Go Back to Where You Came From will air on Channel 4 (Image: Channel 4/PA)
A man who took part in a experiment has admitted that his views on mass immigration have changed massively. Dave Marshall previously said that he wants the Royal Navy to “set up landmines to blow up small boats” before appearing on .
The chef appeared alongside five other very opinionated personalities as they travelled to countries on migrant routes through Africa, the and Europe into the UK. The show sees the group witness nearby missile strikes and the mass overcrowding of camps.
They trek through an African desert, climb over border crossings through mountain ranges and experience first-hand some of the terror of small boat crossings – all of which Dave admitted was “eye-opening” and “very powerful”.
Speaking about appearing on the show, he said: “It’s a very taboo and difficult subject to talk about. Once you start talking about it you’re either labelled as racist or a left-wing loony depending on what your views are.
“It doesn’t mean you’re wrong and I’m right, you’ve just got different views. I can’t say too much yet but I can say I had views and a lot of views were tested – it opened my eyes.”
Dave Marshall is one of the six outspoken Brits attempting migrant routes to the UK (Image: Channel 4/PA)
Admitting his views on mass immigration were based partly on ignorance and “burying his head in the sand”, Dave said the experience “massively” challenged his opinion.
He shared: “It was a real eye-opener. For me having certain views on stuff and doing this, a lot of things changed. Once the show comes out you’ll see a change in me. This show is very powerful. I think it will bring people together massively.”
Dave admitted that he was scared of the backlash from appearing on the show and his family did not fully support him. He said: “The nice thing about this show is it’s not going to be boring.
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“It’s not your typical show about immigration… just a bunch of whiny boomers having a moan about immigrants coming in.
“My family were against me doing it at first. They were scared but it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If I hadn’t done it I would have regretted it. I would never have got to see those countries in a million years.
“I was worried about going on the show, with the views I had, that I would I be plastered all around as this big nasty racist but the show itself is very fair. It gave us all a platform to express our feelings and talk to each other.”
The first episode of Go Back To Where You Came From can be see on Channel 4 on Monday, February 3, at 9pm.