What's next?

Taking a welcome break from law revision today, I came across this article in the Guardian.
In fact, it's not too far removed from what I'm studying.

BBC2 have decided to commission a program where twelve celebrities sit on a jury to decide the outcome of a "fake" trial involving two footballers who are accused of rape by a girl and her friend. Sound familiar?

I admit that my knowledge of the law is limited, but if there is one thing which sticks in my mind, it is DO NOT INFLUENCE THE JURY. It is contempt of court. What is said between members of the jury must stay confidential. I know that this is "only" entertainment, but I think that it's cutting a bit close to the bone. Add to this some interesting choices for members of the jury, including one of the most famous perjurers in history, Jeffrey Archer, Stan Collymore, best known recently for punching his girlfriend in public and hanging around public toilets. And most alarmingly , Sarah Payne's mother.

Having never sat on a jury myself, I suppose I am not in a position to comment on what goes on, but what I am sure of is that there is a great number of people who watch a lot of TV and are greatly influenced by what they watch there. Will they be negatively (or positively) influenced? Reality TV is entertainment. But at what cost?