B.B.C. Intends To Repeat Controversial TV Play

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 20

B.B.C. Intends To Repeat Controversial TV Play

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

LONDON, June 7.

The 8.8.C.’s controversial television play, "Up The Junction,” —which includes an abortion scene—is scheduled to be repeated next month. The play, by Nell Dunn, a semi-documentary about life among young people in Battersea, South London, caused a storm when it was first shown last November. The Conservative M.P. for Bromsgrove, Mr James Dance, has said he is writing to the Postmaster-General and the 8.8.C.’s chairman, Lord Normanbrook, to try to stop the reshowing. The Clean-up TV Campaign committee is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the matter. “Deliberate Affront”

Mrs Mary Whitehouse, the organiser of the campaign, says:

“This is a deliberate affront to the great number of people who were offended by the pornography and bias of this play. “I think the BJB.C. is out to test whether it has conditioned people enough to accept. this sort of thing. “The play purports to be about the people of Battersea and I think it is a gross libel on them and the way they live.”

The 8.8. C. says: “The play provoked intelligent discusson or. important moral issues in which some religious

groups and indiviJhals defended its screenings.

"This is one of the reasons why we felt it worth while to show it again.”