Noel Clarke: ITV drops drama Viewpoint finale after allegations

TODAY ITV has decided to pull the final episode of the drama Viewpoint after allegations of sexual harassment were made against its star, Noel Clarke.

The broadcaster said it was 'no longer appropriate to broadcast the final episode' on Friday as planned.

Sky has also "halted" its work with Clarke, including on the fourth series of crime drama Bulletproof.

The Kidulthood and Doctor Who star, 45, has said he "vehemently" denies "any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing".

In a statement on Thursday, he said he intended to "defend myself against these false allegations".

The Guardian newspaper reported allegations from 20 women, all of whom knew Clarke in a professional capacity, on Thursday.

On Friday, ITV said it had "a zero tolerance policy to bullying, harassment and victimisation".

"We strongly believe that everyone deserves to work in a supportive and safe environment," it added.

"In light of the very serious nature of the allegations against Noel Clarke raised by 20 women in the Guardian's report, ITV has decided it is no longer appropriate to broadcast the final episode of the drama Viewpoint on ITV main channel this evening."

However, the finale will be available on its streaming service ITV Hub from Friday night for a limited time "for any viewers who wish to seek it out, and watch its conclusion".

Clarke played a surveillance detective in the show, which has been on ITV every evening this week. It was watched by 3.5 million people on Thursday.

He is also known for his role in Bulletproof, which Sky commissioned for a fourth series in January.

But following the allegations, Sky said: "Effective immediately, we have halted Noel Clarke's involvement in any future Sky productions."

The broadcaster said it had not received any reports of sexual misconduct or harassment during or since the show's production. "Sky stands against all forms of sexual harassment and bullying and takes any allegations of this nature extremely seriously," it added.

Bulletproof's production company Vertigo Films also said: "Effective immediately, Noel Clarke is removed from any Vertigo Films production."

A spokesperson for the company said it had "launched an urgent investigation to find out if any [alleged incidents] apply to any Vertigo Films productions", but that "no issues have been flagged to us".

Fellow Bulletproof actor Ashley Walters responded to the allegations against his co-star by saying he was "in shock and deeply saddened by what I have heard on a multitude of levels".

He said he "could never condone behaviour of this nature" and while "Noel has been a friend and a colleague for several years, I cannot stand by and ignore these allegations".

He added: "Sexual harassment, abuse and bullying have no place in our industry." In his statement on Thursday, Clarke added: "In a 20-year career, I have put inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of my work and never had a complaint made against me. "If anyone who has worked with me has ever felt uncomfortable or disrespected, I sincerely apologise."

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NHS haemophilia scandal: 'IN COLD BLOOD'

Editorial Note: WHAT follows below must be of great concern at a time when people are proclaiming 'DEFEND THE NHS'. It was clear to those of us that watched this program that people responsible at the top both in the NHS and within government were aware that possible contaminated blood products were being imported from the USA and that patients were being urged to inject themselves. The people in charge were prepared to take the risk seemingly because not to do so would have detrimental commercial consequences for the NHS. What will be of interest here is would a less centralised body have done the same?

From the Daily Mirror:

ITV documentary In Cold Blood delves into chilling 1980s haemophilia scandal in UK

The stories of lives destroyed by the haemophilia scandal, which killed more people than any other UK disaster, are revealed in a new ITV documentary

It exposes a 1980s cover-up over bleeding disorder patients receiving a treatment made from US donor blood – some of which was infected with the HIV and hepatitis C viruses.

Some victims were compensated, but with a gagging clause attached.

Colin and Denise Turton lost their son, Lee, at the age of 10, six years after he was infected with HIV.

Denise says on camera he suffered years of “hell”.

Over 4,000 people were infected with hepatitis C and 1,300 with HIV.

Documents revealing blunders that saw thousands killed by contaminated blood products were destroyed as the scandal emerged.

Officials at the Department of Health feared their failures to protect haemophiliacs would be made public, so dispatched records for shredding, say campaigners.

In the 1970s the Factor 8 treatment for haemophilia was prescribed on the NHS, but demand saw surplus sourced from America where donors were paid.

This encouraged them to lie about their medical past, and saw diseased products given to Brits.

More than 1,300 people were given HIV, and more than 4,000 people got Hepatitis C.

Around 2,400 died due to the infected blood products and a public inquiry into the scandal is ongoing.

Campaigners say the Government knew blood was dodgy and did nothing, then tried to hide their failure.

Former health minister David Owen this week told the infected blood inquiry victims had been failed by politicians and medics alike.

He said he “deeply regretted” that the UK had not become self-sufficient in blood products and continued to import them from the US.

In Cold Blood was on Sunday at 10.20 on ITV.

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Mr. Tony Lloyd PCC: The Silent Man!

by Les May

'The Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester has been elected by local people and is accountable for how crime and community safety is tackled throughout the region.  Your commissioner is Tony Lloyd.'

I HAVE taken this quote directly from the web page of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) at https://www.gmpcc.org.uk/about/
In other words Mr Lloyd was elected by the people of Greater Manchester and one would assume is therefore to be considered in some degree to be accountable to them.  But just how accountable is he really?  Does he act like a man who thinks he is accountable?
At the beginning of October my local paper carried an article with the headline 'MP slams police "failings" as abuse inquiry closes.'  The MP in question was of course Simon Danczuk, MP for Rochdale.  According to the ITV website his words were 'I believe that there has been a catastrophic catalogue of failings by Greater Manchester Police during the investigation of these crimes.'
Responding to this the GMP Police Federation Chairman Ian Hanson said:
'Yet again we see a Manchester MP launching an ill-informed attack upon police officers in an attempt to raise their own media profile.'  
When Danczuk repeated his criticism Ian Hanson responded as follows:
'He continues to criticise GMP for its work on historical sexual abuse allegations.
I do not now intend to get involved in a public slanging match with Simon Danczuk over this matter.
Instead I will publicly call him out to deliver the firm evidence that he bases his criticism of GMP on to my office by 12 noon on Monday - and I will personally deliver it to the IPCC.
'If as, I know, there is no firm evidence, then he should back out of this with what little credibility he has got left in tact. His behaviour is not helping the victims of this terrible abuse.
The people of Rochdale expect better.'
As Northern Voices reported on 28th, October Danczuk neither delivered any firm evidence nor accepted the invitation to attend the Police Federation meeting which was held the previous night.  But we do know that the Police & Crime Commissioner, Tony Lloyd, did attend the meeting as Northern Voices had a reporter present inside the Renaissance Hotel in Blackfriars when Lloyd arrived in the lift, and he says that downstairs 'You could have cut the atmosphere with a knife.'   http://northernvoicesmag.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/dodger-danczuk-doesnt-deliver.html
Now Danczuk has form when it comes to accusing a police force of failing to carry out its duty properly. This is what Mr. Danczuk had to say in his book about the failings of Northamptonshire police with regard to Cyril Smith:
‘His car had been pulled over on the motorway and officers had found a box of child porn in his boot.  The police were naturally disgusted and wanted to press charges.  But then a phone call was made from London and he was released without charge. Senior officers had threatened the officers involved with dismissal if he was not released immediately. The mood was tense and sullen as officers stood back while Cyril breezily walked past them to freedom.  All the staff who knew about it were threatened with the Official Secrets Act if they discussed the matter any further. Once again Cyril walked out of the police station knowing he was a protected man.'
A lovely story with just one problem, it wasn’t true! http://northernvoicesmag.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/the-humbug-of-simon-danczuk.html
So how did the PCC for Northamptonshire respond to this attempt to blame his officers?  Well he wasn’t pleased with Messrs Danczuk and Baker to say the least.  He went to the trouble of appearing on the BBC Regional programme Look East when amongst other things he said that his force had been ‘maligned’ that ‘The force should expect an apology.  Northamptonshire Police are not guilty of covering up a crime and indeed letting someone go on to perpetrate more.’ and then the killer line, 'Everything in that book's got to be evidence-led and -based, otherwise you are alerting people to the wrong information.'
And what has our very own PPC Tony Lloyd had to say in defence of GMP and its officers in response to Danczuk’s attack?  So far as I can tell the answer is absolutely nothing.  Now if I’m wrong about this I am willing to hold up my hand and admit it.  But I searched through the news section GMPPC website as far back as the beginning of October and could find nothing.
So how about it Mr Lloyd?  Your electorate and the officers of GMP deserve an explanation.

Missing Junior Doctor mentions Jeremy Hunt

THE press today is full of rumours that Rose Polge, a junior doctor who went missing last Friday, left a note inside her car in which she included comments about her personal life as well as a sentence referring to the Heath Secretary Jeremy Hunt.  

Doctor Rose Polge, 25, who works at Torbay Hospital in Devon, was last seen on Friday afternoon. Soon after she was reported missing her car was found in a car park near Anstey's Cove in Torquay.

Today's Daily Mail reports:

'Now, hours after a friend revealed the young medic was under a lot of strain because of her "long working hours", rumours at the hospital suggest she wrote a letter which mentioned Mr Hunt just before she disappeared.   The note is believed to have been found in the car.'

Dr Polge has shared a link to an online to a petition supporting industrial action by junior doctors over Mr. Hunt's proposed contract changes in the National Health Service, which would involve extra weekend work for junior doctors.

It is claimed that Dr. Polge is a member of a Facebook group set up to co-ordinate striking junior doctors at the Devon hospital and last month she posted a new Facebook profile picture, featuring the hashtag #NotFairNotSafe.

A friend has said that the young medic was under a lot of strain because of her 'long working hours', and rumours at the hospital suggest she wrote a letter which mentioned Mr Hunt just before she disappeared.  The note is believed to have been found in the car.

ITV News Westcountry reports 'persistent rumours' have been circulating at Torbay Hospital about the note – and Devon and Cornwall Police, who are leading the search to find the junior doctor, have refused to deny the report.

A police force spokesman said today: 'We are not making any comment about a note or the contents of it.'