Number of complaints to Ofcom over Channel 4’s ‘deepfake’ version of the Queen’s speech rises to 347 as viewers slam ‘disrespectful woke rubbish’
- Number of complaints to Ofcom continues to rise two weeks on from broadcast
- Viewers were left reeling from the four-minute clip starring Debra Stephenson
- It made jibes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quitting the royal family
More exasperated viewers have lodged official complaints about Channel 4’s ‘deepfake’ version of the Queen’s Christmas Day speech.
The number of complaints to Ofcom continues to rise two weeks on from the controversial broadcast and has now reached 347.
Viewers were left reeling from the four-minute clip, which saw 48-year-old actress Debra Stephenson appear as Her Majesty using CGI technology.
Her fake Queen made jibes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quitting the royal family as well as a thinly-veiled reference to allegations dogging Prince Andrew involving his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The broadcaster used digital trickery to make an actress look like the Queen was practising dance moves for social media site TikTok
Hundreds of complaints poured in to the television regulator while others branded it ‘woke rubbish’ on social media.
One, called Trish, said: ‘I would rather go to the kitchen and hold my hands down on the hot plate for 10 minutes than watch this ‘woke’ rubbish.
‘Not many things in this country remain sacrosanct, but Her Majesty most certainly still does and always will!’
John Taylor added: ‘It’s both disrespectful of our gracious Queen and disgusting.
‘The makers of this rubbish and Channel 4 should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.’
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was among those outraged by the broadcast, tweeting: ‘How dare they’.
The artificial rendering of the Queen (pictured), devised by special effects creatives at Framestore, was directed by William Bartlett, while actress Miss Stephenson, 48, read a script by James Kettle
The end of the message shows the artificially created images flickering before disappearing to reveal the green screen (pictured) used to manufacture images of Buckingham Palace and show it was in fact Miss Stephenson portraying the Queen
But Channel 4 said the video ‘a powerful reminder that we can no longer trust our own eyes’.
The broadcast aired at 3pm on December 25, when the real Queen’s pre-recorded annual message was showed on the BBC.
Channel 4’s alternative Christmas message has previously been delivered by the likes of whistle-blower Edward Snowden, actor Danny Dyer, and The Simpsons.
The artificial rendering of the Queen, devised by special effects creatives at Framestore, was directed by William Bartlett, while actress Ms Stephenson a script by James Kettle.
The end of the message shows the artificially created images flickering before disappearing to reveal the green screen used to manufacture images of Buckingham Palace and show it was in fact Miss Stephenson portraying the Queen.
During the controversial four-minute broadcast, a spoof Elizabeth II, said: ‘One thing that has sustained many of us is our families, which is why I was so saddened by the departure of Harry and Meghan.
‘There are few things more hurtful than someone telling you they prefer the company of Canadians. But at least I still have my beloved Andrew close by, it seems unlikely he’ll be heading to North America anytime soon.’
Actress Ms Stephenson said: ‘I have an intense fascination with deepfake technology. For years I have studied people to impersonate them for TV, but now I can truly become them.
‘As an actress it is thrilling but it is also terrifying if you consider how this could be used in other contexts.’
Deepfake technology, also known as synthetic media, are photos, videos or audio files that have been manipulated using AI to show or say something that isn’t real.
They have become increasingly prevalent over recent years and can be used to create convincing but completely manufactured video content of high-profile figures.
‘Deepfake’ Queen’s Christmas message aired on Channel 4
For nearly seventy years, I have kept a tradition of speaking to you at Christmas. But on the BBC, I haven’t always been able to speak plainly and from the heart. So I am grateful to Channel 4 for giving me the opportunity to say whatever I like without anyone putting words in my mouth.
If there is a theme to my message today, it is trust. Trust in what is genuine – and what is not.
2020 has been a challenging year for us all. A year when most of you, thanks to the toilet roll shortages, have finally understood how it feels to have a predicament on the throne.
The video, starring actress Debra Stephenson as Her Majesty, was billed as a warning about misinformation and fake news. It was broadcast on Channel 4 while the real Queen’s Christmas message (pictured) was aired on BBC
One thing that has sustained many of us is our families, which is why I was so saddened by the departure of Harry and Meghan. There are few things more hurtful than someone telling you they prefer the company of Canadians. But at least I still have my beloved Andrew close by. It seems he’ll be heading to North America any time soon.
2020 has also been a year of heroes such as our brave NHS workers many of whom were forced to take incredible risks like treating Boris Johnson – knowing at any time, as a result, they too could become pregnant
As is so often the case, technology helped tackle the challenges we laced this year. Like many of you, when I wasn’t settling down with my husband to ‘Netflix and Phil’ as I like to call it , I was perfecting my moves for Tik Tok. In fact, there is something I’m rather excited to share with you all.
I’m under strict orders from Philip not to but as he’s nodded off in front of Home Alone 2, would you mind awfully? You’ll have to move that camera back, everyone ready?
*Queen dances*
If that doesn’t get me on Strictly I don’t know what will.
*Phone is handed to Queen*
So much of our world today comes to us through these screens, which brings me back to that question of trust. Of whether what we see and hear is always as it seems.
On behalf of myself, your Queen, and all at Channel 4 I trust you’ll have the very merriest of Merry Christmases.