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After several months of keeping a relatively
low profile in the UK, the paternal protest
group Fathers 4 Justice re-launched its campaign
to bring the plight of fathers to national attention…
by storming the live National Lottery show.
Six Fathers 4 Justice protesters invaded the
BBC set used for the live National Lottery:
Jet Set programme. They had gained access to
the set as regular audience members, then launched
themselves onto the main stage when the live
broadcast was underway. The show's presenters
- Eamonn Holmes and Sarah Cawood - bravely attempted
to continue with the broadcast but were eventually
escorted off the set for their own safety. At
that point the live transmission was cut and
viewers at home were left staring at a title
screen.
The Fathers 4 Justice group were originally
formed in December 2002 by Matt O'Connor in
an effort to raise awareness of the plight of
fathers who are denied access to their children
following separation or divorce. Past publicity stunts include a father scaling Buckingham Palace
in a Batman costume, the flour-bombing of Prime
Minister Tony Blair in the House of Commons
and invading the pulpit at York Minster during
a General Synod service.
Fathers 4 Justice were believed to have voluntarily
disbanded at the beginning of 2006 after allegedly
planning to kidnap Leo Blair - youngest child
of Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, the live
storming of National Lottery: Jet Set on Saturday
shows that the protest group have reorganised
and relaunched themselves - a fact they boast
about on their web site www.fathers-4-justice.org.
The site caricatures the UK national lottery
"blue fingers crossed" logo and reads,
"Family Law Lotto. Next time it could be
you."
Despite the unexpected interruption to the
National Lottery: Jet Set show, the live broadcast
resumed shortly afterwards and the £17
million jackpot draw went ahead without a hitch,
albeit several minutes later than originally
scheduled.
25 May 2006
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