S4C comedy axes scenes that poke fun at blind man

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To: <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2007 09:36:39 -0400

Daily Post, North Wales (UK)
Saturday, October 27, 2007

By Hywel Trewyn

S4C bosses have axed scenes from a comedy series filmed in North Wales which
poked fun at a blind man following a complaint.

The new sitcom based on a fictitious North Wales council estate Man Del (Pretty
Place), "where just about anything can happen" has prompted complaints from
viewers.

Some scenes had portrayed a blind man and his disobedient blind dog which leads
him astray.

The man - complete with dark glasses - is played by comedian Eilir Jones.

In one scene, the man is led into ladies public toilets but somehow or other
ends up with faeces all over himself.

It was following the broadcast of that particular scene last week that last
Wednesday's episode was not shown.

Instead, it was "edited" by S4C and the new cut version shown on Thursday night
instead.

Red-faced bosses have now decided he will not appear in future episodes of the
comedy.

The eight-part My Name is Earl-type comedy was filmed on location in Caernarfon
and Talysarn, Gwynedd and written by Paul Branningan before being translated
into Welsh.

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) spokeswoman Kate Hughes said
nobody in their office had seen the programme and they had asked S4C for a copy.

She said: "We received a complaint from a member of the public.

"We have only had one complaint and pushed it through to S4C. In general, we
want blind or partially sighted people to be portrayed appropriately."

An S4C spokesperson said: "S4C takes every complaint seriously. Due to
sensitivity regarding the portrayal of a disabled character, the comedy series
Man Del has been reviewed.

"It was decided that the portrayal was inconsistent with S4C's aim to promote a
positive image of people with disability on-screen."

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2007/10/27/s4c-comedy-axes-scenes-that-poke-fun-at-blind-man-55578-20016087/
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S4C comedy axes scenes that poke fun at blind man

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