Brass Eye

Overview

Brass Eye is a satirical show that targets how the media covers social problems, especially sensationalism and moral panics. It follows Chris Morris’s earlier spoof news programs On the Hour and The Day Today. The cast includes Morris, Doon Mackichan, Gina McKee, Mark Heap, Amelia Bullmore, Simon Pegg, Julia Davis, Claire Skinner, John Guerrasio, Hugh Dennis, and Kevin Eldon. The show was originally planned as a spin-off from The Day Today, with a pilot called Torque tv™ that the BBC passed on.

Channel 4 then commissioned a new pilot. The title Brass Eye combines the names of two current affairs shows, Brass Tacks and Public Eye, and is also a euphemism for anus. Each episode follows a similar format: Morris appears as various interviewers, campaigners, broadcasters, and sometimes the subjects of interviews. These segments are mixed with celebrities making appeals for nonprofit organizations with odd names and acronyms, plus fake news footage from international broadcasters.

The show makes heavy use of elaborate graphics. The first episode, "Animals," uses much of the material from the pilot and focuses on humanity’s relationship with animals. Morris plays a spokesperson for the "World Organization For Decreasing Captive Animal Problems" (W.O.F.D.C.A.P), which includes another group called "Against Animal Anger And Auto-causal Abuse Atrocities in Zoos" (A.A.A.A.A.A.Z). They aim to raise awareness about an elephant named Karla in a German zoo and a condition called "Zoochosis" that drives zoo animals insane.

The second episode, "Drugs," has been noted for showing how easily anti-drug hysteria can be stirred up in the UK. In it, an undercover reporter asks a drug dealer for fake drugs like "Triple Sod," "Yellow Bentines," and "Clarky Cat." The episode also claims that possessing drugs without physical contact and exchanging drugs through a mandrill are legal under English law.

Controversies

Originally set to debut in November 1996, the series was pushed back and finally aired in January 1997. Channel 4 explained the hold-up as necessary to meet broadcasting rules, worried that some of its stunts might break the Independent Television Commission’s guidelines on hoaxes. Two days before broadcast, Home Office minister Tom Sackville slammed the show, calling it "this waste of Home Office time" over the 'Cake' prank that involved him and MP David Amess.

According to The Guardian, the delay sparked online chatter across at least 112 websites, with conspiracy theories claiming Channel 4 caved to Home Office pressure or that chief executive Michael Grade pulled it to avoid harming the channel’s anti-privatisation campaign. In January 1997, the series was confirmed to air later that month. After broadcast, MPs David Amess and Sir Graham Bright complained about their 'cake' appearances, and the ITC upheld those complaints.

However, the commission went out of its way to call the show "amusing and innovative." The ITC stated it had no issue with the overall concept, acknowledged the risks of innovative programming, and said Channel 4 should not be discouraged from making such shows, taking no further action. Michael Grade repeatedly stepped in to demand edits to episodes. The final episode contained a single-frame subliminal message: "Grade is a cunt."

Did You Know?

• A DVD released in 2001 reinstated most of the material cut from the original broadcast.
• A disclaimer was added to the "Drugs" episode on DVD at the request of David Amess.