Madeleine McCann: Rob Blackhurst’s Maddy Theme Holiday, BBC Apologises And If Cars Could Talk
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
THE BBC have apologised to the McCann family for scheduling a film about a runaway girl called Madeleine on the anniversary of their daughter’s disappearance…
But bungling Beeb chiefs scheduled the 1998 children’s film Madeleine for the weekend of the first anniversary of the youngster’s disappearance.
Can you separate fact from fiction? Call 0800 HELPMEIMMAD and our team of trained TV watchers will talk you through the plot.
The movie, starring Nigel Hawthorne, is about an orphan who runs away and manages to foil a kidnap plot. The blunder was only spotted at the last minute and the BBC hastily replaced the film with the 2005 Lindsay Lohan movie Herbie Fully Loaded.
You know, the one about the car with the big secret.
DAILY TELEGRAPH: “BBC apologises to Madeleine McCann’s parents”
Says a source close to the McCanns:
“It is disgraceful that the BBC of all people should be so insensitive and not spot this was going to happen,” they said. “Surely with everything that has happened this year, any executive would notice if their station broadcast a film called Madeline involving a kidnapped child? Would that not ring alarm bells?
“It’s not that they should never show the film but someone must have checked it was appropriate and checked the dates it was being aired. It’s things like that which must be upsetting to Kate and Gerry.”
Do the McCanns set the TV schedules. If so, can we please, please have the A-Team back? And ever since he tripped on cobble stone, Old Mr Anorak has not been able to watch Coronation Street without feeling sick. Can the show be scrapped or moved to 6am, when he is having his rub?
NEW STATESMAN: “Rob Blackhurst books a family break at a Portuguese resort - and finds himself babysitting in Praia da Luz”
My girlfriend and I had planned a quick week away with Kitty, her four-year-old. Cash-strapped after moving house, we’d heard of the travel company Mark Warner’s middle-class holiday camp regime: sun, sailing, tennis, good food, children’s meals and a well-staffed kids’ club that lasted all morning.
It was only when we googled the “Upscale Ocean Club” in Portugal that it dawned on us: we were taking a four-year-old to the same complex, with the same company, as the McCanns had visited a year ago. This took some finding, as there was scarcely any mention of Praia da Luz on its website.
Shock, and horror:
Reactions of families and friends varied from the gut response “You are sick” to (more commonly) a philosophical “These things can happen anywhere”. From our parents, there was just a tight-lipped “Be careful”…
When we took Kitty to her kids’ club, we shivered when we realised that it was the same bright room - with buggies and dolls, mini-furniture and finger paintings - in which Madeleine spent that last afternoon…
Another Maddy?
But although it felt like a taboo to discuss Madeleine, every parent shared their own heart-stopping moment after a few glasses of wine. Ours came in the village supermarket when Kitty disappeared behind a stand of beach balls and we lost her for 15 seconds.
Tell Tony Parsons. He hears you.
Madeleine McCann and me: Making copy while the sun shines.
Posted: 9th, May 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (481) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
- agw on BBC Opens Public Vote To Pick The New Strictly Come Dancing Presenter
- Liz on Read About The X Factor Star’s Life Destroyed Family Life
- The Real Stig on BBC Opens Public Vote To Pick The New Strictly Come Dancing Presenter
- rtWIT on School Principal Bans the Word Meep And Sets Police On Lawyer Who Meeped Her
- June on Russian Kebab Shop Sells Human Meat
May 10th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Remigius 292:
“Nobody there can say with certainty whether they even SAW Madeleine.”
Hmmm though I remember reading that Nanny Pennington described reading a story to Madeleine at one point when she was the only one there in her group, I think ???
May 10th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
My interest just grew by the apparent brainwashing of one or two regular posters by several who assumed Anorak had been set up for the McCanns, and just could not believe my eyes that a 12 year old website was being unashamedly hijacked by newcomers whose only interest was Kate and Gerry and the Fund.
May 10th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Brandon Flours 259:
“Is the nanny who ‘fed’ madeliene on the 3rd in on it too?”
Gotta be…..I reckon………though the ’story’ she may have been given could be a ‘revised version’ of reality….it could be that she has things to hide herself………purely speculation, you understand…………
Her timely arrival on the scene, including her useful viewing of the boatman with bundle [ remember that ?] would lend itself to the ‘premeditated scenario’….as would the light reading material if it was known to be there from the 3rd…….such wild speculating !
May 10th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Much as I query the McCanns’ innocence, it cannot be right to leave them as arguidos forever. It will not bring Madeleine back and could only be harmful for the other children, who deserve some normality and stability in their lives. The PJ should take action now or drop the case completely. If the McCs are implicated, I think their own consciences will not lie easily with them. Perhaps it is time to let the case go. I think most people accept that the child, sadly, is not coming back and I don’t think we’ll ever know the true facts. Would that we could! If there is something sinister behind all this, then I really think those forces have won. But who knows what the truth is?
Mods and Admin
If they are found by a court of law to be more than responsible for Madeleine’s disappearance, what of their remaining children then?
The truth has to be found, and the PJ are actually taking no longer than many other police enquiries, and they (the McC) have been arguidos only since last September, and Murat for nearly a year, and he has a daughter too.
Do you feel the McCanns have done everything possible to help find their missing child, or do you feel there is more they could do?
May 10th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
233 Remigius
I hear ya Remi - most of what you say I was implying also - it IS indeed fascinating watching the process of ‘back-fitting’ - artlessly inserting the ‘patches’ as if imagining them to be truly invisible…..he he he
May 10th, 2008 at 11:19 am
IMO the Mcs’ Portuguese lawyer ought not , perhaps, to be saying anything at all publicly, even if he thinks he has definite knowledge of what is going to happen. If it is still only his “belief” that the arguido status will be lifted, he DEFINITELY should not be saying anything. IMHO.
However, one can only hope that, in natural justice, if there is no evidence against them, what he is saying is true. Similarly Murat, of course.
(Is there a difference between the status being formally lifted or simply not being extended beyond its “normal” period of time? The lawyer seems to have said “lifted”. I know nothing about the procedures under Portuguese law.)
Contrary to what some people have said, the Mcs have always said they were keen to have the files opened. They don’t ever seem to have been scared about that happening! Quite the reverse.
Their focus seems to be only on finding out what happened to Madeleine, as, IMO, it always has been. My impression is that they want the arguido status lifted/dropped (!) mainly because that will facilitate the search by allowing them to see what progress, if any, has been made in the investigation into what happened to their daughter. I don’t think they’ve ever been worried about evidence against them. That could just possibly be because they know there can’t be any?! Just my impression.
It’s irrelevant to the truth, but I have still never met anyone “in real life” , as opposed to blog sites, who thought they were guilty of criminal involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance, although I know several who are critical of, or puzzled by, their decision to leave the children asleep out of ear shot while they ate with their friends. I know others who admit to having done exactly the same themselves when on holiday, or using baby-listening services etc.
BTW, the other “Maria” who posted yesterday, apparently from the USA, according to Duncan R, was not me! I think some of the things she said have been pulled anyway?
I’m sure our thoughts will be with the wider family on Monday, which is, or would have been, Madeleine’s fifth birthday.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:30 am
New thread
May 10th, 2008 at 9:26 am
471
Gandolf Says:
May 10th, 2008 at 9:18 am
jo, all I will say is this, if the Portuguese do not charge the arguidos soon, someone else will take the matter out of their hands, Ribeiro was well aware of that possibility.
*************
Who is going to take the matter out of the PJs hands? NOone Gandolf! This is,I repeat,serious matter and a portuguese investigation.
If the mccanns are not chrged which may happen,ok? they will stay arguidos for a very long time.Ribeiro has been kicked out for breaching the law of secrecy
May 10th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Justice in some parts is often at the end of a gun barrel, those who suffered and are suffering have paid and are paying for some others perceived freedom.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Gandolph
I gave my gun back !
May 10th, 2008 at 9:18 am
jo, all I will say is this, if the Portuguese do not charge the arguidos soon, someone else will take the matter out of their hands, Ribeiro was well aware of that possibility.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:17 am
467
Ferdinand
What a nice start to YOUR day with this lovely xenophobic tune!
May 10th, 2008 at 9:15 am
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/05/10/mccanns-in-clear-89520-20412998/
May 10th, 2008 at 9:13 am
464
Gandolf Says:
May 10th, 2008 at 8:56 am
and here…a biiiiiiig slice of sun for you (only)
jo, one day you will face up to the facts, there isn’t any, no facts equals no case. Your life will continue after the case is shelved, you will find another raison d’être.
**********************
Good morning to you too,Gandolf
Gandolf,you and I are facing the fact,this case will never be shelved UNLESS,there is a significant break through as with many other IN-famous criminal investigation.Hence,the importance of the reconstruction.
Why are the mccanns SO worried about it???are they scared of a possible significant break through?.They made up a big show again about neglect.They made a public admission of it,hoping the PJ is going to get them for this and “preparing” public opinion,if any left.
IF it was the case,they would have been charged for it,a long time ago.I think we agree with this,dont we¿
Abduction and neglect are off the PJs list.
What is left? I will not say but surely,we know what I am talking about.THIS is serious matter.
I have a life,Gandolf,an interesting life which goes on with the mccanns or without them and I will always fight for justice,EVEN if it involves big dangers.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:02 am
460 jo Says:
” whilst the authorities do not decide to lift their arguido status, which, in practical terms, seems impossible, as the couple should know ”
Sure we all know that in southern European bureaucracies, virtually everything SEEMS impossible, but will SOMEHOW be made possible at the end of the day.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Morning all.
Off to the garden!
May 10th, 2008 at 8:58 am
462 Mornin Jo
End of process does not mean clearance.
Thanks for links very interesting
Has there been any more clarification of the job offered to Murat by Kennedy in the company of lawyers? IMO the wealthy benefactor’s action somehow helps to complete the circle of arguidos, rather unexpectedly to me anyway.There appears to be 2 possible versions of the meeting.
1. to request assistance in finding Madeleine - although what this means in legal terms for the criminal investigation, the arguido states and the secrecy of justice I don’t know. What would the job offer be? Private investigator or understudy for the role of abductor in the film?
2. to discuss possible mutual interests in the PDL property market and related job offer. Does Kennedy have business interests in PDL?
Either version suggests that Kennedy’s financial support to the McCann’s fightingfund to establish their innocence may be more than benevalence, imo.
Must go and play chaffeur - will catch up on replies later
May 10th, 2008 at 8:56 am
jo, one day you will face up to the facts, there isn’t any, no facts equals no case. Your life will continue after the case is shelved, you will find another raison d’être.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:55 am
“McCanns ask for police files to help in search for Maddy….”
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/mccanns-ask-for-police-files-to-help-in-search-for-maddy-1371903.html
May 10th, 2008 at 8:38 am
“Speaking to the Irish Independent in Dublin yesterday where he was a keynote speaker at the Public Relations Institute of Ireland’s (PRII) annual conference, the former BBC journalist and British government spokesman said: “There have been various remarks made by Mr Ribeiro and others suggesting they may be coming to the end of the process.”
Clarrie,I think you should “brush up” your portuguese
May 10th, 2008 at 8:36 am
….and then……
10/05/08
Case Madeleine: Criminal Investigation - Paulo Pereira Cristovão
http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/2008/05/case-madeleine-criminal-investigation.html
May 10th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Good morning
Cheer up everybody!
“Several witnesses are ready to help the PJ, but not the McCanns”
logically they should be the first to be interested in this”, confirms a Leicestershire police officer. In spite of the statements made by their lawyers in Portugal, Kate and Gerry McCann have made it known that they did not have the intention of making the trip whilst the authorities do not decide to lift their arguido status, which, in practical terms, seems impossible, as the couple should know.
http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/2008/05/several-witnesses-are-ready-to-help-pj.html
May 10th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Good morning,
Honey for me anytime please. Acacia or orange blossom. Love it. Just having some on my cornflakes
Marmite and hot water with toast soldiers when it’s cold, heaven.
Another quiet day in the papers.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Not for me, thanks Saul, I’m a “Marmite in the Morning” girl.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:53 am
A sssmall sssmackerel of honey anyone?
May 10th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Come on, no slacking. Let’s do this.
May 10th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Sam 414:
“the timing i found weird, and that the book is called exactly the same as the campaign.”
Yeah ………..I wonder what is the date of the forst mention of the name of the campaign……I would think it was earlier than the Washington trip ?? Actually I thought that the book was found by the PJ right at the beginning but this impression may have been a false one…….Maybe Coldwater would know
May 10th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Ciara said to Duncan:
“Life is unfair and cruel too at times. Your wife will gain strength from your presence and love.”
Very true
“My thoughts and prayers are with you.”
As are mine, Duncan…………..
And with you and your son too, Ciara
May 10th, 2008 at 1:32 am
If Rob Blackhurst actually wrote the above bilge. He is a complete moron. And I don’t believe him. No one can be that moronic for real - no one.
May 10th, 2008 at 1:28 am
402 Sam:
Sam, my take on the shutter / unlocked door scenario is the other way round to yours!
I reckon the original ’story’ was to have been ‘break-in’. They probably thought that it would have been more realistic for someone to break in via the shutters than it actually was……..hence ALL the initial phone calls home to relatives mentioned a) that the apartment was locked and b) that the shutters were jemmied open. Only AFTER it was anounced by investigators that access was NOT gained via the window. did the allegedly ‘remember’ that they left the patio doors open! As i have posted a few times today….they did not of course need to have ACTUALLY left the doors open……unless they needed to do so for the sake of convincing fellow ‘tappas’ of the abduction story. All imho………..
May 10th, 2008 at 12:58 am
thanks Sam - just off now, shutting down and not logging on again for at least 3 weeks - might be away for longer - depends on how I do on the tables!! I sure do hope that the saga is over before I get back -
____________________________________
m&a
sure you don’t annie1
-meercat