Beleaguered ITV chiefs faced a fresh fraud scandal last night as details emerged that the public telephone vote to decide the punishment of Chief Executive Michael Grade, for the channel’s fixing of numerous TV phone votes, has itself been fixed.
Mr Grade had agreed to take full responsibility for the “systematic” defrauding of thousands of ITV viewers who had been encouraged to call premium-rate numbers to enter competitions they had no chance of winning.
It was revealed only last week by independent auditors called in by Mr Grade himself, that the channel had dishonestly availed itself of over £7million of its viewers money. However, to prevent the company from losing its most high-profile culprits and biggest stars, Ant and Dec, Mr Grade opted to carry the can personally.
So, ever the showman, Grade announced an exciting one-off premium-rate telephone vote, where ripped-off ITV viewers could choose his punishment. Several options were made available, such as putting Mr Grade in the stocks outside ITV HQ and being pelted with foodstuffs or tying him to a cross on the top of Ben Nevis with only larger-than-life ex-Emmerdale actress and former ‘You’ve Been Framed’ host, Lisa Riley for company.
Millions of people rang in and it is widely believed that the punishment that actually received by far the highest number of votes was for Mr Grade to be paraded in front of his own cameras wearing women’s underwear while Chris Tarrant injected him with cat Aids.
So there was widespread surprise when ITV announced last night that the result of the public poll was for Grade to “just be let off really and let’s all forget about this silly business and get on with making quality television”. Suspicions were first aroused when it was noticed by crack investigative reporter Donal Macintyre, that this eventuality was never actually included in the phone vote as an option.
The result was confirmed as bogus when top media insiders established that ITV has never made, and does not appear to have any plans for making, any “quality television”.
When confronted with our findings, ITV head of finance Frank Abagnale said “Did we fiddle the punishment vote? Call 0898 123456 01 for ‘Yes’ and 0898 123456 02 for ‘No’. Calls are charged at 69p per minute and there may be a standard network charge. If you’re under 18, please get the permission of the bill payer before you call. Not all calls will be successful but all calls WILL be charged.”
Mr Grade had agreed to take full responsibility for the “systematic” defrauding of thousands of ITV viewers who had been encouraged to call premium-rate numbers to enter competitions they had no chance of winning.
It was revealed only last week by independent auditors called in by Mr Grade himself, that the channel had dishonestly availed itself of over £7million of its viewers money. However, to prevent the company from losing its most high-profile culprits and biggest stars, Ant and Dec, Mr Grade opted to carry the can personally.
So, ever the showman, Grade announced an exciting one-off premium-rate telephone vote, where ripped-off ITV viewers could choose his punishment. Several options were made available, such as putting Mr Grade in the stocks outside ITV HQ and being pelted with foodstuffs or tying him to a cross on the top of Ben Nevis with only larger-than-life ex-Emmerdale actress and former ‘You’ve Been Framed’ host, Lisa Riley for company.
Millions of people rang in and it is widely believed that the punishment that actually received by far the highest number of votes was for Mr Grade to be paraded in front of his own cameras wearing women’s underwear while Chris Tarrant injected him with cat Aids.
So there was widespread surprise when ITV announced last night that the result of the public poll was for Grade to “just be let off really and let’s all forget about this silly business and get on with making quality television”. Suspicions were first aroused when it was noticed by crack investigative reporter Donal Macintyre, that this eventuality was never actually included in the phone vote as an option.
The result was confirmed as bogus when top media insiders established that ITV has never made, and does not appear to have any plans for making, any “quality television”.
When confronted with our findings, ITV head of finance Frank Abagnale said “Did we fiddle the punishment vote? Call 0898 123456 01 for ‘Yes’ and 0898 123456 02 for ‘No’. Calls are charged at 69p per minute and there may be a standard network charge. If you’re under 18, please get the permission of the bill payer before you call. Not all calls will be successful but all calls WILL be charged.”
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