MTV UK’;s reality show Geordie Shore, based on the hit Jersey Shore format, has debuted strongly. The show, which follows a group of Geordie youngsters as they go on a series of racy nights out, opened on May 24 with 329,000 viewers, making it MTV UK’;s highest rating show in three years. It has also been a hit online, pulling in more than a million views across MTV.co.uk and other video-based websites.

However it hasn’;t gone down well with everyone. Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah told The Metro Newspaper: “I’;m going to be raising questions in Parliament because I think there should be a limit on how much alcohol a broadcaster can pour down the throats of young people to provoke sensational acts. By putting those young people in this situation, it’;s encouraging them to lose all their dignity. I think it’;s totally unrepresentative of Newcastle.” The show has also been condemned by the city’;s local tourism board.