PLANS for a TV drama about Prince Harry being kidnapped in Afghanistan have been condemned as “sick” by Bournemouth MP Conor Burns.
A 90-minute film, The Taking of Prince Harry, is due to be shown on Channel 4 on October 21.
But Mr Burns, the Tory MP for Bournemouth West, said it could “torment” families of servicemen and women in Afghanistan.
“Their families worry intensely when they’re on the front line and things like this will be torment for them,” he said. “Forget the fact Prince Harry is royal, he’s also a brother, son and a grandson.”
He also fears it could put ideas in the heads of Taliban extremists and said: “I would like Channel 4 to withdraw it. I’m not a prude and I think it could possibly be done in the future but not now, when people are risking their lives. The timing is very, very inappropriate.”
The film portrays Prince Harry being forced to appear in Taliban and Al Qaeda videos and having an unloaded gun pointed in his face.
Played by Sebastian Reid, he is shown reading out statements on behalf of terrorists linked to Al Qaeda. The drama footage is interspersed with real kidnap videos.
Channel 4’s head of documentaries Hamish Mykura refuted claims the film increased the risk of potential kidnappings and said the film dealt with a timely subject in an appropriate and responsible manner.
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