Channel 4 Under Pressure to Drop 'Graphic' Documentary on Diana ; HOME

May 29, 02:01 AM

Current Headlines: By Rob Sharp

Channel 4 is under mounting pressure not to broadcast a documentary about Diana, Princess of Wales, which critics say has "graphic" images of the events just after her death.

Despite the broadcaster's insistence that the programme's contents have been misrepresented, friends of the late princess, politicians and other senior figures branded its decision to air a photograph of her being given medical aid "absolutely disgusting".

Channel 4 said many of those voicing concern had not seen the programme, planned for 6 June. A spokesman said the picture at the centre of the furore - the interior of the car in the crash on 31 August 1997 - was published in The Sun in July 2006, and defended its call to bring it to light again. The spokesman said the programme laid to rest theories that medical aid for the princess was impeded by the presence of gathering photographers at the crash scene in a Paris underpass.

Tapes of Diana: The Witnesses in the Tunnel include news footage, reconstructions and interviews with those connected to the event. This includes the testimony of a French medic, Frederic Mailliez, who had been travelling in the other direction at the time. His voiced comments accompany the controversial photograph, which shows the car with its side door open, and him moving to administer medical help. The interior is blacked out.

Channel 4 claimed it was always its intention to use an image with the section containing the princess's body obscured, even though the complete photograph has been published abroad. It also said that some criticism of the project had come from people "who have not actually seen the film."

Hamish Mykura, head of history, science and religion at Channel 4, who commissioned the programme, said: "You have got to understand this in the context of what this film tries to do. This film returns to primary sources to try to find out what actually happened."

But a friend of the late princess, Rosa Monckton, told BBC Radio 4's World at One that the decision to broadcast the photo was "absolutely disgusting" and called on Channel 4 to remove it. She said she believed the crash picture was being included as a cynical bid to attract publicity.

At the weekend, senior Conservatives called for the broadcast to be cancelled. Channel 4 has included images of the tunnel and scene of the accident that have never been seen in public.

The shadow Culture Secretary, Hugo Swire, said on Sunday: "It should be remembered that Diana, as well was being a public figure, was a mother. This kind of coverage must be deeply distressing to Princes William and Harry." Lord St John of Fawsley, another friend of Diana, told The Observer: "I thought Diana was going to be left in peace, but Channel 4 is doing this for ratings or commercial gain and it's really horrible."

Channel 4 has halved the cost of voting by telephone for an eviction from its Big Brother show to 25p, and will not be making any profit from the calls. The latest series begins tomorrow.

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