Mail tries to whip up frenzy over John Barrowman ‘exposing himself’
The Daily Mail is trying to whip up a public frenzy after John Barrowman supposedly exposed his penis and testicles during an interview on Radio 1.
Following the Sachsgate media frenzy, whipped up by The Daily Mail and its Sunday counterpart, the middle class newspaper is on the offensive again this time over an incident which occurred during a interview on BBC Radio 1.
On Sunday evening the Torchwood star was a guest on The Switch, hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac, and during the course of the interview one of the presenters remarked on Barrowman’s infamous habit of flashing his genitals. Barrowman then apparently flashed. However, the incident was not aired in a visual capacity, not even via a webcam in the studio which is a companion feature of some shows.
After the incident Barrowman and the presenters apologised to listeners and the BBC also issued an apology and said the programme had “over stepped” the mark. The immediate response by the BBC was in contrast to the delayed response to the Sachsgate row of several weeks ago.
Despite the quick response by the beeb, and the incident not actually being witnessed by listeners, the Mail seems intent on whipping up a new frenzy. The headline for the article, in the paper, reads “Another day in the gutter for the BBC after Doctor Who star exposes himself on air” which implies the incident took place on television. The article itself describes the comments that followed the incident as “crude” but the comments which accompanied the incident were hardly crude, more light banter.
As yet only one person has complained about the incident but it will be interesting to see if more follow after The Daily Mail’s rather sensationalist take on events.
“Darlings, I demand every BBC radio broadcast is web streamed, and cameras positioned adequately showing any guest in case this happens again. Unlike a Daily Mail reader however its not so I can complain, just have a bloody good look at any flashing incidents!” – Media Critic Vivian Summers
