Smuggled on Channel 4: Producer explains why show's controversial first episode aired following mass backlash

A producer of Channel 4’s new series Smuggled has given an insight into why the controversial first episode of the show aired, ahead of the second instalment being broadcast tonight.

Documentary filmmaker David Modell said the results of mini-series were so shocking that they felt it was important to show the first episode, even though it was a week after 39 migrants being found dead in the back of a refrigerated lorry in Essex.

Episode one of the show, exploring the security of Britain's borders, received a public backlash from viewers claiming its content was "insensitive" in the wake of the recent migrant tragedy, in which the victims were allegedly part of a people-smuggling operation.

The Home Office also hit back at the broadcaster, branding it "irresponsible" for its decision to televise.

Channel 4 delayed the programme's release by one week and has defended itself since the condemnation it encountered.

A week on the second episode will air on Monday and will include a journey through one of the UK's east ports, through which the truck carrying 39 migrants is believed to have travelled.

In a tweet posted by the Home Office following the first episode, they argued the participants had not entered illegally because they were all British passport holders.

However, this argument does not hold water, according to Mr Modell.

Speaking ahead of episode two, he said: "That argument doesn’t make any sense because there’s no way anyone would’ve known if they were British or not, because they were not once asked for their passports. They entered the country without the knowledge of border force.

“Border force couldn’t have known if they were people being smuggled in or 100kgs of cocaine, or guns.

“That’s why we aired."

Further explaining the decision in the wake of the backlash, he said: "Don’t get me wrong it was absolutely the right thing to delay it by one week but, when we reflected on it we thought it was important to show the research we had conducted. Its information which directly informs how a tragedy like in Essex was able to happen.

“And what we hope is, that what we’re doing becomes a part of the public debate.”

A British pension-age couple were depicted sneaking into England in a mobile home in the premier episode but, the scenario split the over a million viewers who tuned in on the night.

“We weren’t shocked exactly because whenever a show goes out you never know what to expect and it was going out during a challenging time,” Mr Modell said.

“The second episode is definitely more reflective in places and I think audiences might engage with it better, there is more talk about the migrant experience in it.

“We also run a route through Ireland and the participant meets someone who grew up on the border and there’s a discussion about how a hard border can sometimes create more danger for not only those passing through but the surrounding regions."

Mr Modell added: "The outcome of the second episode is much the same as the first. We test three different routes and manage to get people into the country at will with absolutely no challenge.

“Our participants passed through undeterred. In seven out of eight tests the participants did not meet a single border official."

A number of migrant and asylum charities hit back at the programme but Mr Modell denied the show contributes to the anti-immigrant sentiment in the UK.

“We were very careful in the programme not to be judgemental about why people make the journey, one of the participants was himself a migrant,” he said.

“The government is now slower than it has ever been at processes legitimate migrant applications and applications for asylum, people with legitimate reasons to come to this country.

“While people traffickers, drug smugglers and who knows who can come into the country at will. That’s what’s scary. That’s what’s dangerous, not migrants.”

Mr Modell added: “This show is so unlike anything I have been involved with before in regards to the sheer size of it.

“Normally when these border tests have been done they are on a small scale and that means their results are dismissed quite easily. From the outset, this project had the ambition to be a more meaningful test.

“The other reason I chose to do it was because we were using ordinary members of the public whereas usually, it has been journalists.”

It is hoped the research will be considered in the decade to come as the UK leaves the European Union and renegotiates its relationship with the world.

In the meantime, the production crew and Channel 4 brace themselves for the reaction to their next instalment.

Mr Modell said: “There’s something unique about the public debate these days. It seems there is very rarely is a middle ground. It’s something I’m more and more aware of. But, what remains the same, is that the way people tend to see your work is dependent on how they see the world."

A spokesman for Channel 4 previously said "the shocking findings of the films have become a matter of urgent public interest".

Smuggled series one episode two airs at 9pm on Channel 4 on Monday, November 11.