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Debate rages over former drug dealers radio show
01.31.07|South Wales Echo|Staff Report


Convicted drug dealer and cannabis legalisation campaigner Howard Marks has been given a chat show series on BBC Radio Wales.

The series, called 'An Audience with Mr Nice' starts this Saturday and will see Marks interviewing a host of Welsh celebrities, including singer Kelly Jones, of the Stereophonics, and actors Rhys Ifans and Keith Allen.

The decision to give Marks air time on Radio Wales has sparked controversy with members of the public.

A retired psychiatric nurse, Robert John, 62, from Tonteg, contacted the Echo to criticise the BBC for spending licence payers' money on a former drug dealer.

'If you had seen the number of people I have seen who have been messed up by dope you would think twice about doing this,' he said.

'It is one thing to have him do a show in St David's Hall where people can choose to go or not, but to give him a radio slot with public money is wrong.

'This was a multi-million drug dealer. Who are we kidding? This wasn't a friendly cottage industry,' he added.

Malcolm Stephenson, 58, from Riverside, Cardiff, said: 'I don't agree with him using licence payers' money to publicise himself. I wouldn't listen to his show. Why should the public pay to make him important when so many in this country get a raw deal?'

And Lorraine Bowring, 46, from Caerphilly, said: 'I think it's sensationalising drugs. So many people's lives are wrecked by drugs and yet this is making drug dealers seem acceptable. You're given a status in society once you become a television or radio presenter - do we really want role models like that?'

Marks, from Kenfig Hill, near Bridgend, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the USA for dealing cannabis after a world-wide operation to capture him.

At the height of his drug-dealing career, the Oxford University graduate had 43 aliases, 89 phone lines and 25 companies trading around the world to fund his illegal activities.

He was released on parole in 1995 after serving seven years of his sentence and his autobiography, Mr Nice, was published the following year in 1996. It became one of the best selling non-fiction books of 1997.

Marks is now a well-known performer and writer, selling out venues with his one-man show, An Audience with Mr Nice.

BBC Radio Wales has defended its decision to offer a show to Marks.

A spokesman for the BBC said: 'Howard Marks already has experience in the entertainment industry and has recently completed a nationwide tour of venues.

He also has close relationships with a wide range of guests of interest to a Welsh audience.

'This programme does not glorify drug taking in any way. This programme focuses on the guest and the unique content contained within the interview illustrates his ability as a presenter.'