A resident who appeared on the controversial Channel 4 reality television series Benefits Street has been found dead at his home.
Lee Nutley, who appeared in the second series of the show, which aired last year, was found by paramedics at his home on the Tilery estate in Stockton-on-Tees on Monday.
Nutley, 43, had relied on food banks and the kindness of his neighbours to survive after losing his construction job two years ago.
A former heroin addict, Nutley told the show how he suffered seizures and had been on and off anti-depressants for eight years.
Cleveland police said there were not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
Nutley’s death comes almost two years after the death of another resident of Kingston Road, where the second series of Benefits Street was set. Christopher Watson, 33, was not a contributor to the programme but was popular among residents on the Tilery estate.
Speaking last May, Nutley told the Evening Gazette he regretted his decision to take part in the show, in which he was one of six residents followed around by the cameras.
“If I could take it all back I think I probably would,” he said. “It took months for the producers to convince me to take part. And I only really did because some of my family were already in it.”
He said the show had transformed him into a local celebrity in his home town. “I went to Stockton earlier and people were stopping me in the street. Mainly people I know shouting: ‘Lee, you’re famous now mate,’ and stuff like that. But this is not why I went on the show,” he said.
“I don’t plan to become some big celebrity and earn loads of money. As far as I’m concerned you don’t need money to be happy, and us lot being filmed here will prove it.”
Nutley, who appeared alongside his mum, Chrissie, who lives nearby, had said that his life was “totally different” to how it was the year before filming began.
Speaking about his health and being on jobseeker’s allowance, he had said: “I’m in a much better place now. I was on antidepressants when the cameras were here and my epilepsy is under control now. I’m just waiting for one more test and once I’ve got the all clear I’ll be straight back to work.
“I’ve worked all my life and I plan on getting back to it. If people think I want to sit on my backside on £45 a week, they are very wrong.”
Nutley, who lived on the Tilery estate for about 30 years, had said: “I’m not worried about what the viewers will think of me.”
A Cleveland police spokesperson said: “Police were called to an address on Kingston Road, Stockton, by ambulance service colleagues at around 5.40pm last night.
“A man in his 40s was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene and there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.
“A file will therefore be prepared for the coroner.”
