1 minute read
SOFAGATE
even relatively benign nonentities like Holly and Phil are indicative of a similar sort of thing.
These people are not your mates. You don’t know them or have any personal link with them. They’re just individuals who are photogenic, charismatic and ambitious enough to provide linking chatter between musical acts or to present breakfast shows. You don’t know them any more than you know the nice estate agent attempting to flog you a flat by complimenting your getup, hairstyle and keen eye for property. Believe it or not, he might just be attempting to flog you a flat.
As for me, I always had my doubts about Hughie, ‘Sincerely folks’ Green, the presenter of ‘Opportunity Knocks’. Thankfully, however, the real monsters have been unmasked. For years, Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris, Stuart Hall and pop star Gary Glitter were adored by fans but the horrifying truth of how they abused vulnerable fans and junior employees finally emerged. These men national treasures unmasked as national disgraces were serial abusers, getting away with impunity for years and years.
The most serious, toxic examples we’ve seen? The Saviles, Harrises, Glitters etc. But
Years ago, a pal of mine a media PRworked with a male presenter who was adored by women of a certain age for his massively popular morning show and who came across as warm, cuddly, caring and empathetic. Behind the scenes, though, he was really unpleasant, particularly to junior staff, and mean ‘thank you’ was rarely said and he had a vast sense of entitlement. Fundamentally, he was an actor he could switch on the charm and charisma at will, particularly when on air or in the limelight.
And we’re still reminded of the contradictory personas TV celebrities so often project with the recent death of the disgraced children’s entertainer, artist and convicted paedophile, Rolf Harris...
As usual, Shakespeare put it better and more succinctly: “One may smile, and smile, and be a villain” ‘Hamlet’.
Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers (www.norajohnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.
