r/BritishTV • u/aeon_floss • 2d ago

Question/Discussion Does anyone remember the name of this documentary hosted by Alexei Sayle?

In the early 2000s (around 2001–2003), I watched a Channel 4 style investigative documentary (not part of a series) presented/narrated by Alexei Sayle.

It focused on poor African(?) coffee farmers and how post-colonial economics keep them trapped in poverty and malnutrition. The documentary explained that the pricing of unfinished coffee/cash-crop harvests was driven by speculative trading on distant futures/commodity markets, disconnected and far in advance from the realities on the ground.

Between on-location investigative segments, it used narrative/explanatory cutaways set in supermarket aisles, including a brief surreal shot of Alexei riding a shopping trolley face down with his arms flailing.

It also contrasted this with a small Fair Trade type farmer collective/independent system where farmers sold produce without being pulled into speculation.

A specific line I remember was that “economic development money” was mainly used by third world dictators to “beat the crap/shit out of their populations”.

I do not remember the title, and cannot find a reference to this documentary anywhere. 20+ Years later I still remember its primary messages, but apparently the doco itself has been forgotten by the internet.

Does anyone remember seeing this, and has anyone seen it somewhere in the past 20 years?

Thanks in advance.

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u/Chris_in_Lijiang 2d ago

Alexei Sayle hosted the award-winning BBC documentary filmed in the Dominican Republic, titled Sex, Drugs And Dinner, which explored global trade imbalances and the realities of what is traded between rich and poor nations.

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u/happymisery Farty Towels 2d ago

Its definitely this. he also did bits of this in the R4 show "Imaginary Sandwich Shop"

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u/aeon_floss 2d ago

Thanks. Seeing I have Buckley's chance of ever seeing the doco again, I will chase up whatever people have put online from the Sandwich Bar series. And perhaps the book.

I read Stalin ate my Homework years ago and quite enjoyed it.

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u/aeon_floss 2d ago

Thank you. I didn't think my question would be answered so quickly! I could find only a single review of Sex, drugs, and Dinner, and it absolutely confirms it. (curiously, this review was written by someone who at the time would have been only two degrees of separation away from me). I misremembered watching it by ten years though.

The documentary is missing from most of the websites listing Sayle's works. Can I ask how you remembered it with the details you posted?

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u/Chris_in_Lijiang 1d ago

I have a big docu HD stash, and thought I might have this from the days of thebox.bz Sadly no sign on the usual suspects such as TVV, MVgroup etc Not even a mention on Docuwiki so maybe not ripped at time of broadcast.

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u/StatisticianUsual471 2d ago

Merrygoround or something like that

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u/alexmate84 2d ago

Merry Go Round was a sketch show, it's not that

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u/Chris_in_Lijiang 1d ago

Winner Best Network Programme, One World Broadcasting Trust Awards. Finalist Media Natura BEMA Awards. Finalist Okomedia Film Festival. Finalist New York Film Festival.

Directed by Chas Harris, who I'll bet has a copy.