About this season
Newswipe with Charlie Brooker was a British news review programme broadcast on BBC Four written and presented by Charlie Brooker. It is similar to Brooker's Screenwipe series which is also shown on BBC Four. A first series of six episodes ran between 25 March 2009 and 29 April 2009. A second series began on 19 January 2010 and concluded on 23 February 2010.
Episodes (6)
1. Episode One
Aired 19 January 2010 • 30 min
2. Episode Two
Aired 26 January 2010 • 30 min
3. Episode Three
Aired 2 February 2010 • 30 min
4. Episode Four
Aired 9 February 2010 • 30 min
5. Episode Five
Aired 16 February 2010 • 30 min
Brooker explores the often tedious nature of live coverage. Doug Stanhope wonders why the media aggressively solicits the frequently idiotic opinions of the public. "The Week in Bullshit" looks at coverage of the newfound popularity of leeches, ITV's acceptance of responsibility in the I'm a Celebrity rat-eating incident, and an ITN report about the decline of the practice of eatings dogs in China. Tim Key presents a poem about disgraced MPs. Other segments examine the media's hysterical coverage of the John Terry affair scandal, the response to the news that four MPs will face criminal charges in the MPs' Expenses scandal, and a BBC News series following journalist Nick Robinson's efforts to solicit voters' opinions.
6. Episode Six
Aired 23 February 2010 • 30 min
Compilation of the best bits from this and the previous series of caustic commentary, satirical observations and laughs from Charlie Brooker.