Model and Dancing On Ice star Caprice Bourret has been slammed by frustrated Channel 5 viewers after arguing with a doctor about the best ways to contain coronavirus.
In a bizarre debate on The Jeremy Vine Show today (Monday, March 16), Caprice, 48, reeled off a number of facts she had read on the internet about the flu-like bug.
She appeared on the programme with GP Sarah Jarvis, clinical director of health information service Patient, and the pair clashed on a number of points – including the efficacy of wearing surgical masks.
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In response to the suggestion Caprice knew as much as health experts because of what she had read online, Dr Jarvis was clearly unimpressed as she said: “No disrespect, unless you have read every scientific paper and statistical modelling paper that’s come out, you cannot argue with me on that. You can have an opinion but it’s not a fact.”
Caprice replied: “But I can, I have an opinion. This is what I’ve read, let me tell you the facts. In Taiwan and Singapore, what they did, they early on… in week one, in February, everyone was wearing surgical masks…”
But at that, the GP interrupted her and said: “Which make no difference at all.”
Sarah is the expert, but go on.
Caprice then demanded that Dr Jarvis let her finish speaking, which prompted Jeremy to step in to cool the situation.
He said: “Alright, Sarah is the expert, but go on.”
Caprice was slammed for the exchange by exasperated viewers on Twitter.
One joked: “Caprice the professional ice dancer and now an expert virologist?”
Another said sarcastically: “I’d always consult a former model before a qualified Dr for advice on viral epidemics.”
A third demanded: “What on earth does Caprice know?”
Someone else, mocking the way Caprice pronounced the acronym for the World Health Organisation, wrote: “Sooo, Caprice got the information from an unnamed newspaper, which included comments from a spokesperson from WOO? Let’s start with the basics, it isn’t WOO, it is the World Health Organization also known as the WHO, and all three letters are pronounced.”
Caprice the professional ice dancer and now an expert virologist?
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