Panorama's Primark report pulls in 4.2m for BBC One

by Nikki Sandison, Brand Republic 24-Jun-08, 10:55

LONDON - Panorama's 'Primark: On the Rack' undercover report, exposing the use of child labour to make some of the retailer's clothes, was watched by 4.2m viewers on BBC One, according to unofficial overnight figures.

The Panorama report, in which reporter Tom Heap and his team found children in India sewing sequins onto Primark clothes, got the biggest audience in the 9pm-10pm slot with a 19.2% share.

Footage was shown of some of India's poorest people working long hours on Primark clothes in slum workshops and refugee camps, far away from the Primark-approved and inspected factories, breaking promises on child labour, working hours and wages.

When presented with the results, Primark sacked three of its suppliers.

ITV also put in a strong performance with its documentary 'Identical Triplets: Their Secret World' drawing in 4m viewers and an 18.4% share of the audience between 9pm and 10pm.

The programme explored whether four sets of triplets, including the UK's oldest surviving identical triplets, share a sixth sense that allows them to communicate between themselves.

The third part of BBC Two's 'Mary Queen of Shops' series attracted 2.5m viewers and an 11.1% share of the 9pm audience, beating the final part of Five's documentary series 'Warship', which pulled in 1.4m and a 6.4% share.

The final documentary in Channel 4's Victorian Passions season, called 'Upstairs Downstairs Love', netted 1.3m viewers and a 6% share of the audience between 9pm and 10pm. Including Channel 4+1 figures, it managed 1.4m viewers and a 6.4% share.

Channel 4's 'Big Brother' pulled in just 2.7m viewers and a 15.7% share of the audience between 10pm and 11pm. Including Channel 4+1 figures the show managed 2.9m and a 16.4% share.

Comments

Frank Kinrade - 24/06/2008

Hmm I know its sad and bad that kids work but I'm more concered that they will now starve as their families have no money to buy food or pay rent? I dunno much about this but they wouldn't do it if they didnt need too. I grew up on a farm so was out working the farm since I was little (big difference to long hours) but needs must?

pixie x - 24/06/2008

It frustrates me that the consumer once again is criticised for purchasing Primark clothes. If a mother with two children, working seven days a week a on a low income has the choice to spend £2 or £10 on a top, then it is no brainer. Primark needs to make the conditions work-able and fair pay should be a standard. If Primark take away their contracts then these people go from a low income to no income. This is time old argument, back in the day when Nike were found to be doing exactly the same thing. It is a massive problem that retailers need to address.

Nuts n Seeds - 24/06/2008

Agreed. Why don't we/media/govt ever seem to discuss the obvious solution - ban the sale of clothes in this country that cannot be proven at every production stage to have been made by employees being paid livable wages? Would it make clothes cost more? Course it would. Tough sh*t.