The UK Culture Secretary has said she lobbied the BBC during a private board meeting to refer to Hamas as “terrorists” in its news coverage.
Lucy Frazer, who has previously said publicly that the corporation should use the term when referring to the group, was put under pressure this morning at a Culture, Media & Sport Committee hearing by committee member John Nicolson over the meeting with BBC head honchos including the Director General that took place late last year.
Nicolson quoted people who attended the meeting and told him they had been “baffled” by Frazer’s insistence to eschew discussing issues like the licence fee settlement and instead continue to “repeat points about Gaza.” “I am told you kept coming back to it,” said Nicolson.
Frazer stressed that a range of points were discussed at the meeting including the license fee settlement but recalled urging the BBC to change its tack on Hamas.
Lucy Frazer, who has previously said publicly that the corporation should use the term when referring to the group, was put under pressure this morning at a Culture, Media & Sport Committee hearing by committee member John Nicolson over the meeting with BBC head honchos including the Director General that took place late last year.
Nicolson quoted people who attended the meeting and told him they had been “baffled” by Frazer’s insistence to eschew discussing issues like the licence fee settlement and instead continue to “repeat points about Gaza.” “I am told you kept coming back to it,” said Nicolson.
Frazer stressed that a range of points were discussed at the meeting including the license fee settlement but recalled urging the BBC to change its tack on Hamas.
- 5/22/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Baby Reindeer’s real-life Martha has issued an excoriating statement confirming that she is working with a legal team to take action against Netflix.
In a 500-word missive (copied in full below), Fiona Harvey said she was plotting a lawsuit “against all of those who have lied about me and used my image to make large sums of money for themselves.”
Harvey added that Baby Reindeer had “caused untold damage to my health, my reputation, my job prospects” after she was identified within days of Richard Gadd’s megahit series premiering.
Gadd’s drama is billed as a “true story” and portrays Martha as a convicted stalker and perpetrator of sexual abuse and assault. Harvey has denied wrongdoing.
Her statement was issued through Chris Daw, a senior attorney assisting Harvey with her legal plans. The barrister is yet to be formally instructed by Harvey, but told Deadline last week that...
In a 500-word missive (copied in full below), Fiona Harvey said she was plotting a lawsuit “against all of those who have lied about me and used my image to make large sums of money for themselves.”
Harvey added that Baby Reindeer had “caused untold damage to my health, my reputation, my job prospects” after she was identified within days of Richard Gadd’s megahit series premiering.
Gadd’s drama is billed as a “true story” and portrays Martha as a convicted stalker and perpetrator of sexual abuse and assault. Harvey has denied wrongdoing.
Her statement was issued through Chris Daw, a senior attorney assisting Harvey with her legal plans. The barrister is yet to be formally instructed by Harvey, but told Deadline last week that...
- 5/20/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: A British lawmaker has challenged Netflix to provide evidence for the claim that Baby Reindeer’s real-life Martha has a stalking conviction.
John Nicolson, a Scottish National Party MP who sits on UK Parliament’s influential Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said Netflix had a duty to back up claims made in Richard Gadd’s “true story” hit series after Martha was identified as Fiona Harvey.
In a letter seen by Deadline, Nicolson asked Benjamin King, Netflix’s senior UK director of public policy, to provide evidence of Harvey’s criminal record after he told the committee that Baby Reindeer was a “true story of the horrific abuse” suffered by Gadd “at the hands of a convicted stalker.”
Nicolson wrote: “Journalists have thus far been unable to find a record of the conviction to which you referred. Can you provide me with the evidence for this serious claim which...
John Nicolson, a Scottish National Party MP who sits on UK Parliament’s influential Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said Netflix had a duty to back up claims made in Richard Gadd’s “true story” hit series after Martha was identified as Fiona Harvey.
In a letter seen by Deadline, Nicolson asked Benjamin King, Netflix’s senior UK director of public policy, to provide evidence of Harvey’s criminal record after he told the committee that Baby Reindeer was a “true story of the horrific abuse” suffered by Gadd “at the hands of a convicted stalker.”
Nicolson wrote: “Journalists have thus far been unable to find a record of the conviction to which you referred. Can you provide me with the evidence for this serious claim which...
- 5/17/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Fresh from his bombshell interview with ‘the real Martha,’ Piers Morgan has slammed “high-profile people in the business” who have said they know the identity of Richard Gadd’s abuser portrayed in Baby Reindeer.
Along with the furious guessing game to find Gadd’s female stalker sparked by the controversial Netflix series, the internet has been ablaze with sleuths trying to discover the identity of the comedy producer portrayed in episode 4 who grooms, sexually assaults and rapes Gadd. One director has even taken legal action against those targeting him as ‘the real Darrien’. Darrien is played by Tom Goodman-Hill in the show and returns in later episodes.
Some have revealed they are aware of the real abuser’s identity, including Rest is Entertainment host Richard Osman, who claimed recently that “everyone” in the industry is aware and that Gadd has been “very open to people in the industry” about the person who sexually assaulted him.
Along with the furious guessing game to find Gadd’s female stalker sparked by the controversial Netflix series, the internet has been ablaze with sleuths trying to discover the identity of the comedy producer portrayed in episode 4 who grooms, sexually assaults and rapes Gadd. One director has even taken legal action against those targeting him as ‘the real Darrien’. Darrien is played by Tom Goodman-Hill in the show and returns in later episodes.
Some have revealed they are aware of the real abuser’s identity, including Rest is Entertainment host Richard Osman, who claimed recently that “everyone” in the industry is aware and that Gadd has been “very open to people in the industry” about the person who sexually assaulted him.
- 5/17/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
For the past month since its premiere, there has been rampant online speculation about who inspired the abusive characters depicted in the Netflix series Baby Reindeer. Now, as the woman identified as the real ‘Martha’ speaks out, the streamer is defending itself over alleged lack of protection of real-life identities. At a UK Parliament hearing, Netflix policy chief Benjamin King said the streamer was satisfied with their attention to the issue of privacy and that they took adequate care to to disguise the identities of the real-life Baby Reindeer characters. King told lawmakers that Netflix and producer Clerkenwell Films had to balance protecting identities with the “veracity and authenticity” of the seven-part series. King assured the committee that the streamer took “every reasonable precaution in disguising the real-life identities of the people involved in that story.” As pointed out by John Nicolson, a Scottish National Party MP on the Culture,...
- 5/8/2024
- TV Insider
Netflix has argued that it took care to disguise the identities of the real-life Baby Reindeer characters after the show’s extraordinary success sparked an internet guessing game.
In some of Netflix’s first comments about the viral circus surrounding Baby Reindeer, policy chief Benjamin King told a UK Parliament hearing that the streamer was satisfied with duty of care standards on the show.
King told lawmakers that Netflix and producer Clerkenwell Films took “every reasonable precaution in disguising the real-life identities of the people involved in that story.”
John Nicolson, a Scottish National Party MP who sits on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, pointed out that this had not prevented the character of Martha from being identified online.
Baby Reindeer was billed as a “true story” and provides a searingly raw account of comedian Richard Gadd’s experience with an alleged stalker.
Gadd plays the lead character Donny,...
In some of Netflix’s first comments about the viral circus surrounding Baby Reindeer, policy chief Benjamin King told a UK Parliament hearing that the streamer was satisfied with duty of care standards on the show.
King told lawmakers that Netflix and producer Clerkenwell Films took “every reasonable precaution in disguising the real-life identities of the people involved in that story.”
John Nicolson, a Scottish National Party MP who sits on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, pointed out that this had not prevented the character of Martha from being identified online.
Baby Reindeer was billed as a “true story” and provides a searingly raw account of comedian Richard Gadd’s experience with an alleged stalker.
Gadd plays the lead character Donny,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Gurinder Chadha is forging an indie Christmas movie about an Indian Ebenezer Scrooge set in London, financed by Zygi Kamasa’s new UK distributor True Brit.
The Bend It Like Beckham director has revealed the news in the past hour as she delivers evidence at the British Film and High-End Television inquiry, which starts today.
Chadha said the film is “fun, British and very close to Dickens’ original themes,” telling the story of an Indian Scrooge who votes for the Conservative Party and hates refugees.
She says financing is being provided through a combination of UK tax credits and Kamasa’s True Brit, which Deadline revealed launched late last year with backing from Three Six Zero. Its debut production is Danny Dyer-starrer Marching Powder.
“Real struggle to get it off the ground”
While Chadha said her Xmas movie is “coming together” due to the combination of tax credits and True Brit,...
The Bend It Like Beckham director has revealed the news in the past hour as she delivers evidence at the British Film and High-End Television inquiry, which starts today.
Chadha said the film is “fun, British and very close to Dickens’ original themes,” telling the story of an Indian Scrooge who votes for the Conservative Party and hates refugees.
She says financing is being provided through a combination of UK tax credits and Kamasa’s True Brit, which Deadline revealed launched late last year with backing from Three Six Zero. Its debut production is Danny Dyer-starrer Marching Powder.
“Real struggle to get it off the ground”
While Chadha said her Xmas movie is “coming together” due to the combination of tax credits and True Brit,...
- 1/23/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The BBC’s protracted stand-off with five seasoned female news channel presenters has taken another twist after the women were asked to reapply for jobs for a second time.
Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Geeta Guru-Murthy, Kasia Madera, and Annita McVeigh have not been on BBC News for more than nine months amid a dispute over their future.
The women were not successful last year in landing one of five UK-based chief presenter roles on the relaunched news channel, but they later complained about the fairness of the recruitment process.
Several sources said BBC News has now invited the women to reapply for two chief presenter roles: one opened up by Yalda Hakim’s defection to Sky News and another newly-created position.
If they are unsuccessful, the news anchors are likely to be offered a correspondent/presenter role, though this would be considered a demotion for the experienced anchors.
Some...
Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Geeta Guru-Murthy, Kasia Madera, and Annita McVeigh have not been on BBC News for more than nine months amid a dispute over their future.
The women were not successful last year in landing one of five UK-based chief presenter roles on the relaunched news channel, but they later complained about the fairness of the recruitment process.
Several sources said BBC News has now invited the women to reapply for two chief presenter roles: one opened up by Yalda Hakim’s defection to Sky News and another newly-created position.
If they are unsuccessful, the news anchors are likely to be offered a correspondent/presenter role, though this would be considered a demotion for the experienced anchors.
Some...
- 1/12/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
More individuals have raised concerns over toxic working cultures, bullying, discrimination and harassment on This Morning since ITV bosses appeared for a grilling over the Phillip Schofield saga, the UK Committee reviewing it has said.
In a letter published today from Committee Chair Caroline Dinenage to ITV CEO Carolyn McCall, Dinenage said “a large number of individuals” have been in touch since the June hearing.
Dinenage, whose letter was sent in late July, said individuals “speak with great pride” about working at ITV and are “hugely positive” about many colleagues. But “they also raise claims of toxic working cultures, bullying, discrimination and harrassment,” she went on to write.
Dinenage queried McCall and fellow ITV bosses’ claims that there have been only two complaints from people working on the show in five years. This came up during the June hearing, when committee member John Nicolson said he had personally received many more than two.
In a letter published today from Committee Chair Caroline Dinenage to ITV CEO Carolyn McCall, Dinenage said “a large number of individuals” have been in touch since the June hearing.
Dinenage, whose letter was sent in late July, said individuals “speak with great pride” about working at ITV and are “hugely positive” about many colleagues. But “they also raise claims of toxic working cultures, bullying, discrimination and harrassment,” she went on to write.
Dinenage queried McCall and fellow ITV bosses’ claims that there have been only two complaints from people working on the show in five years. This came up during the June hearing, when committee member John Nicolson said he had personally received many more than two.
- 8/9/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Issues include how best to support the indie production sector, safe-guarding inward investment and overcoming exhibition challenges.
The UK government is launching a wide-ranging inquiry into the many challenges facing the UK’s film and high-end TV industry via the House of Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport (Cms) Committee.
It will look at everything from what can be done to maintain the UK’s status as a global hub for international production to how independent producers can best be supported. Other issues under discussions include skills and retention in the industry and the best way in which the film and...
The UK government is launching a wide-ranging inquiry into the many challenges facing the UK’s film and high-end TV industry via the House of Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport (Cms) Committee.
It will look at everything from what can be done to maintain the UK’s status as a global hub for international production to how independent producers can best be supported. Other issues under discussions include skills and retention in the industry and the best way in which the film and...
- 7/21/2023
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
UK regulator Ofcom has launched investigations into shows hosted by politicians on Gb News and TalkTV, including one featuring a segment on Donald Trump’s civil trial.
The first investigation concerns former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation for right-leaning Gb News in which the recently-knighted Boris Johnson supporter covered a breaking news story about the verdict involving the former Potus.
State of the Nation received 40 Ofcom complaints. Both Gb News and TalkTV have of late been using politicians to host topical shows but they have consistently stayed within the realms of the regulator’s Broadcasting Code as they are allowed to interview other politicians and discuss topical issues as long as due impartiality is met. Rees-Mogg’s show may have strayed as politicians are not allowed to act as newsreaders unless under “exceptional circumstances.”
The regulator will also investigate an episode of Talk TV’s Richard Tice...
The first investigation concerns former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation for right-leaning Gb News in which the recently-knighted Boris Johnson supporter covered a breaking news story about the verdict involving the former Potus.
State of the Nation received 40 Ofcom complaints. Both Gb News and TalkTV have of late been using politicians to host topical shows but they have consistently stayed within the realms of the regulator’s Broadcasting Code as they are allowed to interview other politicians and discuss topical issues as long as due impartiality is met. Rees-Mogg’s show may have strayed as politicians are not allowed to act as newsreaders unless under “exceptional circumstances.”
The regulator will also investigate an episode of Talk TV’s Richard Tice...
- 7/3/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: BBC Director General Tim Davie was in contact with a senior government official on the day he suspended Gary Lineker, raising questions about whether he was pressured to punish the presenter for breaking impartiality rules.
Documents obtained by Deadline reveal that Davie was in dialogue with Polly Payne, Director General of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Dcms), on March 10. Emails between the BBC and the Dcms show that Payne and Davie’s conversations were unscheduled.
The papers cast fresh light on the biggest crisis of Davie’s tenure after he suspended Match of the Day host Lineker for tweeting that government asylum policy had echoes of Nazi Germany. Lineker was swiftly reinstated three days later following a weekend of chaos, in which his colleagues effectively went on strike and BBC sports coverage fell off air.
The revelation that Davie spoke to the Dcms has raised eyebrows among BBC staff,...
Documents obtained by Deadline reveal that Davie was in dialogue with Polly Payne, Director General of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Dcms), on March 10. Emails between the BBC and the Dcms show that Payne and Davie’s conversations were unscheduled.
The papers cast fresh light on the biggest crisis of Davie’s tenure after he suspended Match of the Day host Lineker for tweeting that government asylum policy had echoes of Nazi Germany. Lineker was swiftly reinstated three days later following a weekend of chaos, in which his colleagues effectively went on strike and BBC sports coverage fell off air.
The revelation that Davie spoke to the Dcms has raised eyebrows among BBC staff,...
- 6/27/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The BBC is facing growing pressure to find a resolution for five seasoned female presenters, many of whom have been unable to work for months amid a merger of the corporation’s UK and international news channels.
The women have not presented on the BBC News channel since March and some have been at home against their wishes as the broadcaster establishes the structure of its slimmed-down rolling news operation.
The five anchors impacted are Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Geeta Guru-Murthy, Kasia Madera, and Annita McVeigh. Between them, they have more than 100 years of experience working at the BBC.
Deadline understands that there is currently no clear resolution to the impasse, but colleagues are increasingly angry about the BBC’s treatment of the women.
The BBC is also facing questions about how much money it is wasting while the senior anchors sit on the bench, with some estimating that...
The women have not presented on the BBC News channel since March and some have been at home against their wishes as the broadcaster establishes the structure of its slimmed-down rolling news operation.
The five anchors impacted are Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Geeta Guru-Murthy, Kasia Madera, and Annita McVeigh. Between them, they have more than 100 years of experience working at the BBC.
Deadline understands that there is currently no clear resolution to the impasse, but colleagues are increasingly angry about the BBC’s treatment of the women.
The BBC is also facing questions about how much money it is wasting while the senior anchors sit on the bench, with some estimating that...
- 6/20/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Martin Frizell, the Editor of embattled ITV daytime show This Morning, has been rebuked by his employer for “extremely ill-judged” remarks about eggplants when questioned over the Phillip Schofield scandal.
Magnus Brooke, ITV’s Director of Strategy, Policy and Regulation, said the commercial broadcaster would not endorse comments made by Frizell to a journalist on Monday.
Frizell was questioned on his doorstep by a Sky News reporter about allegations of a toxic work environment on This Morning. “I tell you what’s toxic,” he replied. “[What] I’ve always found toxic is aubergine. Do you like aubergine?”
'Do you like aubergine?'
This Morning editor Martin Frizell responded to questions about the show earlier with comments about aubergineshttps://t.co/UczuL0TH9Q pic.twitter.com/quB9t95BME
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 5, 2023
Brooke was asked about the incident during an evidence session held by UK Parliament’s influential Culture, Media,...
Magnus Brooke, ITV’s Director of Strategy, Policy and Regulation, said the commercial broadcaster would not endorse comments made by Frizell to a journalist on Monday.
Frizell was questioned on his doorstep by a Sky News reporter about allegations of a toxic work environment on This Morning. “I tell you what’s toxic,” he replied. “[What] I’ve always found toxic is aubergine. Do you like aubergine?”
'Do you like aubergine?'
This Morning editor Martin Frizell responded to questions about the show earlier with comments about aubergineshttps://t.co/UczuL0TH9Q pic.twitter.com/quB9t95BME
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 5, 2023
Brooke was asked about the incident during an evidence session held by UK Parliament’s influential Culture, Media,...
- 6/6/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
A number of actors, comedians and TV personalities have joined the voices condemning the Labour party’s controversial new campaign advert.
The ad bears a picture of prime minister Rishi Sunak, alongside the words: “Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn’t.”
To justify the claim, the advert cites the fact that “under the Tories”, 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under the age of 16 had served no prison time.
The statistic is based on data going back to 2010, when Sunak was yet to even become an MP and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was serving as Director of Public Prosecutions.
The advert was shared by Labour’s main account and retweeted by a number of several Labour figures, including Starmer’s Director of Strategy. It was met with outrage from many across the political spectrum.
Actor and director Samuel West wrote: “Please withdraw this.
The ad bears a picture of prime minister Rishi Sunak, alongside the words: “Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn’t.”
To justify the claim, the advert cites the fact that “under the Tories”, 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under the age of 16 had served no prison time.
The statistic is based on data going back to 2010, when Sunak was yet to even become an MP and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was serving as Director of Public Prosecutions.
The advert was shared by Labour’s main account and retweeted by a number of several Labour figures, including Starmer’s Director of Strategy. It was met with outrage from many across the political spectrum.
Actor and director Samuel West wrote: “Please withdraw this.
- 4/7/2023
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - TV
“Ambiguity” around social media guidelines was to blame for the BBC Gary Lineker scandal, according to Ofcom boss Melanie Dawes, who was challenged on the “creeping politicization” of UK TV news during a committee hearing this morning.
Dawes, whose regulator has oversight of many elements of the BBC, said it is right that the corporation “retains responsibility for their own social media guidelines,” as the BBC prepares to launch a review into these guidelines as trade-off for Lineker returning to his Match of the Day hosting duties.
Speaking to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (Dcmsc) this morning, Dawes said there was “ambiguity” in the current guidelines that was “designed to give a degree of flexibility but didn’t achieve what the BBC wanted,” leading to the furore. Her comments came after Deadline revealed the BBC had failed to heed a recommendation three years ago that it examine rules...
Dawes, whose regulator has oversight of many elements of the BBC, said it is right that the corporation “retains responsibility for their own social media guidelines,” as the BBC prepares to launch a review into these guidelines as trade-off for Lineker returning to his Match of the Day hosting duties.
Speaking to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (Dcmsc) this morning, Dawes said there was “ambiguity” in the current guidelines that was “designed to give a degree of flexibility but didn’t achieve what the BBC wanted,” leading to the furore. Her comments came after Deadline revealed the BBC had failed to heed a recommendation three years ago that it examine rules...
- 3/14/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
A letter from ITV’s CEO, responding to a call for Jeremy Clarkson to be removed from the channel, has stated that the presenter’s views are not shared by the broadcaster.
John Nicolson, Snp shadow culture secretary and MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, wrote to ITV chief Carolyn McCall in December, after the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? host published a column expressing his opinion on Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
In an op-ed for The Sun, Clarkson wrote that he dreamt of the day Markle would be made to parade naked through Britain while the crowd chanted “shame” and threw “excrement” at her.
The piece was widely criticised and Clarkson issued a public apology to the couple earlier this week.
Nicolson’s letter called Clarkson’s words “grotesque” and demanded that he was no longer featured on the channel.
Now, McCall’s response to Nicolson has been shared publicly.
John Nicolson, Snp shadow culture secretary and MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, wrote to ITV chief Carolyn McCall in December, after the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? host published a column expressing his opinion on Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
In an op-ed for The Sun, Clarkson wrote that he dreamt of the day Markle would be made to parade naked through Britain while the crowd chanted “shame” and threw “excrement” at her.
The piece was widely criticised and Clarkson issued a public apology to the couple earlier this week.
Nicolson’s letter called Clarkson’s words “grotesque” and demanded that he was no longer featured on the channel.
Now, McCall’s response to Nicolson has been shared publicly.
- 1/19/2023
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - TV
Exclusive: ITV CEO Carolyn McCall has said there is “no place on ITV” for Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Markle comments and stressed that Who Wants to be a Millionaire? “does not provide a platform for his opinions.”
In a letter sent on December 22 and published for the first time today by Deadline, McCall responded to Scottish lawmaker John Nicolson’s call to drop Clarkson from his Who Wants to be a Millionaire? hosting duties, which Clarkson has been helming for five years. Scroll to the bottom for the full letter.
“Your concerns are completely understandable,” wrote McCall. “Everyone at ITV is very aware of our responsibilities as a Public Service Broadcaster and I’d like to be clear that the comments made were Jeremy Clarkson’s own and are in no way endorsed by ITV. There is no place on ITV for the comments made in that article.”
Deadline has...
In a letter sent on December 22 and published for the first time today by Deadline, McCall responded to Scottish lawmaker John Nicolson’s call to drop Clarkson from his Who Wants to be a Millionaire? hosting duties, which Clarkson has been helming for five years. Scroll to the bottom for the full letter.
“Your concerns are completely understandable,” wrote McCall. “Everyone at ITV is very aware of our responsibilities as a Public Service Broadcaster and I’d like to be clear that the comments made were Jeremy Clarkson’s own and are in no way endorsed by ITV. There is no place on ITV for the comments made in that article.”
Deadline has...
- 1/18/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
ITV is weighing up Jeremy Clarkson’s future on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? following the furor over his column about Meghan Markle.
Deadline understands the Clarkson’s Farm host has just one series left to run on his contract and no further commitments with ITV at present. Filming for the 39th season of the iconic entertainment format will take place next month and the show will air over the summer.
ITV will need to decide whether to renew Clarkson’s contract after he has spent five years hosting Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. The presenter has landed himself in hot water following the Markle column in The Sun, in which he said he “hates” the Duchess of Sussex and she should be made to “parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain,” a callback to a Game of Thrones scene.
Although he didn’t specify for how long,...
Deadline understands the Clarkson’s Farm host has just one series left to run on his contract and no further commitments with ITV at present. Filming for the 39th season of the iconic entertainment format will take place next month and the show will air over the summer.
ITV will need to decide whether to renew Clarkson’s contract after he has spent five years hosting Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. The presenter has landed himself in hot water following the Markle column in The Sun, in which he said he “hates” the Duchess of Sussex and she should be made to “parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain,” a callback to a Game of Thrones scene.
Although he didn’t specify for how long,...
- 1/17/2023
- by Max Goldbart and Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
ITV Content Boss Kevin Lygo has become the first senior ITV exec to respond to Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial Meghan Markle column, branding the article “awful” but stating he will keep his job as host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.
Clarkson’s article “did not represent our values,” Lygo told journalists at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch yesterday afternoon, adding: “It was awful and he has acknowledged that. I don’t know what he was thinking.”
Friday’s Sun column, which said Markle should be “made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds throw lumps of excrement at her,” is UK press regulator Ipso’s most complained about article of all time with more than 20,000, and Rupert Murdoch’s paper has since retracted the piece while Clarkson said he was “horrified to have caused so much hurt.”
Meanwhile, Scottish MP John Nicolson...
Clarkson’s article “did not represent our values,” Lygo told journalists at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch yesterday afternoon, adding: “It was awful and he has acknowledged that. I don’t know what he was thinking.”
Friday’s Sun column, which said Markle should be “made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds throw lumps of excrement at her,” is UK press regulator Ipso’s most complained about article of all time with more than 20,000, and Rupert Murdoch’s paper has since retracted the piece while Clarkson said he was “horrified to have caused so much hurt.”
Meanwhile, Scottish MP John Nicolson...
- 12/21/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
ITV host Jeremy Clarkson is facing calls for resignation after he published a slew of insults against Meghan Markle in a column he wrote for The Sun.
In the article, which has since been removed from The Sun’s website, Clarkson wrote that he hates the Duchess of Sussex “on a cellular level” and that he lies awake at night “dreaming of the day when she is made to parade naked through the streets” while crowds “throw lumps of excrement at her.”
In Memoriam 2022: 100 Great Celebrities Who Died This Year!
The column was posted one day after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released the final part of their Netflix series, Harry and Meghan, which documents their lives, particularly their decision to step away from royal obligations. Much of the show has focused on the British media’s coverage of the couple and the racist attacks against Markle.
The...
In the article, which has since been removed from The Sun’s website, Clarkson wrote that he hates the Duchess of Sussex “on a cellular level” and that he lies awake at night “dreaming of the day when she is made to parade naked through the streets” while crowds “throw lumps of excrement at her.”
In Memoriam 2022: 100 Great Celebrities Who Died This Year!
The column was posted one day after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released the final part of their Netflix series, Harry and Meghan, which documents their lives, particularly their decision to step away from royal obligations. Much of the show has focused on the British media’s coverage of the couple and the racist attacks against Markle.
The...
- 12/20/2022
- by Miranda Dipaolo
- Uinterview
Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial newspaper column about Meghan Markle has become the Independent Press Standards Organisation’s most complained about article.
The column, which was published in The Sun on Friday 17 December, had received more than 17,500 complaints by 9am on Tuesday the following week.
“We will follow our usual processes to examine the complaints we have received,” an Ipso spokesperson told the Pa news agency.
“This will take longer than usual because of the volume of complaints.”
The article was removed from The Sun’s website at Clarkson’s request following the backlash, a spokesperson for the publication said.
The spokesperson added that the number of complaints would be subject to change.
The number also surpassed the total number of complaints the media regulator received in 2021, which was 14,355.
In the article, the former Top Gear presenter said that he “hated” Meghan Markle.
The 62-year-old wrote that he dreamt of the...
The column, which was published in The Sun on Friday 17 December, had received more than 17,500 complaints by 9am on Tuesday the following week.
“We will follow our usual processes to examine the complaints we have received,” an Ipso spokesperson told the Pa news agency.
“This will take longer than usual because of the volume of complaints.”
The article was removed from The Sun’s website at Clarkson’s request following the backlash, a spokesperson for the publication said.
The spokesperson added that the number of complaints would be subject to change.
The number also surpassed the total number of complaints the media regulator received in 2021, which was 14,355.
In the article, the former Top Gear presenter said that he “hated” Meghan Markle.
The 62-year-old wrote that he dreamt of the...
- 12/20/2022
- by Ellie Muir
- The Independent - TV
Carol Vorderman has said she “received a lot of abuse” for criticising Jeremy Clarkson.
The broadcaster was one of many people to condemn the former Top Gear host’s “hateful” rant against Meghan Markle in an op-ed for The Sun.
He wrote on Friday (16 December) that he loathes the Duchess of Sussex “on a cellular level” and wants people to “throw lumps of excrement” at her.
“Everyone who’s my age thinks the same way,” Clarkson added.
In a tweet that went viral, Vorderman wrote: “No Jeremy Clarkson. Not on any level, in any circumstance, is it Ok to write this stuff about any woman and absolutely No to ‘everyone who’s my age thinks the same’.”
She continued: “No no no. We absolutely do Not think the same. Listen to the noise Jeremy. The crowds are chanting ‘shame on You.’”
One day after Clarkson said he was “horrified” by the “hurt” he’s caused,...
The broadcaster was one of many people to condemn the former Top Gear host’s “hateful” rant against Meghan Markle in an op-ed for The Sun.
He wrote on Friday (16 December) that he loathes the Duchess of Sussex “on a cellular level” and wants people to “throw lumps of excrement” at her.
“Everyone who’s my age thinks the same way,” Clarkson added.
In a tweet that went viral, Vorderman wrote: “No Jeremy Clarkson. Not on any level, in any circumstance, is it Ok to write this stuff about any woman and absolutely No to ‘everyone who’s my age thinks the same’.”
She continued: “No no no. We absolutely do Not think the same. Listen to the noise Jeremy. The crowds are chanting ‘shame on You.’”
One day after Clarkson said he was “horrified” by the “hurt” he’s caused,...
- 12/20/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun and British pubcaster ITV are facing pressure from dozens of UK MPs over the Jeremy Clarkson row sparked by the former Top Gear host using “violent, misogynistic language” against Meghan Markle. Letters can be seen below in full as UK press regulator Ipso reports the column is now the most complained about article of all time, drawing more than 17,500 complaints as of this morning.
Led by Women and Equalities Committee Chair Caroline Noakes, around 50 MPs have this morning put their names to a letter to The Sun editor Victoria Newton to “condemn in the strongest possible terms the violent, misogynistic language used against The Duchess of Sussex,” while calling for “definitive action” to be taken against Clarkson and work to be done to prevent the situation happening again.
The Sun has already retracted the column from Friday 16 December and Clarkson, who also hosts Clarkson’s Farm for Prime Video,...
Led by Women and Equalities Committee Chair Caroline Noakes, around 50 MPs have this morning put their names to a letter to The Sun editor Victoria Newton to “condemn in the strongest possible terms the violent, misogynistic language used against The Duchess of Sussex,” while calling for “definitive action” to be taken against Clarkson and work to be done to prevent the situation happening again.
The Sun has already retracted the column from Friday 16 December and Clarkson, who also hosts Clarkson’s Farm for Prime Video,...
- 12/20/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
An MP has written to ITV ‘s chief executive demanding that Jeremy Clarkson be taken off air completely, following his controversial remarks about the Duchess of Sussex.
John Nicolson, Snp shadow culture secretary and MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, shared a letter addressed to Dame Carolyn Julia McCall, who has been chief executive of ITV since 2018, on Twitter.
MP John Nicolson wrote on Twitter: “Following grotesque comments made about the First Minster and The Duchess of Sussex, I do not believe Jeremy Clarkson should be allowed back on our screens. I’ve written to the Chief Executive of ITV.”
In the letter, Nicolson wrote: “As a member of parliament and a journalist by profession, I have consistently defended the freedom of the press. However, this has crossed a line.”
“Using the names of a democratically elected First Minister of Scotland and the Duchess of Sussex alongside that of a serial killer is grotesque,...
John Nicolson, Snp shadow culture secretary and MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, shared a letter addressed to Dame Carolyn Julia McCall, who has been chief executive of ITV since 2018, on Twitter.
MP John Nicolson wrote on Twitter: “Following grotesque comments made about the First Minster and The Duchess of Sussex, I do not believe Jeremy Clarkson should be allowed back on our screens. I’ve written to the Chief Executive of ITV.”
In the letter, Nicolson wrote: “As a member of parliament and a journalist by profession, I have consistently defended the freedom of the press. However, this has crossed a line.”
“Using the names of a democratically elected First Minister of Scotland and the Duchess of Sussex alongside that of a serial killer is grotesque,...
- 12/20/2022
- by Ellie Muir
- The Independent - TV
Former UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has been strong criticized by a British government report over her claims a Channel 4 documentary used actors.
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s special report into Dorries’ comments about fakery in reality show Tower Block of Commons considered why she had not reconsidered evidence provided at a previous political committee that she could not prove.
The report today published scathing findings that suggest she had used the situation “to traduce the reputation of Channel 4.”
Dorries, who was replaced as Culture Secretary last month as Liz Truss became Prime Minister, is a long-time critic of Channel 4 and advocated selling the government-owned broadcaster into private hands. However, she herself had appeared in the program.
In a statement today, Dcms Committee Chair Julian Knight MP said: “We recognise that those giving evidence will occasionally make mistakes, but it is vitally important for the integrity...
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s special report into Dorries’ comments about fakery in reality show Tower Block of Commons considered why she had not reconsidered evidence provided at a previous political committee that she could not prove.
The report today published scathing findings that suggest she had used the situation “to traduce the reputation of Channel 4.”
Dorries, who was replaced as Culture Secretary last month as Liz Truss became Prime Minister, is a long-time critic of Channel 4 and advocated selling the government-owned broadcaster into private hands. However, she herself had appeared in the program.
In a statement today, Dcms Committee Chair Julian Knight MP said: “We recognise that those giving evidence will occasionally make mistakes, but it is vitally important for the integrity...
- 10/20/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: A prominent Scottish MP is attempting to block former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries’ path to the House of Lords over her controversial claim that Channel 4 used actors in Love Productions’ reality format Tower Block of Commons.
John Nicolson, who sits on the influential Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Committee (Dcmsc) and famously grilled Dorries over Tower Block of Commons in May, has written to House of Lords Appointments Commission Chair Lord Bew and referred the matter to the UK’s Commons Committee of Privileges. Deadline has seen the letter.
Nicolson argues that Dorries’ knowingly misled a parliamentary committee with her “seemingly entirely false” claim and therefore should not be allowed to enter the House of Lords. The former I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! contestant stepped down as Culture Secretary earlier this week and is expected to be given a peerage.
In July, Channel 4 and Tower...
John Nicolson, who sits on the influential Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Committee (Dcmsc) and famously grilled Dorries over Tower Block of Commons in May, has written to House of Lords Appointments Commission Chair Lord Bew and referred the matter to the UK’s Commons Committee of Privileges. Deadline has seen the letter.
Nicolson argues that Dorries’ knowingly misled a parliamentary committee with her “seemingly entirely false” claim and therefore should not be allowed to enter the House of Lords. The former I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! contestant stepped down as Culture Secretary earlier this week and is expected to be given a peerage.
In July, Channel 4 and Tower...
- 9/8/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The BBC and Channel 4 may fear the worst as the anti-Public Service Broadcasting agenda led by Boris Johnson’s administration looks set to continue under a Liz Truss premiership, with all eyes trained on whether Nadine Dorries remains Culture Secretary.
As expected, Truss comfortably won the race to be the next Conservative Party leader earlier this afternoon and Prime Minister this afternoon and multiple connected sources have indicated they expect arch-bbc sceptic Dorries to remain in post.
Dorries is feared by the public broadcasters. She pushed through the start of Channel 4’s privatization, signalled she wants the BBC license fee to be abolished after 2027 and has made multiple inflammatory remarks throughout her year-long tenure, including her accusation that a Channel 4 reality show she took part in a decade ago used actors instead of ordinary people. This was heavily disputed by Tower Block of Commons‘ producer Love Productions. On the latter,...
As expected, Truss comfortably won the race to be the next Conservative Party leader earlier this afternoon and Prime Minister this afternoon and multiple connected sources have indicated they expect arch-bbc sceptic Dorries to remain in post.
Dorries is feared by the public broadcasters. She pushed through the start of Channel 4’s privatization, signalled she wants the BBC license fee to be abolished after 2027 and has made multiple inflammatory remarks throughout her year-long tenure, including her accusation that a Channel 4 reality show she took part in a decade ago used actors instead of ordinary people. This was heavily disputed by Tower Block of Commons‘ producer Love Productions. On the latter,...
- 9/5/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Channel 4 bosses on Tuesday came out swinging against a U.K. government bid to privatize the “Greate British Bake Off” broadcaster.
The cloud of privatization — which would significantly alter the remit of Channel 4, a publicly owned not-for-profit corporation — has been hanging over the org in recent years, and was put in sharp relief Tuesday, despite the broadcaster unveiling record audiences and revenues in its annual report for 2020.
Speaking to a U.K. House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon addressed the threat facing the broadcaster, especially as committee member John Nicolson announced with some certainty that U.K. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden would announce a consultation into privatization as early as Wednesday.
“What we need from this consultation, should it occur, is certainty that the right questions are being asked about the future of public service broadcasting in Britain,” declared Mahon. “We...
The cloud of privatization — which would significantly alter the remit of Channel 4, a publicly owned not-for-profit corporation — has been hanging over the org in recent years, and was put in sharp relief Tuesday, despite the broadcaster unveiling record audiences and revenues in its annual report for 2020.
Speaking to a U.K. House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon addressed the threat facing the broadcaster, especially as committee member John Nicolson announced with some certainty that U.K. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden would announce a consultation into privatization as early as Wednesday.
“What we need from this consultation, should it occur, is certainty that the right questions are being asked about the future of public service broadcasting in Britain,” declared Mahon. “We...
- 6/22/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
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