9 talking points from the new series of Benefits Street

After the extremely talked-about first series, Benefits Street is back. This time there’s no White Dee, it’s focuses on Kingston Road in Stockton-On-Tees.

The majority of the tight knit community on the Tilery Estate claim benefits, and the Channel 4 documentary takes a closer look at their lives.

Here were the major talking points of the first episode.

1. How pivotal a couple of members of a community can be.

Best friends Julie Young and Sue Griffin have 11 children between them. Sue hasn’t worked for a year, Julie for 15, but looking after their neighbours has become a full time job. Their doors are open to everyone and Julie’s house has become somewhat of a community centre. She’s known for her no-nonsense attitude and being the go-to person for advice. While Julie and Sue regularly cook for people on the street, their neighbours do what they can to repay them.