MTCP - pity there won't be another C4 series from what I've read. Another person who shows that humour can be used to good effect. Although I always rated his activism over his humour
Remember Menwith Hill and the balloon flights? And the on-going battle to get Nestle to play fair in Africa with regards to the baby feed? Funny, and effective.
Low-budget Michael Moore
who he fancied working with but C4 a bit tight on budget apparently vs ABC.
You are right about using whatever methods necessary to raise attention - and humour is very effective.
Speaking of Michael Moore:
The dual media approach of books and television/film has proven very powerful in creating a greater audience for the intellectual product of the author.
A good example would be Carl Sagan, whose "Cosmos" TV series was accompanied by a best-selling book. Undoubtedly charismatic, Sagan didn't "water down" the science, but made the concepts clearer for a wider range of people.
At the same time, there was a major increase in the sales of other books, magazines, and a greater interest in astronomy and science. Much seemed to have been provoked by this hugely successful TV series and book.
Michael Moore could have the same effect - best selling author, award-winning film maker, with Fahrenheit 9/11 receiving great acclaim and a 20 minute standing ovation at Cannes - could the combined, populist power of literature and TV/film provoke a greater reaction than literature could alone?
Some critiscism of Moore in the UK came in the form of "Chomsky for children" and too popularist with his "comedy/pathos" approach, but the counter argument ran - "you could fit the number of people who had read, and understood, Chomsky into a phone booth."
Moore is getting results. Mark Thomas did the same.