Ed is taking the bull by the horns
A matador school is just one stop on former politician’s Euro tour
TRAVELS IN EUROLAND WITH ED BALLS BBC2, 9pm
I“
’M really worried about the state of British politics,” says Ed Balls. He’s not the only one. There’s a lot of anger and division across Europe, and worryingly, people are rejecting mainstream politics and turning to right wing populist parties.
But much like Ed did in his fascinating Trumpland series, despite disagreeing with their politics, he wants to listen and understand these voters. It’s not the easiest of jobs.
“I want to meet the ordinary people driving this extraordinary revolution.
“See the world from their point of view,” he says.
The first leg of Ed’s journey takes him to Holland where he finds out the importance of the fishing industry. With EU law impacting fishing practices, one fisherman, Willem, says he believes in ‘Netherlands First’, restoring pride to the people of Holland.
In order to get involved in their way of life, Ed goes out fishing, tours a fish factory and goes for a bracing dip in the freezing North Sea.
Elsewhere, in an even more uncomfortable encounter, Ed meets Harold Veerwoert who is a ‘Black Pete’ actor and entertainer.
Black Pete involves the Dutch daubing themselves in black paint to portray the helper of a Santa Claus-like figure called Sinterklaas, but unsurprisingly, campaigners want it banned.
In Spain, Ed spends time with a famous matador and his family, who want to vote for the far right Vox Party which defends bullfighting.
And in Morocco, Ed spends a shift with the local police, who regularly have to stop migrants jumping over the 11ft fence which separates Africa and Europe.