Posted By Alistair Kelman Any series of Big Brother that takes place after 1 July 2007 will be taking place after the ban on smoking comes into place in England. Will it be lawful for contestants to smoke in the Big Brother house? AK

Posted By holmezy Would it be classed as a "workplace"? The surrounding rooms occupied by the film crew etc would be a workplace.......but the house?? I know they are getting paid to be there but its not exactly work is it? Holmezy

Posted By holmezy Ok.....its a "public" place.....but are the celebrities considered to be members of the public? Also, consider the need for soap operas to consider the reality issues... For example, do you think that there will be a group of smokers standing outside the Rovers Return in a similar situation to pubs in Ireland and Scotland presently. Is outside the pub a public place? in real life it would be, but on a film set? Not that I watch the soaps you understand..... Not trying to be argumentative, just something to think about!!

Posted By holmezy I'm not disputing the definitions of enclosed or substantially enclosed spaces..... Just wondered how tv programmes are going to get round it. Sorry to use Corro as an example again, however...here goes.. if the Battersby's smoke in their house (depicted as a private dwelling) which is in a studio (enclosed space and workplace)does the quest for realism win over the requirements of the law. or are we going to see all TV characters that smoke suddenly becoming non smokers? Holmezy..( a non smoking, non corro fan who has the pleasure of a smoking, corro fan for a wife)

Posted By GSP Well it will be illegal. what they do about it is upto to them. I should imagine millions will see the illegal footage which they have documented themselves, whether they would get prosecuted or not is a different story.

Posted By Jim Walker Last year (up beyond the wall), Mel Smith was playing Churchill (big fat cigar). I believe there was a clash with LA EHO but am unaware of the outcome. I think he (Smith)or the theatre owner backed down in the end

Posted By holmezy John, yes, I've noticed lots of programs were folks smoke outside bars, but there's still plenty of programs that show charachters smoking in their homes, which in "real" life is Ok but in a studio......maybe not? Perhaps we can expect to see LA or police raids on studios onlive tele? Holmezy

Posted By Makka I have had this conversation with a friend of mine who is a cameraman up in Scotland. How they are getting round it on indoor scenes is using more cut away shots. It is very rare that a person is seen on their own smoking, so they record the cigarette going to the mouth, the lighter going up, and then they cut away to the other person in the room. Presently they cut back to the first person and so on, when the character has supposedly finished the cigarette they cut to them moving their hand away from the ashtray having just stubbed it out, a small smoke pellet simulates the smoke that occurs in the stubbing out process. so far no-one has noticed the difference. If they need to shoot someone with a lighted cigarette but not drawing on it), they use a dummy one with a smoke pellet. Although in the age of computer generated imaging you could probably overlay a burning cigarette, in place of a blue or green screen one!

Posted By GSP By definition the BB garden is a courtyard and is more than 50% inclosed, so they wont be aloud to smoke in it either

Posted By holmezy GSP, I assume that you assume that the total surface area of the walls is more than the open area above, or do you know something we don't? Holmezy

Posted By holmezy "premises used as a broadcasting studio or film studio or for the recording of a performance with a view to its use in a programme service or in a film intended for public exhibition;" One of the definitions of a non smoking area from the regs,,, so I have no need to wonder anymore. GSP is technically right, as I suspect he knew all along!!

Posted By Glyn Phillips The Health Act 2006 Part 1, Ch 1 Para 3 (5) make provision for those participating as performers in a performance to be exempted from the act if "the artistic integrity of the performance make it appropriate for them to smoke". I would not think this would cover the Big Brother house but would cover actors in Corrie, etc. Glyn