Random TV musing

[BanjoStarz]

I’m watching a documentary/chat show about VE Day.

There are several celebrities contributing who are deceased and have been for a while - Bruce Forsysth for instance so I’m guessing it was originally recorded for the 70th anniversary and it’s a repeat.

Do you think the TV companies tell family members when they are going to reuse footage of deceased relatives?

Part of me thinks not because it would be a full time job ringing round telling people - but then part of me thinks it would be pretty awful to be chilling on a sofa on a Friday night and random deceased relative pops up on tv.

Does anyone know the answer?

I don't know the answer but I can see why you're musing about it. I would think not, purely because they would've obtained initial permission and that's it for them- job done. Agreed that it could be upsetting for those concerned.

I know what you mean. I also think how awful for people like Holly and Jessica's poor parents whenever that evil monster that took their lives appears on tv.

I think it was actually recorded for the 50th anniversary.

I doubt they tell relatives - think of all the repeats of ancient programmes that get put out - it would be unfeasible to warn relatives every time, you'd need so many lists of who was dead and who must be warned - it would take ages.

It might be different in relation to documentaries about murder victims, as the subject would in itself be traumatic, and the instances of screening wouldn't be that common.

If you're a relative, is it any different from seeing a photo or home-video footage of a deceased relative? I can see it might be because it could strike you unprepared. I suppose you would have to check TV listings yourself if you didn't feel up to seeing footage.