Who needs sick TV like this?
- Publication: Daily Express
- Date: 1985-03-07
- Author:
- Page: 21
- Language: English
A JOKE is a Joke, but enough is also enough.
Dr Who's brush with cannibals became positively dangerous in the final instalment.
The awful slurping creature Shockeye stretched the lovely Miss Peri on a kitchen table in order to "trim the beast" before popping her into the oven for a feast.
He lifted a large carving knife and made as if he was about to slit her throat. It was an ugly moment although. predictably. he was interrupted at the crucial lunge.
The evil-looking knife was brandished again, however. when he attempted to prepare the kilted character Jamie for the oven.
Instruction
These scenes break every rule in the book.
There is a general instruction, as I recall, that advises all TV producers and directors that household implements should not be used in drama as weapons.
It is too suggestive to immature minds who might mindlessly reach for a hammer or a chisel to inflict damage. Or joke around the kitchen with carving knives.
The BBC specifically abhors the use of knives in its own official guide on the portrayal of violence.
In the section on programmes for children and teenagers it says: "It is commonsense to avoid setting examples which can easily be copied, such as the use of knives or broken bottles in fights."
The people who make Dr Who seem to have thrown the rule book away.
I trust the director general, Mr Alasdair Milne, will order these scenes to be cut when these episodes are repeated, as they will be ad nauseam, during the 18 months when no new shows are being made.
I hope he will also inquire into how the BBC's own instructions on violence in programmes for children have been ignored.
Caption: Milne—an inquiry?
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: (1985-03-07). Who needs sick TV like this?. Daily Express p. 21.
- MLA 7th ed.: "Who needs sick TV like this?." Daily Express [add city] 1985-03-07, 21. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "Who needs sick TV like this?." Daily Express, edition, sec., 1985-03-07
- Turabian: "Who needs sick TV like this?." Daily Express, 1985-03-07, section, 21 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Who needs sick TV like this? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Who_needs_sick_TV_like_this%3F | work=Daily Express | pages=21 | date=1985-03-07 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=25 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Who needs sick TV like this? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Who_needs_sick_TV_like_this%3F | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=25 March 2025}}</ref>
