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| 100 Days of Ukip: Channel 4's docudrama causes outrage over alleged 'political bias' | 100 Days of Ukip: Channel 4's docudrama causes outrage over alleged 'political bias' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A fictional documentary that imagined life under a Ukip government has received a backlash over its alleged "political bias" and "flawed" approach. | A fictional documentary that imagined life under a Ukip government has received a backlash over its alleged "political bias" and "flawed" approach. |
| Attracting almost 20 complaints before the show even aired, '100 Days of Ukip' was advertised as a "ground-breaking and provocative fictional documentary", set in a "fictional future where Ukip have won the 2015 general election and Nigel Farage is prime minister". | Attracting almost 20 complaints before the show even aired, '100 Days of Ukip' was advertised as a "ground-breaking and provocative fictional documentary", set in a "fictional future where Ukip have won the 2015 general election and Nigel Farage is prime minister". |
| Media watchdog, Ofcom, confirmed on Monday that it had received objections to Ukip: the First 100 Days from people claiming it was politically biased. | Media watchdog, Ofcom, confirmed on Monday that it had received objections to Ukip: the First 100 Days from people claiming it was politically biased. |
| The fictional documentary, which aired at 9pm on Monday 16 February, combined acted scenes with actual news footage and showed race riots breaking out in Britain as Ukip's policies took effect. | The fictional documentary, which aired at 9pm on Monday 16 February, combined acted scenes with actual news footage and showed race riots breaking out in Britain as Ukip's policies took effect. |
| Senior Ukip MEP Roger Helmer said on Sunday that the film was a "hatchet job" on the political party, and tweeted: "Fortunately the Great British public recognise agitprop when they see it. And ignore it." | Senior Ukip MEP Roger Helmer said on Sunday that the film was a "hatchet job" on the political party, and tweeted: "Fortunately the Great British public recognise agitprop when they see it. And ignore it." |
| However a source close to the production defended it, saying that Ukip "have to be a grown-up political party". | However a source close to the production defended it, saying that Ukip "have to be a grown-up political party". |
| The source told the Guardian that Ukip should not expect blanket positive coverage. | The source told the Guardian that Ukip should not expect blanket positive coverage. |
| "The idea that you have to be even-handed in a fictional piece is ridiculous. You have to look at Channel 4’s coverage in the round. | "The idea that you have to be even-handed in a fictional piece is ridiculous. You have to look at Channel 4’s coverage in the round. |
| "Gogglebox did a piece with Nigel Farage which was extremely pro-Ukip, it was essentially a platform for Farage. He was allowed to have his pint and a chat," they said. | "Gogglebox did a piece with Nigel Farage which was extremely pro-Ukip, it was essentially a platform for Farage. He was allowed to have his pint and a chat," they said. |
| On Twitter the programme was the subject of derision, with many questioning why it had been commissioned in the first place. Producers of the programme were reportedly surprised at the reaction. | On Twitter the programme was the subject of derision, with many questioning why it had been commissioned in the first place. Producers of the programme were reportedly surprised at the reaction. |
| I have so many friends who have had brilliant scripts rejected by Channel 4. THIS GOT MADE. #100daysofukip | I have so many friends who have had brilliant scripts rejected by Channel 4. THIS GOT MADE. #100daysofukip |
| Cringing at #100daysofUkip - What IS this? It's not even the slightest bit realistic. | Cringing at #100daysofUkip - What IS this? It's not even the slightest bit realistic. |
| Not sure what to make of that #100DaysofUKIP | Not sure what to make of that #100DaysofUKIP |
| Look like #100DaysOfUKIP may well have backfired on Channel 4. A biased, partisan depiction of the only party that Believes in Britain. | Look like #100DaysOfUKIP may well have backfired on Channel 4. A biased, partisan depiction of the only party that Believes in Britain. |
| #100daysofUKIP was just... a bit naff really. The real stuff was more interesting than the fake stuff. I don't mind the blatant bias though. | #100daysofUKIP was just... a bit naff really. The real stuff was more interesting than the fake stuff. I don't mind the blatant bias though. |
| Others suggested that Ukip supporters had just reacted negatively to a show that mocked them. | Others suggested that Ukip supporters had just reacted negatively to a show that mocked them. |
| Farage has *always* played the "biased media hates us" card. They're going to dine out on this #100daysofukip all the way to the polls. | Farage has *always* played the "biased media hates us" card. They're going to dine out on this #100daysofukip all the way to the polls. |
| Fascinating to see 'Kippers, forever bleating about anti-free-speech humourless lefties, react to satire at their expense. #100daysofukip | Fascinating to see 'Kippers, forever bleating about anti-free-speech humourless lefties, react to satire at their expense. #100daysofukip |
| Sad I'm going to miss #100daysofukip on C4 tonight. I was looking forward to a glimpse of what the Dad's Army movie will be like. | Sad I'm going to miss #100daysofukip on C4 tonight. I was looking forward to a glimpse of what the Dad's Army movie will be like. |
| Ofcom confirmed it had received 19 complaints alleging political bias. | Ofcom confirmed it had received 19 complaints alleging political bias. |
| The watchdog said that pre-transmission complaints are outside its remit, but that it would "assess any complaints received following transmission against the broadcasting code, before deciding whether to investigate". | The watchdog said that pre-transmission complaints are outside its remit, but that it would "assess any complaints received following transmission against the broadcasting code, before deciding whether to investigate". |