News

Banged Up

The good news for the prison service is that the media have, due to the recent airing on 7th July of Banged Up, started to wonder if something can be done about the escalating numbers of people in prison. Banged Up floats the theory that if you show teenagers how bad life inside is then it will put them off a life of crime. The Radio times quoted David Blunkett as saying 'To change behaviour it's necessary to change the individual'. The press, initially suspicious that the show would be 'another reality programme', soon realised the purpose and intentions behind the series. The Guardian 7th July previewed the show commenting. 'The bigger surprise is Banged Up, which turns out to be a compelling study of young offenders and the possibility of thoughtful intervention' TV reviewer Andrew Billen reported about the general interest that television is taking in prison life...'but it will have to go some way to be as worthy as Banged Up, which contained no laughs at all and left you feeling good for just having watched it'. He went on to say 'The first episode, however, showed how effective a short sharp shock can be. The secret is that although it must seem an eternity at the time, ten days is not long enough to get used to anything.' The production team would definitely agree with Andrew there. There was a huge amount of press coverage previewing the first episode; interviews with David Blunkett in the Radio Times, The Telegraph, Guardian, Daily Mail, Express, Metro. TV and Radio picked it up with an interview on Five News, BBC Breakfast, Radio 4 Andrew Marr and Front Row. It was also pick of the day in most of the news papers, listings and TV guides. One of our teenage contributors, Daniel Cooke and his Mum Norah went on This Morning on Monday 7th, with Bob Croxton (ex offender) to talk about the show. 1 million people tuned in to see the first episode. The repeat on Sunday night captured a favourable audience and episode two hit just under a million viewers. There has been a massive response from viewers inside and outside of prison. Parents who have teenagers either in a Young Offending Institute or are worried about their kids ending up there want to know how we can help. Comments from people within the probation service, prison service and the police, who were initially very sceptical, have commented on how much they liked the programme and how well it has highlighted the need for intervention with troubled teenagers. So while we eat our chips off the plaudits of Banged Up, don't forget to tune in on the 21 July for Episode 3 and 28 July for Episodes 4.