Gang of Four pictures from Anorak

Madeleine McCann: The McCanns’ Ireland State Visit And Coronation Street Plots

MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann, Gerry McCann BELFAST TELEGRAPH: “Madeleine McCann parents set for Irish visit” Has the missing child been spotted in Ireland? The couple and their young twins are expected to make the journey this autumn and plan to make a television appearance while they’re in the country. The couple’s visit will be their first time to arrive in Ireland since their four-year-old daughter Madeleine went missing last year. This reads like a visit from a head of state: Kate and Gerry are expected to take up on an open invitation to appear on RTE’s The Late Late Show to address the nation and thank the Irish for their “incredible support”. DAILY MAIL: “Backlash over Coronation Street’s girl-on-girl gang violence storyline” Corrie goes mental. There’s gonna be a street fight. Last year, programme-makers were accused of copying the case of Madeleine McCann too closely after the disappearance of a child in a housefire. Yes. Anorak remembers. That was the tale of a boy (an actor) who was taken by his mum’s friend (both actors), who set fire to their semi-detached house (not real) in a fictional part of Manchester, was chillingly similar to the story of a girl  (real) who disappeared while on holiday in Protugal (real)… Madeleine McCann: fact and fiction

Published: 2008-07-31 Provider: Anorak

Acting Up A Storm: Coronation Street Cops Beaten Black And Blue

“BACKLASH over Coronation Street’s girl-on-girl gang violence storyline,” screams the Mail. Coronation Street is show scenes of two fictional characters – policewomen Mel Morton and Abi Sharpe - being beaten up by a troupe of actresses. The Mail is appalled. “But after almost five decades on air, Coronation Street is set to deliver its biggest shock yet with gratuitous scenes of girl-on-girl gang violence.” There are four large colour stills of the “gratuitous violence” on the Mail’s website. View them at your own risk. “And the scenes are made all the more appalling after appearing to capitalise on the fears of escalating teen violence across Britain’s streets… It is a new low for the programme…” How can they show such violence? For shame! Fansites were today attracting angry comments from viewers with some even accusing the show of encouraging violence among teenagers. Might Mail readers be pricked into committing acts of gratuitous violence by seeing such images in the newspaper? There is much fury and gnashing of teeth. There is, as the headline says, a “backlash”. Broadcast regulator Ofcom today revealed it had received one pre-transmission complaint over the violence featured in an upcoming episode of Coronation Street. GLASGOW DAILY RECORD: The scene ends with one actress lying on the floor pretending to be dead. A spokeswoman for the show said: “Girl violence is a modern-day issue and these scenes show Coronation Street has got its finger on the pulse.” Is there a pulse?

Published: 2008-07-31 Provider: Anorak

Man Accsued Of Farming While Black

ZIMBABWEAN David Mwanaka rents a field off Mountsorrel Lane, in Rothley, Leicestershire. In the course of a week, neighbours have called the police on him on three occasions. His office: Farming While Black. The 42-year-old, thought to be one of only two black farmers in Britain, was questioned by police officers for over 30 minutes on Saturday following a call reporting a suspected theft. Says he: “I was just picking the maize when I went to the edge of the field and saw three or four police cars and some officers walking towards me. They asked me what I was doing and I told them I was cropping my maize.” Don’t you get smart with us, sonny… “It happened on Saturday, then on Monday, then again Wednesday. It was the same story – ‘Who owns the land? What are you doing here?’.” Anorak thinks it easier to tell the police what they want to hear. Say: “I’m looking for your chief, The Green Giant, I want to thank him for letting me live in your wonderful country, sah” “Thank f*** you’re ‘ere. I was kidnapped in Sarf London and driven her by a gang of racist white yoofs” “I am stealing maize to pay for my crack habit” All more believable to some helmet-encased ears than: “I had to explain again that I rent the land. They did the police checks again – it was the same process – and then they left. They were very nice and it was not a problem.” He goes on: “I told the police if it happened again they should know it’s me by now and not bother, but I’m just waiting for it to happen. Maybe it’s because people have never seen a black man. I honestly don’t blame anyone. They are probably just not used to seeing black people working in the fields here… It is just ignorance. The police should realise, but they have all been nice to me.” Maybe if he grew cotton instead, people wold think he looked more in place… Source

Published: 2008-09-24 Provider: Anorak