UFO Info Week-End

After working as a TV researcher Ms Rantzen’s first profile role was

After working as a TV researcher, Ms Rantzen’s first profile role was as a reporter for Braden’s Week in 1968 where she stayed for four years before producing and presenting That’s Life in 1973, the programme which was to shape her career. A doctor, who claimed on the programme that the condition is treatable with anti- depressants, said he had never encountered such “aggression and refusal to listen” from a studio audience.Yet, strengthened by a 30-year career in the media, Ms Rantzen is as well-used to the brickbats as well as the bouquets, which include the Dimbleby Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). As far as Ms Rantzen is concerned, “tabloid TV” means accessible and populist television.The Report came into being, Ms Rantzen said recently, because viewers were still “writing down their stories to see if I can help”.However, the three-episode series – the BBC was unable to say yesterday whether there are plans for more – has already attracted criticism.After the first 30-minute show on ME, or “yuppie flu”, the television critic of the London Evening Standard wrote a vitriolic review and sent a copy of the episode to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission. Instead, she reinvented herself, and came up with a discussion show, Esther, a sort of British version of the Oprah Winfrey format, and is now the presenter of The Rantzen Report.
If That’s Life was sensational and humorous in the way of a downmarket tabloid, then The Rantzen Report has a more mid-market approach, combining “investigative” journalism with unashamed emotion and moralising in front of a live audience. He has demanded a full report into the affair.Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, said: “This has become the most extraordinary situation in recent penal history It’s gone from comedy through to farce.”. The demise of That’s Life had seemed to signal the end of Esther Rantzen’s television life. After 21 years as the programme’s presenter – and after attracting up to 18 million viewers – when the BBC pulled the plug two years ago, Ms Rantzen was so closely identified with the programme that she seemed destined to slip into relative obscurity.

Mr Walker, who has been acting jail chief since Mr Tilt went on holiday last Thursday, suggested he could step down if an inquiry found he had been “personally culpable”.A total of 80 prisoners were released before Mr Howard ordered a halt. Perhaps he decided in the last 12 hours that it would be better to return.”The Prison Service has already confirmed that Mr Tilt knew about the “early” releases, based on a new interpretation of time spent on remand, before they began on the 16 August, but said his number two, Alan Walker, found out only when he returned from his holiday last Wednesday. As questions were being raised about which of the top jail officials’ heads would roll, Mr Tilt told the Mail on Sunday that he had no intention of quitting over the fiasco.There was speculation last night about whether Mr Tilt had been pressured into abandoning his holiday three days early. He had told the Mail on Sunday that he did not intend to return immediately.But the Prison Service spokesman dismissed any suggestion that Mr Tilt had been forced to return “Richard has decided to come back of his own accord. Therefore any attempt to scapegoat Richard Tilt will be seen by the public as a classic Michael Howard tactic to pass the buck when things go wrong.”The mismanagement follows directly from the farcical distinction between policy and operations designed to ensure that when things go wrong Michael Howard never takes the blame.”Mr Tilt, who had been on a walking holiday in northern Italy with his wife Kate, decided to return early because of the “difficult” week ahead. A spokesman for the Prison Service said: “He feels it is going to be a difficult week, especially if there is a court case.”Mr Tilt, who replaced the sacked Derek Lewis just four months ago, will be back at his desk today.

But Labour home affairs spokesman, Jack Straw, last night warned the Home Secretary, Michael Howard, against any temptation he might feel to use Mr Tilt as a scapegoat for his own failings.
“Even if Michael Howard’s version of events is accepted,” Mr Straw said, “the Home Office was told of the release of prisoners on Wednesday night.”It stood back for two days and let prisoners walk free. BAT’s funding had been subject to strict conditions, the council said, including one that BAT may not make reference to the research findings without the MRC’s written consent. It was “most unlikely” that would be given, a spokesman said.. Richard Tilt, director general of the Prison Service, yesterday cut short his holiday in Italy because of the growing pressure over the “early release” crisis.