Channel 4 attempts to gag Galloway (on UK Big Brother)

[AmericanErrorist]

George Galloway's hopes to use his residency in the Big Brother house to denounce the Iraq war and Tony Blair may be thwarted after Channel 4 vowed he would not be allowed to use the show as a soapbox...

In a statement, the MP - who set up the anti-war Respect party after he was expelled from Labour - set out his reasons for joining Michael Barrymore and the others for up to three weeks.

He gave a "Heineken" reason, saying he hoped taking part in the show would help him reach a young audience politicians usually can not reach: "I'm doing it for the audience, the biggest audience I will ever have. We need to use new and innovative methods to put across our arguments. I'm determined that there are no no-go areas for us and I believe Celebrity Big Brother will be hugely successful for our ideals. I hope ... to reach this mass, young, overwhelmingly not yet political audience with our simple case. That war without end, war throughout the world is leading us all to disaster ... Some of it will get through."

Not so fast, said a Channel 4 spokeswoman: "He won't be able to use his time in the house as a political soapbox. There are regulations and Ofcom rulings which mean we would monitor what is said by him and the others.

"He is one of 11 diverse and entertaining individuals in that house, so he's one of many with different opinions." Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator, said Channel 4 had a duty to ensure "due impartiality" on issues of political controversy or major public policy, under the 2005 broadcasting code.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,14173,1681218,00.html?gusrc=rss

[Moochy]

1. No Bill of Rights there...

Not that ours is doing us much good these days.. x(

[bear425]

2. And will they equally censor those with opposing views?

What's the point of watching a scripted reality show then?

[Greeby]

3. Well, they do cut the sound a hell of a lot for "legal reasons"

Although the logical explanation is that Channel 4 wants to avoid being caught up in a libel action

[ClassWarrior]

4. He's a politician. What'dya expect him to talk about??!

:eyes:

Galloway always reminds me of the protagonist in an excellent Masterpiece Theater drama called http://imdb.com/title/tt0094576/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxxPUEgdmVyeSBicml0aXNoIGNvdXB8bXg9MjB8bG09NTAwfGh0bWw9MQ__;fc=1;ft=20">"A Very British Coup". If you can, see it. It's a triumph for Progressive values.

NGU.

[zann725]

5. He "speaks Truth to Power." No wonder they're censoring him.

More "UNreality" shows, or crime shows are SOOOO much more mind-numbing...

[0007]

8. Who carries it?

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

11. You can buy it here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009WNVO/

[0007]

12. Thanks. I just ordered.

[T_i_B]

6. I can't say I feel any pity for him

Elected politicians should not be engaging in ridiculous publicity stunts such as appearing on Big Brother. Galloway would be much better off actually attending debates in the House of Commons and doing constituency work, especially as he was elected to represent Bethnal Green & Bow, probably the most deprived constituency in Britain. The people of Bethnal Green need a full time MP, not a publicity seeking blowhard.

[TheBaldyMan]

7. I for one will not be following Gorgeous George's progress

Big Brother must be the dullest ever TV program devised. Apparently the channel mutes the sound and plays recordings of birdsong whenever anything libellous or controversial comes up in conversation.

Expect non-stop birdsong on the audio until George is voted out.

[T_i_B]

9. BB does indeed play lots of Birdsong

As you will no doubt be aware if you are an insommiac. More to the point, it is a hugely cynical and exploitative show. Constestants seem to be chosen on the basis of whether or not they are freaks and whether or not they will end up bitching and fighting (as that's what brings in the viewers).

I try to avoid it as it's one of those shows that makes you feel all dirty for watching it.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

10. re " if you are an insommiac"

do you know Radio Five Live's "Up All Night"? It's basically a news/magazine show with regular guests and correspondents which runs from 1am to 5am every night. Rhod Sharp, who normally does Monday to Wednesday, is a particularly good host.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/upallnight.shtml

[bpilgrim]

13. if you ain't willing to stick to the official version of events than STFU

ain't democracy grand :eyes:

peace

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. It's the British 'Fairness Doctrine' that causes this

though few here who are criticising Channel 4 for this seem to appreciate that. Or are you calling for the British version of the fairness doctrine to be scrapped? I thought it was fairly popular here on DU.

[mantrid]

16. Very well said!

The rules work both ways, and thank God for them.

[tenshi816]

15. It's nice to see that he took time off

from his lucrative international speaking tour to appear on television because it's about the only way his constituents will get to see him. He certainly doesn't spend much time in the Commons (634th out of 645 MPs), but then he never has.