The Mother Of All Cons - BBC iPlayer
The Mother Of All Cons - BBC iPlayer
Author
Discussion

LARK F1 GTR

4,490 posts

173 months

Monday 1st June
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This started last night and it has three episodes, but it's all on iPlayer.

It's a true story where a woman and her ill daughter set up a charity called Believe In Magic.


but all isn't as it seems

quigonjay

Original Poster:

1,708 posts

248 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
The Mother Of All Cons

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt43291642/

Great documentary from BBC, few weeks since release now so surprised it has not been discussed yet, based on a podcast Believe In Magic: The Mother Of All Cons, had never heard of the charity Believe In Magic but supported by a whole host of celebrities, most notably minor royals and One Direction, but it was all a massive scam

Eric Mc

125,285 posts

292 months

Wednesday 17th June
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Watched it last week.

Yes - a salutory tale of deception, a manipulative mother and ultimately a very sad story.

Legacywr

15,400 posts

215 months

Wednesday 17th June
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Much too long, could have been covered in one episode IMO.

Eric Mc

125,285 posts

292 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
Legacywr said:
Much too long, could have been covered in one episode IMO.
I call that "Netflix Syndrome". Why make a one hour documentary when you have been given a budget for four.

Legacywr

15,400 posts

215 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Legacywr said:
Much too long, could have been covered in one episode IMO.
I call that "Netflix Syndrome". Why make a one hour documentary when you have been given a budget for four.
Netflix documentaries leave a lot to be desired, I've mentioned 2 in just the last week.


Slow.Patrol

5,263 posts

41 months

Wednesday 17th June
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I must admit I am becoming less and less charitable as I get older.

I sometimes get posts appearing on my social media, generally asking for funds to cover costs of vet care for animals at rescue centres and similar. I often wonder if they are legitimate. None are getting my money.

I also found a few charities (Age UK and Trussell Trust) were giving donations to the Fabian's Society who are in reality a political trust.

The whole charity situation needs a total overhaul. I have no doubt that some use it for the tax advantages.

There has also been some exposure with Jodie Marsh and her "animal rescue" organisation. She took out £90k as a salary.

Legacywr

15,400 posts

215 months

Wednesday 17th June
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People who think animals are more important than people are not to be trusted...

DeejRC

9,168 posts

109 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
Legacywr said:
People who think animals are more important than people are not to be trusted...
On the contrary, I think those who think they are more important than animals should never be allowed to hold any responsibility over anything more important than a paper bag.

Legacywr

15,400 posts

215 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
DeejRC said:
Legacywr said:
People who think animals are more important than people are not to be trusted...
On the contrary, I think those who think they are more important than animals should never be allowed to hold any responsibility over anything more important than a paper bag.
Only one of us is balanced...

Wills2

29,139 posts

202 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
Legacywr said:
Netflix documentaries leave a lot to be desired, I've mentioned 2 in just the last week.
There documentary series "Dirty money" with one episode per subject was brilliant, perhaps they don't make them like they used to.

Mr Penguin

4,488 posts

66 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
Slow.Patrol said:
I must admit I am becoming less and less charitable as I get older.

I sometimes get posts appearing on my social media, generally asking for funds to cover costs of vet care for animals at rescue centres and similar. I often wonder if they are legitimate. None are getting my money.

I also found a few charities (Age UK and Trussell Trust) were giving donations to the Fabian's Society who are in reality a political trust.

The whole charity situation needs a total overhaul. I have no doubt that some use it for the tax advantages.

There has also been some exposure with Jodie Marsh and her "animal rescue" organisation. She took out £90k as a salary.
I quite liked the Big Society idea proposed by David Cameron which would move a lot of things from the state and into the charity sector and also encourage more volunteering (which all sounds good - we are a part of society and should contribute where we have skills). Since then I have spent quite a lot of time working with charities of different sizes and my view of what they do is now considerably less positive than it used to be. For example I wouldn't give them money without a lot of checks as to what they actually do with it.

Slow.Patrol

5,263 posts

41 months

Wednesday 17th June
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Mr Penguin said:
For example I wouldn't give them money without a lot of checks as to what they actually do with it.
This is exactly where I am now. Glad I'm not the only one.

mgtony

4,192 posts

217 months

Wednesday 17th June
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Lark started a thread on this back on the 1st but it didn't get any traction. Seemed there wasn't much interest.
Was thinking there was going to be a bigger twist, either she hadn't died, they faked the death or the mother had killed her. All that medication had slowly done her body in over the years, but wondered what would cause the condition that the coroner found she died of.
How much did the girl know?

quigonjay

Original Poster:

1,708 posts

248 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
mgtony said:
Lark started a thread on this back on the 1st but it didn't get any traction. Seemed there wasn't much interest.
Was thinking there was going to be a bigger twist, either she hadn't died, they faked the death or the mother had killed her. All that medication had slowly done her body in over the years, but wondered what would cause the condition that the coroner found she died of.
How much did the girl know?
Ah balls, will get this one closed

quigonjay

Original Poster:

1,708 posts

248 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
I requested this one be closed and comments moved to the Lark thread but they have done it the opposite way round, sorry Lark, I am the first to complain about repeat threads and i'll be honest, I did not use search, my apologies

DeejRC

9,168 posts

109 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
Legacywr said:
DeejRC said:
Legacywr said:
People who think animals are more important than people are not to be trusted...
On the contrary, I think those who think they are more important than animals should never be allowed to hold any responsibility over anything more important than a paper bag.
Only one of us is balanced...
Fortunately I can stand on one leg. I’m unsure about you.

LARK F1 GTR

4,490 posts

173 months

Wednesday 17th June
quotequote all
quigonjay said:
I requested this one be closed and comments moved to the Lark thread but they have done it the opposite way round, sorry Lark, I am the first to complain about repeat threads and i'll be honest, I did not use search, my apologies
Hi,

No worries smile

Bluevanman

9,933 posts

220 months

Wednesday 17th June
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I'm surprised Jean wasn't prosecuted for fraud,there seemed to be plenty of evidence

quigonjay

Original Poster:

1,708 posts

248 months

Thursday 18th June
quotequote all
Bluevanman said:
I'm surprised Jean wasn't prosecuted for fraud,there seemed to be plenty of evidence
Not just fraud, she more or less killed her daughter