david ginola - the centre

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Did anyone else see this extraordinary documentary on BBC 3? It's repeated a couple of times later this week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/ginola_secrets_and_lies.shtml

It turns out the handsome Frenchman is a healer with very special gifts, who does things behind closed doors to help people - usually the rich and famous - to achieve their true potential. His healing powers are also backed up by an eccentric-looking guru from India and by a man who was talked out of suicide by Ginola back in the 70s.

I won't spoil the plot for you, but the ending (along with several other bits) is so extraordinary as to arouse suspicion that the entire thing is an elaborate hoax.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Monday, 20 September 2004 05:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Bizarre. I ma very intrigued.

― Jimmybommy JimmyK'KANG (Nick Southall), Monday, 20 September 2004 06:43 (twenty-one years ago)

i really never liked that guy you know

that solskjaer guy seems pretty cool though

and also steadinho

― the great doxology of heckmondwike town (gareth), Monday, 20 September 2004 07:03 (twenty-one years ago)

this is probably like that thing where Dale Winton and Nell McAndrew got married.

― teh pow! (blueski), Monday, 20 September 2004 09:19 (twenty-one years ago)

There's no obvious reason to make a spoof documentary. But is there some midway point between a spoof and genuine documentary? All the people in it - those he helps and the 'talking heads' - play themselves and they seem to speak very earnestly. But there's so much that's contrived. And the actors he helps really act, as in, they seem to be performing lines.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Monday, 20 September 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, this totally smacks of the Dale Winton - Nell McAndrew thing. There was no real reason for that either, and all the talking heads were very convincing (even Souness). You've been had, methinks.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I noticed that The Centre was in fact Eltham Palace in South East London, which presumably has to be open to the public at some point during the week, as an English Heritage tourist site.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:37 (twenty-one years ago)

quite obviously a hoax

quite funny in parts, as well

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 22:21 (twenty-one years ago)

It was not *that* obvious. But the point where I got suspicious was when the whistleblower started to (over)act. Come to think of it, many of the scenes with David Harewood were pretty unconvincing. In hindsight.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Thursday, 23 September 2004 11:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Does he wash the strength back in?

― beanz (beanz), Thursday, 23 September 2004 12:09 (twenty-one years ago)

quite right about the whistleblower, JG.

some of the scenes were quite convincing - when they questioned ginola while he was out at lunch, when they first arrived in the car park.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:53 (twenty-one years ago)

He's trying to make it as an actor so pulling off a hoax like this is a good career move

― Dadrockismus (Dada), Thursday, 23 September 2004 14:00 (twenty-one years ago)

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