Ali G talks to film censor about "the best job in the world"

Ali G talks to James Ferman "must be the best job in the world, just watching porno all day"

From the 11 o'clock show Channel 4 c1998/99

James Ferman 1930 - 2002 (Film buff and censor)

Retired as director of the British Board of Film Classification in 1999 after 24 years, frequently came under fire for being too ready to pass controversial films such as Crash, Lolita and Last Temptation of Christ.

"I knew what this job would be from the first day, and I rather enjoy the crossfire. The job has such power that we need to be shot at. Someone with a powerful position in the media needs to be questioned by the public," he said.

Mr Ferman's controversial views on British laws relating to pornography were also well publicised, and criticised. In 1998 he argued that explicit pornography should be made legally available in licensed shops to stop violent sex material flooding the country. His annual report suggested that the ban on "conventional" explicit pornography had encouraged a black market in far more obscene videos involving children and animals.

But his proposals were met with outrage from MPs and family values campaigners, who insisted that more explicit imagery would stoke up demand for more hard core porn.
When he stepped down as director of the BBFC, the man who described himself as "a film lover and a film buff" advised his successor, Robin Duval, to get hold of a flak jacket.

Source Guardian - 27/12/02

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