BBC courts controversy through film on hijab-wearing white girl

The BBC is courting controversy through a season of programmes about a white working class under siege.

London, Nov.21 : The BBC is courting controversy through a season of programmes about a white working class "under siege".

It will include a "provocative" drama about a white girl who moves into a Muslim-dominated community and starts wearing the hijab.

Documentaries will include Last Orders, about an "embattled" working men's club in Bradford, and All White in Barking, exploring prejudices in the multi-cultural East London community. Rivers Of Blood assesses the impact of Enoch Powell's infamous speech, while The Poles Are Coming takes a "subversive" look at the reality of immigration in Middle England, with leaders from Gdansk travelling to Peterborough to plead with their countrymen to return home.

All White In Barking will also run in the BBC 2 season, a film made by Marc Isaacs.

The BBC2 season, called White, will go out early next year and will look at why some poorer white communities feel "marginalised", reports the Daily Mail.

Politicians and race campaigners have expressed concerns about the programmes, with claims that the BBC should not be singling out ethnic groups.

Others fear it could play into the hands of Right-wing groups such as the BNP, by portraying poor white people as victims.

BBC2 controller Roly Keating said he hoped the programmes would provoke debate about race and immigration.

ANI