IT KILLED MY SON... NOW IT'S ON VIDEO; Mum's anger over Ghostwatch film that scared boy to death.
Byline: CAROLINE WHEELERTHE parents of a teenager literally frightened to death by a TV ghost show today condemned a decision to release it on DVD and video for Christmas. Martin Denham, 18, hanged himself five days after seeing Ghostwatch on Halloween in 1992. The documentary-style programme had been billed as a serious investigation into the supernatural - but turned out to be a spoof.
His parents, Percy and April, believe Martin was left so traumatised by the BBC show that he took his own life.
But despite receiving a flood of complaints at the time and being rapped by the Broadcasting Standards Council, Ghostwatch has now been released on DVD and video. It has been given a 12-rating - meaning kids can buy it.
Mr and Mrs Denham described the move as 'callous'.
Housewife April, 51, said: 'It has been given a 12 rating but I think it should be X-rated because of its shocking content.
'The last thing we want is for another family to lose a son or daughter because of these callous programme-makers.
'I wouldn't advise any parent to buy this DVD or video for their child this Christmas and if I see it in the shops I will knock down the display.'
Martin, who had learning difficulties, hanged himself from a tree called the Witch Tree close to his home in Beckhampton Road, Nottingham. A suicide note read: 'Dear mam, please don't worry, if there are ghosts I will be a ghost and I will be with you always as a ghost.'
The documentary-style show was presented by Michael Parkinson and husband -and-wife team Sarah Greene and Mike Smith.
Thousands of viewers jammed BBC switchboards in protest at its spooky scenes.
It was claimed some watching children suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, while others had sleepless nights, became afraid of the dark and refused to sleep alone.
Percy told how he had tried to reassure Martin that the show was all make-believe.
'He was mesmerised by the programme,' said the 61-yearold crane driver.
'He wasn't quite himself during the days prior to his death. He started stopping people in the street asking them about the programme.
'He even asked me if there was a ghost in our house. I laughingly told him there must be because all the biscuits kept disappearing. It was meant as a joke, but Martin went all quiet.'
The next day Martin gave a friend a treasured cross and chain as a keep-sake before he left for work at a clothing factory.
His parents never saw him alive again.
A spokesman for the British Film Institute, which has licensed Ghostwatch from the BBC, said: 'Ghostwatch is a drama and a play. It is not real.
'We licensed the programme, which has become a cult TV favourite, from the BBC and we were not told about any problems it had with it.'
CAPTION(S):
TRAGIC LEGACY... Martin Denham killed himself, leaving parents Percy and April (right) in anguish; 12-RATING... the DVD version
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| Publication: | Sunday Mercury (Birmingham, England) |
|---|---|
| Geographic Code: | 4EUUK |
| Date: | Dec 15, 2002 |
| Words: | 498 |
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