Outrage at TV exorcism

Channel 4 has provoked outrage by showing the first exorcism ritual on British TV.

The programme brought anger from viewers and religious groups amid claims it was sensationalist and exploited someone who is likely to be mentally fragile.

The programme, called The Exorcist, featured a man known only as Colin who believes he is possessed by demons.

In a ritual that lasted about two minutes, priest the Rev Trevor Newport stood over Colin, prayed and then demanded that evil spirits be cast from his body. There was no shaking or rocking associated with the traditional images of exorcism and Colin did not demonstrate any violent reaction.

Afterwards he said: "I feel that I have had demons in my life and that they have been delivered. I was a bit nervous beforehand but after I was prayed for the nervousness just went. It was the most relaxed deliverance I have ever had." Neuro-imaging technology monitored the activity in his brain as the exorcism was performed.

Channel 4 broadcast the programme "as live" hours after it had taken place in front of a panel of experts at the Truman Brewery in Brick Lane. Channel 4 said it was a "scientific experiment". It was broadcast at 11.05 last night

Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe said today: "An exorcism is not an appropriate thing to be shown on television. Anything that you put on television even if it is in the name of science is seen as a form of entertainment." The Right Rev Dominic Walker, Bishop of Monmouth, said: "People who need this sort of help are nearly always psychologically troubled.

"Once you've got a television programme on exorcism we'll end up with lots of telephone calls from people saying, 'I think I'm possessed' because they have got some problems that a doctor hasn't been able to solve."

Tom Willis, a retired vicar who has performed several exorcisms, said: "Psychiatrists are probing someone's mental state on television.

"It's interfering in something very personal." John Beyer, director of Media Watch UK, said Channel 4 was guilty of sensationalising the subject.

He said: "Is this a legitimate investigation or just some stunt to create controversy and ratings?" He pointed to Ofcom's programme code, which says exorcisms and occult practices should only screened in the context of a legitimate investigation."

Mr Beyer added: "People who need 'exorcisms' are nearly always mentally ill. The channel is likely to get loads of calls from people saying they are possessed too because they haven't had proper help for their problems-from doctors." Channel 4 said Colin was carefully tested to make sure he was not mentally ill. Colin, in his forties, has been undergoing the ritual for a number of years.

Mr Newport was ordained into the Pentecostal ministry 25 years ago and now works within the Life Changing Ministries.

He said: "Colin was very agitated beforehand and now he is completely relaxed.

"A lot of people were perhaps expecting a more graphic demonstration (of deliverance) - this is quite a normal deliverance."

Dr Jonathan Bird, a neuro-psychiatrist at the Frenchay Hospital-in Bristol, who monitored the activity in Colin's brain, said: "We saw some asymmetry in the temporal lobe. Whether that is a brain process or a spiritual process, I leave to the experts."

Channel 4 defended the show, arguing it had a serious scientific purpose and was not merely a stunt

Simon Andreae, head of science at Channel 4, said: "We are delighted to have been part of one of the first scientific investigations into the neurology of possession.

"I hope that the programme will form part of a wider debate about the relationship between science and religion."