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The Execution of Gary Glitter
The Execution of Gary Glitter is a 2009 British television drama, produced by Juniper Communications Limited and broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. Set in a parallel Britain, the film follows an imaginary trial and execution by hanging of former glam rock singer Gary Glitter, who has been convicted for possession of child pornography and rape of minors, for "offences against children". The programme was written, produced, and directed by Rob Coldstream, and was broadcast on 9 November 2009.
Though intended to open debate on hanging and capital punishment in the United Kingdom, the programme was poorly received and the choice of celebrity accused led to a complaint being registered with Ofcom by Glitter (which was later dismissed).
Set in an imaginary Britain in which the death sentence has been reintroduced, the drama examines the possible outcomes of Glitter being the first to be put on trial under the imagined "Capital Crimes Act", which reintroduced hanging as a penalty for murder or rape of a child under 12. He is indicted shortly after its inception and his simultaneous extradition to the UK from Vietnam after serving three years there for sex offences. Glitter applies for entry to Hong Kong and Thailand, but is forced to return to the UK, where he is to be charged with child rape and to stand trial as a paedophile for "category one sex offences" committed whilst abroad.
Glitter meets his lawyer after returning and being arrested. He is informed of the possibility of either the case being dismissed or won due to the newness of the laws, and because the offences concerned were committed abroad. He is suddenly shocked into reality when he is informed of the change in UK laws, and that the ultimate sentence he could face is death. A history of the campaign to bring back capital punishment is shown from its inception in 2004, as well as interviews with the public and people in positions of responsibility and their attitudes towards capital punishment.
Glitter continuously proclaims his innocence; meanwhile, the public cry for justice and his death while the media rake through his previous charges and history of offences. His trial goes ahead after an appeal for dismissal is denied. The evidence of the alleged offences is shown, as well as Glitter's statements to the police, and witnesses give their evidence, including Glitter himself. Glitter is found guilty, and the debate over sentencing begins. Glitter is told there are no mitigating circumstances shown and he is sentenced to death; due to concerns over extreme waiting time on death row, the law requests his sentence be carried out within 30 days. Glitter maintains his innocence and files an appeal to the Home Secretary, which is dismissed shortly before the scheduled execution. Still convinced he will be released, while listening to a radio Glitter finds himself back in the charts just before he is executed, though the song turns out to be a mocking remix of one of his hit songs combined with a leaked recording of his own words from his trial speech, which includes him saying he isn't a monster, is no angel and mentioning having "the booze" and "the drugs". The remix also has samples of police car sirens and a voice claiming "You will be taken from this place". Glitter smashes the radio in anger as a result.
The film ends shortly after Glitter is hanged, shouting that he is an "innocent man" only for the trapdoor below the gallows to be released, having continued to protest his innocence right up until his death.
All cast are shown in the order they appear in the credits:
Rob Coldstream, the creator of the programme, wrote an account of the premise and production behind the drama which was published in The Independent in November 2009. He said that he had the idea for the programme after reading a report in a national newspaper that had said that "If Gary Glitter was to be strung up in Trafalgar Square tomorrow, nobody would turn a hair". Coldstream argued that "The time was right for a thought-provoking and compelling drama that would confront viewers with the consequences of the death penalty", after UK polls in June and September that year had shown more than 50% of Britons supported bringing back capital punishment.
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The Execution of Gary Glitter
The Execution of Gary Glitter is a 2009 British television drama, produced by Juniper Communications Limited and broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. Set in a parallel Britain, the film follows an imaginary trial and execution by hanging of former glam rock singer Gary Glitter, who has been convicted for possession of child pornography and rape of minors, for "offences against children". The programme was written, produced, and directed by Rob Coldstream, and was broadcast on 9 November 2009.
Though intended to open debate on hanging and capital punishment in the United Kingdom, the programme was poorly received and the choice of celebrity accused led to a complaint being registered with Ofcom by Glitter (which was later dismissed).
Set in an imaginary Britain in which the death sentence has been reintroduced, the drama examines the possible outcomes of Glitter being the first to be put on trial under the imagined "Capital Crimes Act", which reintroduced hanging as a penalty for murder or rape of a child under 12. He is indicted shortly after its inception and his simultaneous extradition to the UK from Vietnam after serving three years there for sex offences. Glitter applies for entry to Hong Kong and Thailand, but is forced to return to the UK, where he is to be charged with child rape and to stand trial as a paedophile for "category one sex offences" committed whilst abroad.
Glitter meets his lawyer after returning and being arrested. He is informed of the possibility of either the case being dismissed or won due to the newness of the laws, and because the offences concerned were committed abroad. He is suddenly shocked into reality when he is informed of the change in UK laws, and that the ultimate sentence he could face is death. A history of the campaign to bring back capital punishment is shown from its inception in 2004, as well as interviews with the public and people in positions of responsibility and their attitudes towards capital punishment.
Glitter continuously proclaims his innocence; meanwhile, the public cry for justice and his death while the media rake through his previous charges and history of offences. His trial goes ahead after an appeal for dismissal is denied. The evidence of the alleged offences is shown, as well as Glitter's statements to the police, and witnesses give their evidence, including Glitter himself. Glitter is found guilty, and the debate over sentencing begins. Glitter is told there are no mitigating circumstances shown and he is sentenced to death; due to concerns over extreme waiting time on death row, the law requests his sentence be carried out within 30 days. Glitter maintains his innocence and files an appeal to the Home Secretary, which is dismissed shortly before the scheduled execution. Still convinced he will be released, while listening to a radio Glitter finds himself back in the charts just before he is executed, though the song turns out to be a mocking remix of one of his hit songs combined with a leaked recording of his own words from his trial speech, which includes him saying he isn't a monster, is no angel and mentioning having "the booze" and "the drugs". The remix also has samples of police car sirens and a voice claiming "You will be taken from this place". Glitter smashes the radio in anger as a result.
The film ends shortly after Glitter is hanged, shouting that he is an "innocent man" only for the trapdoor below the gallows to be released, having continued to protest his innocence right up until his death.
All cast are shown in the order they appear in the credits:
Rob Coldstream, the creator of the programme, wrote an account of the premise and production behind the drama which was published in The Independent in November 2009. He said that he had the idea for the programme after reading a report in a national newspaper that had said that "If Gary Glitter was to be strung up in Trafalgar Square tomorrow, nobody would turn a hair". Coldstream argued that "The time was right for a thought-provoking and compelling drama that would confront viewers with the consequences of the death penalty", after UK polls in June and September that year had shown more than 50% of Britons supported bringing back capital punishment.