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This is always the problem when Entertainment and Reality meet. Whilst the Portas Project's are a great initiative to try to revive our High Streets, the programme producers have no interest in the real events. Real life is actually quite dull. Planning to regenerate a High Street will involve long dull meetings about planning permission, demographic spread and niche retail. That’s not going to sell advertising space. They’re after controversy, dispute and hopefully a few fist fights.
Learn the lesson from Big Brother. The 1st series was an interesting piece of social science. How do people react when they’re put into a confined environment with others they don’t know? Since then it’s been filled with people who want to be famous but more importantly, who will fight with each other. 13 weeks, 14 freaks.
The Portas Project will follow the same route if it’s allowed to become TV entertainment rather than a genuine attempt to rescue our Town Centres from Charity Stores and Mobile Phone shops.