Joe McElderry is through to the final five of X Factor

Nov 23 2009 by Kim Carmichael, The Journal

RESIDENTS of X Factor finalist Joe McElderry's home town have accused TV bosses of deliberately showing the area in a bad light.

The singer from South Shields last night made it through to the next round of the competition, as tall-haired twins John and Edward Grimes finally said goodbye to the competition.

But people in the town reacted with anger after the teenager was pictured in a run-down back lane, despite the site being close to a conservation area and miles of stunning coastline.

Viewers of the hit programme saw footage shot last week of Joe spending time with his family, who live in the Westoe area of the town, before the 18-year-old was seen strolling though the alley, with a discarded sofa and litter in the backdrop.

Joan Anderson, 63, from Harton, South Shields, said: “When I saw it I thought they had deliberately done it to make it look like this is a poor area.

“Joe lives in a lovely little street, so I don’t understand why they had to show him in a horrible alley with a settee in the background.

“I don’t think it’s a very good advertisement for the town.

“Most people I know were really shocked when they saw it and quite ashamed about what people are going to think.”