ABSTRACT
Programme makers need to respect the privacy of individuals at all times. The only justification for bringing someone’s private life into the public domain is that there is a wider public interest. Traditionally in English law, there has been no right to privacy. However, there has been a clutch of recent court cases where famous people have won over privacy issues. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas sued and won against Hello! magazine for publishing unauthorised photos taken at their wedding. Supermodel Naomi Campbell won a privacy case against the Mirror newspaper, which had made public her battle against drug addiction. These cases were argued under the European Convention of Human Rights which came into force in British law in October 2000. Article 8, section 1, of the convention states: ‘Everyone has the right for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.’ This can cause legal difficulties as it appears to sit awkwardly with Article 10 which enshrines the right to freedom of expression.
