Mischief: Circumcise Me?

Last updated on 19th April 2006

Circumcise Me? was broadcast on BBC 3 on 15th January. Billed as 'Mischief goes looking for the answer to a question people have been asking for thousands of years - is it better to be circumcised or not? ', the Director, Christopher Sykes, and his assistant Michael Ogden embarked on a voyage of discovery across Britain and the United States.

Overall Impression

NORM-UK feels that this programme was refreshingly neutral in tone, accurate in content and a substantial improvement on previous BBC presentations. Both men admitted from the start that they were as nature intended but made no effort to sway the debate either way.

Significant Interviewees

NORM-UK patron Brian Sewell, who said "The real argument about circumcision is, for me, why in our enlightened times when we get very upset about the circumcision of women, why do we go on circumcising boys?"
Dr Thomas Stutterford - a British doctor who writes a column in the Times newspaper. His dogmatic support for circumcision is well-known to regular readers of his column. In this interview he made no attempt to conceal his dated attitude and contempt for patients' rights, which successfully undermined his arguments.
Ron Low, the designer and manufacturer of the TLC Tugger device in the United States, gave an extremely good interview and spoke from the heart.
Kristen O'Hara, author of 'Sex as Nature Intended', spoke well but was unconvincing as an author of a book on sexual techniques.
A group of young men in a bar in the United States, in a state with the highest percentage of circumcised males. They all defended their status and said it was the best thing that had happened to them and all said that if they had sons they would have them circumcised. When asked why they, revealingly, could not give any answers.

The last person to appear on the programme was Michael Wilks, Chairman of the BMA ethics committee. He was asked if there were any medical reasons for circumcision to be performed. Wilks stated that there were not enough medical benefits to justify the practice.

When asked why the situation was different in the Britain and the United States, Dr Wilks said that in the US circumcision is big business and doctors are making a lot of money from what he described as "a profoundly unethical practice".

Errors, Faults and Omissions

Very few. NORM-UK offered the producers access to a range of interviewees for the programme and we feel that, as a British production, some further British perspective might have made a better impact. The two NORM-UK members that were interviewed did not make it into the final edit. However, we accept that this was for a good reason and did not diminish the programme's overall quality.

Summary

Discussion of male circumcision in the media is rare and NORM-UK generally feels that any thought-provoking discussion is a positive step. This programme was of a high standard and we feel that it was as accurate and comprehensive as any one hour presentation could have been. NORM-UK would strongly recommend this programme to anyone seeking an introduction to this complex and emotive subject.

The programme is due for repeat broadcast on BBC2 in the near future.