Ross Kemp hits out at 'dumbed-down' TV
Former EastEnders. actor Ross Kemp has blasted the coverage of current affairs on TV, accusing much of it of being 'dumbed down'. The actor turned documentary maker spoke out ahead of his new Sky One show The Invisible Wounded, which details the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on members of the armed forces. "For over a decade the nation has witnessed the very visible scars and damage war has had on troops and support workers, but this is not the case of hidden effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and associated condition," he said. "The haunting trauma of war can be carried with these people for many years. "I hope this documentary made for Sky One will go some way to address the issues, stigmas and ways in which we can help those suffering, safeguarding them for the future." The actor - who played Grant Mitchell in the soap - has also made a new series of his documentary Extreme World, which sees him investigate witchcraft in Africa and corruption in Pakistan. "We're very happy that we got recommissioned," he admitted. "We felt the first series was pretty groundbreaking. I think there's a lot of dumbing down in terms of what current affairs are about. I know I'm in an odd situation because I came from an acting background but I love doing what I do presently."
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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.
An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.