WHO'S CAUSING THE biggest fuss on the Square this week?
Is it the shouty Mitchell sisters? Food fetishist Zainab? Or Max "Babes it ain't my fault" Branning?Not at all. It's Gumbo, a St Bernard the size of a Mini Cooper who made his EastEnders debut last week, who has to be kept heavily sedated in case he knocks over the set simply by turning around. The BBC stands accused of monumental hypocrisy, following its expose on the pedigree dogs industry Pedigree Dogs Exposed last year. It subsequently scrapped coverage of the Crufts pedigree dog show. The trouble is, Gumbo - a 200lb pedigree St Bernard - is the son of two former Crufts champions. Breeders, already up in arms over the documentary and the impact it's had on their cruel industry, are livid that the BBC's flagship telenovela is effectively showcasing an at risk animal.
The secretary of the South of England St Bernard Club, said this: "I think the decision to introduce a St Bernard is very hypocritical . . . I watched an episode this week and there was even talk of breeding from the dog so they were even advertising possible bad breeding on the programme." Hmm. He has a point. According to the RSPCA, St Bernards are "bred very large when they are already large and this can affect their breathing, cause heart conditions and strain the dog’s skeletal system."The BBC have responded with, "There is no BBC rule to say St Bernards should not appear on screen at all following the decision to suspend broadcast of Crufts. A St Bernard appearing as a lovable fictional pet in EastEnders is very different in context to seeing them upheld as exemplary breeds in a prestigious televised dog show." So in other words, it's a case of do as I say and not do as I do...
In other 'Stenders news, The Square didn't escape this week's "extreme weather event" either (right). Hopefully they're not filming episodes due for spring or even summer. And speaking of hot, here's a snap of Scott Maslen I found while googling 'Stenders pics for this story... (above left).Previously - Racial Purity and Deformed Mutants Previously - LENSED: Rolan Bell
As much as I agree on the moral aspect of this situation, ie the BBC really should practice what it preaches, we should remember that it is a massive journalistic institution spread out not only across the UK but indeed the whole world. Unfortunately, you can't expect EVERY aspect of it to correlate, or even agree politically. It's like asking rthe commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to appoint officers in the Midlothian Force...
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. But that doesn't mean the Beeb should be immune from criticism. Igorance of the law and all that...
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