The JSPrice Perception

Gone To Pot: American Road Trip; recent ITV show (Image: The Times) I am convinced one of the most contacted companies out there is Ofcom. The media regulator is often inundated with complaints about content provided by British broadcasters. More than 24,000 people complained to the organisation about ITV's Britain's Got Talent airing dance group Diversity's Black Lives Matter protest routine. The same show also received hundreds of complaints because of what judge Amanda Holden was wearing . And shock, horror, Coronation Street attracted controversy when viewers called the soap out for characters not wearing their face masks properly . These complaints I mentioned were made in the past few short weeks, and collectively almost level the number of complaints Ofcom received in 2019 . The regulator is obligated to respond to these, depending on how much of a headache they're causing. The biggest culprits, arguably, are reality and talent shows - I mentioned Britain's

From L-R: Matt Dawson, Sue Barker and Phil Tufnell (Image: Radio Times) If there's anything we've learnt over the past six months is to not take our so-called 'healthy job status' for granted. As the lockdown has resulted in companies not receiving enough income to survive and the government's furlough scheme falling short in helping struggling businesses, unemployment rate has increased to 4.1 percent from 3.9 percent in July. Meanwhile, 2.7 million are claiming benefits (August 2020), a 120 percent increase from March. Soon, we'll find out the greater picture of how the pandemic has impacted people's economics once new figures are released in October and November. But I'm not going to dwell on people losing their jobs which was deemed, sadly, inevitable. I'm going deeper into those who have lost their perfectly safe jobs; those who have done nothing wrong apart from the fact that their bosses decide a change of personnel is needed, and today. I w

Gavin Williamson (R) with Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Image: TES) In 2015, I argued that a Conservative government would never find a way to woo young people when they were excluded in key investment announcements and cut life-saving services . Fast forward five years and the Tories continue to find ways to really peeve off our youth.  What has the government done this time? In my eyes, the ministers are guilty for trying so hard to say to students that they're on their side, to then achieve the total opposite. When the Covid-19 pandemic began, it was clear that the health and education systems were to be severely tested. Thankfully, for the time being, the NHS has gone through the past six months without feeling overwhelmed or in a position of collapse. Of course, the Health Service faces challenges over the coming months, with a possible second spike of Covid-19 cases, an expected backlog of mental health and cancer referrals and the start of flu season, which killed more th

  L-R, Ellen DeGeneres; Prince Harry and Meghan Markle; Lachlan, Rupert and James Murdoch The concept of a celebrity career assassination isn't new, and when they happen, it shocks the masses. However, unlike the general definition of an assassination - that they happen in a flash - those that include the livelihoods of household names are tortuous. Thanks to social media and the 24/7 news cycle, you'll never hear the end of the downfall of the rich and famous, and there is little that the individual(s) involved can do to stop it. Over the past few weeks, we've seen three highly influential figure that have seen big exposures with their names written all over it - but are they to blame, or is this the classic case of 'death by association'? The three I'll profile here in this instance are Rupert Murdoch, Meghan Markle and Ellen DeGeneres. In the case of Rupert, no matter how many times people have tried to assassinate his career, the Aussie remains one of the m

JK Rowling (Image: W Magazine) How would I feel if I discovered Michael Parkinson supported the UK to leave the European Union? How would I feel if I discovered Jeff Stelling worshipped Nigel Farage? And how would I feel if I discovered Carol Vorderman wanted people to 'go back to where they came from'? I've chosen these hypothetical questions for a reason, as I put three individuals I've admired most of my life against issues I fundamentally disagree with. I ask these so I am able to picture the predicament those are finding themselves in at the moment. JK Rowling, creator of Harry Potter and considered a hero to many, has been absolutely vilified by some who once idolised her - purely on the basis that she has contentious views on a debate which is anything but straightforward. The debate was on specific issues around the transgender community, something that will be discussed time and time again. I don't want to dwell so much into the transgender debat

Black Lives Matter protest after death of George Floyd (Image: AS English - Diario AS) While the world should be prioritising on defeating coronavirus, racism returns with a vengeance to dominate global headlines and cripple communities. The shocking death of George Floyd , in the hands (or knees in this instance) of a police officer on 25th May, has provoked widespread anger and demands of justice - justifiably. The anger has come in the form of riots at large US cities such as Minneapolis , the city where Floyd passed away, as well as protests across the country, and abroad ; London, Berlin among other places expressing solidarity. Social distancing rules have been thrown out of the window in place of a collective showcase of anguish. The fact that this is a racially aggravated murder cannot be overlooked. Floyd was accused of using a counterfeit $20 note to purchase food, a relatively minor crime in retrospect. Pleading his innocence to police officers, instead of being gi