This weeks pick highlights the unorthodox and troubling ministry of a Unitarian Reverend who believes it is his mission to assist non-terminally-ill people to commit suicide.
Other highlights in a week of rich and varied political programming examine the influence of Christian fundamentalists in Britain today, an analysis on the types of job vacancies filled by migrants, an exploration of the current governments approach to the provision of sickness benefit and a study of a school which is committed to educating some of the nations most violent and troubled children.
Monday 19 May - 8 - 9pm - Channel 4 - Dispatches: In God's Name
This edition examines the influence Christian fundamentalists have in Britain today. Some of the leading hard-line Christian pressure groups are followed as they attempt to win converts and convince MP's to pass laws based on rigidly-interpreted biblical doctrine.
Monday 19 May - 8 - 8.30pm - ITV1 - Tonight: Jobs for the Boys
As the immigration debate continues to rage, an attempt is here made to objectively evaluate the variety of vacancies being filled by migrant workers. The notion that migrants are doing the jobs that the rest of the populace refuse to take is pragmatically examined.
Monday 19 May - 8.30 - 9pm - BBC1 - Panorama - Britain on the Sick
The current government has made a lot of noise of late regarding their intention to crack down on what they regard as sickness benefit fraud. This programme examines their goal of getting a million people back to work within eight years, asking if this is possible and investigating the possible consequences of their intended methodology.
Pick of the Week :rb:
Monday 19 May - Channel 4 - 10 - 11.40pm - Reverend Death
Over the course of six years, this documentary was filmed by journalist Jon Ronson. He followed the Rev George Exoo, an ostensibly sanguine Unitarian minister from West Virginia, who claims to have assisted over 100 non-terminally-ill people to commit suicide. Over time, Ronson questions the preacher's motives more and more - and, interestingly, even more those of his mercenary assistant, Susan.
Thursday 22 May - 10 - 11.40pm - BBC4 - Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go
Kim Longinotto's powerful observational documentary highlights the pioneering work of an Oxfordshire boarding school that caters for youngsters so badly traumatised and violent that they have been permanently excluded from all other schools. Many have suffered severe emotional trauma. Whilst their behaviour, including that witnessed in the film, can be extremely intimidating and damaging, the staff appear to have an inexorable supply of patience. Their response is to physically restrain a violent child while calmly telling them that however sad or worried they are they should not hurt another. The children are never punished. Instead the staff simply want to find out how and why these children are so upset and to offer them help in working to a resolution for their conflicted and turbulent feelings and behaviours.
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