The first of an eight-part docusoap produced by Tyne Tees Television and narrated by former Northeast fireman and Big Brother contestant Jonny Regan that unveils the lives of a dozen characters living in the West End of Newcastle. The series was filmed over a four months and features a range of local people - from a clairvoyant transsexual waiting for surgery to change into a woman, to a wannabe comedian who's invented a new character based on an imaginary son of Jimmy Savile. The lives...

The first of an eight-part docusoap produced by Tyne Tees Television and narrated by former Northeast fireman and Big Brother contestant Jonny Regan that unveils the lives of a dozen characters living in the West End of Newcastle. The series was filmed over a four months and features a range of local people - from a clairvoyant transsexual waiting for surgery to change into a woman, to a wannabe comedian who's invented a new character based on an imaginary son of Jimmy Savile. The lives being explored include a grandmother battling with cancer who dreams of having her photos of the West End displayed in her own exhibition, and a young woman voted one of the worst singers in Pop Idol who still longs to be a big star. An opening montage around the West End of Newcastle and the city skyline featuring the Tyne Bridge in the distance. A road sign attached to a wall with the programme’s titles on it. Title: WestEnders From an elevated position looking down on terraced streets of Georgian houses narrator Jonny Regan describes the West End as an urban sprawl that is ‘full of life, full of stories.’ He goes onto provide details on this eight-part series that will follow just a handful of people who live in the area. A second montage providing details on the individuals who will feature in this episode. Title: WestEnders Inside their local corner shop Leanne Cook and her flatmates Gabbi Jones and Clare Tucker buy bottles of wine for a ‘girls’ night in’ chatting happily with the shopkeeper who remembers Leanne coming in one morning still drunk from the night before. Back in their Summerhill flat as Leanne sits on the floor with a glass of white wine, she talks about training to become an accountant and her frustrations of working in an office. She hopes to qualify in around a year, but is likely to give it up. Gabbi and Clare, who are both Disc Jockeys (DJs) for the local Metro Radio station and have a show called ‘Angel and Gabrielle’, have technical issues with their home karaoke machine which won’t work. Sitting around the sofa the three women talk about their different lifestyle choices with Gabbi and Clare talking about holding house parties with Leanne sometimes has problems with it. Details are provided on the various television auditions Leanne has gone in for including ‘Pop Idol’, the problem being that Leanne can’t sing. She plays a video of her ‘Pop Idol’ audition becoming very embarrassed and talks afterward about another audition for the breakfast television show Ri:se taking place the following day at the Metro Centre in Gateshead in which to succeed you need to be the worst rather than best singers, she feels she has a chance with this one. The three women sit around the karaoke machine with Leanne singing a very bad rendition of the Frank Sinatra hit ‘New York, New York’ with the other two joining in. On Westgate Hill pensioner Meg Colpitts takes photographs of the house where she lived as a young mother 40 years previous. A photograph of Meg and her children from that time sitting on the doorstep and Meg talking about wanting to preserve the area in her photographs. Several of her pictures including the nearby Prudhoe Street Mission building are shown. As she comes to sit on the step Meg talks about discovering that he had a lung tumour, the operation to remove it and waiting on tests to find out if she has lung cancer. As she takes photographs of a derelict row of houses in the Scotswood area, she talks about how her photography helps her cope and that she needs to stay positive and fight because of her children and grandchildren. In his Summerhill house behind the bustle of Westgate Hill Paul Leslie-Thomas sits at a sowing machine making an outfit for a night out. Described as a clairvoyant, spiritual healer and a transsexual Paul is making a busk and talks about the challenges of getting clothes to fit. As he gets ready for the night out putting on his busk Paul talks about the hormone treatment he is currently receiving to help augment his breasts. He also makes mention on how they will improve following surgery. As he puts on makeup and does his hair he talks about his ex-wife and daughter, about Patsy the name he gave himself when out on the town and how following surgery he is going to change his name to Mia Newland. As he walks past a bar, he calls out to one of the patrons standing on the street changing to him walking into Rockiesbar and chats with two female friends inside. In voiceover he talks about how in 1992 he was attacked and badly injured and about his decision to move to the north ten-years ago because he likes the people. Back on the Scotswood estate Meg walks along a street that is to be demolished by the council. As she walks past boarded up houses, she explains why she is very sad and angry as there are many residents who want to stay but the local council is throwing them out. A phantom car ride along another street of derelict houses changes to Meg speaking with a local resident who talks about her desire to stay. After Meg says goodbye to the woman a montage of some of Meg’s photographs with her talking about wanting to see them in an exhibition. Taking the programme into the commercial break a preview of part two. Title: End of Part One Westenders Sitting on the floor in his Westgate Hill flat is Glen Joshua who is making props for a new ‘wacky character’ he has invented, an oversized ‘Jim’ll Fix It’ badge made from cardboard. In voiceover Jonny Regan explains that for the past year Glen has been suffering from severe depression and is determined to be a comedian. Sitting on the steps outside three of his neighbour drinking and Glen excitedly explains how two of them are his first groupies. The two women hold up the autographs Glen gave them earlier and talks about how they met. As Glen leaves his flat making his way into Newcastle he waves at his neighbours and explains that he is shopping for props and materials for his ‘Jim’ll Fix It Tribute Show.’ As he speaks with two women in a local costume shop details are provided on his character, a fictious son of Jimmy Savile. As he has his face painted as a tiger he talks to the woman about being a writer and comedian after which he tries on his bright-yellow Ali-G rapper costume and blond wig which form part of his costume as the son of Jimmy Savile. With a smile he runs away. Back inside Rockiesbar Paul’s night out is in full swing. After watching his female friends on the dancefloor, he joins them dancing alongside someone pole dancing. Standing in the queue outside Powerhouse nightclub he explains why he likes it so much. Inside disco lights and bar staff selling drinks with a drunk man standing beside Patsy explaining why he likes her. As Paul leaves, he talks about feeling more comfortable dressed as a woman. Back at his flat as Glen continues to work on his props talking about developing new material for his act every day. Back in the costume shop he tries on different wigs telling the interviewer that his act is not mocking Jimmy Savile as he has an affection for the man. Glen comes out of the back of the shop in his full costume and carrying a number of oversized ‘Jim’ll Fix It’ badges seen being made at home. Some of them have been made with the Tyne Tees Television logo on instead and he hands them out to the film crew. Leanne comes out of a lift at the Metro Centre in Gateshead and walks over to speak with a woman at the Ri:se auditions which is to find the country’s worst singer. As she performs the Atomic Kitten hit ‘The Tide is High (Get the Feeling)’ flatmates Clare and Gabbi describe her as a ‘lovely girl, but a sandwich short of a picnic.’ With a small crowd gathered around her listening Leanne is described by her flatmates as having a funny sense of humour and someone who doesn’t care what other people thinks. As Leanne comes down a set of steps after the audition Clare and Gabbi believe she will become famous, but not for something that is normal. A brief montage featuring Paul talking about wanting to go ‘the whole way’ with regards his gender reassignment surgery and that he really wants to completely change everything and Meg who becoming emotional about not currently being able to pick up or cuddle her grandchildren. Title: WestEnders Over a montage of clips details are provided on next week’s programme followed by views of the West End at sunset over the closing credits. Credit: Narrator Jonny Regan Camera Georgina Kiedrowski Sound Kerry Plummer Music McGregor Cook Online Editor Mike Pounder Dubbing Mixer John Cook Production Manager Christine Stewart-Tilling Producer Sal Brecken Producer and Offline Editor Michael Steel Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Series Producer Derek Proud Title: © Tyne Tees Television 2003 End title: A Tyne Tees Television Production. Granada