The chairman of the Liberal Vannin Party had criticised an MHK for asking if the broadcasting of future episodes of the documentary filmed at the prison could be stopped.

Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse asked 19 Tynwald questions about the TV series which has been criticised both in and off the island.

Michael Josem, who took over as chairman of the party this year, said that attempts to stop the show being broadcast were a ’disappointing attack on a free media’.

Mr Josem added: ’Free speech is a core tenet of our society, and elected representatives should not behave like petty despots in trying to censor the media like this.’

He also criticised the government for ’distracting’ prison staff from their core work by ’trying to turn them into TV stars’.

In response to Mr Moorhouse’s question, Chief Minister Howard Quayle said: ’It is unlikely that the Isle of Man Government would be able to prevent future episodes from being broadcast nor is there a wish or need to prevent such airing.’

It was revealed through his questions that the government received no payment for, and had no editorial control over, the show. Mr Quayle also said he believed the show could lead to a rise in tourism ’attributed to the exposure given to that island by the series’.

The Chief Minister said: ’It is expected that over the six-week series the successful progressive regime run by the prison governor for the Department of Home Affairs would be highlighted providing a positive view of rehabilitation in the island.