The team behind the controversial television show Benefits Street is developing a new show, Immigration Street, to be shown on Channel 4 next year. The programme will be filmed in Southampton.

Benefits StreetWhite Dee was the star of 'Benefits Street'

Benefits Street followed the lives of unemployed people living on a street in Birmingham and was a huge ratings hit, despite courting controversy for its representation of those living on the breadline. It received nearly 1,000 complaints though regulator Ofcom said the broadcaster did not breach any of its responsibilities under the broadcasting code.

More: 'White Dee' claims 'Benefits Street' residents were misrepresented

Immigration Street is a six part series filmed on Derby Road in the Bevois district of Southampton, with Channel 4 describing it as "an ethnically diverse street where the majority of residents were not born in the UK."

Channel 4's Head of Documentaries Nick Mirsky said: "Immigration is clearly an emotive issue dominating British politics and debates right now. Although the experience of the changes brought about by immigration will be different from place to place, we expect many of the themes that emerge from following life on Derby Road will resonate across the country."

Benefits Street'Benefits Street' was a ratings hit for Channel 4

The announcement has unsurprisingly faced a backlash on Twitter. 

Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle said: "More poverty shaming human bear baiting for C4 to sandwich between booze adverts."

"Just seems like @Channel4 are trying to incite hate with their potential new show 'immigration street' really? Not a necessary programme," said another user.

"Channel 4 making Immigration Street? Why don't they just call it We're Not Racist But Street. Call it what it is," said writer and broadcaster Emma Kennedy.

Immigration Street is set to air in early 2015. 

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