BBC Cancels Drama About British Hero As Being "Too Positive" About Iraq

Nuance. Remember, these are the people who pride themselves on being so sophistiticated as to be comfortable with doubt as well as holding multiple, sometimes incongruous thoughts at the same time.

Ehhhhh... not so much, eh? Apparently if you're anti-war, nothing good has ever happened in it, ever.

Amid the deaths and the grim daily struggle bravely borne by Britain's forces in southern Iraq, one tale of heroism stands out.

Private Johnson Beharry's courage in rescuing an ambushed foot patrol then, in a second act, saving his vehicle's crew despite his own terrible injuries earned him a Victoria Cross.

For the BBC, however, his story is "too positive" about the conflict.

The corporation has cancelled the commission for a 90-minute drama about Britain's youngest surviving Victoria Cross hero because it feared it would alienate members of the audience opposed to the war in Iraq.

Remember, these are the people who are always calling for entertainment and art that "challenges people's beliefs."

Except their own, of course.

The BBC's retreat from the project, which had the working title Victoria Cross, has sparked accusations of cowardice and will reignite the debate about the broadcaster's alleged lack of patriotism.

Debate?

"The BBC has behaved in a cowardly fashion by pulling the plug on the project altogether," said a source close to the project. "It began to have second thoughts last year as the war in Iraq deteriorated. It felt it couldn't show anything with a degree of positivity about the conflict.

Thanks to dri.

posted by Ace at 04:12 PM

| Access Comments