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ITV admission over 'faked' death ITV admission over 'faked' death
(about 2 hours later)
ITV has admitted that an Alzheimer's patient who "passes away" in the final scene of a documentary actually died three days later.ITV has admitted that an Alzheimer's patient who "passes away" in the final scene of a documentary actually died three days later.
Publicity for the programme, to be screened next month, claimed it showed the final moments of Malcolm Pointon, a composer from Cambridgeshire.Publicity for the programme, to be screened next month, claimed it showed the final moments of Malcolm Pointon, a composer from Cambridgeshire.
ITV now says the footage was of Mr Pointon slipping into unconsciousness days earlier.ITV now says the footage was of Mr Pointon slipping into unconsciousness days earlier.
It had previously defended the scene as an "integral part of the story". Film maker Paul Watson blamed the mistake on ITV publicity material.
Director of television Simon Shaps said: "The film maker responsible, Paul Watson, has now confirmed that the film does not portray the moment of Malcolm's passing, which was in fact some days later. In moving scenes, Malcolm is surrounded by his family and Barbara strokes his head as he passes away ITV publicity material
"This will be made clear at the end of the film on transmission and should have been made clear earlier."
Mr Pointon never regained consciousness after the scene in Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell.Mr Pointon never regained consciousness after the scene in Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell.
Mr Pointon's wife, Barbara, defended ITV saying she believed he had "died" at the moment he slipped into unconsciousness. The publicity material, released to the media, said: "The film ends when [Mr Pointon's wife] Barbara calls Paul to ask him to come as Malcolm is about to die.
"In moving scenes, Malcolm is surrounded by his family and Barbara strokes his head as he passes away."
Mr Watson told BBC News: "My crime is that I did not compile that press statement and that I did not read it sufficiently clearly, if indeed I did see it properly and I'm sure I didn't," he told BBC News.
ITV director of television Simon Shaps said: "The film maker responsible, Paul Watson, has now confirmed that the film does not portray the moment of Malcolm's passing, which was in fact some days later.
"This will be made clear at the end of the film on transmission and should have been made clear earlier."
Mrs Pointon defended ITV saying she believed he had "died" at the moment he slipped into unconsciousness.