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The doggy bag will never catch on in Paris Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia Life Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia Sections * Film * Music * Books * Pipe Band Digest * Stage * Irish language Stories Tá bliain chorraitheach chinniúnach roimh Fhorbairt Feirste Irish language Tá bliain chorraitheach chinniúnach roimh Fhorbairt Feirste Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Arts Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Cult Movie: Day Of The Outlaw as much noir as Western Film Cult Movie: Day Of The Outlaw as much noir as Western Oscars 2016 - Ten great Irish Oscar moments Film Oscars 2016 - Ten great Irish Oscar moments Sections * Family Notices * Lives Remembered Stories Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars Lives Remembered Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars Lord Erne of Crom Castle was popular figure in Fermanagh Lives Remembered Lord Erne of Crom Castle was popular figure in Fermanagh ‘My brother loved to entertain with his music' Lives Remembered ‘My brother loved to entertain with his music' Falls Road artist was grand old man of sci-fi's golden age Notices Falls Road artist was grand old man of sci-fi's golden age Sections * Letters to the Editor * Leading article * Cartoons * Columnists Stories Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme Columnists Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Columnists Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Cologne attacks highlight push to extremes Columnists Cologne attacks highlight push to extremes Time for a genuine Fresh Start at Stormont Leading article Time for a genuine Fresh Start at Stormont Sections * Photo of the Day * Graduation pictures * Picture galleries * Video diaries Stories Belfast Zoo animals enjoy the snow Picture Galleries Belfast Zoo animals enjoy the snow New Year celebrations from around the world Picture Galleries New Year celebrations from around the world Storm Frank lashes Ireland Picture Galleries Storm Frank lashes Ireland Harland & Wolff Welders win the Steel & Sons Cup 2015 Picture Galleries Harland & Wolff Welders win the Steel & Sons Cup 2015 (BUTTON) Irishnews Logo (BUTTON) * Login User / Logout * Subscriptions * Home * Today's paper * News Sections + Back + Northern Ireland news + UK News + Republic of Ireland news + World news + Political news + Education news + Healthcare news + Nama + Refugee Crisis * Sport Sections + Back + GAA Football + GAA Fixtures + Club Call + Hurling and camogie + Soccer + Boxing + Rugby + Golf + Athletics + Off The Fence + Racing + Opinion + Other Sports * Business Sections + Back + July Budget + Business news + Economics + Personal finance + Business columnists + Business Insight + Markets * Life Sections + Back + Family and Parenting + Property + Holidays & Travel + Fashion & Beauty + Motors/drive + Food & drink + Celebrity + Gardening + Environment + Health + Faith Matters + TV and Radio * Arts Sections + Back + Film + Music + Books + Pipe Band Digest + Stage + Irish language * Notices Sections + Back + Family Notices + Lives Remembered * Opinion Sections + Back + Letters to the Editor + Leading article + Cartoons + Columnists * Puzzles * Photos Sections + Back + Photo of the Day + Graduation pictures + Picture galleries + Video diaries * Our journalists * Horoscopes ____________________ (BUTTON) Search (BUTTON) News Channel 4 face protest over planned famine sitcom * * * * * John Monaghan 12 January, 2015 00:00 A PROTEST is to be staged outside the offices of Channel 4 in London over plans to commission a sitcom based on the famine. The broadcaster has already confirmed that it has received 890 "predominantly negative" responses from the public about the planned show. Austin Harney said that a peaceful protest has been arranged for 1pm on January 17 at the channel's headquarters in central London, close to Westminster. Channel 4 has stressed that it has not made any decision about whether to screen the production. "The script is in the development process and is not currently planned to air," said a spokesman. Over 36,000 people have now signed a petition online calling on the broadcaster to withdraw its plans for the sitcom, called Hungry, described by its Dublin based screenwriter Hugh Travers as akin to "Shameless in famine Ireland". Despite the considerable online presence opposing the programme, Mr Harney, who was himself born in London but whose "whole family is Irish", said that he had organised the demonstration as "we need more actions than petitions". Mr Harney, a trade union activist and campaigner on various matters concerning the Irish in Britain, said that there were "lines to be drawn when it comes to comedy and satire". "This killed one million people, wiped out an entire Gaelic speaking community and caused mass emigration. We still have a lot of people jumping out of the fire and leaving Ireland for economic reasons and coming to Britain," he said. "Many Irish people in Britain feel aggrieved about this. A painful reality about the Irish in Britain is that they are often left last. "Unfortunately for too long there has been stereotyping of Irish people in Britain," added Mr Harney. He said he would be inviting representatives of British and Irish political parties to speak at the demonstration, but said he could not predict the estimated number of protestors. He said he hoped, however, that Channel 4 would reconsider its decision and pull the programme. One Facebook user who signed the petition against the show wrote that he was opposed to the script as he felt it was not appropriate to "exploit the Irish race for the sake of comedy". An opposing online petition, entitled 'Say No to Censorship of Channel 4 sitcom', has so far been backed by 100 supporters, with many others having their say on social media. "We all know of some incredible comedies that have dealt with sensitive subject matters in a tasteful and funny manner," the petition states. "Not sure what the problem is here? Dozens of sitcoms have been set in wartime, which is at least as tragic as famine. "If people aren't happy about a sitcom set in famine times then just don't watch it," wrote another Facebook user. * * * * * 12 January, 2015 00:00 News More in News PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' DUP lack necessary 'element of skill' for Guinness records honour DUP lack necessary 'element of skill' for Guinness records honour Rembrandt masterpiece on display at Ulster Museum Rembrandt masterpiece on display at Ulster Museum Most Read * Beware of tax on gifting property to family members * Increase in babies born with 'tongue-tie' * Diagnosing Dyspraxia in your child * Irishman in breastfeeding London Underground row Today's horoscope Horoscope __________________________________________________________________ See a different horoscope: [Select sign] Stay connected Get the day's headlines delivered directly to your inbox ____________________ (BUTTON) Sign Up __________________________________________________________________ Sections News PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' 1. 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