BBC blasted for ‘shabby’ Ayia Napa show

THE BBC have come under a scathing attack after it was revealed they are filming ‘Britain’s Drunkest Woman’ on holiday in Ayia Napa.

The programme, which will be broadcast on BBC 3, will shadow Laura Hall who was issued with a drinking ban order last month.

Hall, 20, has been banned from entering any pub, club, off-licence or bar in the United Kingdom after being convicted of a series of public order offences.

After flouting bans from pubs and clubs through local Pub-Watch schemes in her home town of Bromsgrove, she was dubbed ‘Britain’s drunkest woman’.

It’s reported that Hall saved up her unemployment benefit for the two-week trip to Ayia Napa.

“This is exactly the kind of image that Ayia Napa wants to avoid, it’s very sad that the BBC have decided to come here to film this type of shabby low quality production,” a local tourism official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“I could understand if this was a programme for a cheap channel, but coming from the BBC is beggars belief.”

Hall arrived at Larnaca airport yesterday with a close friend and a camera crew from BBC3.

Emma Moffett, Conservative County Councillor for Bromsgrove East, where Laura and her family live, said it is a ‘recipe for disaster’

“It’s so unbelievably irresponsible. She needs all the help that she can get and film crews following her to Ayia Napa are not going to help her,” she told the Birmingham Mail.

Social workers from Bromsgrove have accused the BBC of “outrageous exploitation”.

One said: “What on Earth are they thinking? Laura is incredibly vulnerable. She will die if she keeps on drinking to excess. Now she is getting a kick out of being filmed. It’s making her drink even more. The BBC should be above this.”

The BBC denied paying her or footing the bill for her trip.

A BBC spokesman said: “Laura’s welfare is of ultimate concern to us and this is a responsible film, following her over time as she tries to turn her life around. We are working closely with her parents and strict filming protocols are in place to protect her.”