Minister axed from TV cooking show over referendum fears
MINISTER for Children Katherine Zappone has been dropped as a guest on a celebrity cooking show over fears her role in the forthcoming abortion referendum would prevent the programme from being broadcast.
Ms Zappone agreed to appear on TV3’s The Restaurant two months ago but was told last week that it was decided she would be dropped from the upcoming series of the cooking show because of next year’s abortion referendum.
The minister said she found it “bewildering” that her views on abortion would prevent her from appearing on the television cooking show.
“At no stage was it my intention to discuss this or any other political issue during the recording of The Restaurant, which makes this last-minute decision all the more surprising and difficult to understand,” she told the Sunday Independent.
Vision Independent Productions, which produces the show for TV3, said it was concerned the station would not air an episode featuring the minister during the referendum. In a letter, a company representative said the producers were concerned with what was “coming down the road in terms of Zappone’s role in what’s shaping up to be a busy time around the 8th Amendment issue over the coming months”.
The company said it was worried that “events could overtake” and TV3 could choose not to broadcast an episode of the show.
The minister was told the decision was taken for “commercial reasons”.
A TV3 spokesperson said yesterday that they would have had “no issue” with the minister appearing in the show.
MINISTER for Children Katherine Zappone has been dropped as a guest on a celebrity cooking show over fears her role in the forthcoming abortion referendum would prevent the programme from being broadcast.
Ms Zappone agreed to appear on TV3’s The Restaurant two months ago but was told last week that it had been decided to drop her from the upcoming series of the cooking show because of next year’s abortion referendum.
The Independent minister said she found it “bewildering” that her views on liberalising the country’s abortion laws would prevent her from appearing on the television cooking show.
“At no stage was it my intention to discuss this or any other political issue during the recording of The Restaurant which makes this last minute decision all the more surprising and difficult to understand,” she told the Sunday Independent.
Vision Independent Productions, which produces the show for TV3, said it was concerned the station would not air an episode featuring the minister during the ref- erendum. In a letter seen by the Sunday Independent ,a representative of the company said the producers are concerned with what is “coming down the road in terms of the Minister Zappone’s role in what’s shaping up to be a busy time around the 8th Amendment issue over the coming months”.
The company said it was worried that “events could overtake” and TV3 could choose not to broadcast an episode of the cooking show which is filmed in Marco Pierre White’s restaurant in Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
The minister was told the decision was taken for “commercial reasons” as the company would owe the station another episode at its own expense.
“I’m sure you’ ll understand that we would love to feature the minister in a future season of the series.
“Rest assured that this decision is being made for commercial reasons as the company can’t risk the financial exposure should any of the shows they record not be accepted for transmission,” the letter said.
It added that the company would “love” to feature the minister in a future season of the television show.
The letter came on the same day the Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution voted in favour of recommending legalising unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Ms Zappone secured a referendum on the Eighth Amendment in return for supporting the Fine Gael led-minority government.
The cooking show sees celebrities prepare a meal for a room full of diners and a panel of food critics led by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.
At the end of the evening the celebrity’s identity is revealed to the restaurant, and critics rate the meal. Diners pay for their meal and money raised goes to charity.
Yesterday, Ms Zappone said there was a “long record” of politicians appearing on The Restaurant including Enda Kenny, Alan Shatter, Ruairi Quinn, Michael Healy-Rae, Sean Gallagher and Dana.
“It is bewildering that my views on the Eighth Amendment as an affront to equality and human rights which must be repealed are being used to withdraw an invitation first issued two months ago,” she said. “During that period I have appeared on other TV3 shows including Ireland AM and the Six O’Clock Show ,as well as numerous other discussions on television and radio. Broadcasters need to ask themselves if they are self-censoring contributions by public figures who want to repeal the Eighth — even before a referendum is called,” she added.
A spokesperson for the independent production company confirmed the letter existed and asked for details to be printed in full.
A TV3 spokesperson said they would have had “no issue” with the Minister appearing on the show.