Charity boss from C4’s Secret Millionaire pledges to give away donated £10,000 in fury at portrayal of town

A charity boss has vowed to give away money he received on Channel 4 show The Secret Millionaire after the negative way his town was portrayed.

Colin Biggs, who runs the charity Thrift, said he was outraged at how his home town Barrow-in-Furness was cast in the reality television programme.

He said plans to give away the £10,000 donated to Thrift by Secret Millionaire Rob Calcraft after becoming enraged at Channel 4 producers who assured him the show would be positive.

Residents of Barrow-in-Furness are outraged after Channel 4 producers portrayed their town in a negative light on The Secret Millionaire

The 58-year-old said he and his wife Jackie have been left devastatedby what  they feel was a betrayal by the production crew who theywelcomed into their home.

Mr Biggs, who has an MBE for his charity work, is furious that the editing of the show, which aired twice from 9pm on Sunday and again last night, has effectively ‘shut the door on Barrow’ to  tourism and investment.

He said: ‘I was just disgusted at how they portrayed the town. I told them if  they were going to pull Barrow down we wanted no part of it.

Footage from the programme shows Calcraft living undercover in Barrow and getting to know the locals

Footage from the programme shows Calcraft living undercover in Barrow and getting to know the locals

‘They ripped Barrow and Barrow Island to bits. I have a shop on the island and it is a lovely community that didn’t deserve this.

Mr Biggs said he was also upset after editors failed to mention any of the charity’s volunteers.

‘The trustees of the Thrift Charitable Trust have decided todisassociate  themselves with all involved with the production of theprogramme and to give the £10,000 to local charities within Barrow,’ hesaid.

Biggs says Channel 4 producers assured him the show would cast Barrow in a positive light

Biggs says Channel 4 producers assured him the show would cast Barrow in a positive light

Mr and Mrs Biggs said they were proud of their town and that the show had 'effectively' shut off tourism from Barrow

Mr and Mrs Biggs said they were proud of their town and that the show had ‘effectively’ shut off tourism from Barrow

‘We would welcome requests from local disability charities who could benefit  from a donation of this money.’ 

Mr Biggs added that he had no hard feelings for Mr Calcraft, who has kept in  touch, and had no idea how the show would be edited.

He added: ‘I love my town to bits and am totally disgraced at the negativity of  the programme towards Barrow and its lovely people.

‘I want to give all the money away because it feels dirty, like blood money.’

No one from Channel 4 was available to comment.



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