Channel 5’s consumer entertainment programme Do The Right Thing, which is presented by Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, included a segment on controversial fancy dress in the Sunday 13 January edition of the show.
“We like to celebrate all things British,” said Ruth, introducing the segment, “and what could be more British than the right to wear a silly fancy dress costume?”
She went on to explain the recent ban on certain fancy dress costumes by the University of Kent, saying that; “dressing up and having fun are now under threat.”
Eamonn listed some of the costumes which have been highlighted by the university as potentially problematic, drawing a pantomime-esque groan from the audience.
Reporter Stephen Bailey then came on to report back from the recent World Darts Championshipswhere he spoke to members of the public to find out what they would make of the story. (Stephen was, of course, dressed in one of the banned costumes; a Mexican poncho, moustache and sombrero all paired with a ride-on donkey.)
He spoke to members of the public wearing all types of fancy dress, from colourful OppoSuits and all-in-one parrots to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and even Jesus, asking them if they thought ‘banning fancy dress’ was ‘PC gone mad’.
A panel in the studio then went on to discuss what this ban could mean for panto and other performance art.
