The Execution of Gary Glitter

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Channel 4 to hold online debate on death penalty

Debate on channel4.com will follow controversial fictional drama The Execution of Gary Glitter

Channel 4 is to hold an online debate on the death penalty following its controversial fictional drama The Execution of Gary Glitter.

With a Channel 4-commisioned poll showing that 70% of the public think the death penalty should be reintroduced, the broadcaster is to transmit a one-off, 90-minute fictional drama imagining the consequences of capital punishment being reinstated.

In the drama, the first person to be tried under a new Capital Crimes Against Children law is Paul Gadd, better known as 1970s rock star Gary Glitter. Gadd is played by Doctors actor Hilton McRae.

Billed by Channel 4 as a "courtroom drama shot in the style of a documentary", the programme examines how society deals with its most serious offenders.

The Execution of Gary Glitter is written and directed by Rob Coldstream and produced by Juniper Productions. It will air on Monday 9 November.

Samir Shah, the executive producer, who is Juniper chief executive and also a BBC non-executive director, will chair a debate on the death penalty afterwards on channel4.com.

The head of documentaries and More4, Hamish Mykura, said: "High-profile crimes against children often prompt calls for the return of the death penalty – this drama confronts the public with what many say they want.

"Putting a resonant figure like Gary Glitter into a fictional situation helps to engage the viewer as the drama unfolds. The debate around the death penalty arouses passions on both sides. This drama, with its compelling and original narrative, is an intelligent and thought-provoking examination of the issue."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/2...4-death-penalty

There's something very wrong with this - surely if you want a serious debate about the death penalty you don't need to go down the frankly gratuitous route of using a real-life person to have the discussion over.

[mawilson 2,133]

There's something very wrong with this - surely if you want a serious debate about the death penalty you don't need to go down the frankly gratuitous route of using a real-life person to have the discussion over.

Reminds me of VJ debates about the death penalty...

"I bet you'd want to see him dead if it was YOUR daughter"

"I hope he is raped in prison"

"This would never happen in Saudi Arabia"

etc etc

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That's because people insist on getting emotionally invested in the headlines - and because its easier for them to join the burning torch brigade than look at things with a modicum of objectivity.

That said, this isn't really a debate about the merits or not of the death penalty.

[Peikko 1,575]

I read that last week in the Indy I think. Did anyone see the program?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I haven't - just came across it today.

[Peikko 1,575]

I agree with you btw, although having said that, we have often used allegories to illustrate complex situations so perhaps personalizing it is the only way some people can get a handle on it?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I agree with you btw, although having said that, we have often used allegories to illustrate complex situations so perhaps personalizing it is the only way some people can get a handle on it?

Yeah - probably the same people who threw the rock through the pediatrician's window a few years back

C4 used be known for its original program making - these days it seems they're more interested in pandering to a tabloid audience.

Edited November 2, 2009 by Gene Hunt

[justashooter 430]

execution for sex abuse of a child? couldn't they have dragged an infamous murderer up for that show?

[Peikko 1,575]

I know C4 is having problems with funding - perhaps this is the result?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Possibly - things seem to have gone downhill ever since Big Brother took off. Its fast becoming the UK equivalent of Spike TV.

[Peikko 1,575]

execution for sex abuse of a child? couldn't they have dragged an infamous murderer up for that show?

You'll have to take that up with the program makers JAS, I don't think anyone here is qualified to answer that.

Possibly - things seem to have gone downhill ever since Big Brother took off. Its fast becoming the UK equivalent of Spike TV.

Spike TV? What is that?

Big Brother is a menace!

Edited November 2, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It says in the article that they chose Gary Glitter because crimes involving child-sex abuse prompt calls for the reintroduction of the death penalty.

That isn't untrue - the UK tabloids feed off that kind of sentiment.

I don't think this sort of thing is the best way to have that debate.

Next thing you know BBC Question Time will ditch the studio format as well as the panel and start holding its "televised discussions" in an east-end pub (preferably after England has lost a major football tournament).

Spike TV? What is that?

Big Brother is a menace!

CSI re-runs, heavily edited movies, worlds most extreme car crashes/police chases, Ultimate Fighting Championship (and some Wrestling).

Edited November 2, 2009 by Gene Hunt

[Peikko 1,575]

It says in the article that they chose Gary Glitter because crimes involving child-sex abuse prompt calls for the reintroduction of the death penalty.

That isn't untrue - the UK tabloids feed off that kind of sentiment.

I don't think this sort of thing is the best way to have that debate.

Next thing you know BBC Question Time will ditch the studio format as well as the panel and start holding its "televised discussions" in an east-end pub (preferably after England has lost a major football tournament).

Spike TV? What is that?

Big Brother is a menace!

CSI re-runs, heavily edited movies, worsts most extreme car crashes/police chases, Ultimate Fighting Championship (and some Wrestling).

It's on the cards after the BNP debacle

It says in the article that they chose Gary Glitter because crimes involving child-sex abuse prompt calls for the reintroduction of the death penalty.

That isn't untrue - the UK tabloids feed off that kind of sentiment.

I don't think this sort of thing is the best way to have that debate.

Next thing you know BBC Question Time will ditch the studio format as well as the panel and start holding its "televised discussions" in an east-end pub (preferably after England has lost a major football tournament).

Spike TV? What is that?

Big Brother is a menace!

CSI re-runs, heavily edited movies, worlds most extreme car crashes/police chases, Ultimate Fighting Championship (and some Wrestling).

How entertaining

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

When I was in Munich I did a walking tour around the city - and found out that the big Hofbrauhaus beer hall was actually the site of the first Nazi party rallies back in the 30s.

Supposedly, they'd announce a time for a speech and then purposefully show up a couple of hours late so that the people would have a few beers in them and be more receptive to the rhetoric.