Lecturer sacked over TV show

7:00pm Friday 26th May 2006

A COLLEGE lecturer has been sacked after taking unauthorised leave to go on the hit television gameshow Deal Or No Deal.

Louise Brand-Parkinson, 36, said today she made the decision because she could not turn down her chance of a lifetime' to win £250,000.

And she criticised bosses at Blackburn College for refusing to allow her to miss six days of college for filming of the Channel Four game show, presented by Noel Edmonds.

In a letter, Ian Clinton, the college principal, said they were concerned whether she could have focused on her pupils' needs if she won a big cash prize.

Today Mr Clinton stood by his decision and said that leave during term time was only granted in exceptional circumstances.

Mrs Brand-Parkinson, a mum of one of Mowbray Avenue, Blackburn, said she had won a prize that was "not life-changing" on the show, which will be aired on June 12.

She added: "I had to make the decision Do I go or do I stay?'. There was a chance I could have won five pounds, or nothing.

"But I would have always regretted it if I didn't take the chance to win £250,000.

"I have had a lot of heartache in my family with illness over the past year and I thought there was more to life than work.

"I am not a person who likes to say What if' 55,000 people auditioned for that show and I got through.

"It was the best experience of my life but it has also become the most traumatic and stressful experience."

Mrs Brand-Parkinson applied to go on Deal or No Deal, featuring the mystery "Banker", in February and asked the college for time off, but was denied because bosses said they could not arrange cover.

Mrs Brand-Parkinson, a lecturer at the college for eight years, said she then spoke to colleagues, who agreed to cover her shifts.

But she said she was denied again after appealing to Mr Clinton.

In the letter to her he said he had made his decision after "focusing on the impact on Blackburn College" and the "wider image with parents and others".

He wrote: "The show, as I understand it, is about chance rather than a Mastermind type of programme.

"...It is not ideal, particularly if you win £100,000, it would be difficult for you to refocus on your students and their needs, i.e exam success.

"Whilst I feel sorry for your situation I am not prepared to overturn the decision."

Mrs Brand-Parkinson, who taught in sociology, criminology, psychology, social work and web design, decided to go to Bristol for filming after teaching on Thursday March 16.

She missed the Friday and all the next week of work.

While she was away another letter arrived telling her she had been suspended.

After a hearing, she was sacked on May 12 and that decision was upheld following an appeal this week.

She said she was devastated that she had lost her job, saying she loved her students and helping them attain good grades.

A spokesman for the college said: "Blackburn College Principal Ian Clinton stands by his decision.

"This decision was endorsed by a panel of governors hearing Louise's appeal.

"Mrs Brand-Parkinson continually ignored instruction that she was not permitted to take time off during the college term time to appear on a game show from her line manager, the vice-principal and the college principal.

"She also ignored advice from her union representative that by appearing on the game show she would face dismissal for gross misconduct."

When asked about his comments in the letter, Mr Clinton declined to comment on a lecturer's personal files.

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