Entry Three: Primary Research,

Detailed Analysis of Hustle

Aired Tuesday 29Th March 2005

The episode that I will be analysing is I believe a prime example of the ridiculously glamorous nature of the portrayal of the "criminal" in media. in this episode Mickey, Danny, Albert, Ash and Stacie return from a well-earned break (as they could afford this) to discover that old time grifter Harry Holmes (played by Ronald Pickup) has been arrested (you later discover due to breaking the "con man's moral code".

After attempting to con ruthless property developer, Howard Jennings (played by Charlie Creed Miles), Holmes may be in for a long stretch. Jennings is now made to seem the obvious choice for the happy go lucky cons next "mark". The use of specific lingo throughout the series as well as this episode in particular, draws the viewer further into the programme itself, immersing them in the "fact" that being a Con man is like being in a cool gang that the viewer should want to be a part of. This "team" ethic is presented to the viewer through out and actively takes steps to encourage copycat behaviour. This is a perfect example of the effect of the glamorisation of criminals in the media on the public.

The scene that calls for the most analysis is the meeting before the "con". This is due to the location as well as the circumstances of these criminals. The scene opens with pop music playing over the top, in a pent house over looking the river Thames. The criminals are equipped with several laptops as well as expensive looking equipment around them. This shows that not only does crime pay, but it pays well. glamorising the criminals to the extent that there plans can reach extortionate new heights, including a rubber face mask surgically attached in order to evade recognition as well as an assortment of other anti-spy technologies.

It is at this point that it becomes apparent that the con men have numerous moral rules which must be followed in order to retain success in there criminal activities. This glamorises the criminals in the worst possible way as doesn’t it show them as opportunists but instead, so successful that they can afford to chose when to work, a luxury that most can't afford. This (weather intentional or not) is a ridiculous idea and completely contrasts the representation of the criminal in the BBC article I have read, which talks of a 72 year old woman being robbed of £700 in the middle of winter.