Ghostwatch

Controversy

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==Controversy== ==Controversy== Although ''Ghostwatch'' was aired under the ''[[Screen One]]'' drama banner,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghostwatchbtc.com/2009/07/31-october-6-november-1992.html |title=G31 October – 6 November 1992 |publisher=Ghostwatchbtc.com |date=2009-07-19 |access-date=2017-10-31}}</ref> its documentary style led many viewers to believe the events were real, causing much controversy after the show's airing. The BBC was besieged with phone calls from irate and frightened viewers, among them Parkinson's elderly mother. British [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]]s and other newspapers criticised the BBC the next day for the disturbing nature of some scenes, such as Greene's final scene where she is locked in an under-stairs cupboard with the howling ghost, and Parkinson's eerie possession scene. Although ''Ghostwatch'' was aired under the ''[[Screen One]]'' drama banner,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghostwatchbtc.com/2009/07/31-october-6-november-1992.html |title=G31 October – 6 November 1992 |publisher=Ghostwatchbtc.com |date=2009-07-19 |access-date=2017-10-31}}</ref> its documentary style led many viewers to believe the events were real, causing much controversy after the show's airing. The BBC was besieged with phone calls from irate and frightened viewers, among them [[Michael Parkinson]]'s alarmed and elderly mother. British [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]]s and other newspapers criticised the BBC the next day for the disturbing nature of some scenes, such as Greene's final scene where she is locked in an under-stairs cupboard with the howling ghost, and Parkinson's eerie possession scene.

A false rumour persisted that [[Sarah Greene]] had advertised the programme on her Saturday morning children's show ''[[Going Live!]]'', including a visit to the location of the "haunting", and gave the impression that she was taking part in a "reality show". This rumour was debunked via the ''Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtain'' blog (which gathered information for a documentary about the show). After acquiring the three most likely episodes of ''Going Live'' (the week before, the day ''Ghostwatch'' was shown, and the week after), the blog's editors found no reference to the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ghostwatchbtc.blogspot.com/2009/11/well-actually-spool-it-back-to-point.html |title=We'll actually spool it back to the point where you tell us... |publisher=Ghostwatchbtc.blogspot.com |date=2009-11-19 |access-date=2017-10-31}}</ref> Greene did however appear on the following Monday's [[Children's BBC]] strand to reassure younger viewers the show was not real.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} A false rumour persisted that [[Sarah Greene]] had advertised the programme on her Saturday morning children's show ''[[Going Live!]]'', including a visit to the location of the "haunting", and gave the impression that she was taking part in a "reality show". This rumour was debunked via the ''Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtain'' blog (which gathered information for a documentary about the show). After acquiring the three most likely episodes of ''Going Live'' (the week before, the day ''Ghostwatch'' was shown, and the week after), the blog's editors found no reference to the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ghostwatchbtc.blogspot.com/2009/11/well-actually-spool-it-back-to-point.html |title=We'll actually spool it back to the point where you tell us... |publisher=Ghostwatchbtc.blogspot.com |date=2009-11-19 |access-date=2017-10-31}}</ref> Greene did however appear on the following Monday's [[Children's BBC]] strand to reassure younger viewers the show was not real.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}