16-year-old boy Bernard and his four siblings. EastEnders star Samantha stays with 27-year-old Helen, who works as a prostitute to feed her children. BBC Radio One DJ Reggie is placed with cousins Francis and Paul, who are desperate to build a successful life outside of Kibera. And presenter Angela witnesses living with HIV as she moves in with single mum of six Caren.
The famous volunteers are pushed to their limit in an attempt to understand what living in real poverty means to billions of people across the globe. All four must come to terms with the physical and emotional difficulties their hosts have to face every day of their lives and it forces them to question their own lives and priorities.
Comedian Lenny who has been on countless trips to Africa for Comic Relief was left deeply shocked by his new home and said:
“I’ve literally never seen anything as bad as this.”
And, reflecting on the thin line the slum habitants tread to survive each day, Samantha said, “We’re so desensitised to charities that you get a bit complacent. You know ‘what difference is my £1 going to do’ but then when you sit there with the families and you see that £1 and you suddenly realise just how much it does mean. That was it for me, a tiny bit of help really does make all the difference.”
The four are hoping that their time in Kibera will highlight the plight of people living there and help to raise money for Comic Relief.
