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ITV faces censure over Patsy Kensit's Weight Watchers plug ITV faces censure over Patsy Kensit's Weight Watchers plug
(5 months later)
ITV has been summoned to a meeting with media regulator Ofcom after an Alan Titchmarsh interview with Patsy Kensit turned into a Weight Watchers plug – the broadcaster's third such transgression in two years.ITV has been summoned to a meeting with media regulator Ofcom after an Alan Titchmarsh interview with Patsy Kensit turned into a Weight Watchers plug – the broadcaster's third such transgression in two years.
Former Emmerdale star Kensit, who is an ambassador for Weight Watchers, spent more than half of the five-minute interview talking about her weight and made several references to the weight loss programme.Former Emmerdale star Kensit, who is an ambassador for Weight Watchers, spent more than half of the five-minute interview talking about her weight and made several references to the weight loss programme.
ITV said the references were "brief and not unduly prominent" but Ofcom said the overall effect of the interview was to "promote and endorse WeightWatchers as an effective method of weight loss".ITV said the references were "brief and not unduly prominent" but Ofcom said the overall effect of the interview was to "promote and endorse WeightWatchers as an effective method of weight loss".
Titchmarsh introduced Kensit in his afternoon chatshow, broadcast on 14 February, telling her: "There's nothing of you!" and "You are a bit of a shadow of your former self. Give us the sort of weight history then."Titchmarsh introduced Kensit in his afternoon chatshow, broadcast on 14 February, telling her: "There's nothing of you!" and "You are a bit of a shadow of your former self. Give us the sort of weight history then."
Kensit told Titchmarsh: "So I was doing a show called Emmerdale and a lot of the people at Yorkshire TV were – each week someone would come and they'd go to this WeightWatchers meeting. So I joined and it's an amazing diet."Kensit told Titchmarsh: "So I was doing a show called Emmerdale and a lot of the people at Yorkshire TV were – each week someone would come and they'd go to this WeightWatchers meeting. So I joined and it's an amazing diet."
She said Weight Watchers was the "one thing that worked. The weight comes off and it stays off", and twice referred to its "ProPoints" counting system.She said Weight Watchers was the "one thing that worked. The weight comes off and it stays off", and twice referred to its "ProPoints" counting system.
But viewers were not told that Kensit is a paid Weight Watchers "weight loss ambassador".But viewers were not told that Kensit is a paid Weight Watchers "weight loss ambassador".
Ofcom rules say products, services and trade marks must "not be promoted in programming" with "no undue prominence … given to a product, service or trade mark".Ofcom rules say products, services and trade marks must "not be promoted in programming" with "no undue prominence … given to a product, service or trade mark".
It is the third time ITV has breached broadcasting rules on promotional activity and unduly prominent references by guests.It is the third time ITV has breached broadcasting rules on promotional activity and unduly prominent references by guests.
Earlier this year ITV's Lorraine Kelly show, Kelly was censured after singer and TV presenter Dannii Minogue extolled a brand of milk, A2 Milk, that she is paid to promote.Earlier this year ITV's Lorraine Kelly show, Kelly was censured after singer and TV presenter Dannii Minogue extolled a brand of milk, A2 Milk, that she is paid to promote.
In 2011, Ofcom took issue with another ITV show, This Morning, after references by Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden to a group of law firms.In 2011, Ofcom took issue with another ITV show, This Morning, after references by Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden to a group of law firms.
In both instances the celebrity guests had endorsement deals with the firms mentioned.In both instances the celebrity guests had endorsement deals with the firms mentioned.
Following the Minogue ruling, Ofcom said it expected ITV to take further steps to ensure compliance in this area.Following the Minogue ruling, Ofcom said it expected ITV to take further steps to ensure compliance in this area.
The regulator said: "In the light of this current latest case, Ofcom is requesting that ITV attends a meeting at Ofcom to discuss its compliance in this area."The regulator said: "In the light of this current latest case, Ofcom is requesting that ITV attends a meeting at Ofcom to discuss its compliance in this area."
Neither ITV nor anyone connected with the Alan Titchmarsh programme received any payment for the WeightWatchers references, which were not subject to any product placement arrangement.Neither ITV nor anyone connected with the Alan Titchmarsh programme received any payment for the WeightWatchers references, which were not subject to any product placement arrangement.
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