All at sea over television programme

OPINIONS are divided about Mar de Plastico set in fictional Almeria location, Campoamargo.

The Antena 3 series is set in a town dominated by a plastic sea of greenhouses and polytunnels where the stories of immigrant workers, gypsies and Campoamargo population are woven into a murder investigation.

It was filmed in El Ejido, La Mojonera, Nijar and Vicar and the first episode attracted almost five million viewers and had a 29.2 per cent audience share.  There is already talk of a second series.

Nevertheless, El Ejido Mayor Francisco Gongora is affronted by Mar de Plastico, which he claims is trying to stigmatise the province.

“I don’t believe there is an Almeriense who likes this series,” he said. “I’m no expert but I think it’s bad.”

All the characters appeared to be xenophobes and they bear no relation to the reality of our province, he added.

Producer Jorge Redondo said he was surprised by Gongora’s reaction.  

The characters, like Campoamargo, are fictional, he stressed.  “Sometimes we are more worried about the way others see us than they way we see ourselves,” Redondo commented.