What Really Happened

Having watched journalist Jacques Peretti ( no,I've never heard of him either )
" investigate " Michael Barrymore - What Really Happened ? and Heather Mills - What Really Happened ? on Channel 4 I've come to the conclusion that these are probably the worst television documentaries I've ever had the misfortune to watch.

Both comprise endless shots of Peretti driving to various locations to " investigate " things stitched together with library shots used so often in the past they're nearly in sepia.

Barrymore's programme was destroyed by Peretti voiceover actually claiming he didn't have any more idea than the next man about what really happened.

And in the previous programme he proudly boasted the first-ever television interview with Mills' father - the fact that he'd had a stroke and could barely string two words together hardly seemed to matter to him.

There was not one scrap of new evidence in either programme which were both shoddily put together - rubbish like this makes you wonder why Channel 4 boss Andy Duncan is worth £1.2 million.

Next week we're promised an expose of Amy Winehouse - let me guess - she's got a great voice and likes to have a good time.[B]

Well, watch the McGann one tonight (interestingly highlighted as "Entertainment News" on Teletext") - that might challenge it in the worse docu stakes.


Not seen either of these though - and not wanted too - but virtually every review and comment I've seen completely echoes your thoughts.

At least the McGann documentary is relevant if nothing else. This Barrymore one felt 6 years late and as pointed out above presented absolutely nothing new.

What an outrageous hypocrite.

You're the first to speculate, gossip and point the finger - and you don't even have a film crew.

Your previous comments on this board show you up for what you are.

Oh?

[B]

The problem is,old bean,that documentaries are meant to deal in facts - not speculation,gossip and finger-pointing.
Especially if you use the phrase " What really happened " in the title.

Indeed, Greg did say that. What's the matter, speechless?

[B]

Far from it - I think you'll find I said the second half but an error in my po9sting lumped it all together in one quote.
Anyhow,the sentiment is the same - the docos were rubbish.

botth sound as missable as root canal without anasthetic

I agree these documentaries have been disappointing. Basically, you get one journalist to drive around in his car and take "exclusive" interviews with the relatives who usually try and stay out of the public spotlight. It was all just hear-say. The whole programme practically consisted of general statistics and what people think of the subject - nothing to do with What Really Happened?..more.. What we already think happened.

Hence why this wasn't billed at 9pm under the Cutting Edge brand.