Ross Kemp gets tour of Glasgow for new Sky One series

May 23 2012 EXCLUSIVE by Joe McGuire

Ross Kemp in Possil Image 2

Ross photographed while on a visit to Possil

TELLY hardman Ross Kemp will this afternoon be given a tour of ­Glasgow’s most deprived areas as he makes his latest TV show.

Crime-fighting councillor Billy ­McAllister will take the former EastEnders actor to Possil, Springburn, Maryhill and Drumchapel.

Kemp won a BAFTA for his documentary series Ross Kemp on Gangs, in which he met neo-Nazis, football hooligans and the world’s most dangerous thugs.

He also filmed two series from the front lines of Afghanistan.

No details have been released about his latest Sky One series but Kemp began ­filming in Glasgow earlier this month.

The former actor is no stranger to the city. He was elected as Glasgow University’s Rector in 1999 but resigned a year later, citing work pressures.

Canal ward councillor McAllister ­admitted he didn’t know much about Kemp but wants to show the city’s true face.

He said: “I don’t want to run the city down but let’s not gloss over the issues. You need to acknowledge problems before you can solve them.

“For too long there’s not been the will or ability to look at issues in the east end.

“My ward has seen the loss of 35,000 jobs over 20 years. Unemployment takes you into a cycle of poverty and deprivation that can often lead to criminality.”

Although the show is expected to focus on the negative aspects of Glasgow, ­McAllister will also show off initiatives aimed at tackling crime and poverty.

McAllister added: “Someone in London gave my name to the producers, but I’m not sure who. I figured it was because of my stance on crime and poverty.”

Two years ago former welder McAllister campaigned to evict crime boss Eddie Lyons from the Chirnsyde Community Initiative youth centre.

A Sky spokesman confirmed Kemp was filming in Glasgow. They added: “We never comment on Ross’s shows as they can be a little bit dangerous.”