An idea from a local women inspired the makers of new reality show which follows the lives of a group of very different people, from a transexual clairvoyant to the worls's worst comedian, living in the North East.

PRODUCER Derek Proud is introducing a screening of the new Tyne Tees Television series WestEnders. He says that these programmes observing people in the West End of Newcastle show 'both the spiritual life and not so spiritual life'.

Then a voice at the back chips in: "And the nutters."

The comment is intended light-heartedly although, when you consider the real-life cast of WestEnders, will can see what they mean. Any series is going to sound a bit mad if it features, as this does, a comedian who dresses up as Jimmy Savile's illegitimate son, a juggler of toy frogs, a leather worker who makes fetish clothes, a grandmother battling with illness, and one of the ten worst singers on Pop Idol.

If you strolled down virtually any street anywhere, you'd probably find equally quirky characters. As Tyne Tees controller of programmes Graeme Thompson says: "Celebrities in the jungle isn't reality TV, this is."

It's a fair comment. So forget Phil Tufnell dining on creepy crawlies, John Fashanu wearing an eel helmet, or Linda Barker plunging her hand in a bowl of spiders. Meet Leanne, Patsy, Glen, George and Albert.

"It's fantastic WestEnders is doing something like this because we really have some great characters here," says Meg, a familiar figure out taking photographs of the ever-changing area.

"The film crew made me so comfortable with what I wanted to do. I wasn't nervous. I was just myself. That's all I can be. People would know if I was putting it on."

Derek Proud says the 15 featured people had only to be themselves. "I don't think anyone had done anything like this before, apart from the two radio presenters. We wanted them to be as natural as they can. What you see is what you get."

He has one of the residents to thank for the idea for the programme. "It came from a woman who runs a shop up Westgate Hill where I'd bought a wall-hanging in the past. I was talking to her and she said, 'why hasn't a series ever been done about people in the West End because they're fantastic and such a range of different people?'."

This is hardly surprising as the area is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse in the region. Bikers, gays, mystics and artists all live there. Summerhill has Georgian houses bordering the oldest park in the city. Less than half a mile to the west are the old working class areas of Elswick, Benwell and Scotswood. At the top of Westgate Hill high-rise flats house everyone from recluses to PR executives.

"We were lucky, if that's the word, because each of them not only is an interesting character but has a story to tell. Over the eight programmes we're following those stories," says Proud, who grew up in Benwell.

"One is hoping for a sex change, another is waiting to see if she has lung cancer. One desperately wants to make it big in TV as a singer, and Albert is waiting to be rehoused because he's a prisoner in his own home.

"I never felt intrusive, but some of the emotions were quite raw. Some parts were quite serious, and you do have to be careful and respect the people you're filming. Each has their own drama and, however strange it might seem to other people, you have to respect that it's their drama and their life."

The series was filmed over the summer and autumn last year. Because so much material was filmed, the number of episodes was increased from six to eight. For most participants, last week's launch screening was the first time they'd all been together. Their reaction was positive, once over the shock of seeing themselves on screen.

"It's not made up, it's who we are," says transsexual Paul/Patsy. "It took me six weeks to decide whether to appear in the series. Some people had told Derek I was a colourful character. It's strange to have the camera on things you've been doing since you were a child. By the third lot of filming, I was used to it.

"I remember watching one of his previous programmes and there was a gender psychiatrist on it. I had a strong feeling I'd go to see him. I made an appointment and got hormone treatment. I cut out doctors and the NHS. If you know the system, it can work. I've always been quite strong about what I wanted to do."

The series follows 42-year-old Paul/Patsy, who is a clairvoyant and spiritual healer, in efforts to have a sex change operation to become a woman.

"If I get recognised in Tesco's, they'll be asking, 'can you read my palm?'," says Paul/Patsy. "I can't bear all that Celebrity get out of the jungle thing sort of stuff. That's one of the reasons I did this programme because I knew it would capture who we are - ordinary people doing our thing."

Meg was being filmed going through one of the worst times of her life, during tests for lung cancer. Emotion got the better of her at the screening as she shed a tear watching a scene in which she tells how her illness means she hasn't been able to pick up her youngest grandchildren.

Brought up in a Sisters of Mercy children's home in Darlington, she felt the need to go back there once she learnt she was ill. "The place isn't there now but it was like going home," she says. "A lot of people brought up in children's homes want to forget, but I don't. It's part of who I am today.

"We got fed and looked after, and went on day trips. I really get upset when I read about other children in homes being mistreated. I used to find that hard to believe."

For Glen, taking part in WestEnders was a cathartic experience. He was recovering from depression and a suicide attempt, looking for a way through his problems in comedy. He's seen dressing up as Jimmy Savile's illegitimate son for his proposed act.

"I suffered from severe depression. I went from suicide to stand-up in ten months," he says. "I call myself the worst comedian in the world - the Eddie the Eagle of comedy. Everything I do on the programme goes wrong."

Far from exploiting him, 36-year-old Glen believes the series helped him sort out his feelings. "Before I would have had difficulty just talking to you about it," he explains.

"It helped me get in touch with my emotional intelligence. For me, the programme was a lifeline, something to hold on to and something I'd made a commitment to.

"I didn't want to let anyone down. I really needed something that would make me move forward. I had ideas about exploring the idea of humour therapy to get out of depression. This programme gave me the chance to explore that."

* WestEnders begins on Tyne Tees Television on Tuesday, May 27 at 10.30pm.

THE WESTENDERS

Paul/Patsy : a 42-year-old transsexual clairvoyant and spiritual healer.

Saj and Thariq: Muslim brothers who run The Happy Chip chippy in the heart of the city's gay community.

Leanne: trainee accountant voted one of the ten worst singers in ITV's Pop Idol.

DJs Gabbi and Clare: radio DJs trying to break into the world of television.

Albert: lives with his wife in a top floor flat in Summerhill.

Bhakti and Kirtida: a couple, a Geordie and a Finn who run a Hare Krishna temple.

Meg (pictured left): photographer grandmother battling with lung cancer.

George: a 79-year-old with 59 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren who drinks with his friends in The Ponderosa, a shelter built in his garden.

Steve: 6ft 7in biker nicknamed The Terminator who runs a security firm and "minds" actors like Robson Green and Billy Connolly.

Pat: makes leather and fetish clothes, and is guitarist in a Kiss tribute band.

Glen (pictured right): trying to cure his depression by starting a new life as a comic performer.

Dave: unemployed man who relieves his stress by juggling beanbag frogs for hours.