Entitled Donal Macintyre's "Big Sting", the show purported to be a response to the endless crime wave we keep hearing about,( but which in most part is an invention of shows like this).
Using the TV personality of Richard Whiteley to add authenticity, the program consisted of an elaborate entrapment, where petty absconders from local magistate justice were falsely invited onto a hoax gameshow, only to be arrested as soon as they stepped into the studio.
Today The Times newspaper branded the show as " a TV stunt", "cynical", "net benefit: Zero". [T2 review]
Donal Macintyre we know already, but why did Mr Whiteley endorse this pointless exercise ? Isnt he aware that much of his core audience for "Countdown" will resent the way he participated in victimising the most pathetic of the unemployed working class ?
Still, its ratings that count, so count down HIS ratings. Switch off "Countdown".