Frank Skinner refused Benefits Street narrating job so as not to be 'derogatory' about Birmingham The Room 101 host grew up just outside the city in Oldbury, and was wary of how the show planned to present local people. Skinner was asked by the broadcaster to do the voice-over after being told that the series would explore "community spirit" in Winson Green's impoverished James Turner Street. But he told the Birmingham Mail that he had refused the offer as he did not want involve himself in "something where I'm derogatory about people from Birmingham." "I imagine there would be a lot of awkward moments in the recording studio when I said, "I'm not going to say that,"" he explained. They only showed me a very small part of a five-episode series, and I wondered what the rest would be like. "I care what people from Birmingham think about me, which is why I didn't want to do Benefits Street," he added. I haven't seen the programme yet, but from what I've heard I think I made the right decision. Becky Howe claims friends 'disowned' her after the show aired Channel 4 has yet to respond to requests for comment, but a spokesperson has defended Benefits Street, describing it as a "sympathetic, human and objective portrayal of how people are coping with continuing austerity and cuts in benefits." Channel 4 boss denies show's residents were duped When Benefits Street first aired last Monday, close to 400 complaints were made to Ofcom and Channel 4. Some viewers were angered at the criminal activity shown on the programme, which included blatant shoplifting, while others were concerned by the negative portrayal of the street's struggling residents. Thousands of people have signed a petition demanding that Channel 4 drops the rest of the series and a police probe has been launched by West Midlands Police. Last week, it was reported that the show's cast believed they had been "tricked" into appearing on Benefits Street by producers. Fungi and his dog in Channel 4's Benefits Street Qualified support worker Dee Roberts, mother of three Charlene Wilson and local resident Nikitta Bell were among those angry about their portrayal on the programme - largely as unemployed scroungers, drug abusers, irresponsible parents and potty-mouths. "They said they wanted to film for a TV show about how great community spirit is in the street and how we all help each other out on a daily basis," Roberts said. Last night's episode of Benefits Street considered the impact of the arrival of Eastern European immigrants on the street. Despite the controversy, the second show attracted an audience of over five million - one million more than the debut - making it Channel 4's most-watched programme in over a year. As Benefits Street shows, we are quick to demonise and slow to understand For press and broadcasters, coverage of immigration involves some of the hardest judgement calls of all House for sale in James Turner Street, Birmingham