It is set to be one of the most talked-about TV shows of the year and filming hasn't even finished in Southampton yet.

While cameras film the follow-up the controversial Benefit Street in St Mary's one of the participants has spoken about why he decided to take part.

Neighbourhood leaders in St Mary's have vented their fury over Love Productions decision to film Immigration Street in their neighbourhood.

Programme makers say they will film the day-to-day activities of immigrants living in the ethnically diverse Derby Road.

But pillars of the community fear it will lead to far-right and anti-immigration groups inciting “racial tensions” across the city.

Portuguese-born Rui Teixeira is one of the people allowing the cameras into his home.

He believes the programme will put immigration in a positive light when the show is aired on Channel 4.

The 32-year-old dad-of-four said: “My hope is that immigration will come across as a positive thing. In this day-and-age there's a lot of anti-immigration feeling.

“Hopefully this programme will show another side of that. It will show that immigration is not as bad as people make out.

“They will film the day-to-day, what it's like to be an immigrant here in the UK.”

Rui said programme makers told him they will present an “impartial” view of immigration.

His only concern about the show is that members of far-right groups such as the English Defence League will see the worst of immigration.

He said: “There's always a chance that once the documentary airs there will be some people who are not too happy about it. Who knows what's going to happen?

“There could be some people like those in the EDL are going to look at that and get the wrong idea.

“I won't be 100 per cent sure how it will be portrayed they said they will leave that up to the public.”

The painter and decorator found a home in Derby Road after he moved to the UK seven years ago from Madeira looking for work.

He said he has never looked back.

“I have never had any issues living here. We don't regret coming here. We feel quite happy in this country.

“I work, my kids go to school, they love the school. We like the education system here. You have got a good health system here. We know our children have a better chance of a future here than if they were at home.”

He is currently living with his wife Catia and children in Iris Road in Swaythling but hopes to move back to Derby Road in the next few weeks.

“It's where I want to live. I'm just going back and I think that's why they have some interest in me and my story.

“It's quite a close-knit community. We have got many friends who live there.”

Rui added: “I was just doing some painting in the area, I had seen the website about it and they approached me. They asked me if would be in a documentary about immigration. I wasn't offered any money or anything.”