In a peculiar move, North Korean state television has blurred the blue jeans of British gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh during an episode of his beloved BBC series, “Garden Secrets,” as they aired it for their audience. A symbol commonly associated with Western influence, jeans have been on the list of banned garments in North Korea since the 1990s, as they are regarded as emblems of American imperialism.
Titchmarsh, 74, who has been unknowingly cultivating a fan base in North Korea since 2022, was featured on television from the waist up, with the lower half of his body blurred to obscure his jeans. The episode in question features the gardener at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, where he can be seen engaging in the tranquil pursuit of planting and discussing gardening techniques of the 17th century. While the audience can clearly see a blurring effect around his denim jeans.
Curiously, North Korea is selective in its television content, with foreign programming being an extreme rarity. Shows that do make it to the screen usually cover ‘uncontroversial topics’ such as sports, science, and technology. Thus, Titchmarsh’s appearance on North Korean screens is both unusual and indicative of the regime’s complex relationship with foreign media.
The addition of North Korean narrators and instrumental music to the series, while masking Titchmarsh’s commentary, demonstrates an effort to localize and control the messaging within the program. Despite the censorship, it seems the calming influence of British gardening is welcomed in North Korea, with Titchmarsh himself expressing hope that his programs’ tranquil nature will be well-received.
Relevant articles:
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– Enough to make Kim Jong Un blush! Alan Titchmarsh’s JEANS are blurred by North Korean TV censors as the veteran BBC gardening legend enjoys bizarre celebrity status in the hermit kingdom, Daily Mail, Tue, 26 Mar 2024 10:08:59 GMT
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– Alan Titchmarsh’s jeans were censored on North Korean TV, indy100, Tue, 26 Mar 2024 12:57:16 GMT