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C4 BRACED FOR DIANA BACKLASH

Princess Diana

Thursday June 7,2007

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CHANNEL 4 faces an investigation by media regulator Ofcom today after snubbing a plea by Princess Diana’s sons to remove images of her dying moments from a documentary last night.

TV chiefs are braced for an avalanche of protests over the documentary, Diana: The Witnesses In The Tunnel.

It used controversial photographs of the Princess receiving treatment as she lay dying in the Alma Tunnel in Paris after a car crash 10 years ago.

It is not clear yet if Princes William and Harry will lodge complaints following its broadcast.

Whether or not this happens, the investigation is expected to focus on the broadcasting code which obliges television companies to reduce suffering and distress to victims and their relatives when covering emergencies, accidents and tragedies.

Clarence House officials have already complained that Channel 4 and the makers of the programme did not contact William and Harry about its contents until the brothers found out about it through media coverage.

Channel 4, which blacked out Diana’s features in last night’s programme, argued that public interest in what really happened that night outweighed any distress caused to her sons.

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C4 BRACED FOR DIANA BACKLASH

08.06.07, 8:12am

Didn't watch it. Nor,do I suspect, did Harry and William. I have however, noticed a tendency in TV to create controversy to trail their programmes.
Mr Fayed is on the case and perhaps more importantly, can afford to be so. If, with his resources, he cannot get the 'truth' as he believes it to be, then at least programmes like this keep his mission in the public eye.
I do wonder about the deafening silence of Trevor Rees thouigh.

• Posted by: mikem • Report Comment

C4 WARRANT PRAISE - NOT INVESTIGATION

07.06.07, 10:23pm

Well done to C4 for a respectful and balanced production.
After ten years this programme clearly showed that the hitherto accepted "fact "that the photographers were a major cause of the crash is untrue.
What other peculiarities are contained in the "establishment" version of events?
I had hoped that a proper inquest would finally establish the truth.
Today I read that two senior figures have been appointed to assist the (third) Coroner. It is reported that they happen to be the officials that assisted the Judge in the Dr Kelly inquiry.

• Posted by: JohnY69 • Report Comment

THERE WAS NOTHING UNTOWARD ABOUT THIS PROGRAMME.

07.06.07, 1:06pm

There was nothing untoward about this programme. I watched it and thought it was tastefully done and not at all morbid. I was disappointed though as nothing new emerged from the showing as I never did believe that the paperazzi were to blame for Diana's death.

There was no mention of witness Brenda Wells and as far as I know she still has not been found. The discussion after the programme did annoy me though because the people involved were all hand picked and did not reflect the views of the public, millions who like Mr Al Fayed believe that Diana and Dodi were murdered.

Dickie Arbitor for instance is press secretary to the Queen, so obviously he has to pick and choose what he says regarding Diana's death. Then we have Ingrid Seward who has the cheek to be critical after making money by writing books about Diana which I might add, refuse to read. Also there was journalist and writer Joan Smith who said there was no conspiracy, well why did she not prove this without doubt while on the programme?. She can't can she? Also there was Robert Jobson, well I have read some of the previous articles that his paper printed about Diana and so to be honest I was not surprised at his negative comments, about the conspiracy theory we all know which newspaper group he belongs to. Martyn Gregory on the other hand did offer some reasonable comments but willleave judgement of him until I have read his book. As far as I am concerned I thought the group a waste of time. On the other hand Hamish Akura handled himself very well and with dignity.

I would advise anyone to read the book called 'Princess Diana The hidden Evidence' by Jon King & John Beveridge before they dismiss the conspiracy theory.Some say we should let Diana rest in peace. No-one knows for sure what hapens after death so if there is nothing in the afterlife then she will be resting in peace whether she is discussed or not. If there is an afterlife maybe she does not want to rest in peace but wants the truth to come out regarding her death be is a conspiracy or accident. Also Diana would be working in spirit form alongside Mother Teresa, that is as I said there is an afterlife. We must keep an open mind, especially until it is proved one way or the other, this also applied to the death of Diana.

• Posted by: Nimue • Report Comment

DISGRACEFUL

07.06.07, 10:21am

Channel 4 really is lower than low, not only has it shown how distasteful and disrespectful it can be, it has also snubbed a request from our future King - are there no values left? With this kind of example I fear for the mentality of our future generations.

• Posted by: karen1 • Report Comment