In a deal aimed at dividing the loyalties of liberal TV watchers, the government has offered the BBC funds to save BBC 4, after massive support in an online petition. But the condition is the return of the death penalty, if pro-hanging e-petitioners match the votes of BBC 4 saviours.
“I’m cautiously tempted,” said Alan Yentob at a TV awards ceremony. Let’s think carefully about this. There’s terrific scope for me to front really great documentaries about capital punishment. I've always wanted to do a late night to-camera piece at an execution vigil. All those 1950’s miscarriages of justice films have been done to death” he said. “And don’t put that last bit in.”
But conservative columnist Melanie Philips is against the scheme: “I don’t see why this frankly anti-Semitic TV channel should be allowed further public funding,” she argued. “Even if it does mean that some of our most wanted criminals are justly hanged for anti-Jewish prejudice and even murder."
Sir George Young, Leader of the House of Commons is the man tasked with e-petitions as a way of making the government seem nice. Still wearing the protective clothing associated with quantitative easing, he suggested last night that “petition trade off schemes” could work: “A ban on fox hunting in return for stricter abortion laws would be on the cards if people voted for it. If it’s what the people vote for, they should get it. Or a royal pardon for the whole Murdoch family in return, say, for a knighthood for Ken Bruce."
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BBC4 to be saved in e-petition deal for return of the death penalty.
(6 posts) (5 voices)
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nickb
offlineMemberPosted 1 year ago # -
waylandsmithy
offlineMemberGreat premise, some top gags, and agree with switching the end.
Posted 1 year ago #
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