BBC Spooked by al-Qaeda (Network pulls TV episode over fears it will upset Muslims)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | February 15, 2006 | By THOMAS WHITAKER and SARA NATHAN

[Stoat]

EXCLUSIVE

BBC Spooked by al-Qaeda

MI5 drama ... Shaun Dingwall
 

By THOMAS WHITAKER and SARA NATHAN

 BBC bosses are ready to AXE a £1million episode of hit drama Spooks in which an al-Qaeda terrorist is shot dead — in case it upsets Muslims.

Filming the assassination plot for the MI5 drama took four weeks.

But actor Shaun Dingwall who plays a renegade Christian gunman, fears he could become a target for fundamentalists if the scene is aired.

In the episode, due to be shown later this year, a religious nut played by Shaun, 35, guns down the fanatic on the steps of London’s High Court.

But production sources admitted it could be canned. One said: “In the climate of Muslim fury over cartoons, Shaun isn’t sure about it all.”

Shaun refused to comment last night.

But Sun security adviser Andy McNab urged the BBC to keep the scene. He said: “Self-censorship would be the thin end of the wedge.”

Labour MP Stephen Pound added: “Giving terrorists a veto over what is shown on TV is the road to madness.

“Al-Qaeda will be objecting to Gardener’s Question Time next. Where does it stop?”

A show spokesman said: “Spooks examines numerous threats facing the UK. Producers, along with Shaun, will track the storyline’s sensitivities in light of the ever-changing news agenda.”

 

 

		I love this series and for the BBC to start chopping it about, or not airing incase it causes offence is just another example of how our society is being forced to change unneccesarily. When is somebody going to stick up for what the majority are feeling at having our way of life trampled upon, our freedoms that were once so dear to us being eroded? If the BBC thought this would be offensive, why did they waste £1million of taxpayers money making this episode? Patricia Ali Bethnal Green, London This is rubbish as it will cause more upset if they don't show it. I'm a muslim and I don't sympathise with terrorists and neither do many. How many times do WE have to say it? The cartoons were a different matter as that was about the prophet not a terrorist. Navaz Rauf Like America the UK has become a target for religious extremism. It's because of our terrible foreign policy that we have to suffer idiotic legislations that undermine our freedom of speech. That is why the producers of Spooks get cold feet when tackling extremism for fear of upsetting a few radical muslims. Are we living in a democracy or a fascist state? Charlie Meron Swindon To axe it would be an insult to Muslims. They are just as intelligent as anybody else and would surely realise that it is just a programme for entertainment using a paid actor to perform. Where will this all end? They would be more offended to think that the tax they are paying is to be wasted! Mark Being in this country means we have a right to freedom of expression. If people start bowing down to threats of Muslim extremists we do not know where it will lead. Mel Quinton Birmingham Once again the BBC shows its true colours. Gordon Roy Leeds I was born a Muslim and I don't think the episode should be axed. It's not going to offend muslims unless they are Al-Queda supporters or sympathisers. After all it's only entertainment. Stop being dull and boring BBC. Show how everyone feels towards terrorists. The BBC have shown programmes about the IRA - were they offensive? Addy Durrani Leeds I am sick to death of political correctness. What about our rights in a democracy? If we choose to watch this programme, we have the right to do so without the threat of violence from extremists who seem intent on encouraging murder. I don't like seeing my nation’s flag being burned and police doing nothing about it. If we went over to some of the Muslim countries and complained about the way the West is portrayed on TV they would tell us in no uncertain terms to go away. Karen Coventry I would have thought it would be even more insulting to Muslims to suggest, by cancelling this episode, that they are Al Qaeda sympathisers who would find an attack on extremists and terrorists offensive. Julie Robinson Leicester Air the show BBC - terrorism and Al-Qaeda are sad truths in all our lives. We cannot hide from the dangers and shouldn't hide from the reality. Why is it these days I feel people should start counter-campaigning to the BBC so we can actually watch certain shows. Take the Jerry Springer Opera a few months ago. Personally I had no interest in the show but I would have stood up with those who did. Surely it comes down to a personal choice, if you think you will be offended by a show then feel free not to watch it. Sharon Pearson Godalming The BBC should realise its responsibilities to the British public, who pay the licence fees and NOT give in. We fought two world wars in the name of freedom and these idiots want to take that freedom away. Shame on you BBC. And all those others who want to give up the freedom that makes this country great. Jason Scott In December 2004, I wrote to the BBC about Jerry Springer The Opera, asking them not to screen the play as it was offensive to Christians of all backgrounds and cultures. Their reply said: “It is not to be taken literally. As a public service broadcaster, it is the BBC’s role to broadcast a range of programmes that will appeal to audiences with very differing tastes and interests. It is not the intention of the BBC to offend any of our audience in any way or to offend any religious beliefs.” If the BBC now refuse to screen the intended episode of Spooks in case it offends Muslims, how can the BBC in the light of its reply to me now defend themselves against any charge of double standards? Keith Doe I am a muslim and I think Spooks is one of the best TV programmes ever made. Under no circumstances must it be withdrawn. You cannot compare the cartoon controversy with this programme being shown. The cartoon issue was a direct insult. This is a general storyline and does not relate to any individual. Not showing it would be a great punishment to the wider viewing public. Mohammed Shafiq London We only back off because we are a nation of cowards frightened of Al-Qaeda. Fran Reho I am also a big fan of Spooks and I am amazed that the BBC is doing this. I recall an episode last year about suicide bombers which was shown well before July 7. There must have been some idea that this kind of attack was possible in the UK, but this episode was rightly not banned. Surely this would be just as offensive to Muslims? Come on BBC - where is your backbone? Jim Pritchard This is just reflecting what happens in the real world - a bunch of extremists blow up London and take on the world. Let’s show them being shot for a change instead of injuring innocent civilians. Al-Qaeda are terrorists and have no place in the civilised world. Anon Berkshire I’m a Christian and I find this highly offensive. Not content with wasting my hard-earned licence fee, it sends out the wrong message to hard-line fanatics, who think that they can control what is and isn’t aired. Spineless doesn’t even BEGIN to summarise the lily-livered, politically-correct hand wringers that choose to waste MY money. Christopher Sperl Beaconsfield Spooks is known for being an excellent drama portraying what it really is like in the MI5 business. So leave it as it is and stop trying to make another big UNNECESSARY issue. Rubena Begum Birmingham How the hell can you have a drama series about MI5 without mentioning terrorism? The BBC is being taken over by a bunch of liberalistic nerds. Andrew Why should this excellent episode be axed? Jason Manchester I sympathise with Shaun Dingwall in his fears but it is giving in to those who would bring destruction to the UK. Us old folks did not back down against Hitler. Peter Foy Ontario, Canada For God’s sake where on earth is this going to end? I am a Catholic and I really enjoyed Jesus of Nazareth and the Thornbirds. Did we kick up a stink about them? If we did people would have laughed in our face. Kath It will only offend any Muslims who supports the mad mullahs - their antics in my country certainly offfend me. Paul Leeds I will be sorely disappointed if the BBC axe any episodes of Spooks as they think it will upset muslims. We see far more devastating things on the news that are actually happening to real people. I'm sure that it is only a tiny minority of people who cannot differentiate between real life and TV. The BBC is one of the institutions that puts the GREAT in Great Britain. It will be a sad day if they ever give in to the minority of mindless idiots who don't have the intelligence to view this sort of thing as the fiction it is meant to be. Freedom of speech is what my two grandfathers died for during WW2 - not so some religious fanatics can dictate watch we watch on TV. Don't give in BBC. You'll be letting down not only the fans of Spooks but the whole British nation. Ben Harman I can’t believe that we as a nation are so spooked about a few idiots who call themselves muslims and spread fear and hatred among the general public. I have very good friends who are muslims and enjoy their freedom and new life in the United Kingdom. What does upset them are the idiotic actions that these fanatics impose on our society. They remarked about what would happen if Christians burnt their flag in their countries, it would be a lot more savage than what we do. We should stand up and say enough! If it is a programme - fiction or fact, it should be viewed. If it offends, then sorry, but we should have a choice. Steve Parkes

[Stoat]

The Sun Online - Sun Says Terrorvision

Terrorvision

WHO exactly is running the BBC — Osama Bin Laden?

It looks worryingly like he is as Auntie considers pulling a £1million Spooks episode because it shows a terrorist being shot dead.

The target is portrayed as an Osama henchman and the Beeb is worried about reprisals.

But a terrorist is a terrorist.

And right now, almost all terrorists are acting in the name of al-Qaeda. They are at war with us.

If we are cowed into timorous self-censorship now, we are already losing the first battle.

**********************************************************************************

Stoat says:  It's also highly instructive that one of the 'usual suspect' characters (villians?) was of course a 'fundamentalist' Christian....there was apparently no worry on the part of BBC bosses of upsetting Christians by yet another bigoted and hysterical portrayal of a person of Christian faith....no, that was okay with the BBC.  The problem for them was in the possibility of upsetting Muslims, who just happen to be the primary purveyors of terror and strife in the world today.

It's unfortunate that the BBC is no more enlightened than our own TV networks here in the USA, who have lost this stoat as a regular viewer long ago due to their gleeful, unapologetic Left-wing bias and Christian-bashing.

[Jeff Head]

Spooked, or compromised?

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

How about a disclaimer warning those who prefer not to watch?

[Gordongekko909]

Jack Bauer > Shaun Dingwall anyway, because Jack Bauer > all. Let's export a bunch of 24 DVDs to Jolly Old England.

[Froufrou]

Amen, stoat. But remember, we were able to get that awful Christian-bashing show off network in just 2-3 episodes.

Anyway, t.v. makes us stupid. Except for Seinfeld reruns! ;o)

[B.O. Plenty]

Cowards...just like the MSM here...

Cowards

Cowards

Cowards

Cowards

[BenLurkin]

Why should shooting a terrorist anger Muslims?

And what is a "renegade Christian"?

And how could a network ever get away with naming a show "Spooks" in the first place unless it was a spin-off from ghostbusters?

[Uncle Miltie]

"a renegade Christian gunman"

And we have so many of them....

< / sarc>

[Brilliant]

"an al-Qaeda terrorist is shot dead"



Of course it will upset Muslims. Despite the rhetoric about how the vast majority of Muslims are not extremists, the fact is that they are.

[twin2]

Spooks, called MI-5 when it airs in the states, is one of the best programs on today.

If you are a fan of 24, you will like this show. My only advise is to get the dvd's and start watching from season one. A & E has the rights to run them here, and they butcher the show to death while squeezing in all the commercials.

[insider_uk]

Shame it's an incorrect story though.
Perhaps checking the BBC site first might have helped.

news.bbc.co.uk

[Decepticon]

But actor Shaun Dingwall who plays a renegade Christian gunman, fears he could become a target for fundamentalists if the scene is aired.

What? An actor that knows he really isn't some kind of baddass, heartthrob, politician with delusions of godhood....

Hell, at least our American rappers actually shoot each other....walk the walk and all that.

What a sissy, I guess he doesn't have much faith in body guards.....with sticks instead of Uzi's....welcome to Britain shaun.....

[Brilliant]

"But actor Shaun Dingwall who plays a renegade Christian gunman, fears he could become a target for fundamentalists if the scene is aired."



Does he mean by Christian fundamentalists or Islamic fundamentalists?

[Peach]

So terrorism works. We've seen evidence of that in the last few weeks.

So what's going to happen? More terrorism. Count on it.

[MadeInAmerica]

This is simple in my eyes. Make a simple, to the point press release...Kinda like Pres Ron did in the 80's in jest. "We found a cure for communism...bombing starts in 5 min".

Mecca can be and will be turned to glass if 1 western city, and this includes Israel, is hit by any nuks.

Lets see if their moon god Allah can stop inbound cruise missles.

[fizziwig]

Hey UK, just impose Sharia law now and get it over with. Your gonna do it eventually why torture yourself with a slow cultural death....sheesh...do we have to draw a cartoon for you?

[sockmonkey]

It's also highly instructive that one of the 'usual suspect' characters (villians?) was of course a 'fundamentalist' Christian

I tried to watch MI-5, but it seemed to me they had a bias against Christians, and the US government..Perhaps, if I had just watched it on mute..oh, well, I like 24 better.

[maestro]

EXCLUSIVE BBC Spooked by al-Qaeda [MI5 drama ... Shaun Dingwall] MI5 drama ... Shaun Dingwall

By THOMAS WHITAKER and SARA NATHAN

BBC bosses are ready to AXE a £1million episode of hit drama Spooks in which an al-Qaeda terrorist is shot dead ? in case it upsets Muslims.

Filming the assassination plot for the MI5 drama took four weeks.

This 'episode' will be seen nightly all of the month of March throughout Canada?

/extreme sarcasm

[Sensei Ern]

Hollywood just uses redneck conservatives and call it Sum of All Fears.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Boo fricking hoo, BBC. Grow a pair. or we'll send Jack Bauer over to kick your wussie butts!

BTW, I got "24" on DVD, seasons 1-2-3-4, and am enjoying the re-runs.