BBC’s Inside Out to probe up-front fees

Published Tuesday 11 September 2007 at 16:50 by Matthew Hemley

A company that charges would-be models and television extras more than £150 in up-front fees with no guarantee of work is to be the subject of a BBC investigative programme.

West 1 Casting will be featured in a forthcoming edition of the current affairs strand, Inside Out. The report will show how one of the Inside Out team signed up to West 1 Casting, which describes itself as a management company promoting models to UK agents, for a fee of £189.

Six weeks later, the Inside Out investigator was contacted by a modelling agency interested in signing them up, but for a further up-front administration fee of £149.50.

Although West 1 Casting promises a refund if no representation is found, it is under no obligation to provide a refund once an agent approach is made, despite the fact this often requires further payment.

Dimitri Houtart, series producer of Inside Out South West, said the investigation was carried out when it was discovered West 1 Casting was holding an open day in Plymouth.

He said: “From the BBC point of view, there is something anti-social about it. It is not illegal - but they are raising the hope of young people where there is not much hope of work.”

The BBC Inside Out follows in the footsteps of a recent ITV programme, Bite Back, which also used undercover journalists to expose the practices of West 1 Casting.

The Inside Out programme will broadcast on Wednesday, September 26 on BBC1 South West at 7.30pm. It will also be available online.

A survey carried out by The Stage last year revealed 75% of people who pay up-front fees do not get work in the following 12 months.

At the time of going to press, West 1 Casting was unavailable for comment.