A mockumentary suggesting lab-grown human flesh could serve as a cheap alternative source of food is meant to highlight the ‘horrible’ cost-of-living crisis, according to its director.
Last night, Channel 4 screened 'The British Miracle Meat' – a satirical documentary starring Greg Wallace which suggested lab-grown human flesh could be a cheap alternative source of food.
The MasterChef host interviewed ‘donors’ who were selling their flesh to the fictional firm ‘Good Harvest’, and showed the tissue growing into larger slabs of meat for steaks, burgers and sausages.
The film suggested that the "premium range" of human meat came from the flesh of children aged six and below – including a promotional video which claimed the womb was ‘nature’s oven’.
During the broadcast, viewers were not explicitly told that the show was satirical and nonfictional.
Speaking to Moncrieff this afternoon, Director Tom Kingsley said the film was based on Jonathan Swift’s 1729 essay 'A Modest Proposal'.
"He was proposing how the poorest people in Ireland could make money by selling their children as food to the rich," he told the show.
"He was mocking heartless attitudes to the poor and British policy towards the Irish.
"He did it in a really deadpan way, presenting this crazy idea in a really serious way."
The film has been the subject of a lot of backlash with Twitter users descending on the platform to express their outrage.
Good harvest food...this can't be real???!!! Is this a joke??? 😨😱The British miracle meat on channel 4 now
— Steve Black (@Stevethefix) July 24, 2023
Truely disturbed watching’ The British miracle meat’ on @Channel4 . Informed consent or playing on people’s vulnerability. Please tell me this is a sick joke #lincsconnect
— Dawn Thomas (@DawnThomas2311) July 24, 2023
Greg Wallace's 'The British Miracle meat' on Channel 4 is like an episode of Black Morror. Harvested human meat....is it April first?
— Saffos (@saflovesu) July 24, 2023
Mr Kingsley said presenter Greg Wallace was early to join the project, despite the "risks" of the controversial film.
"He was aware that it was a bit of a crazy choice," he said. "He was really excited to do some acting, do some comedy."
"This show has a really strong moral heart – what we're saying is the cost of living crisis is appalling, and it's horrible, and we should be angry about it," said Mr Kingsley.
"We're not making fun of the poor people who have to resort to desperate measures because the Government is not helping.
"We were very careful to make sure that our fictional characters who are selling their flesh to the company, they're not stupid, they know what they're doing – but, they have no other choice and they're not happy about it".
The mockumentary is available to stream on the SkyGo player or can be watched live on Channel 4 at 12:05am on Saturday, 29th of July.
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