How Effective Was the Channel 4 Immigration Show in Changing Public Opinion?
Minnow Chloe Dobbs admits her opinions have shifted significantly following her participation in the reality show “Go Back To Where You Came From” on Channel 4. During an interview, she expressed concerns that within a decade, Britain could be swarmed with people wearing burqas and dominated by Islam. These initial statements from the 24-year-old YouTuber and conservative political commentator left little doubt about her pre-show stance.
Despite acknowledging the controversial nature of her views prior to filming, Chloe was part of a group that traveled through Syria and Somalia alongside other British participants who had differing perspectives on immigration. The series documented their experiences over four parts in May and June 2024 as they followed similar routes taken by refugees from these countries en route to the UK.
According to recent government figures, more than 5,000 Syrians applied for asylum in the UK within the year ending September 2024, alongside nearly 940 applications from Somalians. Additionally, over 3,385 people arriving from Syria crossed into Britain via small boats during this period.
However, not all responses to the show were positive. The charity Freedom From Torture condemned it as “dehumanising and dangerous,” arguing that genuine refugees would lack resources like those featured in the program. They also pointed out that such a portrayal could never fully capture the unpredictability and peril of refugee journeys.
Chloe’s journey through Syria, where over 14 million people have been displaced since 2011 due to civil war, allowed her to gain new insights into their plight. She now describes the situation as “heartbreaking,” adding that it has deepened her empathy for those affected by conflict.
Meanwhile, Mathilda Mallinson from London also underwent a transformative experience during the program when she traveled through Somalia. Despite not expecting her views on immigration to change drastically, spending time with others exposed her to various viewpoints and fostered greater understanding.
“Angry debates don’t get us anywhere,” notes Mathilda, emphasizing that listening and acknowledging different reasons for people’s opinions are crucial steps towards more balanced dialogue.
Both Chloe and Mathilda agree that there is a need for increased awareness about the global migrant crisis beyond Europe. They suggest incorporating stories from places like Dadaab in Kenya into media coverage to provide a broader perspective on displacement issues globally.
Chloe’s experience back in the UK has been met with both support and criticism, though she insists that her views have evolved rather than undergone a complete reversal. She still advocates for robust vetting processes but concedes that seeing refugees face-to-face has profoundly increased her empathy for their situations.
In response to critics like Freedom From Torture, Channel 4 stated that the show aimed to represent diverse viewpoints on immigration in order to challenge them and open minds. The channel emphasized working closely with refugee charities to ensure accurate representation, though acknowledging that full replication of real-life dangers was impossible due to safety protocols.
