3 x 1 hr

This series follows a group of Romanians over 12 months as they try to make a new life for themselves in Britain. Economic migration is one of the big stories of our time and this series tells the stories from the inside, through the eyes of the migrants.... Characters featured are Roma gypsies who are frank about their plans to come to Britain to survive on the streets, to teachers who can earn 10 times their monthly salary as au pairs.

With Keo's trademark immersive anthropology, we follow our characters over the course of a year to see if they can really make a new life for themselves, or whether they end up returning to Romania with their dreams in tatters. We introduce some of our characters in Romania, getting to know them and their families at home and find out why they want to come to the UK.

We follow as they embark on their epic journeys – some by coach, some flying for the first time – and we’re there for their first bemused impressions as they arrive in the UK and start out on their new lives. We discover what our characters think of the locals (their neighbours, employers, landlords and lovers), what they make of the benefit system, the police, the health service and whether they take to British customs such as binge drinking and lap dancing. We see both the costs and benefits to the families they've left behind. As their stories progress, we gain a new insight into the UK; - where the Brits see the jobs or situations that no-one wants will the Romanians see opportunity? Where we see deprivation, will they see hope? And as the year draws to a close, are they really here to stay?

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Produced By: Keo Films

Broadcaster: Channel 4 | Year of Production: 2015