The second 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. In this episode a Hare Krishna couple who get up at four every morning to meditate for four hours before breakfast, a man living in one of the areas high-rise tower blocks who uses juggling to fend off depression, a grandmother who has just gotten engaged but has...

The second 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. In this episode a Hare Krishna couple who get up at four every morning to meditate for four hours before breakfast, a man living in one of the areas high-rise tower blocks who uses juggling to fend off depression, a grandmother who has just gotten engaged but has been diagnosed with cancer. The programme also features a young woman voted one of the worst singers in Pop Idol who still longs to be a big star and a resident of the area for 50 years takes the camera-crew on a historical tour of the area. 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 A second montage providing details on the individuals who will feature in this episode. Title: WestEnders 4am inside the Hare Krishna temple on Westgate Road and Bhakti Rasa Dasa gets ready for the day washing, brushing his teeth and applying a tilaka, a forehead marking made from clay. Describing this hour before dawn as a spiritual hour Bhakti comes into the temple by ringing a bell to start the daily rituals of song, dance, worship and readings. As he comes to lay prostate on the floor in front of a shrine, Bhakti wife Kirtida Devi Dasi and two other members of the temple play music while around them people pray. Sitting in the living room of her Summerhill flat Leanne Cook watches her television anxiously waiting for the results of the Ri:se breakfast television shows ‘Search for a Nobody’ competition to find if she is the country’s worst singer. She attempts to use her mobile phone to vote for herself but laughs when she realises she doesn’t have enough credit. A clip from the previous episode of Leanne performing the Atomic Kitten hit ‘The Tide is High (Get the Feeling)’ at the Metro Centre during her audition. Back in her living room she watches television as the results come in and she isn’t the winner. Although she’s sad she isn’t going to London she’s ready for more auditions. On the floor in her flat Meg Colpitts sorts through items getting ready for an antiques fair changes to a photograph of a shop Meg use to own which she had to give up due to ill health. Her partner Colin Rosner comes into the room and after a kiss begins carrying some of the bag’s downstairs. As Meg and Colin sit on the sofa talking about their relationship, about not living together and their engagement the two work together in a sports hall to set up and run Meg’s antique stall. On her own Meg talks about her nervousness waiting on a letter containing the results of medical tests to show if she has lung cancer. Dave Degaria(?) takes a lift to his top floor flat inside Todd’s Nook high-rise apartment building on the top of Westgate Hill. As the lift rises to the 19th floor narrator Jonny Regan explains that Dave is out of work and has fought a long battle with depression. As he comes out of the lift and walks to his flat, he talks about why he likes living away from everybody as he can ‘rage’ without bothering others. Inside as he juggles toy frogs he talks about the therapeutic effect of juggling which has also helped him increase his confidence. As he looks out on the sunset he talks about how he entertains himself as he doesn’t have a television and how the juggling helps to relax him. Taking the programme into the commercial break a preview of part two. Title: End of Part One Westenders As Leanne sits at home watching television while drinking a mug of tea, Jonny Regan explains that her spirits have been raised by the prospect of another television audition to be a Northeast reporter for the Richard [Madeley] and Judy [Finnigan] show. In their kitchen flatmates Gabbi Jones and Clare Tucker, who are also auditioning, discuss what outfits to wear. In the taxi to the venue of the audition at The Assembly Rooms all three talk about what they should be wearing. After filling out application Leanne goes first with her audition followed by Clare and Gabbi. Outside following the auditions, they talk about how it went. As Albert Gowland comes out of his elegant Georgian flat on Greenfield Place tucked just behind Westgate Hill he talks about why he has enjoyed living in the area for more than 50 years. As he walks along Westgate Road towards the city centre, he recollects shops, pubs and other venues which have long gone replaced with multiple motorcycle shops. Standing beside the archway leading to his home he provides details on the three flats he has lived in at this complex since 1946. The Hare Krishna temple on Westgate Road changes to Bhakti driving a van to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland where he, his wife Kirtida and Krishna devote Vince will perform a puppet show as part of the summer fair to get their religious message across. Along the Newbiggin seafront adults listening to music being performed on a stage and children playing happily in the sea. Behind the scenes at the Panca tat Tva Puppet Theatre a crisis as Vince can’t find the genie bottle for their ‘Genie in a Bottle’ show. The crisis ends with Bhakti admitting it is already set up on stage. With a group of children sitting in front the stage the puppet show begins, but a technical hitch causes the soundtrack to stop. At the end of the show Bhakti and Vince believe it went well. Along the seafront Bhakti mans a stall providing information on the message of God. He has a discussion on religion and faith with two drunk local men, one doesn’t believe in God the other is a Christian and becomes overwhelmed with emotion as he talks about his faith. Bhakti sees all discussions as being positive experiences. A montage of crowds enjoying the rides at the fair and musicians still performing on the stage. As Meg looks out her bedroom window, Jonny Regan explains her wait for cancer results are over. Meg explains that they do confirm that she has cancer and that the next stage will be chemotherapy. She explains emotionally that she doesn’t want to do, but has to if she wants to see her grandchildren growing up. With Colin sitting nearby Meg flicks through a series of photographs she has taken of the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides plus one of her lung surgical scar. Sitting with Colin she talks about the emotional toll the wait and the upcoming treatment is having on her. 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 Edmund Quigley 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