Sinead O’Connor: ITV, BBC and Channel 5 do not plan to broadcast tributes to the late singer
Some of Britain’s major networks will not air tributes to Sinead O’Connor this week after her death.
O’Connor died after she was found “unresponsive” at a “home address” in the London Borough of Lambeth. She was 56 years old.
The musician’s death was confirmed by her family in a statement released on Wednesday (July 26).
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No medical cause of death was given and an autopsy will be performed. Police said her death was not being treated as suspicious.
In the event of the deaths of some high-profile celebrities, broadcasters will scrap their schedules to compile tributes to the star in question.
Such was the case with David Bowie when the “Space Oddity” singer died in 2016. When George Michael died of heart failure on Christmas Day 2017, BBC Four dedicated an entire night to the Wham! Star.
As confirmed by diversityHowever, none of the major UK broadcasters plan to air memories of O’Connor any time soon.
SINÉAD O’CONNOR-DECESO
(AP)
The US publication confirmed that neither the BBC, ITV, Channel 5 nor Channel 4 are currently planning to air specially curated specials or tributes over the weekend.
The Independent has reached out to representatives from the BBC, ITV, Channel 5 and Channel 4 for comment.
Former Channel 4 commissioner and television commentator Steven D. Wright said diversity There is a “simple explanation” for this omission.
“The simple explanation is that she was underestimated and not taken seriously,” Wright said. “It’s only now that people are saying, ‘Wait a minute, she was kind of an iconoclast because she spoke out against the Catholic Church at the time.'”
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After her death, a number of stories from her past have surfaced, including her controversial performance in 1992 Saturday night live She tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II in protest at the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse of children.
Wright continued, “There’s this one documentary [Nothing Compares] It turns out, but that’s coincidence. There was someone who recognized that this was a woman in need of thorough analysis and retrospection. Everyone else looked away.”
Tribute to Sinead O’Connor at the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum in Dublin’s Temple Bar area (Damien Eagers/PA)
(PA cable)
From Saturday (July 29) Nothing compares – the critically acclaimed 2022 documentary about O’Connor – will be available to watch on Sky and NOW. Here’s how to watch the film.
The broadcast of Nothing compareshowever, had been planned for months.
Speaking further about why O’Connor doesn’t get a tribute from any of Britain’s major broadcasters, Wright claimed that music on British television “isn’t taken as seriously as it used to be”.
“Pop culture was really important in the ’90s, but that’s not the case [valued] so much by the broadcasters,” he said.
diversity highlights that BBC Radio has paid tribute to O’Connor by resurfacing an old interview with the singer. Her songs have also been played on stations such as Radio 2 and 6 Music.
Sinead O’Connor (Niall Carson/PA)
(PA Archive)
The publication also hints that “national politics” could be at play, as Bowie and Michael were both London-born stars.
In Ireland, the singer will be commemorated by public broadcaster RTÉ, which will pay tribute with radio programs and a curated online archive of her performances and interviews, including two with The Late Late ShowIt is Gay Byrne who has interviewed O’Connor over the years.
On Saturday evening (29 July) RTÉ One and RTÉ Player will also broadcast a video of their 2002 concert. Sinead O’Connor – Live on Vicar Street.
Wright said broadcasters would first observe how other tributes are performing before making their own plans for going live.
“Many people [in scheduling] I’ll see if it’s worth a sequel,” he said. “If it creates buzz on social media, it’s more likely to be a copycat document because the story can still be told and can also include O’Connor’s death.”