Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith yesterday attacked Ofcom’s decision to clear Channel 4 of misleading viewers during both a report on his election campaign expenditure in July last year and his appearance on Channel 4 News with Jon Snow the following day.
Channel 4 had focused on discrepancies between Goldsmith’s actual expenditure and the declarations of expenditure on campaign materials such as signs and branded jackets. During the subsequent interview Goldsmith and Snow maintained a heated debate of which Goldsmith spent the first 10 minutes disputing Snow’s statement on Twitter that Goldsmith had originally refused to appear on Channel 4, despite interviewing with Sky.
Love it or loath it, Big Brother has, over the past 10 years, gained unfathomable popularity and recognition as the Godfather of reality TV.
On July 18th 2000, 11 hopefuls who were unaware of the potential of the show (along with its producers) to boost their celebrity, entered the house. Commonly blamed for ‘dumbing down’ television and creating celebrities out of people who are now simply famous for being famous, the show had undeniable impact on our viewing habits.
