A Life of Grime

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A Life of Grime
Genre Reality
Narrated by John Peel (1999–2004)
Arthur Smith (2005-06)
Opening theme"What a Wonderful World"
Country of originUnited Kingdom
United States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production locationsSeries 1, 4 - Haringey
Series 5 - Bristol
Series 3 - Salford
Series 2 - Sheffield
Series 7 - Tower Hamlets
Series 6 - New York City
Series 8 - Edinburgh
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time25 minutes
Original release
Network BBC One
Release20 April 1999 (20 April 1999) 
20 July 2006 (20 July 2006)
Related
Grimefighters

A Life of Grime (a play on the expression A Life of Crime) is a BBC reality series following the work of environmental health inspectors. Launched during an explosion of reality television, the idea found something of a cult following.

Contents

Overview

With Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" as the title music, the episodes were narrated by John Peel and later by Arthur Smith in sardonic tones. Its appeal was based on disgust and the eccentric but often vivid and eloquent characters, most famously Edmund Trebus, encountered either hoarding rubbish or keeping huge numbers of animals. The original series was set in Haringey; subsequent series have been set in Bristol, Salford, Sheffield, Tower Hamlets, City of Westminster, New York and Edinburgh.

U.S. version

An American version of the series titled A Life of Grime New York, aired on the Discovery Times Channel that takes place in New York.

Syndication

Both A Life of Grime and A Life of Grime New York have been aired on UKTV People.


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