‘Below Deck’: Kyle Dixon Participates in Controversial Documentary
Deckhand Kyle Dixon from Below Deck recently shared that he is part of a British documentary that has filmmakers in hot water. Dixon appeared on Below Deck, season four and five.
He took part in the new reality series, Smuggled. The British docuseries shows how easy it is to be “smuggled” into the United Kingdom, CNN reports. Each person who participates in the reality series essentially crosses a border illegally. “No one has ever tested our borders on this scale, with such a large variety of methods,” according to British broadcaster Channel 4. “From boats to lorries, ferries to car boots — all of the contributors attempt routes that have been used by those seeking to enter the country clandestinely or by people traffickers and drug dealers.”
Although Smuggled began as a reality project to test the U.K.’s borders, it is now coming under fire after 39 people, who were believed to be Vietnamese nationals were found dead in a truck in Essex. The truck driver is being charged with manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, and money laundering.
British citizens are ‘smuggled’ in different ways
The series shows how each person, who are British passport holders can circumvent surveillance and cross the borders unnoticed. The first episode, which aired Monday in the UK, included a truck driver smuggling a passenger into the country. Another segment featured a couple who hid inside an RV. Plus a man who used a dinghy to cross the English channel.
The UK Home Office issued warnings and actually delayed the debut of Smuggled, according to CNN. But Channel 4 pushed back asserting the reality show was a “matter of urgent public interest.”
When the show finally debuted, Channel 4 added a note when the episode aired. “On October 23rd 2019, 39 people were found dead in the back of a lorry on an industrial estate in Essex. This series was filmed before these tragic events took place.”
Dixon promoted his part on Instagram
Dixon shared that the show was airing on Monday. “ATTENTION!!! Tonight’s the night our series starts. It looks at our borders and there strength. Will me and @natejones14 make it??? “
Both Dixon and the other man in the photo, Nathan break into the U.K. by car. Dixon arrives as the stowaway and Nathan appears to be the driver. Although Dixon promoted the show on Monday, he hasn’t appeared as of yet. “It was good! You’re not on until next week tho. I’ll be watching!” one person remarked.
The series was filmed over the summer in an effort to address border security. “Filmed this summer, the programmes question the security of UK borders and give the viewing public a much broader insight into an important issue facing this country — which is part of our remit as a public service broadcaster,” according to a statement by Channel 4 to Britain’s PA news agency.
