MANY North-East television viewers no doubt tuned into the first episode of the new BBC documentary, The Mighty Redcar, with a sense of apprehension.

Was it going to be yet another voyeuristic programme exploiting vulnerable people for television ratings?

And would the region yet again be presented to the world as a grim, hard-faced place where prospects are as limited as the take-aways are numerous?

After watching the first episode of The Mighty Redcar on Thursday night, one could tentatively say that the programme-makers are being more sympathetic to the area than residents have come to expect.

Yes there were the standard images of disused steelworks and graffitied walls, but the focus was on the people of Redcar and the tone was one of hope rather than despair.

Russ Clark, landlord of the Cleveland Bay pub in Redcar, is well-placed to have an opinion on the show.

A keen ambassador for the area, Mr Clark’s business has previously been crowned Community Pub of the Year and he has hosted residents’ meetings to address crime concerns of local people.

Although he believes the show was ‘very well put together’ he would like to see more positivity and less focus on out of town areas such as Grangetown.

“I think it has been well-watched,” he said. “But I think personally there is a lot more negative feeling about it than positive.

“Part of me is looking forward to the next few episodes just to see which way it goes but I would like it to bring out some of the more positive things about Redcar.

“Like the Atonement film being shot here - where else had beaches like Redcar to be able to do that?”

Alison Packer who works at the Turner’s Mill pub in the town said that she had heard similar criticisms about the programme depicting areas outside of Redcar

She added: “A few people on facebook have slated it saying it was showing the town in a bad light, but I thought it was alright to be fair.”

Redcar MP Anna Turley said she hoped that the programme sent out a message to policy-makers in Westminster that more needs to be done to support young people.

She said: “I raise issues issues in Parliament and see Tories roll their eyes - a lot of people have no idea of the barriers young people round here have to contend with.”

There are three more episodes of the Mighty Redcar to air and time will tell what legacy it leaves.