Amy
27-07-2004, 06:20 PM
MERSEYSIDE'S public health chief has criticised Channel Four's Big Brother after two of its housemates romped under a table.
The director of public health spoke out after a Health Protection Agency report confirmed sexually transmitted infections continued to rise in 2003.
He said: "Programme makers need to be more responsible about how they portray sex.
"Take Big Brother on Channel 4, for example. The impression is given that two people, who know little or nothing about each other's history, are having sex under a table.
"There's no mention of safe sex or condoms and no obvious signs that producers did anything to stop it or to counsel the couple on the dangers.
"Not only is this a new low in British television history, but it sends out a signal to viewers that casual sex with a comparative stranger, with no regard to the risks, is OK."
Prof Ashton was making reference to Big Brother housemates Michelle and Stuart whose romance is unfolding in front of viewers.
Article from Liverpool Echo (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/entertainment/previewsandreviews/tm_objectid=14466571%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=rap%2dfor%2dtv%2dshow%2dsex%2dby%2dmers ey%2dhealth%2dboss-name_page.html)
The director of public health spoke out after a Health Protection Agency report confirmed sexually transmitted infections continued to rise in 2003.
He said: "Programme makers need to be more responsible about how they portray sex.
"Take Big Brother on Channel 4, for example. The impression is given that two people, who know little or nothing about each other's history, are having sex under a table.
"There's no mention of safe sex or condoms and no obvious signs that producers did anything to stop it or to counsel the couple on the dangers.
"Not only is this a new low in British television history, but it sends out a signal to viewers that casual sex with a comparative stranger, with no regard to the risks, is OK."
Prof Ashton was making reference to Big Brother housemates Michelle and Stuart whose romance is unfolding in front of viewers.
Article from Liverpool Echo (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/entertainment/previewsandreviews/tm_objectid=14466571%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=rap%2dfor%2dtv%2dshow%2dsex%2dby%2dmers ey%2dhealth%2dboss-name_page.html)