Katie Razzall reveals what happened when a prize-winning author was accused of racism, sparking what many saw as a culture war about race, class, and who has the right to say what.
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The People vs McDonald's: 6. Judge for Yourself
At the end of the longest trial in English history, the verdict is finally delivered - and Helen uncovers who her former partner John really was.In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s?’ It claimed McDonald’s was exploiting workers, destroying rainforests, torturing animals, and promoting food that could make people sick, even cause cancer...McDonald’s said the claims in the leaflet were untrue and defamatory and the company demanded an apology.Helen Steel, a gardener, and a former postman named Dave Morris, refused.Mark Steel takes us into the murky world of McDonald’s Corporation vs Steel & Morris – aka 'McLibel' - the longest-running trial in English history which would turn the spotlight on the way big business operates. As well as bringing issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream, it would also be the moment our current Prime Minister first comes to prominence. If that isn’t enough, this story would ultimately have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something which Mark discovers he himself had been a victim of.Shadow World: Gripping stories from the Shadows – BBC investigations from across the UK.Presenter: Mark Steel
Producer: Conor Garrett
Executive Producer: Georgia Catt
Development Producer: Christian Dametto
Story Consultant: Annie Brown
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini
Archive Research: Emma Betteridge
Sound Mix: Tim Heffer
Music Score: Phil Kieran*Archive excerpts from director Franny Armstrong’s ‘McLibel,’ reproduced with the permission of Spanner Films
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The People vs McDonald's: 5. Clowning Around
When Helen digs out some old letters from her former partner John, she finds some potential clues.In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s?’ It claimed McDonald’s was exploiting workers, destroying rainforests, torturing animals, and promoting food that could make people sick, even cause cancer...McDonald’s said the claims in the leaflet were untrue and defamatory and the company demanded an apology.Helen Steel, a gardener, and a former postman named Dave Morris, refused.Mark Steel takes us into the murky world of McDonald’s Corporation vs Steel & Morris – aka 'McLibel' - the longest-running trial in English history which would turn the spotlight on the way big business operates. As well as bringing issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream, it would also be the moment our current Prime Minister first comes to prominence. If that isn’t enough, this story would ultimately have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something which Mark discovers he himself had been a victim of.Shadow World: Gripping stories from the Shadows – BBC investigations from across the UK.Presenter: Mark Steel
Producer: Conor Garrett
Executive Producer: Georgia Catt
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini
Sound Mix: Tim Heffer
Music Score: Phil Kieran*Archive excerpts from director Franny Armstrong’s ‘McLibel,’ reproduced with the permission of Spanner Films
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The People vs McDonald's: 4. A Proper Grilling
A few months into the trial, Helen and Dave get an unexpected communication from the McDonald's Board of Directors.In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s?’ It claimed McDonald’s was exploiting workers, destroying rainforests, torturing animals, and promoting food that could make people sick, even cause cancer...McDonald’s said the claims in the leaflet were untrue and defamatory and the company demanded an apology.Helen Steel, a gardener, and a former postman named Dave Morris, refused.Mark Steel takes us into the murky world of McDonald’s Corporation vs Steel & Morris – aka 'McLibel' - the longest-running trial in English history which would turn the spotlight on the way big business operates. As well as bringing issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream, it would also be the moment our current Prime Minister first comes to prominence. If that isn’t enough, this story would ultimately have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something which Mark discovers he himself had been a victim of.Shadow World: Gripping stories from the Shadows – BBC investigations from across the UK.Presenter: Mark Steel
Producer: Conor Garrett
Executive Producer: Georgia Catt
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini
Sound Mix: Tim Heffer
Music Score: Phil Kieran*Archive excerpts from director Franny Armstrong’s ‘McLibel,’ reproduced with the permission of Spanner Films
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The People vs McDonald's: 3. Flipping Burgers!
When McDonald's discloses internal company documents to the court, they reveal somebody has been watching...In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s?’ It claimed McDonald’s was exploiting workers, destroying rainforests, torturing animals, and promoting food that could make people sick, even cause cancer...McDonald’s said the claims in the leaflet were untrue and defamatory and the company demanded an apology.Helen Steel, a gardener, and a former postman named Dave Morris, refused.Mark Steel takes us into the murky world of McDonald’s Corporation vs Steel & Morris – aka 'McLibel' - the longest-running trial in English history which would turn the spotlight on the way big business operates. As well as bringing issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream, it would also be the moment our current Prime Minister first comes to prominence. If that isn’t enough, this story would ultimately have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something which Mark discovers he himself had been a victim of.Shadow World: Gripping stories from the Shadows – BBC investigations from across the UK.Presenter: Mark Steel
Producer: Conor Garrett
Executive Producer: Georgia Catt
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini
Sound Mix: Tim Heffer
Music Score: Phil Kieran*Archive excerpts from director Franny Armstrong’s ‘McLibel,’ reproduced with the permission of Spanner Films
In Shadow World: Anatomy of a Cancellation, the BBC's Culture Editor Katie Razzall revisits a story that rocked the UK's publishing industry in 2021. It led to what some saw as the unjustified cancellation of a prize-winning writer and teacher - but to others, was a long overdue reckoning for the world of publishing. It grew into a culture war about race, class, and who has the right to say what.
Gripping stories from the Shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK.
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