[foot-loose]

The Australian version of the TV programme Big Brother has come under criticism for deciding not to tell a contestant that her father had died.

Emma Cornell has been cut off from the outside world since entering the reality TV show's house a month ago.

She still does not know that her father Raymond died of cancer last week.

But a spokesman for Channel Ten, which broadcasts the programme, has defended its decision, said it was acting according to her family's wishes.

"Her dad didn't want her to be upset or to feel like she had to leave the house to come to his funeral," Ms Cornell's boyfriend, Tim Stanton, told local media.

"She might be upset when she comes out and finds out what has happened, but I think she'll understand," he said.

But Chris Hall, a spokesman for the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement, said he did not think that this was in Ms Cornell's best interests.

"I still think that one needs to weigh up the risks in terms of following a course of action that may be well-intentioned but may ultimately not serve the bereaved person well," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6690289.stm

So what do you think of that? Surely this is the sort of thing that while she might not want to know about it at the moment, she may regret not going to the funeral in years to come?

[Console]

I'm fairly certain, no, scratch that, 100% certain, that there are worse things in life than missing someone's funeral. One of those things is Big Brother.

[MK Chris]

Personally, I think the funeral is somewhere to grieve for your loved ones and once it's over you can sort of try and move on. If you don't have that opportunity, it could end up making it far more upsetting. Having said that though, she must have known her dad was ill when she went in, you'd have thought she would have pulled out, unless his death was sudden and his cancer wasn't thought to be terminal.

[Vivienne]

The line "I think she'll understand" stands out. NO, I think she won't.

[Boboff]

I reckon it's a publicity stunt, no ones going to vote her off for fear of making her updet, so the money's in the bag love, I bet the Dad made sure he was near a journalist giving his last request that they don't tell her.

What some people will do for money !

You agree Baggie don't you

[Vivienne]

I'm just a more sensitive soul.

[Yudster]

I'm not sure on what level it could possibly be thought that the Big Brother franchise is more important than the fact that this woman has lost her father. She should have been removed from the house the moment he was in danger - and quite possibly shouldn't have been put in there in the first place. What is the world coming to. Seriously, what?

[Vivienne]

my sentiments exactly.

[Ballbag]

I reckon it's a publicity stunt, no ones going to vote her off for fear of making her updet, so the money's in the bag love, I bet the Dad made sure he was near a journalist giving his last request that they don't tell her.

What some people will do for money !

You agree Baggie don't you

Amen to that Bloboff.

[Vivienne]

ha ha... you've typed BLOBoff... wot a hoot.

[Boboff]

yes Spiv, Bogey is so funny, and devilishly sexy

[Vivienne]

spiv... hmmm. well, it's better than div anyway.

[Mcqueen_]

The line "I think she'll understand" stands out. NO, I think she won't.

I think she will.

She knew he was dying, they discussed it before and decided what they'd do.

It's the family's decision, and if that's what they've decided then it's nothing to do with anyone else.

[S4B]

If her father asked them not to tell her then it's not their decision to reverse that request. My question is what was this woman doing going into the house if her father was so ill? I think that shows a lack of care and respect much more than the show not telling her!!

[Yudster]

I think the producers should have stepped away from the whole situation in the first place and not allowed someone in that position into the house, whatever they said they had discussed or agreed amongst themselves.

[Mcqueen_]

Why? It's their personal choice, who are the producers to disallow someone that choice. It's a personal issue and has got nothing to do with them. The producers may not have known about it before she went in. Then what?

[Yudster]

Its the producer's JOB to make that choice - they choose who goes in. I think choosing someone in those circumstances is suspect - were they hoping her dad would die while she was in? I think they probably were - because they knew it would provide massive publicity. Using this family's tragedy to promote their programme and make money is wrong, whatever the family say they want. If the producer's didn't know beforehand, it is still their job to remove her at the appropriate time - to do otherwise is cynical in the extreme, as it can only be to gain publicity and therefore money.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Its great how you not only know what you think but also what others are thinking.

The annoying Yudster is back!

[Yudster]

Good, glad to be back on form - but its not that I think I know what they are thinking, just that at whatever point they knew what the situation was, they should have said "enough" and pulled her out. Just because an individual or family is willing to be used for a cheap publicity stunt doesn't mean that its ok to use them. Of course, it might not be as it was reported - but if it was, I think its wrong. Its just an opinion though. Other opinions are available.

[Mcqueen_]

You're whole argument rests on it being a publicity stunt, even when on with facts it clearly doesn't appear to be. You're making an ill-conceived judgement based on one news article. You say "at whatever point they knew what the situation was", when clearly you yourself don't know what the actual situation is.

[Yudster]

Quite possibly. As I said, all I'm commenting on is what I have read (considerably more than one news article though, where'd you get that idea from?)- I'm totally open to the probablity that the reporting hasn't been completely accurate. Perhaps I'm just cynical enough about the whole Big Brother franchise to think that they are capable of using anything to gain notoriety, even a man dying of cancer. I think the whole thing stinks, I really do. I think I get the point that you think its fine though.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

but what do you think I am thinking right now?

[Yudster]

That you feel incredibly sorry for people who through no fault of their own are compelled to go into the office and participate in boring videoconferences on a Bank Holiday? No? No imagination, some people.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Ahh very close I was thinking "she right loves herself that Yudster"

[Yudster]

Not yet. That ones not a priority. I love you though.