‘Counterproductive and silly’: 30 years since the end of the bizarre Irish political voice ban

A new film looks at the restriction of broadcasting on named political groups in Northern Ireland - and the actors and comedians who benefited

People [my] age can vaguely remember a few examples, maybe," says director Roisin Agnew. But they didn't think of the broadcasting ban as a phenomenon - the only thing that comes up is that Chris Morris sketch."

Agnew is speaking to me as her new film The Ban is being screened at festivals. The 26-minute documentary tracks the genesis, enactment and fallout of the law which barred spokespeople from Sinn Fein from speaking on the British airwaves between 1988 and 1994, as well as the experiences of those caught in its crosshairs.