Wright
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has confirmed to me that it has launched an investigation into comments made on The Wright Stuff about the murder of teenager Liam Aitchison.
On December 6, host Matthew Wright caused widespread offence in the newspaper review slot on his daily chat show The Wright Stuff on Channel 5. He fooled around in a mock-Scottish accent saying “there’s been another murder” as Liam’s story and photo was on screen.
Comedian Charlie Baker joined in joking that the murder investigation was “the longest-ever episode of Taggart”. Wright apologised the next morning for his comments, but, amazingly, told those people who were campaigning to report him to Ofcom to “grow up”. That then caused even more upset and made up the minds of many people to complain to the broadcasting regulator. That was when Angus Campbell, the leader of Western Isles Council, called for Wright to be sacked.
Baker
After an uproar, and claims that Channel 5 owner Richard Desmond was apalled and about to sack Wright and ban Baker, Wright then apologised again the next day saying there was no intention to belittle the seriousness or the tragedy of this story, or to offend anyone who knew Liam.
He also claimed to have written to Liam’s parents who live in South Uist and on Eriskay.
Ofcom told me that by this evening it had received around 2,200 complaints and the decision had been made to launch an investigation.
Could this possibly be a standard reply, prior to looking into a complaint?
Reading the short but clear Ofcom letter, Iain, makes it obvious that your post title is totally misleading. Why do you flame on your own blog?
I have to say Ofcom do not make it easy! I would love to complain!
But my first complaint to them must now be having to complain to them (when I run through the whole process again!), about their despicable access to do just that!
I got as far on the Wright stuff issue as eventually finding the form to post my address to get an “form” to complain on, and indeed “they” found my address from house number and postcode, to find their link does nothing at that stage to supply me with the “form” upon which to complain!
It would be interesting to know how many more people would complain than do of programmes if the hurdles were not set so high for ease of access?
I am a great believer in equality, and rather feel that someone busy and inclined to tell them “this is a bit nasty to be allowed” should have as much access as someone who has all day to fiddle about with their system!
I shall persist, as I do feel this short part of their programme was unduly
offensive to any who cares about the death of a sixteen year old lad, and harmful in downgrading the importance of a serious police investigation in viewers minds to that of a “solve it in an hour” television programme.
We are al entitled to our opinions and to air our views,however given the circumstances i would suggest this blog be removed
Never mind OFCOM taking action, ITV should have acted on this. Had this happened south of the border all hell would have been released on the those involved including the production team. Why are we treated differently ? Terrorists who are killed get better respect than these poor boy’s parents. No wonder the UK union is being question. What that clown did can only be considered scandalous and irresponsible at best. possibly murdo mackinnon has a point
Thank you for your opinion, Murdo and Graham. You should know that the Aitchison family have today released a statement condemning Channel 5. Despite the tragic circumstances, they want views circulated and then action taken. If, as you suggest, the opportunity to discuss this is taken away from people, nothing will happen. Channel 5 itelf has been reading this blog today.
To everyone else who asked me how they should complain, I would suggest they complain to Channel 5 directly AND THEN to Ofcom.
I would have thought an news item on the disgraceful and disgusting Mr Wright (vile man at he is) would be more use if it’s opinions you want aired – this just clouds the issue. If you want peoples opinions on the ‘low life’ that joked and belittled poor Liam’s death, then give people the opportunity by writing something on it!
Looks like the programme has been axed as from today, check this out, where it says “next on tv”, on the far right! http://www.channel5.com/shows/the-wright-stuff
Indeed they have, and one would hope that their advertisers work out that they are not getting full promised value for their investment by the repeat not being available.
Point taken Mr X.My suggestion was merely to remove the possibility of more unsensitive comments at this sad time.
Ofcom are a bunch of wimps. I once lodged a complaint against The Wright Stuff, following Matthew Wright’s blatant mockery and crude description of a Catholic saint on her Feast Day, a complaint which was not upheld. He regularly savages Catholicism while always deferring with due political correctness to any other religion you care to name, but that’s par for the course these “equality and diversity” (NOT!) days.
I’ll be amazed if Ofcom take any action over this latest controversity. Matthew Anything-but-Right seems to be a protected species in the world of Channel 5, but that won’t last forever…
It was interesting that he apologised with the right words Thursday morning, not with any real great appearance of sincerity, but at least the words this time were an apology, even though the liklihood is that he has been instructed.
But that does at least give one hope there is some control, and a lesson to him if that was the case that he is far from omnipotent in what he plans for the future.
(Incidentally, if anyone wondered where this Tom Green flew in from to the blog, I am a guy in the North West who spent many years working with young people society did not manage to protect from the nasty side of the world, hence the offence I took was at the devaluation of the life a young lad who has lost the chance any young person deserves to have a go at life, and hopefully succeed somewhere along the line. )
Good news on the investigation, but it’s very poor blogging practice to change the original title from ‘Ofcom refuses to investigate…’ (which was patently untrue) to ‘Ofcom is to investigate…’ and then completely change the content of the post itself, leaving the comments to the original post attached. The later news should have been written as a new separate post.
Ofcom has the power to investigate immediately but declined to do so until it saw if many would complain. However, you are absolutely right that I should have created a new post. Thank you for your diligence, Ann.
This has run it’s course and our community needs to move on.
Regards
Gelinda Millen
p.s. Does anyone know why you should buy the Gazette any more ?
NO ?
Neither do I !
Regards
Gelinda
Thank you Gelinda for deciding for us all that this topic is now concluded.
Now I would be rather of the other view!
I think the built-in problem of the wway the media work is that it is only today’s news is of interest, and many stories are never followed to conclusions?
The big national will run excellent stories on a wide range of topics, but one’s impression is that any resolution of the issues they raise is never published, as of no “news” value”
Perhaps one of the advantages of such a blog as yours, Iain, is that an issue can be taken from inception to full conclusion in a readable space?