Celebrity Big Brother Shame
Celebrity Big Brother has been a very naughty boy, and been duly admonished by Ofcom. It has sparked a small e-mail debate amongst MPs after Ofcom sent out its ruling, a debate that will no doubt be curtailed by the recess. Derek Wyatt, the head of the all-party media group sent an e-mail back saying “shame you didn’t fine them”; Evan Harris reponded “I think the finding itself was questionable given not only the absence of criminal offence being committed, but both the significant public service rendered by the controversy, in full context, showing how racism is unacceptable and how the victim prospered while her antagonists suffered, and the absence of any evidence of emulation by children or by adults. Therefore the decision not to fine was entirely appropriate. We do not want broadcasters - in complex cases like this - to be over-censored on matters of free lawful expression or to be too self-censoring for fear of financial penalty”.
Marvellous.