B.B.C. Stunt That Did Not Come Off

Chronicle (Levin), 26 February 1949, Page 7

B.B.C. Stunt That Did Not Come Off

Received Friday, 8.50 p.m. LONDON, Eeb. 25. 'Ti.Z.P-A- — Reuiei- Cta.-ynu"-' ■ A mild sensation was caused in Piccadilly recently when a man begaii offering ten shilling notes for four shitlings and threepence halfpennv eaclx. He had many ' ' talcers, ' ' and when some difficul(;y was experienced in finding the change he began giving away the ten shilling noles. It has since been discovered that if was a B.B.C. "stunt" .hought out by Stephen Grenfell, , a broadcaster and script writer. Two explanations wero offered by B.B.C. spokesmcn. The first:' "Grenfell was trying out an experimental metliod of recordiug for an experimental programme — an experiment within an experimcnt, in fact. Giving away ten shilling notes was part of the experiment. The idea was to record the reaetions. People ■ were not to know that they were being recorded. It was not Grenfell 's own idea. We don't know who supplies the - notes." 1 The second: "The idea was that the B.B.C. cominentator should stop a man 1 in the street and ask for a liglit. In return the man was to be given ten shillings, and his reaetions were to be

noted unknown to hira. The commQntator was to say afterwards that the man had takeu part unwittingly and ten shillings was to be the amateur's fee. This idea was exceeded in practice and the B.B.C. did not approve. The idea will not be used and wiP not be tried again."