Author Archives: John Plunkett
Duchess of York charged in Turkey over orphanages documentary
Sarah Ferguson wore disguise to make 2008 ITV programme that Turkish politicians said was smear to derail EU bidA court in Turkey has brought charges against the Duchess of York over a controversial ITV documentary in which she went undercover to secre… Continue reading
Sherlock’s nude ‘dominatrix’ says she found role ‘empowering’
Actor Lara Pulver reveals what it was like filming racy scenes that prompted more than 100 viewers to complain to BBCReaders of a sensitive disposition look away now. Actor Lara Pulver, whose role as an (occasionally naked) whip-wielding dominatrix in … Continue reading
‘Gin-loving pensioner’ is top TV ad of 2011
Aldi campaign beats comparethemarket.com’s meerkats and VW ‘Darth Vader’ spot in poll of most-liked adsStep aside, Gary Lineker. Stand down, comedy meerkats. A po-faced pensioner who declares she prefers gin to a cup of tea has topped a survey of the U… Continue reading
TV review: Hacks
Channel 4′s take on the phone-hacking scandal is almost beyond satire’Obviously everything is made up,” says a line in the opening credits of Channel 4′s satirical take on the phone-hacking scandal, Hacks. Viewers may beg to differ.The star-studded com… Continue reading
Media regulator spells out rules on ‘occult-related practices’
Guidance dealing with satanism, chicken bones and crystal balls is published by Ofcom in response to new wave of TV adsThe media regulator has set down rules on psychic TV services that ban the casting of spells and other “occult-related practices” inc… Continue reading
YouTube: ‘talking’ dog is top video of 2011
Royal wedding spoof, Britain’s Got Talent audition and Charlie Sheen mash-up also in UK’s top 10 most-watched clipsA “talking” dog has topped the list of the most-watched YouTube videos of the year in a top 10 that also includes a spoof of Prince Willi… Continue reading
Downton Abbey Christmas special makes alleged fashion faux pas
Expert claims costume drama’s fashion sense is woefully out of step with the timesIt is nine days until the nation settles down on the sofa to watch the Downton Abbey Christmas special but a row is already brewing over alleged fashion faux pas on the e… Continue reading
Matthew Wright murder ‘joke’ show is most complained-about of 2011
X Factor features most in Ofcom top 100, with Dancing on Ice and Jeremy Clarkson’s One Show rant also raising hacklesMatthew Wright’s Channel 5 show in which he imitated a catchphrase from the TV detective series Taggart to describe the death of a teen… Continue reading
Ryan Giggs ‘accepts Imogen Thomas was not a blackmailer’
Former Big Brother star speaks of her relief after footballer drops blackmail accusationFormer Big Brother star Imogen Thomas has spoken of her relief after the high court was told there was no basis for claims that she had attempted to blackmail one o… Continue reading