Close Menu
WTX News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • How the incredibly tight F1 2025 is told through ghost cars
    • Sainsbury’s recalls own-brand hummus over potentially deadly E.coli warning
    • ‘Outrageous’ Netflix show gets exciting update but UK fans have been left hanging
    • BlackRock to invest £500m in UK data centres during Trump visit
    • How United and City set up the worst Manchester derby ever
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    WTX News
    • Live News
      • US News
      • EU News
      • UK News
      • Politics
      • COVID-19
      • Business
      • Tech zone
    • World news
      • Middle East News
        • UAE News
        • Palestine News
      • Europe
        • Italian News
        • Spanish News
      • Africa news
      • South America
      • North America
      • Asia
    • News Briefings
      • UK News Briefing
      • World News Briefing
      • Live Business News
    • Sports
      • Football News
      • Tennis
      • Women’s Football
    • MY World
      • Climate Change
      • In Review
      • Expose
      • Special Reports
        • Conscience Convoy
        • Rohingya Report
    • Entertainment
      • Insta Talk
      • Royal Family
      • Gaming News
      • TV Shows
      • Streaming
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Fashion
      • Cooking recipes
      • Luxury
      • Money Saving Expert
    • Travel
      • Culture
      • Holidays
    • Sign Up
      • Log In
    WTX News
    • Live News
    • World news
    • News Briefings
    • Sports
    • MY World
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Sign Up
    Home - Celebrities - Michael Parkinson’s banned TV show still makes people ‘wet themselves’ 32 years later
    Celebrities Updated:October 31, 2024

    Michael Parkinson’s banned TV show still makes people ‘wet themselves’ 32 years later

    By WTX Entertainment3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Telegram WhatsApp
    Michael Parkinson’s banned TV show still makes people ‘wet themselves’ 32 years later

    On Halloween 1992, Sir Michael Parkinson’s prank gave children PTSD.

    Ghostwatch was the mockumentary that tricked millions of viewers and saw national treasure Parky team up with former Blue Peter presenter Sarah Greene to investigate paranormal activity at a family home.

    On the surface, it appeared like a regular news report with two of the country’s most trusted names at the helm. Why would anyone suspect otherwise?

    The programme, which aired at 9.25pm, featured ‘home footage’ of a ghost terrorising two children in their bedroom with their mother rushing to get them out of the house.

    It felt so real more than 30,000 people complained to the BBC switchboard in an hour as furious parents claimed their children had been left petrified.  

    The episode was banned from ever appearing on British TV again, and the BBC still ruled out repeating it despite Parkinson’s death in 2023.

    Ghostwatch saw a family haunted by a ghost (Picture: TikTok @richie…d)

    https://www.tiktok.com/@richie…d/video/6940918818881424645

    Over 30 years later, people are still ‘wetting the bed’ and complaining they were ‘scarred for life’, responding to clips shared on TikTok.

    A spooky paranormal show starring Michael Parkinson that was banned after being shown on the BBC has resurfaced on TikTok and scaring the living daylights out of people again 30 years later.

    Horror writer Stephen Volk was behind the stunt, initially planning a six-episode horror before being asked to change it to a 90-minute programme.

    In a piece for Examiner Live, Volk said initially there was a plan to have a quick discussion progamme in place to ‘diffuse the tension’.

    ‘If you are going to tell this horror gag then don’t do it half-heartedly. If you say it’s not true then you pull the teeth out of unsettling drama,’ he said.

    ‘We were of the opinion that when it’s finished then we can have a discussion about it. The BBC didn’t do that. When it cut to black at the end the announcer said, “And now, Match of the Day”.’

    Ghostwatch was eventually blamed for giving children PTSD with the parents of one 18-year-old boy saying the show caused his death.

    Martin Denham was a factory worker with learning difficulties and died by suicide five days after the show aired, convinced there were ghosts haunting his home.

    ‘He seemed a bit upset because things were happening at that time in the house that had been happening [on Ghostwatch]. The pipes were banging,’ his father told BBC News in 2017.

    Denham’s parents filed a complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC), which ruled the programme was excessively distressing and graphic.

    ‘The BBC had a duty to do more than simply hint at the deception it was practising on the audience. In Ghostwatch there was a deliberate attempt to cultivate a sense of menace,’ it said.
    Source link

    Arts and Entertainment UK Entertainment
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Telegram WhatsApp
    Previous ArticleHugh Grant finally reveals his kids’ wild names – and one is an Austin Powers reference
    Next Article Three children among seven people taken to hospital after land train tips over at holiday park in Cornwall
    WTX Entertainment
    • Website

    Related Posts

    Stephen King’s ‘unrelentingly bleak and utterly brutal’ new horror movie is here
    Entertainment

    Stephen King’s ‘unrelentingly bleak and utterly brutal’ new horror movie is here

    Who’s in Taskmaster series 20? Meet the new Channel 4 contestants
    Entertainment

    Who’s in Taskmaster series 20? Meet the new Channel 4 contestants

    Inside Nina Dobrev and Shaun White’s relationship after breakup announcement
    Entertainment

    Inside Nina Dobrev and Shaun White’s relationship after breakup announcement

    Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming makes emotional divorce confession
    Entertainment

    Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming makes emotional divorce confession

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Advertisment
    News Headlines
    Sainsbury’s recalls own-brand hummus over potentially deadly E.coli warning

    Sainsbury’s recalls own-brand hummus over potentially deadly E.coli warning

    BlackRock to invest £500m in UK data centres during Trump visit

    BlackRock to invest £500m in UK data centres during Trump visit

    Save 70% on VIP subscription
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    Advert by Sponsors
    More from WTX News
    The latest gaming news - with game reviews and tips and tricks. updated 24 hours a day.
    The latest gaming news
    Hot off the press!
    • How the incredibly tight F1 2025 is told through ghost cars September 13, 2025
    • Sainsbury’s recalls own-brand hummus over potentially deadly E.coli warning September 13, 2025
    • ‘Outrageous’ Netflix show gets exciting update but UK fans have been left hanging September 13, 2025
    • BlackRock to invest £500m in UK data centres during Trump visit September 13, 2025
    • How United and City set up the worst Manchester derby ever September 13, 2025
    WTX News latest breaking news sports and travel
    Latest News and analysis - Deciphering through the BS with exclusive News Briefings
    Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok Instagram

    News

    • World News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • EU News
    • Business
    • Opinions
    • News Briefing
    • Live News

    Company

    • About WTX News
    • Register
    • Advertising
    • Work with us
    • Contact
    • Community
    • GDPR Policy
    • Privacy

    Services

    • Fitness for free
    • Insta Talk
    • How to guides
    • Climate Change
    • In Review
    • Expose
    • NEWS SUMMARY
    • Money Saving Expert

    News delivered to your inbox

    Copyright WTX News 2025

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.