Ofcom-Watch, the new campaign against Ofcom, has instructed a senior barrister to lead an independent inquiry into the alleged “election interference” by Channel 4 and their undercover report of the Reform campaign. Co-conspirators will remember the report, which showed the campaigner Andrew Parker making some unsavoury comments…
It was then revealed that Andrew Parker is also an actor by profession, and now a “thorough and forensic investigation” into whether or not he was paid to make these remarks has been launched. The undercover report was produced in association with a company called Lee Sorrell Media, in what Ofcom-Watch claim was “an attempt to thwart any retrospective audit trails linked to the actor”. Now Ofcom-Watch want to know the communications that took place between Channel 4, Sorrell and Andrew Parker. If the inquiry finds anything untoward, the channel could be in big trouble…
Channel 4 released an undercover report last night into the Reform campaign in Clacton. They found evidence of anti-migrant rhetoric, homophobia and one canvasser “making racist and offensive remarks”. As Nigel says, the remarks were clearly “reprehensible” and it’s right they were booted out the Party…
The news channel were quick to identify all the Reform team’s exact roles in the short documentary. However, they don’t report that the racist canvasser, Andrew Parker, also appears to be an actor by profession, who is often offered the “villain and mafia type”. A role he likely doesn’t have to act out of character for…
Still, Parker is evidentially a loony. Perhaps he’s taken method acting a little too seriously…
UPDATE I: Andrew Parker has told GB News reporter Charlie Peters that he rejects any suggestion that he was a “paid actor” set-up to make Reform look bad. Parker added that acting represents a “tiny” portion of his income.
UPDATE II: Channel 4 respond: “We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation.”
UPDATE III: Nigel Farage tells Loose Women “this guy is a set-up, I have no doubt about it”.
Channel 4 pol-ed Gary Gibbon is getting praise for his long segment on Keir Starmer’s time as Director of Public Prosecutions. Amid fawning admiration from Dominic Grieve and light questions on whether Starmer was right to prosecute Chris Huhne, criticisms are based on Starmer being “draconian and hardline” while using the “language of austerity” to force through budget efficiencies. There is no mention of Starmer’s long record of high-profile failures in the role. The below could have spelt the end of his ambitions many times over…
- Decided not to prosecute John Worboys for 75 sex assaults.
- Yet spent four years failing to prosecute 23 Sun journalists.
- Insisted on prosecuting Paul Chambers for making a light-hearted joke on social media (the infamous Twitter joke trial).
- Failed to build a case against Jimmy Savile and forced to apologise after being damned by report into failings.
- Repeatedly championed the innocence of convicted murder who later admitted that he was actually guilty.
- Failed to prosecute police officer who killed newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson.
- Ordered the CPS in Wales to drop the prosecution of a primary school teacher who had been accused of sexting a 16 year old boy, who went on to commit suicide.
- Damning report into Starmer’s tenure at the CPS showed it was performing well below the necessary standard, with the report attributing part of the blame to a ‘overload of initiatives’ from the CPS’ national leadership.
- Survey of CPS staff found that just 12% of them thought that the organisation was being well managed under Starmer’s leadership.
- Accused of reopening a spurious sex abuse case involving a friend of Tom Watson – the accused was cleared in an hour.
- Chose not to prosecute two doctors accused of carrying out abortions on grounds of gender.
Gibbon finishes by saying with Labour set to win comfortably “we may soon discover what he really learnt from five years in high public office.” It would be bad news if he conducts himself similarly…
Channel 4 is finally confirming aggressive streamlining to save cash. Content teams are being merged including drama and film as well as documentary and factual entertainment. 240 jobs will be cut. That equates to 18% of total staff…
CEO Alex Mahon said in November the that Channel 4 was considering using its emergency debt facility following an advertising “market shock“. Cuts are coming first – the channel has also now committed to leaving its headquarters on Horseferry Road. Totemic…
Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4, told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee today that the broadcaster is considering using its emergency £75 million debt facility after an advertising “market shock”. Channel 4 is owned by a public corporation controlled ultimately by the DCMS, and its revenue is set to fall by 8-9%, a more than the 6% previously forecast. The sharp downturn in advertising on the channel means the broadcaster is thinking of relying on its financial backstop for the first time in its history. Mahon said she “doesn’t forsee” the need to rely on “state subsides” in the future, despite the fact streaming views were down a whopping 10% last year. Clearly Bake-Off isn’t enough to entice viewers…
Channel 4 is promising its upcoming Partygate dramatisation – yes, another Downing Street Covid drama – will be a “meticulously researched docudrama” which “takes viewers inside No 10”, as if there isn’t already a six-part series on Sky Atlantic which basically did the same thing. Almost the same thing…
While This England caked Kenneth Branagh with makeup that looked like he was having an allergic reaction to a bee sting, Channel 4‘s Partygate the True Story won’t feature Boris Johnson’s face at all. The show creators claim they took the “creative decision” to only show the back of his head whenever he appears on-screen. His voice will be provided by an impressionist. Groundbreaking television – this is the sort of thing that supposed to compete with the streaming giants…
