Anyone watched/ watching John Prescott on class.

[twinsetandpearls]

Fascinating

is striking a real chord with me as a working class girl who went to a good uni and never felt good enough to be there

Lol recognised the kids and family on the Langley estate from work was very interesting!
How long is this on for as watched last week too thought it was one off !

Not sure

Jodie Marsh's nose - what the £&$@????

It was the last one last night (only two). Also found it fascinating, but felt JP still wasn't taken seriously by anyone (including his wife). I thought he made some really good points which everyone chose to 'miss'. Scholarship teens at Rugby were really nice (as they would be, wouldn't they?) but so were the ones from the Peers school in Oxford, as was the teacher!

thought it was really good and agreed with everything he said

The fault with the programme is that it may have featured someone proudly fierce of their working class roots but it was produced to a middle class agenda so throughout the programme invited us to mock John Prescott which is sad.

I haven't seen this week yet but from last week I think he is such a interesting mix, his lifestyle is like that of the upper middle class and yet he believes on every level that he is working class.

On the episode last week when he was the girl who wanted to punch anyone that looked at her, he had little or nothing in common with her, though kept trying to claim he did.

I do like him but think that the chip he has on his shoulder is problematic.

It does rile me that because he isn't particularly articulate he gets got by the press. Unfortunately that comes with the territory.

Yes, completely agree twinsetandpearls and it was exactly what JP was complaining about. Yes, you can better yourself, yes, he did, but he is still regarded as 'a bit of an oik' by the people he mixes with because he hasn't changed himself, his accent for instance (unlike Pauline) immediately sets him apart.

I do agree, in part, he is his own worst enemy and a lot of stereotypes were trashed for his benefit on the programme. But the main point still remains. You can make lots of money, you can work your way up, but unfortunately 'money doesn't buy class', rightly or wrongly and that was the point he was making. Quite well I thought, especially as the slightly sneering commentary pointed out about his nice house etc. I'd just give up if I were him!

He seems quite a pleasant chap to me and hopefully his stereotypical image might have had a bit of a makeover after this prog. Obviously the press have got it in for him big time.

Yes, completely agree twinsetandpearls and it was exactly what JP was complaining about. Yes, you can better yourself, yes, he did, but he is still regarded as 'a bit of an oik' by the people he mixes with because he hasn't changed himself, his accent for instance (unlike Pauline) immediately sets him apart.

I do agree, in part, he is his own worst enemy and a lot of stereotypes were trashed for his benefit on the programme. But the main point still remains. You can make lots of money, you can work your way up, but unfortunately 'money doesn't buy class', rightly or wrongly and that was the point he was making. Quite well I thought, especially as the slightly sneering commentary pointed out about his nice house etc. I'd just give up if I were him!

He seems quite a pleasant chap to me and hopefully his stereotypical image might have had a bit of a makeover after this prog. Obviously the press have got it in for him big time.

oops sorry for posting twice, on unfamiliar laptop

I think he does have a chip on his shoulder but he also said so much that rings true with me. I am working class and always will be but mix in many middle class circles and constantly feel out of place or self conscious. With one exception all of my major romantic relationships have been with working class lads who like me perhaps mix out of their type. I am convinced thatI chose to work in a tough school, much like the one you saw on TV as I felt at home and could get the kids. I now work in a much more middle class school with fewer teachers from my background and feel as if I have to constantly proove myself. Just as with Prescott ny broad northern accent adds to my workingclass sterotype.

I refused to go to Oxford depsite being offered a place as it was just too far out of my comfort zone.

Glad I'm not the only one to think JP is alright! I only saw the first one but thought that he had a huge chip, but I could understand why, he is very hard on himself, he should be proud of his achievements. He isn't terribly articulate, yet still manages to be a good speaker which is interesting

Yes I found that interesting. I wondered if it was his nerves that make him come across as inarticulate. I talk for a living , am a teacher, so am very articulate but when I get nervous my speech becomes very unclear and I struggle to get my point across.

I can totally understand why he has a chip, I know people think that I have a chip in my shoulder about education and equality but only because I have been a victim of and witnessed so much inequality because of class.

I thought John Prescott came across very well, as did his wife Pauline who appears to be a charming lady. I had previously got a very poor impression of him from what had been depicted in the media (punching people etc) but he actually seems to be a warm and genuine person. He seemed to react very defensively to some questions though, when he really has no need. He also has a bad habit of 'talking over' other people!

I couldn't believe that the girls from the London estate didn't know who Gordon Brown was. As he said, the system is failing if people like that are falling through 'the net'. It's very sad really.