Grandad prepares for TV debut in Channel 5 Washington 'docu-soap' The Estate: Life Up North

If you’re a regular at North Biddick Social Club, you’ll almost certainly have crossed paths with bingo caller and leek club secretary Les Barber.
Les Barber is to star in Channel 5 programme The Estate: Life Up North.Les Barber is to star in Channel 5 programme The Estate: Life Up North.
Les Barber is to star in Channel 5 programme The Estate: Life Up North.

The grandad-of-seven is a well-known face across Washington and Houghton, having moved to the region he now calls home in 1970, after serving in the merchant navy.

But tonight, Les and his family will be broadcast into homes across Wearside and beyond as part of a new Channel 5 show; four-part series The Estate: Life Up North.

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And ahead of the first episode this evening (Tuesday, October 27) the Echo caught up with Les to find out about becoming part of the programme, meeting the film crew and opening up his life to the cameras.

The four-part series features Les and his loved ones, as well as following other stories in the community.The four-part series features Les and his loved ones, as well as following other stories in the community.
The four-part series features Les and his loved ones, as well as following other stories in the community.

Originally from East London, 77-year-old Les now lives at Gladstone Terrace, Houghton, with wife Yvonne, 63.

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A keen gardener, Les has been secretary of North Biddick Social Club’s Leek Club for more than 20 years, and a club committee member for more than a decade.

So when Channel 5’s crews expressed an interest in meeting some ‘interesting characters’ to star in the new show, Les was the obvious choice.

The Estate: Life Up North starts on Tuesday, October 27.The Estate: Life Up North starts on Tuesday, October 27.
The Estate: Life Up North starts on Tuesday, October 27.
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“[The crew] more or less lived with us for quite a few months and they were canny people,” he said.

And over the course of four episodes, viewers will follow Les through his day-to-day life.

From tending his neighbours’ gardens, meeting with his four children and seven grandchildren and attending his regular check-ups at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) after fighting cancer, it’s hoped that the show will give audiences a real insight into the lives and challenges of real people.

The series was filmed between September and December 2019, with work finishing just before Christmas.

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It may not have quite sunk in yet that Les is about to become a local celebrity, adding that ‘he’ll believe it when he sees it’.

But the best thing about starring in the show? Les says that is that he and his loved ones will ‘have it forever’ to treasure, and watch over again.

The Estate: Life Up North will be broadcast on Channel 5 at 11.05pm on Tuesday.

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