Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 'Closure' Review

'Closure' begins with what is one of my favourite scenes of this season so far, Coulson and Rosalind eating dinner and talking shit to each other.  Now, for an action adventure show set in one of the best on screen comic book universes this might seem like a strange scene to pick out, but I love the way the two characters interact.

From the very first scene that the two of them were in together there was something special there.  There was a chemistry between both the characters and the actors that let the dialogue sparkle.  It went from two older spies interacting into two amazing characters forming a relationship I genuinely cared about.  Out of every relationship in the show so far this is one of my favourites.  It's not as drawn out as Fitz and Simmons, or a sudden and surprising as May and Andrew, or as dull and doomed to failure as Daisy and Ward, it just felt real and natural.  Which is why last episode I was praying that Rosalind wasn't a part of Hydra, just so that relationship wouldn't be over.

Unfortunately, whilst it didn't end then we only had another five minutes of this amazing coupling before it all ended in tragedy.  Rosalind gets shot in the throat by Ward and bleeds to death in Coulsons arms.

Whilst this initially shocked me, it pretty quickly angered me too.  It just felt like a waste, and something we'd already seen before.  First of all, the relationship with Rosalind made Coulson more interesting and human.  There's only so much 'cool secret agent' that a character can be built on before feeling stale.  Yes, now we have an angry vengeous Coulson, which is a part of the character we've not seen like this before, it won't last.  And when it's over, he'll go back to pre-Rosalind Coulson, which is a shame.

Secondly, this removes Constance Zimmer from the show.  I like Constance Zimmer, I smile every time she pops up in a show and think she's great in every role I've seen her in.  Why wasn't she brought back for season three of The Newsroom?!  Using her in this way, to build up emotion and shock by killing her off feels like a waste of her acting ability and the character.  She brought a level of maturity and class to the show, and that's gone now too.  Yes, we still have Ming-Na and Clark Gregg, but other than that the cast are all younger.  Having another kick arse mature actor was something that made these early season three episodes great, and we've lost some of that now too.

As for 'having seen this before', does anyone remember Buffy The Vampire Slayer?  In season two the show gave Giles, the 'dad' of the show a love interest in the form of Jenny Calendar, who was killed off by a former friend turned bad guy, Angel, and sent Giles on a brief path of vengeance.  Now, replace Giles with Coulson, Jenny Calendar with Rosalind and Angel with Ward and it's the same scenario.  Except that other than the instant shock value of Rosalind's death it doesn't have the emotional punch that Giles finding Jenny's dead body in his bed did in Buffy, which I'm sure is one of the reasons every Buffy/Angel fan remembers that episode so much.  Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. seems like it tried to do the same thing here, but it just didn't have the same emotional impact, and will probably be a lot less remembered too.  All of which feels like a disservice to the potential Rosalind had.

Despite these negative factors in killing Rosalind, it did give us a hell of an opening that made the rest of the episode a fast paced ride.  Coulson was straight away thrown into a life or death situation, fighting alone against Hydra agents with nothing but his wits.  Air Freshener bomb on the candles, genius move though.

Following on from there we're given a little of everything.  We've got two kidnappings, a band robbery, torture, secret bases, the start of The Secret Warriors and Coulson diving out of a Quinn Jet and freefalling through a castle into a portal to outer-space.  All of this, and it's not even the mid-season finale!

As fast paced and action packed the episode was you just know that things are going to be even bigger and better next week.  Coulson hunting down Ward on an alien planet with an evil, immensely powerful InHuman on the loose.  Fitz trying to rescue Will.  The combined forces of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Secret Warriors launching a full scale assault on Hydra.  It's sure to be epic.

Whilst I personally felt that the loss of Rosalind was a big mistake on the shows part, this is easily one of the best episodes of S.H.I.E.L.D. and really shows how to pack a lot of great moments into 45 minutes of television.  Easily the show at it's best.  Roll on the mid-season finale.

Amy.

xx

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BREAKING NEWS - Transgender Woman Found Dead in Prison Cell

News has just been released via the BBC that Joanne Latham, 38, was found dead in her cell in an all male prison Friday morning (30th November).

A prison service report says that Joanne was serving a life sentence for attempted murder in HM Prison Woodhill Milton Keynes, but was being housed in an all male facility, rather than a female one.

This is the second death of a transgender woman in an all male prison facility in just the last month.

The prison service report says that Joanne had barricaded her cell and and obscured the observation panel.  After receiving no response from her staff forced their way into the cell and found her dead by hanging.

She was officially pronounced dead at 06.30 on Friday the 30th of November.  An autopsy has yet to be carried out.

More information on this case will be reported on as it becomes available,

Amy.

xx

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US Marine Found Guilty of Killing Jennifer Laude

United States Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton was found guilty of the killing of transgender woman Jennifer Laude in a Philippine court today following a lengthy trial.

The US Marine, who was stationed in the Philippines for American military exercises was arrested following the death of 26 year old Jennifer Laude.  Pemberton was charged with her killing, and was today found guilty and sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison, along with being fined $100,000 to be paid to Jennifer's family.

The court heard that Pemberton met Jennifer in a nightclub in Ologapo City, and that the two of them went to hotel room shortly after to have sex.  Evidence was presented that showed the two of them entering the room together, but only Pemberton leaving.  Jennifer was later found dead in the room, a hotel worker saying that he found the young woman slumped over the toilet, her neck apparently broken.

Defense attorneys argued that whilst Pemberton had agreed to have sex with Jennifer, and that she had performed oral sex upon him, she did so without revealing to him that she was transgender.  The defence argued that when Pemberton discovered that Jennifer was trans he panicked, that he 'felt raped'.  A 'scuffle' followed in which Pemberton admitted putting Jennifer into a headlock, but claims that she was alive when he left the room.

Protesters outside the court, supporting Jennifer. 

Unfortunately, due to this claim that she had not told him that she was transgender, and his statement that he panicked and 'felt raped' the court lessened the sentence given to him.  The court reportedly said, 'He acted out of passion and obfuscation, in the heat of passion he arm-locked the deceased, and dunked his head in the toilet.  The killing of Laude amounted only to homicide.'

The court felt because Pemberton acted in the moment, and after discovering that Jennifer was a trans woman, despite the court referring to her with male pronouns, that the crime amounted only to homicide rather than murder.  If Pemberton had have been charged with murder rather than homicide he would have received a harsher sentence.

Mr Rogue, lawyer for the family, has stated that they are 'outraged' that the sentence has been reduced on those grounds.  'We are very angry that the court considered these mitigating circumstances', he told the press.  He went on to say that the verdict was a 'bittersweet victory' and that the sentencing was 'very light given the heinousness of the crime'.

It is unclear as to where Pemberton will be serving his sentence, as under the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and America both countries have to reach an agreement.  However, shortly after he left court the Justice Department issued a statement saying that Pemberton would be held at the Philippines military headquarters in Manila until a decision has been made.

Amy.

xx

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Transgender Inmate Tara Hudson To Be Released Early

Tara Hudson, a transgender woman who has been serving a 12 week sentence, is to be released from prison early.  Tara came to public attention and received international attention when she was initially sent to an all-male facility following her sentencing due to the fact that she did not have a Gender Recognition Certificate, despite living the majority of her life as a woman.

Tara was originally sent to Bristol Prison to serve her sentence, but after the incident was brought to public attention a petition was launched, that quickly gained more than 150,000 signatures to have her moved to a female facility.  Her case was also raised in parliament and during the Women and Equalities select committee's inquiry on transgender equality.

Despite some criticism from certain members of the public, who felt that someone who had lived their entire life as a female should be placed in danger of physical and sexual assault in male prison simply due to not having a certain piece of paperwork, Tara was quickly moved to Eastwood Park Prison, where she will be released this coming Thursday (3rd December).

Tara's mother, Jackie Brooklyn, has confirmed her release to the Bath Chronicle, and has said, 'I think it's done her quite good because hopefully she's had time to reflect.  I just don't want her to drink again because drinking can cause loads of trouble.  It's a very dangerous substance.'

Whilst Tara was luckily moved into the correct facility, the same was sadly not done for Vicky Thompson, who was found dead in her cell earlier this month.  She was also assigned to a male facility because she did not have a Gender Recognition Certificate.

Thankfully the Ministry of Justice has released a statement confirming that the policy on where to place transgender prisoners is already underway.

Amy.

xx

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Doctor Who 'Heaven Sent' Review

With a season seemingly focused on death and rebirth none other episode this year brings the idea to the forefront as much as 'Heaven Sent'.  In an episode that's very much a gamble, a whole 45 minutes with no one but The Doctor for the audience to engage with and follow, we are given a very strange, creepy and at times downright depressing story in which The Doctor is stuck in a loop, endlessly repeating events for billions of years.

As the episode begins we believe that The Doctor has just arrived in his elaborate puzzle box, torture chamber, clockwork castle after the events of the previous episode, just moments after watching Clara die.  The Doctor spends the next few days exploring his surroundings, running away from the hideous and terrifying Veil, and finally dieing in front of a giant space diamond wall before creating a copy of himself just to repeat it all again.

When I realised that The Doctor was stuck in a loop, and we saw that loop continuing on for thousands, then millions, then billions of years, with no apparent change in his actions I was beginning to genuinely question how The Doctor would ever manage to escape.  The reveal that he was slowly, painstakingly chipping away at the diamond wall by punching it, wearing it down over billions of years was a little moment of genius.

It's stories like this that push Doctor Who to it's limits, that take a show that has worked for more than 50 years and dares to try something it's never done before.  We're given a Doctor that is alone, completely and utterly, which is something we've never seen before.  Even when not travelling with a companion there's normally someone around for one of his adventures, but here it's just him.

That sense of isolation definitely added to the suspense of the episode.  If we were cutting back to a companion or if the Doctor had another living person to talk to we'd lose some of that fear and sense of isolation and vulnerability that was built up by a lone, scared Doctor running away from the monster.

The Veil, this weeks monster, was another of those genius creations that comes from such a simple concept.  A creature that never stops.  It's been done before, the terminator is a prime example of this.  But The Veil is such a creepy and disturbing foe that I'm sure it's already given many children nightmares.  A tall, desiccated corpse wrapped in sheets, slowly walking towards you, surrounded by flies, hell, it should even give adults the creeps.

Using The Veil as a way of frightening The Doctor into giving away his secrets was neat little idea, one that put The Doctor into a position we've never seen him in before, and one that paid off well.  The Doctor confirms a suspicion brought up by Davros in the first story of the season, that The Doctor didn't leave Gallifrey simply because he was bored, but because he was scared.  He was running away from the prophecy of the hybrid.

Whilst I'm sure that there will be many people who didn't like the episode, found it too 'slow' or 'boring' I found it to be an incredibly brave and interesting episode.  Yes, it was downright mad in places, and occasionally confused, but the concept was just so bonkers that it has to be given credit for being so amazingly well done.

The reveal that the diamond wall labelled 'home' didn't lead to the Tardis as The Doctor hoped wasn't a surprise to me, after a two year absence it's about time that the Time Lords made a return, especially with Missy roaming around the universe confirming that Gallifrey survived the events of The Day of The Doctor.

The final revelation of the episode comes not from the fact that The Doctor is back on Gallifrey, but in his final words.  'The hybrid is me'.  Now, is The Doctor saying that he is the prophesies hybrid that will ever save or doom Gallifrey?  If so, what does this mean, could this be Moffat going back to the long abandoned plot from the 8th Doctor's brief adventure, that The Doctor is part human?

Perhaps, or maybe he's a hybrid in a different sense.  One other possibility is that when he said 'me' he instead said 'Me', as in the name that Maisie Williams' Ashildr now goes by.  Ashildr/Me is a mix of viking and immortal alien, definitely a hybrid, and she is confirmed as being back for the finale.  It's still not clear enough at this point to make any firm predictions, after all as River kept telling us 'The Doctor lies'.

The preview for next week looks to set the stage for some exciting developments.  Will the Time Lords return to the universe, and if so will they be a force for good or evil?  Why is Ashildr/Me back, is she the hybrid?  Will Missy make an appearance to help/stop The Doctor?  Is The Doctor going to regenerate next week?

Whatever the answers to these questions I'm sure that we're in store for one hell of a finale.

As a side note, the folks over at BleedingCool.com did a little math into how many Doctors lived through the events of the episode.  On the assumption that each Doctor lives roughly 3 days, and a rough figure of 2 and a half billion years there have been approximately 304,375,000,012 Doctors.

Amy.

xx

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'Loose Women' Comes Under Fire After Transgender Discussion

No one can deny that there is a lot more talk about trans people and transgender issues on television than ever before.  We're starting to be taken seriously, we're no longer being seen as deviants or fetishists, and people are starting to understand that we face some very serious, life threatening issues.  Some would say that any discussion about transgender people on television is a good thing, that it raises awareness.  Right?

Well, in the case of ITV's Loose Women not so much. A panel consisting of Jane Moore, Gloria Hunniford, Nadia Sawalha and Andrea McLean, all cisgender women, have received criticism for a discussion on transgender issues on the show yesterday, November 27th.

The group were talking about the subject of 'oversharing' with children and the potential harm that it can cause, questioning if children should be sheltered from certain subjects for their own safety and happiness.  It was during this discussion that the subject of transgender children came up.

Andrea McLean introduced the topic, saying 'There's been a quadruple rise in the number of children, some aged 10 or under , who have been referred to the NHS and that's because of transgender feelings.  Transgender is a word that has been banded around an awful lot in the last 12 months or so, especially because of the Caitlyn Jenner case over in America.'

'One case is wonderful and lovely, how accepting people are of fluid sexuality.  But the fact that young children are now questioning their sexuality and gender at such a young age, is that refreshing or worrying?'

Obviously this was already problematic as one of the hosts had already confused gender and sexuality, something that annoyed some viewers.  Nadia Sawalha went on to add further ire when she went on to say, 'Last year my step daughter told me the 'in' thing in school was self harming, and then before that it was throwing up.  You know, fashionable words that have been taken on'.

I, and some others who have taken to social media to complain, think that comparing any of these issues to being an 'in' thing is incredibly insulting and potentially dangerous.  It pushed someone who is going through one or more of these issues away, it sends a message that if someone feels that they might be transgender they're only doing it to be fashionable because it's 'in'.  It tells parents not to worry if your child is self harming, it's not because they're in pain and need help, it's because it's a fad.  

Gloria Hunniford proved to be just as problematic when she went on to discuss a family friend, whose child, assigned female at birth but identifying as male, who has expressed the desire to undergo gender realignment surgery to remove his breasts.  

She said, 'It must be so difficult for parents to deal with that.  It would be bad enough if a child eventually had a mastectomy for health reasons, but just to look like a boy?'

No only did none of the presenters respect this young man enough to use male pronouns, using she and her throughout, but Hunniford seems more concerned with how parents of transgender teens feel than the feelings of the transgender person themselves, going on to lament the parent's feelings of their child having to have surgery 'just to look like a boy'.  God forbid she actually think this person might need that surgery for their own quality of life, or respect them enough not to use language like 'look like a boy'.

Jane Moore tried to inject some wisdom at this point, telling Hunniford 'I would say if she's got to that stage she's definitely....at teen age you know by then, don't you?  The under 10 aspect worries me.'  Despite stating that the young man probably isn't just 'confused' by that age is good, being unable to say the word transgender and misgendering them is not.

Hunniford went on to add, 'You understand when your child talks about homosexuality but being transgender is a whole new thing.'

Jane Moore ended the talk by saying, 'We shouldn't push anything on a child.  All you can ever have with them is an open relationship where they feel they can come and talk to you about it.'  The audience applauded the panel at the end.

However, it would seem that not everyone agrees with everything the panel said, calling out some poor use of language, the muddling of gender and sexuality, their concern for parents of trans children over the trans children themselves and general lack of education and ignorance on the subject.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it's a panel show where people are allowed to share those opinions, but it's obvious from every comment that the presenters made that none of them have ever looked into transgender issues, especially transgender children.  All of their opinions seem to be based on shaky general knowledge, informed by other ill educated television and radio.  

They failed to use correct pronouns, they felt that even acknowledging trans issues is somehow 'forcing' them on children, they show more concern over the feelings of the 'poor' parents, they seem not to understand the reasons for surgical procedures.  Hell, the way they were talking I'm surprised they didn't start trotting out 80's tropes and innuendos.

So many people are educated by television, the things they see and hear act as their guides on issues they might never have come across before or thought about much.  That in itself is not a bad thing, television is a medium that can be used to a fantastic effect to educate and inform, but only when done right.

When little or no research is done on such a sensitive and important issue as transgender children it can lead to the furthering of misconceptions and discriminatory views.  This was an excellent chance to do something good, even if it had helped just one member of the trans community by giving out the right info it would have been worth it, instead they've helped no one, possibly even the opposite.

If you are discussing transgender issues and don't have any trans people their to help educate and inform, please go and do just a little bit of research,  Half an hour on Google would have made their discussion very different.  It doesn't take much effort to get it right, but it takes a lot more effort to fix it when it's been done wrong.

Amy.

xx

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Transgender Prisoner 'I'm So Close To Ending My Life'

A female transgender prisoner has written to the UK parliament stating that during her time in prison she has been mistreated, sexually abused and is close to ending her own life.

The letter has been published as part of the evidence of the ongoing transgender enquiry, and raises some extremely serious concerns as to the treatment and safety of transgender people whilst in prison, not least because it was only a week ago that transgender inmate Vicky Thompson took her own life after being placed in an all-male facility.

The enquiry have chosen to withhold the name of the prisoner, and the facility they are currently in, but a spokesperson from the Women and Equalities Committee has confirmed that they 'know the individuals identity and are certain that it's from a genuine prisoner, not Vicky Thompson.'

The letter states that the prisoner is currently being held in an all-male facility despite being 'legally female'.  She also goes on to say that she has been the victim of rape, sexual assault and the deliberate withholding of hormones as part of her ongoing medical treatment.  She makes it very clear that she is suicidal.

She goes on to write that she has been denied access to any means to effect transition, including female gendered clothing, make-up and hormone treatment.  She says that because of this 'my safety is constantly at risk'.

'I'm legally female, the equality governor [name withheld] is constantly out to hurt me and states I'm a freak, there are no equality reps or LGBT reps.  I have no access to help or other transgender people.'

'I'm so close to ending my life.  Now [name withheld] is so horrid, and even though I've been raped/sexually assaulted they put me on VP [vulnerable persons] sex offenders wing, they are mad here.  I've gone through hell and have begged them to please move me to a female estate.  If I had already been there I would not have been raped and assaulted, I'm so down and so alone.'

In response to the letter, and the concerns raised by the public for the safety of yet another transgender woman in an all-male prison, the Women and Equalities Committee had this to say, 'While we are not able to take up individual cases, we take our responsibilities to witness very seriously and have out the individual in touch with people who can help her.'

'The individual is in contact with a support orgnisation for trans people.  The Minister for Justice is also aware of the case and the prison Governor has spoken to her about her evidence to our committee.  We have also given the individual the details of her constituency MP'.

Amy.

xx

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'I Am Leo' Transgender Documentary Wins BAFTA

'I Am Leo', a documentary made for British children's channel CBBC, received a children's BAFTA in the Factual category.

'I Am Leo' focuses on the Leo, a young transgender boy, aged 13 at the time of filming, as he goes about his daily life, meets with his friends and a twenty year old trans woman named Natalie, as well as the Stephen Whittle, a member of the Press for Change advocacy group.

The documentary won out over other nominees, 'Mr Alzheimers and Me', Being Me: A Newsround Special' and 'Operation Ouch!'.

Leo went on to say, 'I want to thank everyone who nominated I Am Leo for this award, and everyone involved in making it a success.  I'm really proud to have been given the opportunity to make so many people proud by telling my story, and being able to tell it my way.'

'I would like to say a massive thank you to Nine Lives Media, and especially to Cat [Lewis] for giving me the opportunity.  To Phil [Niland] and Lyndsay [Rowan], who I spent much time with, for their support and encouragement, and keeping motivated throughout the months of filming.'

'I would like to thank my mum for believing in me, staying positive and being beside me throughout my journey.'

Leo has said that he is glad that his story is out and that it has helped other people, saying that a lot of young transgender people have contacted him for help, advice and guidance.

Amy.

xx

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Arrow 'Brotherhood' Review

Things took an interesting turn on this weeks episode of Arrow as Diggle and the rest of the team discovered that Andy Diggle, believed killed by HIVE years ago, is in fact alive and a member of the Ghosts.

This episode was a vast improvement over last weeks, with more being added to the overall story arc of the series and the mythology.  We were given a deeper insight into the way that HIVE operates, raising the possibility that not all of the Ghosts are willing participants, but under the control of Damian Darhk.  This opens up some options in the story of the season, who else could be under their control?  Will Team Arrow find a way of breaking that control and deprive Darhk of his army?  Will one of our heroes fall under HIVE control?

The decision to free Andy from HIVE control may have seemed like a fairly sensible and obvious one, but somehow Diggle's reluctance to do so seemed somewhat forced.  Yes, he explains in great detail how the death of his brother effected him, and it was handled well enough to be believable, but I just felt that his reluctance was a little unusual.  Perhaps it's because he's discovering that his brother wasn't the good man he thought he was that has shaken his faith in his brother and makes him question just who he's going to be getting back.

Elsewhere Ollie's campaign to be mayor of Star City stepped up a notch as he comes face to face with Damian Darhk, who thankfully at this point does not seem to know that Ollie and Green Arrow are the same person.  Darhk offers Ollie the opportunity to work with him, prompting Ollie to consider agreeing to the partnership with him in order to infiltrate HIVE.

Whilst this might appear to be a good plan, the rest of Team Arrow are firmly against it, being quick to point out how he did the same last year with Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins, and whilst in the end they won, it was an incredibly damaging experience.  Diggle has only just begun to trust Ollie again, Thea is suffering the after effects of almost dieing and all of that stems from having 'joined' the villain.

Thankfully Ollie sees that the best solution is to 'fight in the light' and rejects Darhk's offer, which will probably come around to bite Ollie as Darhk is clearly not a man that handles rejection very well.

On the topic of Darhk, it looks like the team may have something that can finally do some damage to him.  Darhk confronts Thea and attempts to do his life sucker magic on her, only to have it come around and hurt him instead.  We knew that magic would be a big part of this season, and it looks like they're going to be taking some time to explore the mystical elements that have already been sown into the series such as the Lazarus Pit.

The episode gives everyone a time to shine, including Ray Palmer who is sticking around for a little longer, and builds the show mythology and sets up for more interesting stories yet to come.

Amy.

xx

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Church of England To Claim Equality Act Case, Despite Exemption in LGBT Case

The Church of England have recently produced an advertisement that aims to promote the Lord's Prayer, the Church of England and their belief system.  Having been denied approval to air the ad in a number of cinemas, the Church of England has issued a warning that they may begin legal proceedings under the Equalities Act, though this is after they themselves successfully argued in court that they should be exempt from the rules of the Equality Act in order to avoid discrimination charges against LGBT people.

The Church of England have, just last month, successfully argued that they are exempt to the rules of the Equality Act due to their religious exemptions when they were taken to tribunal after firing a gay hospital chaplain for marrying his partner.  The case was dismissed by the tribunal.

It would appear, though, that after being able to have that particular case thrown out of court under 'religious exemptions' the Church of England is threatening the exact same actions against companies who do not wish to air their advertisement.

Digital Cinema Media, who provides all advertisements to UK cinema chains, blocked the proposal for the advertisement to be shown in cinemas under a long standing policy of 'not accepting political or religious advertising'.

The rules regarding religion on broadcast outlets are detailed, and stipulate that advertisements must not 'expound doctrines or beliefs' unless they are on specialist faith channels.

Religious based advertisements have proven to be controversial and upsetting in the past.  In 2009 two rival campaigns using the sides of buses to debate whether God exists prompted thousands of complaints, and in 2012 a campaign using the slogan 'Not gay!  Ex-gay, post-gay and proud!  Get over it!' was banned by Transport of London after being employed by evangelical groups.

Due to these guidelines and poorly received campaigns in the past the DCM (Digital Cinema Media) argues that it could offend people of 'differing faiths and no faith', a claim that the Church of England are calling 'plain silly' and claiming will have a 'chilling effect' on free speech.

Reacting to the decision not to show the advertisements in British cinemas, including Vue, Odeon and Cineworld, the Church of England's chief legal adviser Stephen Slack claimed that the decision could 'give rise to legal proceedings' under the Equality Act.

Despite the Church of England claiming that their advert should not be banned because the Equality Act prevents businesses from discriminating on religious grounds some activists have voiced disapproval of the Church's willingness to claim protection under the Equality Act when having claimed in court that they are exempt from it.

Terry Sanderson, the president of the National Secular Society has said that, 'The Church of England is arrogant to imagine it has an automatic right to foist its opinions upon a captive audience who have paid good money for a completely different experience.  The Church does not hesitate to ban things from its own church halls - things like yoga.  The cinema chains are simply exercising the same right.'

Despite claims from the Church of England that they do not wish to broadcast the advertisement on television and radio, the advertisement has already received a lot of air time on both due to the media coverage of the controversy. The Church has claimed that the online version has been clicked on half a million times in the first 24 hours since the story broke.

A public relations consultant Peter Davies has said, 'People tend to come into cinemas 20 minutes after the programme starts, so they can avoid the adverts.  Already, it seems the audience far outweighs what the Church of England would have gotten if it had been shown in cinemas'.

Amy.

xx

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