Bill's Comment Page

"Snorting Coke with the BBC"

This is the title of a programme broadcast this evening on Channel 4, one of the five terrestrial channels here and a rival of the BBC, specially in what is supposed to be 'socially worthwhile' programming.

Channel 4 broadcasts some exceptionally good programmes; it also broadcasts nonsense such as 'Big Brother'.

I expected this evening's effort to be simply a sensational programme at the BBC's expense - and it did not lack in sensation, even though much of what was broadcast was well known. The cocaine use and sexual shenanigans amongst the broadcasting fraternity have been the subject of many salacious exposes in the tabloid press over the years. It is apparently the case that cocaine use is fairly common amongst broadcasters and media people generally - just as it is said to be in many other high profile professions.

I am no prude, even though I have never taken an illegal substance in my life. Some would, of course, regard being gay as itself an outrage. Obviously I don't share that view, but more pertinently being gay and having same-sex relationships is not illegal and has not been so for 36 years in this country. What religious bigots think of this is, very thankfully, irrelevant in this context. Trafficking in, possessing and using 'Class A' drugs such as cocaine is, however, illegal. Period.

On balance I would say that Channel 4's programme was reasonably well-balanced - it alluded to the fact that illegal drug use was by no means restricted to the BBC amongst broadcasters. But I think those who were interviewed for the programme, whether BBC executives, or former BBC staff or others, revealed a lot more about their general attitudes than they may have realised. We seemed to be asked to accept that use of cocaine was ubiquitous amongst media folk and whilst it is 'technically' illegal, really should not be seen as too much of a problem provided users don't let their habit interfere with the quality of their work or don't indulge in activities which will embarrass their employers.

The Controller of BBC 1 seemed to be saying that she did not want to be placed in the position of controlling people's lives - if only they wouldn't be silly or 'frighten the horses' then they could all get on with their lives. The whole attitude seemed to be don't rock the boat. I find this quite amazing. Whatever the merits of the illegality of drugs such as cocaine, it is a simple fact that at present simple possession, far less consumption, is a criminal offence. It may be a bad law, but whilst it remains on the statutes I find it quite amazing that the ubiquity of cocaine usage should be viewed in such a matter of fact way. Some of those interviewed for the programme, who had nothing to do with the BBC, seemed to be falling into the same error when discussing the matter. The Editor of the Daily Mirror, and a former Head of BBC Youth Programming both seemed to say it was wrong for a prominent BBC DJ to have been sacked, and thought it was acceptable that he was re-employed later, whereas it was necessary for a presenter on a children's show to have been sacked for a similar offence - either it is illegal or it is not.

It is quite obvious that illegal drug use in the UK has escalated dramatically in recent years, specially of things like cocaine, crack and ecstasy. I am not opposed, in principle, to relaxation of the law in relation to 'soft' or 'hard' drugs if that is eventually agreed upon, but I really find it bizarre that high profile individuals, in particular, should seek to foster an attitude that it would not be a problem if only the users didn't draw attention to their illegal habits.