The Execution of Gary Glitter

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

This mock documentary is a fictionalized account of a modern Britain in which the death penalty was reinstated for the most serious offences in 2005 and, after all the legislation has passed, in 2009 former glam rock pop icon Gary Glitter (eerily embodied by Hilton McRae) is to become the first man to be put to death, following another law that allows British citizens to be tried for crimes committed abroad, in Glitter's case the rape of some girls in Vietnam. As the title suggests, he is found guilty and sentenced to hang on the recommendation of the jury. From here, with the use of stock footage and various commentators putting their views forward, we delve into the complexities surrounding bringing the death penalty back, how as a society we have lost track of how to keep an effective lid on serious, violent crime (as Ann Widdecombe notes: "We've forgotten there is such a thing as evil") and how the image of Glitter fell down in everyone's minds.

One of the first points the film puts forward is that a significant proportion of the British population supposedly support the return of the death penalty for the most serious crimes. With this in mind, there must be a strong emphasis that that is the direction the film is trying to guide us in. This unexpected and high concept idea of having someone as high profile as Glitter as the first person to be executed gives some serious food for thought. Though most of the commentators are in favour of the death penalty and the opponents generally relegated to smaller segments, it still doesn't end up coming across as a lynch mob sort of film, just a rather grim and bleak one. In the ten years since the shocking truth about Glitter came out to now where he is hated enough for this to happen, one thing you can't accuse him of is fading into the background.

So, pretty grim, downbeat and in the end very distressing viewing then, but at least it will get you thinking. ***

Our nation is not split on capital punishment, the majority are in favour. Accordingly our elected representatives simply won't give way to that point of view. Good I say, as I don't feel we should judicially kill people. Yet equally I do believe in democracy and the will of the people.

On this issue of course it's not up for debate at any serious level, as close examination would expose the lie that Parliament is a representative democracy. I feel that this drama is too close to the bone and as such those of us who can be bothered to rate this show are generally going to not like the narrative. So in order to continue to close down the debate it gets marked down as being a poor quality programme. It's not poor it's very good, too good. That's why the general view is that it isn't - it's a form of liberal censorship. Very disappointing - but that's life.

Capital punishment has always been a contentious subject and with this, in mind, Channel 4 produced one of the most contentious "mockumentaries" imaginable and arguably one that is a tad unsavoury. "The Execution of Gary Glitter" creates the conceit of offering the viewer an alternative version of Great Britain where the death penalty has been reintroduced and where upon his arrival back in the UK, Paul Gadd better known as former seventies rock idol Gary Glitter is arrested and then awaits to be put on trial whereupon if he is found guilty of his notoriously evil crimes outside the UK he could face the death penalty.

We the viewer are subjected to a mixture of real and fake footage (which to the filmmaker's credit is quite realistic looking and could be easily mistaken for the real thing), z list celebrities who range from Gary Bushell and Anne Widecombe who aren't shy about making their pro-capital punishment views known. While we watch Gadd portrayed uncannily by the relatively unknown Hilton McCrae who goes through the whole legal hoopla, goes through court and the subsequent moments after he is found guilty and awaits execution.

I won't make my own, views of capital punishment a secret, I'm very much against it but even those who condone it have to confess that "The Execution of Gary Glitter" is blatantly biased, one-sided right-wing propaganda at its worst, not to mention that the decision to choose Glitter as the focus of this mockumentary leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and for that matter is tasteless in the extreme. It's a miracle that there wasn't some moral uproar after it was aired which says something about the times we live in. It is, shocking that this receives little or no complaints and yet "Jerry Springer: The Opera" receives the record for the most complaints ever for a Televised programme.

The premise of the mockumentary is in itself fundamentally flawed, to begin with. The fact that Glitter is unaware that capital punishment has been reintroduced means that one of the major arguments put forward about the death penalty is that it is supposed to work as a deterrent. So the arguments that it may not be are rather conveniently swept under the carpet.

The fact that Gary Bushell, a self-confessed homophobe, has the audacity to talk about human decency is laughable. He obtusely and arrogantly labels anti-capital punishment advocates as left-wing, liberal parasites is feeble pompous generalising. All the anti-capital punishment supporters are portrayed as moronic, ignorant uneducated "hippies" while the pro-death penalty supporters are presented as more rational, caring decent people who are fiercely protective of their children.

It seems that the programme is nothing more than a cynical attempt to manipulate its audience and in the most distasteful and exploitative manner possible. Why I wonder did the filmmakers create a mockumentary based around a fictional murderer for example? But instead, we have a real criminal and one who is known to virtually everyone as having committed arguably the most hated and most taboo of crimes, while the inclusion of real footage of Glitter making his infamous statement after leaving prison just strikes me as tasteless and unnecessary.

Credit where credit is due, the film is well made and Hilton MacCrae who portrays the "alternate" version of Glitter give a chilling and uncannily convincing performance as the fallen rock star while many of the prison and court scenes are astonishingly brought to life. But this is an un-well intentioned piece of fluff which is not only insulting to anti-capital punishment supporters but insulting to the intelligence of any viewer who the filmmakers would think would be taken in by such unashamedly biased propaganda.

This has to be one of the most unintentionally hilarious TV shows ever screened in the UK. It's like a Daily Mail or The Sun fantasy come to life. It even has Garry Bushell in it, it's that transparent. They try their best to make it appear deep and thought provoking but it's absolute twaddle catering to the pitchfork brigade and the type who watch and enjoy YouTube videos of "Paedo Hunters".

The writing is frankly absurd. There's a scene where Glitter's defence lawyer stands up in court and actually says "I am sickened by my client, I despise him, and he may even be evil, but...". I mean come on,the guy would never be employed again. Ridiculous sensationalist nonsense. Glitter is portrayed as a man so arrogant and lacking self awareness he declares in court that his 10 year old victim was asking for it because she dressed provocatively in "small shorts". It's so unrealistic it's like watching an episode of Rumpole of the Bailey written by someone on an acid trip. I was convinced I was watching a lost episode of Brass Eye it was so hilarious.

Talk about a one sided argument.

They start this by saying that the majority of British citizens are bloodthirsty savages who support state murder, in other words they are in favour of the death penalty.

This is a pro death penalty infomercial at best. With "Z" list "celebrities" like Ann Widdecombe and Gary Bushell supporting the death penalty while on the opposition are about 3 anonymous protesters that are portrayed as uneducated "Liberals" making me think this was written by an American.

The only others mentioned are Glitter fans wearing "save the leader" shirts. You don't have to support this vile man to hate the death penalty.

Whether you agree with state murder or not it cannot be introduced as innocent people WILL be sent to their death, this is totally unacceptable.

This would have made quite a good drama if only it were far less biased and showed the opposing view at all let alone fairly.

1/10