People Like Us - Season 1

Three miles north of the city centre is a little-known Manchester suburb called Harpurhey. Ten years ago it was labelled the most deprived neighbourhood in England, but there's a lot more to life around here than government statistics.

Over one long summer a vibrant mix of feisty, witty and headstrong young people from the area let us into their secret world and show us what it's really like growing up the hard way. From life-changing tales of drug-addicted parents and battles with alcoholism to dreams of becoming actors and rappers; from a young entrepreneur with a penchant for drag to the ongoing feud between an eccentric landlord and his disgruntled young tenant.

In this six-part documentary series the young people of Harpurhey tell their own stories in their own words, in often hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking detail.

In the first episode we meet 18-year-old Amber Wakefield whose family - mum Karen, stepdad Paul and sister Maddy - run the local launderette. Amber has just finished college and was facing the prospect of a summer stuck in the Wishy Washy. Instead, she has booked a fun-filled holiday to Magaluf with eight of her mates including best friend Codie, who spends so much time at Amber's house she's practically one of the family. For Amber, it'll be her first holiday without her parents and, for Codie, her very first time abroad. Amber's mum is worried by all the things she's heard about Magaluf, but the girls are more concerned with getting some drinking practice in with a pre-holiday night on the town. How will they fare on their Spanish sunfest?

At the heart of the local area is Harpurhey Market, where we meet Jamie, 19, a discount DVD trader with a bit of a reputation as a ladies man. Two nights ago, Jamie unexpectedly proposed to his on/off girlfriend, Lucy. But Jamie's mum is worried that her son doesn't love really Lucy and warns her that Jamie can't be trusted to stay faithful. Can a leopard change its spots?

A mile down the road from the Wishy Washy launderette is a newsagent owned by 26-year-old David and his boyfriend, also called David. By day, David works behind the shop counter, but by night he transforms into his drag queen alter-ego, Diana Dior. Diana's a regular on the gay scene in central Manchester, but David has never dared to introduce her to the local community. Now he's decided it's time for Diana to stop hiding above the newsagent. What will the locals make of Diana when she stages a drag show in a local pub?

Three miles north of the city centre is a little-known Manchester suburb called Harpurhey. Ten years ago it was labelled the most deprived neighbourhood in England, but there's a lot more to life around here than government statistics.

In this six-part documentary series, a vibrant mix of feisty, witty and headstrong young people show us what it's really like growing up the hard way.

We catch up with 18-year-old Amber and the rest of the Wakefield family - mum Karen, stepdad Paul and sister Maddy - who own the Wishy Washy launderette, where customers have been causing mischief by using the bin as a toilet and stealing wall decorations. Amber receives an offer of a place at university to study acting, but is dreading the idea of moving away from her family - and having to do her own laundry. Will she follow her dream of going to drama school?

We also meet Dale, 19, whose desperate search for fame and fortune has seen him try his hand at presenting his own internet radio show and club promotion by hosting a night in town. Now he has got his next amateur boxing fight coming up. Will he be able to go three rounds in the ring or will his 'man about town' lifestyle get in the way of boxing success?

A couple of miles south of the launderette we meet 19-year-old single mum Nicola, who finds surviving on £82 benefits per week a struggle. Her turbulent relationship with her mum is at breaking point and she dreams of a better life for herself and her daughter. Could moving away be the answer?

Finally, 21-year-old Ryan has just completed a four-week sentence at Strangeways Prison after breaking the terms of a restraining order taken out by his ex-girlfriend. He became a dad nearly a year ago, but due to his prison sentence he has only seen his daughter twice in the past month. Ryan is unemployed, but dreams of leaving the area and making it big as a rapper. As he prepares for a headline performance at an upcoming rap battle, can MCing be a ticket to a better life?

Three miles north of the city centre is a little-known Manchester suburb called Harpurhey. Ten years ago it was labelled the most deprived neighbourhood in England, but there's a lot more to life around here than government statistics.

In this six-part documentary series, a vibrant mix of feisty, witty and headstrong young people show us what it's really like growing up the hard way.

The Wakefield household becomes even noisier when the family's dogs have puppies. Eleven-year-old Maddy falls in love with them instantly and is desperate to keep one, but dad Paul is less enamoured as he has the job of clearing up after the new arrivals. Busy with all the work in the launderette, redecorating the house and now nine puppies to contend with, Paul is pushed to the limit and his relationship with Karen reaches breaking point. Will time apart allow tempers to cool?

We also meet best friends Arroll, 24, and Patrick, 21, who met at a party a year ago and bonded instantly over their shared love of beauty treatments and quick-fire banter. The boys are regulars in the gay bars and beauty parlours of north Manchester and now they're about to set off on a holiday to Kavos - or Chavos, as they call it. No beauty treatment is spared as they get plucked, pampered and primed in preparation. But will their friendship survive the carnage of a holiday in Kavos?

Pidge, 21, is an unemployed chef who has just moved out of his mum's house for the first time. He's renting a room in a shared house from Nik, 51, a landlord who owns numerous properties in the area. But after only eight weeks in the house, Nik is trying to evict Pidge following complaints about loud parties. In protest, Pidge hosts a party for his birthday and spreads rubbish around the front garden. As Nik and Pidge face off for an eviction battle, Pidge has one last dirty protest to make before being forced off the property.

We also meet PC Jim Evans, 24, who has been working as a police officer in Harpurhey for the past three years. We follow Jim and his colleagues as they police one of the highest crime areas in Manchester, from tackling drunken anti-social behaviour to ticking off a couple who have been 'caught in the act'.

Three miles north of the city centre is a little-known Manchester suburb called Harpurhey. Ten years ago it was labelled the most deprived neighbourhood in England, but there's a lot more to life around here than government statistics.

In this six-part documentary series, a vibrant mix of feisty, witty and headstrong young people show us what it's really like growing up the hard way.

We meet young mum Sherelle, 22, and her son Cairell, 3, who was born when Sherelle was in prison. Since getting out, she been determined to stay out of trouble for the sake of her son and hasn't put a foot wrong. But with so much temptation, can she stay on the straight and narrow?

Sherelle's mum Mandy and her neighbour Katie live on Brentford Street, a street in the centre of Harpurhey that's often the cause of headaches for the police and the council. Landlord Nik owns seven of the houses on the street and he has received complaints about both Mandy and Katie. Now they are facing eviction by the council and the police are gearing up to raid one of the properties. Can peace be restored to life on Brentford Street?

Catching up with the Wakefield family who own the Wishy Washy launderette, 11-year-old Maddy is about to start high school. Now she's getting older, Maddy is determined to assert her independence - which isn't going down well at home. Can her parents Karen and Paul curb Maddy's behaviour before she starts school?

Louise, 26, works in local hair salon Stax, where the chat and gossip always flows with workmate Donna. Louise had a tough start in life - her dad was a drug addict who spent most of Louise's childhood in and out of prison. But now he's a reformed character and their relationship is much more positive. Five months pregnant with her first child, Louise is determined to give her baby the happy family upbringing she never had.

Three miles north of the city centre is a little-known Manchester suburb called Harpurhey. Ten years ago it was labelled the most deprived neighbourhood in England, but there's a lot more to life around here than government statistics.

In this six-part documentary series, a vibrant mix of feisty, witty and headstrong young people show us what it's really like growing up the hard way.

We catch up with ladies' man Jamie, 19, who works on the local market with his mum Donna but doesn't see himself on the market for the rest of his life. He dreams of becoming a singer, and hooks up with an unlikely career mentor, drag queen Belinda Scandal. Jamie's convinced Belinda can help him get his 15 minutes of fame, but Donna's not so sure about Belinda. With tensions rising, Donna goes to Manchester's gay village to confront Belinda.

Back at the Wishy Washy launderette, burglars have broken in through the roof, leaving the Wakefields thousands out of pocket. With good CCTV footage to help the police find the culprits, will the Wakefields get their day in court? In the meantime, the family becomes ultra-vigilant about crime in the area, especially the alleyway opposite the launderette being used as a toilet.

Down the road at a local gym we meet aspiring dance teacher Kelly. Her mum died when she was 12 which sent Kelly off the rails. At 25, Kelly hasn't had a full time job, but now she's been taken on for a trial period at the dance school. She's busy getting the dance class ready for their big summer show, but organising over 50 pupils is proving hard work. Can she handle the pressure of the performance and secure herself a full time job?

Three miles north of the city centre is a little-known Manchester suburb called Harpurhey. Ten years ago it was labelled the most deprived neighbourhood in England, but as this six-part documentary reveals, there is a lot more to life around here than government statistics.

In the final episode we catch up with the Wakefields, who have been experiencing a lot of spooky activity in their house which they put down to Malcolm - their resident poltergeist. Malcolm has become such a nuisance that Karen has called in the local ghost hunters to try and contact him.

Best friends Jazmine, 14, and Kelsay, 15, live around the corner from each other and hang out together all the time. Jazmine's been the victim of racial abuse and her mum Jaki has had enough of seeing her daughter upset. Jaki's decided she's going to move her family out of the area, so this is the girls' last summer together. How will the best friends cope when they are living ten miles apart?

Likely lads Aaron, 21, and Mikee, 20, are best friends who have both been laid off from low-paid jobs. Determined to make something of themselves, they have decided to start their own painting and decorating firm. Paid work is in short supply though, so their first job is to build a wheelchair ramp for Aaron's nana, who hasn't been able to leave the house for a month.

We also meet Javeno, 27, a fitness instructor on a one-man mission to get Harpurhey fit. With health a major issue in Harpurhey - life expectancy is seven years lower than the national average - Javeno's planning a free mass workout day to get the community doing something about their health and fitness.