ITV defends Liz McDonald's illicit fag
Thursday, July 26, 2007 
Hours after it was announced that all Disney-branded films will be smoke-free and the company will actively "discourage depictions" of cigarette smoking in films made by Miramax and Touchstone (which it owns), ITV has responded in robust fashion to a complaint (not from me!) that Coronation Street's Liz McDonald was filmed smoking in the loo at the Rovers' Return. An email that has come into our possession reads:
I’m sorry to read that seeing one of our players smoking has caused you concern. Successful drama such as Coronation Street depends on realistic characterization and there must be moments when inappropriate things are said or done. If no one ever demonstrates human frailty or ignorance it is impossible to identify with them.
Our responsibility as programme makers is to ensure that where they behave unreasonably or incorrectly their actions are not seen to be promoted. In this instance we took great care to be accurate and under the STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2007 No. 76 of the PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, ENGLAND - The Smoke-free (Exemptions and Vehicles) Regulations 2007, Section 6 of the act refers to performers:
“Where the artistic integrity of a performance makes it appropriate for a person who is taking part in that performance to smoke, the part of the premises in which that person performs is not smoke-free in relation to that person during his performance”.
Once again thank you for your e-mail and I hope that this incident does not spoil your continued enjoyment of Coronation Street.
Reader Comments (7)
From what the papers said cornation street was going to highlight the smoking ban from both sides but I havent seen much of that yet.
This is dreadful news. We all know that the smoke from that cigarette will come through our TVs and give us all lung cancer?
I hardly find it encouraging that ITV should have produced such a pusillanimous 'defence' of its actions.
Why, for example, did it feel obliged to refer to 'human frailty or ignorance' ? Is it not thereby conceding that smokers are merely misguided weaklings who require our compassionate understanding rather than our (albeit well-deserved) condemnation ?
What utter piffle !
How I yearn for the only response this sort of 'complaint' merits: 'Bloody well grow up, and GET A LIFE !!'
is it true that MPs have a smoking room in the house of commons. i have seen this reported in the press,[DOUBLE STANDARDS]springs to mind
This is such an wful place to live in a real nanny state, I really feel so very sorry for pubs that are empty because of this ban. Many pubs will close this winter. The weather has not helped them at all. Its so sad that we are being watched. How about Drinking heavily? This is just as bad. What about air conditioning? I think its sad that we cant even have a smoke on an open air platform at a station. Its really sad and nanny knows best.
I just cannot believe that somebody is small-minded enough to e-mail the ITV to complain about someone smoking in a soap-opera! I used to watch Eastenders, then gave up because of a loathing for the characters and the complete lack of realistic detail. When do you see people sitting or standing outside, smoking? Or complaining or boycotting? Never! And yet this is reality in 2007 Britain.
They should have shown the lassie as a rebellious smoker as she has rebelled against other things in the Street