The Duchess in Hull - http://www.itv.com/Lifestyle/Duchess/default.html

Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, swaps her luxurious Manhattan lifestyle for a council estate in Yorkshire.  She’ll be meeting the Sargersons, an obese family with a limited food budget who are in desperate need of a health overhaul. Can she win them over with her ideas for healthy living on a shoestring?

Have your say about the show and share your top tips for healthy eating on a budget in our busy forums.

This is for the Duchess of York.

M' am,

I am a pro trainer with the World Amateur bodybuilders association who are also the world governing body for weight training instructors.  I watched your interview this morning with phil and fern and must applaude what you are doing.

I would like to offer you some training tips to help you and the people you are helping as i believe if people are willing to help themselves then they should be helped.

If you would like to discuss please  let me know.

Regard

Unique Physique

I like Fergie, but I can't take any of this seriously.  Fergie is from a privileged background and has no idea of what life is like in the real world, so I think this is all just for entertainment value, and I find it a tad insulting and patronising.  I get a bit bored with these toffs, and Hollywood Stars and the like, dicating to us on what we should be doing, and preaching at us.

Won't be watching it.

 

I don't know how to use this forum

 

But I just wanted to say how fantastic Sarah is!  

I am enjoying watching the show but I have extreme difficulty in understanding what the family is saying. Is there any chance of using some subtitles?

Good programme but was very interested to see that very adult smoked, including the 13 yo son. If they could all stop, think how much their food budget would be!!

Interesting to see how they progress, especially after Sarah leaves for her swanky Manhattan lifestyle

I've always liked Fergie, more so than Diana and I think she has had a tough time with the press etc in the past.  I thought she was brilliant, not condensending or uninterested but empathetic and caring and just lovely.  From staying in the guest house, to meeting the family and the neighbours I thought she came across really well and she would be more than welcome to pop in for a cup of tea with me anytime!  I'm looking forward to tomorrows episode.

Absolute clap trap.! Have the program makers completely lost the plot.Would rather watch paint dry.

I am from hull and think they portrayed Hull badly

I live in Hull. and i feel i must say we are not all like the Sargerson family. we have been branded a down trodded poor, back water city, there are family,s like them in all towns and citys all over the uk not just Hull. To say the family had only £80 a week to feed the family? is total rubbish. apart from two children the rest claimed dole at the very least. father on a pention and mother on a disablement pention which i know for a fact can be as much as £800 a month for her disablements. if they totted up the amount they spent on ciggaretts and beer they and stopped smoking ect they be able to would eat far better food, but no. why should they? none of them are starving, all are happy boozed up, and with plenty of ciggies, all payed for by Me and other hard working TAX payers

indeed they did, what an insult

I wonder how John Prestcot feels about it seeing how he lives in Hull,

hi unique Physique

maybe if they do need you for fitness purposses do you think it would be a good idea for the X dep prime minister to join in??? now that would be worth watching....

I totally agree with you Gwenny but I think it's time for me to get on my soap box!

I never had an opinion on the Duchess (good or bad) but I think she came across as a really honest, down to earth and approachable lady but the family she was given to help are totally beyond help or incable of being helped!

They are a complete mess and disgrace to Britain, they clearly have no morals, cares, discipline or dignity. How can you put yourself on the prime time tele and not at least TRY to come across as decent members of society? They are the type of people that are bringing this country to its knees but why should they care, they will still get their benefits! Only one member of the family worked, however, only the father had been told by the doctor that he couldnt work so whats stopping the others? Nothing!

I totally agree that families have a small budget to feed the family and they try their best to do what they can but the Sargeson's are not, they just have the wrong priorities!

Why cant ITV create a program to compare a working family and a family on benefits and see who is really the better off of the two? I would take a guess that its the family on benefits, they have no mortage, no doctors bills, no tax man eating most of their income, no council tax, reduced rent and time on their hands.

Or, why could the Duchess not be given a busy working family to change? I know plenty of working families who are unhealthy as they dont have the time to cook meals and find microwave and oven dinners easier. The Sargerson mother has that time to prepare the dinner and have it ready for the family coming home but she would prefer to cook Heinz* baked beans on toast!

Also, how can Social Services not get involved when a 13 year old boy is breaking the law and being allowed to smoke on national television, plus, how can they allow a young girl (whom they will recieve even more benefits for) to be adopted into that sort of household?

Anyway, that is my rant over but the programme really got to me!

*Asda Smat Price do beans for about 9p

Why again to we have to see the worst of Hull on national television. I am ashamed to say I live in Hull at least I wasn't born and bred here!

This programme has shown the worst area in Hull and makes the city look like the worst place to live in the country. Hull is not all bad so why can't ITV put a programme on that shows the better parts and a more positive look at the city.

 We don't all live like that family and we do have pride in ourselves please don't judge Hull that show.

 I am very very angry that this was on tv not a good advert for Hull and its people!