Channel 4 chief David Abraham hits back at critics of Beauty and the Beast

The chief executive of Channel 4, David Abraham, hit back today at media criticism of disability show Beauty and the Beast, labelling it poor journalism that had missed the show's public service point. The show, which pairs a disfigured person with someone who is beauty-obsessed, has only recently started filming but has already been denounced in the leader column of the Sunday Telegraph, which called it a " freak show ". Abraham, speaking at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, said that the show was an important and typically "provocative" Channel 4 look at important topics such as beauty, obsession and self-image. "I strongly refute some of the reporting that has come out saying we are being trashy and have in some way betrayed our public service obligations," he said, speaking to MediaGuardian.co.uk. "We only started filming this week so how someone could launch a very judgmental critique, before any film is even in the can, strikes me as at the very least premature." It was important to note that the programme makers were working with the disfigurement charity Changing Faces, he added, and that a key instigator of the series, Adam Pearson, himself has a genetic condition affecting his face. "We are going to explain our decisions and where it sits with our public service obligations. We will be happy to debate it, but let's not allow the view to develop that we are cynically sitting here at Channel 4 not delivering to our remit," Abraham said. Alison Walsh, Channel 4's disability director, also defended the programme in a comment piece for MediaGuardian.co.uk yesterday , saying it showed the broadcaster "at its best". It was "developing disabled talent behind the camera as well as putting on screen a cast of strong articulate disabled people with something to say about a major issue affecting the whole of society", Walsh said, adding: "Beauty and the Beast will bring mainstream audiences to people and subjects too often ignored and excluded from our screens." • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".