Bangkok Airport is on BBC Three on 22 January

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“Welcome to the Airport of Smiles”! That’s how the trailer starts for the BBC’s latest factual program set in Thailand. This one is called “Bangkok Airport” and consists of six, sixty minute episodes. According to their press release, the BBC “gained unparalleled access to all aspects of the airport”. Judging by some of the quotes in the trailer, some people in authority might be regretting allowing them to do this. A very sun-tanned lady says, “There is no civilization here”. Another disgruntled tourist angrily says “I’m never coming back here”. Airport of smiles?

Pre-production on Bangkok Airport was done in Thailand at the end of 2013. The camera crew then arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport in January 2014 and stayed there for about three months. Most of the series is based at the airport but they did apparently follow some of the tourists on their holiday. This period was the height of the protests in Bangkok. The above flyer was sent out on twitter by one of the assistant producers who was looking for people to be featured in the TV show. The date of the tweet was after after Bangkok Shutdown started.

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So, what to expect in Episode 1? Here is what Radio Times has to say:

Documentary series observing the people who work and pass through Bangkok International Airport, Thailand. The first programme introduces immigration officer Jack, a man stranded without a ticket and an individual who is impaired by alcohol and can’t find his gate. Plus, the Tourist Police have fun on their new Segways, and two girls strive to be financially independent.

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Here is the full press release for the Bangkok Airport series:

Bangkok airport, the gateway to South-East Asia, is a thriving, bustling hub of excitement and anticipation, of pale arrivals to tanned departures and everything in between. BBC Three has gained unparalleled access to all aspects of the airport in this thrilling six-part series which sees young Brits passing through to embark on adventures of a lifetime. Each episode follows some of the thousands of youth British travellers checking in and checking out, run-ins with the tourist police, incidents in immigration, customs, treatment at the on-site medical centre, missed flights, expired passports and emergencies abroad. The action takes place inside and occasionally outside the airport – at island trouble spots and the British Embassy in downtown Bangkok. And in a unique twist, contributors’ UGC (user generated content) will be used alongside fly-on-the-wall docusoap content. Bangkok Airport is made by Keo Films. It is series produced by Fiona Inskip and executive produced by Paula Trafford. BBC commissioning editor is Sam Bickley.

Bangkok Airport is on BBC 3 on Thursday 22nd January 2015. Get your popcorn ready. This is going to be really interesting and possibly fun to watch.

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11 thoughts on “Bangkok Airport is on BBC Three on 22 January

  • May 17, 2016 at 7:44 am
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    Which episode does the Australian man say unbelievable over an over?

    Reply
  • March 4, 2015 at 3:54 am
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    I wish I had been interviewed for any show on Thailand. I lived in Thailand for over 14 years, in Bangkok, Phuket, Khao Lak, Chonburi and Chiang Rai. I have also spent at least two months in each of 24 other countries. I only recently “escaped” The Land of Smiles and have never been happier to leave anywhere, and that includes my time in Afghanistan and Iran. Government officials in Thailand took more than US$60,000 of my money over the years with phony “fines”, “fees”, “considerations” etc. This includes all levels of officials, e.g. police, immigration, customs, harbormaster, labor department, and business licensing department among them. Dishonest businesses and service providers, including Thai representatives of major international conglomerates like Fujitsu, GMAC, Samsung and even the electric company took an equivalent amount and as a foreigner, I had little or no legal rights to recover any of it. I did get a Thai lawyer disbarred for life but the courts would not force him to repay me the US$20,000 he stole from me while he was acting as my lawyer. Thailand is terrible place with almost no redeeming qualities, except that the food is great and life is cheap.

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    • June 13, 2015 at 11:09 am
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      Mr. Elliot, it sounds like you tried to set up “shop” over the 14 years in Thailand with lots of big bucks and failed. After all, you had enough to spare travelling in those 24 countries (travelling expenses, accomodation, etc.; I traveled extensively myself, but I am not a millionaire or have hundreds of thousands of dollars saved up, so I had to work and save as time passed and had to do it the backpacker way and NOT the luxurious way that most “farangs” want to live in Thailand). If you “lost” US 60,000 (as much as me for trusting the wrong people at the wrong time in my life), what percentage of your “net worth” was it over these 14 years? If you’re one of these “professionals”, then your worth could have been at least 1 million over those years.

      Many people like myself lose money and big, but they don’t whine about it over the internet. Many lost a lot more than you did in so-called “civilized” countries and their “net worth” or savings was as much as they lost. Life is tough everywhere, but “Westerners” make it sound like life is so much more corrupt in countries like Thailand YET they enjoy the cheap living. Hypocrisy rules.

      Reply
  • February 22, 2015 at 9:01 am
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    Could you please tell me what the piece of music is that is played as the programme is finishing,it seems as though it is an instrumental piece,thanks in anticipation,
    D.Holmes

    Reply
  • January 23, 2015 at 6:16 pm
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    Forget Suvabunmi airport. A Shit hole of a new airport. Try Singapore. Changi airport is worth a holiday in itself. I know. I have lived near all….

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    • June 13, 2015 at 11:17 am
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      Mr. Murray, where did you find the “shit hole” that you so unkindly mentioned? Just asking since you’re so cock sure of it.

      Reply
  • January 16, 2015 at 6:38 pm
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    thank you BBC! Hopefully all these whiney UK tourists will not come here anymore!

    (A thankful retiree living in Bangkok)

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    • June 13, 2015 at 11:22 am
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      Or ANY whiney “nationality” tourist for that matter.

      Reply
  • January 14, 2015 at 4:54 pm
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    Can this be seen online? My TV broke (hooray) and I ain’t gonna get it fixed!

    Reply

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