Through six new episodes in the third season of the documentary program Norway behind the facade, Janne Amble and Kadafi Zaman will take TV viewers behind closed doors. There they meet two people who shed light on the cracks in Norwegian society.
In 2020, Norway won behind the Gullruten facade.
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES: Janne Amble and Kadafi Zaman support each other in what has been a demanding recording period of Norway behind the facade. Photo: Erik Edland/TV 2
Hobby psychologist
The two are both aware that this has been the most demanding season to make. It has become more personal and they have both had to act as hobby psychologists for each other.
One of the episodes in this year’s season is about rapists, and Norway behind the facade meets a convicted rapist who tells his story. Janne also met the rape victims in connection with research for the episode and it made a strong impression.
– I had met three rape victims in the course of one day and was completely tender inside from the feelings that meeting these people brings out. Being then able to call Kadafi and tell him about this felt good. Being able to tell someone who understands what you are going through has been more important than ever and a good outlet for me, Janne Amble tells TV 2.
Strong impressions
The themes that they take up in this season have a good variety. They deal with everything from the poor looking for housing to Norwegian soldiers training at funerals, and Janne and Kadafi have been closer than ever.
STRONG IMPRESSION: Kadafi Zaman on recording for Norway behind the facade. Photo: November film/TV 2
The people Norway behind the facade has found are people who do not seek attention. Those who are in the program stand out because they want to tell a story and not because they want to be on TV.
THE GOLDEN ROUTE: Janne Amble and Kadafi Zaman win the award for best presenters during the Golden Route in Bergen, May, 2021. Photo: Morten Bendiksen/TV 2
– This program has forced me to be more personal and a little more open. It is not the sterile reporting that I am used to from the TV 2 news. Here we go in a different way. We are with people, talk to them and follow them over time. There are many people we have met who are not in the documentaries, but what they say and show us makes a strong impression, says Kadafi.
Undercover
What has been different this season and something the two have never tried before, has been going undercover to hide their identity. The two are both well-profiled on TV, so after a few rounds of production, they decided to carry out filming.
UNDERCOVER: Kadafi Zaman and Janne Amble just before the filming where they went undercover. Photo: Kadafi Zaman/TV 2
– The first thing I thought of was that I could wear a burqa and try to have a woman’s voice. We practiced a bit and it didn’t sound good, so we left it out. We further asked an expert and were told to do something with the hair and eyes, and in my case the beard. We landed on a “Mullah and Fatima” look and Janne got a hijab and lenses, Kadafi tells TV 2.
Feedback
The two presenters have received a lot of response from people after the first two seasons of the documentary series on TV 2. They have received feedback that people have had their lives saved because of the programme. It has also become the curriculum in schools.
FEEDBACK: Janne Amble is happy about all the positive feedback she gets from the TV viewers. Photo: Erik Edland/TV 2
– It has been touching and we greatly appreciate all the feedback we receive. It also puts pressure on us – the TV viewers expect a lot. It’s fun that people think the program is thought-provoking and that it brings in new perspectives, says Amble.
Open mind
During his 16 years as a journalist in TV 2’s newsroom, TV 2 journalist Kadafi Zaman has worked with crime, gangs, right-wing extremists and Islamists.
In three seasons of Norway behind the facade he has now had the opportunity to dive deeper into journalism and it has surprised the experienced reporter what Norway looks like on the back. He also likes that, as presenter, he can approach the issues he covers with an open mind.
CURIOUS: The job as presenter in Norway behind the scenes gives Kadafi Zaman more knowledge about new topics. Photo: Erik Edland/TV 2
– We choose topics based on the fact that we don’t know much about them. I didn’t know much about cancer before the cancer episode in this season, and I don’t know any of my friends who have died from cancer. My curiosity becomes genuine and we have a conscious attitude that we do not read up on the topics, and rather ask questions that ordinary people would ask, concludes Kadafi Zaman.
