Marwan Koukash joins Channel 4 stable of reality TV stars

What happens when four long-term unemployed locals are taken on by a Liverpool-based millionaire to be given the chance to prove themselves in the world of work?

Channel 4's latest documentary take on blending opposite ends of the social spectrum – airing on Wednesday at 9pm – may not seem a radical departure for much of the rest of their factual output.

But when the millionaire happens to be prolific racehorse owner and former Salford Red Devils chairman Marwan Koukash, then things might be looking up.

If the show's title – My Millionaire Migrant Boss – might seem to have been generated by an algorithm designed to catch as many different Google searches as possible, then Koukash certainly fits the bill as an immigrant made good.

Dr Koukash stands amid the restored splendour of his Liverpool hotelCredit: Edward Whitaker

Having spent three years in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan following the 1967 Six-Day War, Koukash arrived in Britain in the late 1970s via Kuwait, before going on to make his fortune in the world of corporate training and financial services.

Racing fans will get to see behind the scenes of Koukash's extensive string as the four triallists attempt to literally shovel their way up from the bottom.

Koukash, who has dozens of horses in training with Richard Fahey, David O'Meara, Patrick Morris and others, is most famous in British racing for his devotion to Chester racecourse.

Marwan Koukash rallies the troops at ChesterCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said on Tuesday: "Basically the idea was to take on four unemployable people to try to motivate them and to give them some experience working with the horses as well as in my hotel.

"They filmed in the yard and you will see one of the guys taking a horse into the parade ring at Chester."

Koukash has earned a reputation as a straight talker and he admitted that he struggled at times with the attitude displayed by some of the people he was trying to help.

"I kind of enjoyed it, although I didn’t like being mic’d up for two weeks," said Koukash. "Some of the guys drove me absolutely nuts, that wasn’t easy. But it was in an enjoyable experience for all of us."

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