Yes I agree with Paul, it is very sad but every minute a child in
Iraq,Sudan,( it used to be N.Ireland) gets maimed ,orphaned,killed,etc
The fund should be spent on these children.If they would rather spend it at home then there is poverty around every corner in England,one does not have to look very far.They should start a charity maybe to deal with children who have no hope through abusive parents,and I think it will help them to deal with thier tragic loss.

jaks, florida,

His comment regarding entertainment and fun is possibly one of the most vile things i have ever read in my entire life.

Rob, Belfast,

It would seem that Mr. Affleck is more sensitive to the inappropriateness of this situation than the McCanns and their representatives are. How sad and disturbing.

Patricia, Oklahoma City, USA

no, no, no...this has all has to stop.
"please please please no more McCanns!" my respect for the Times has ended. the McCanns story has long ceased to be news and has only been a pitiful media circus whirlwind for way too long. end it.
drop it.....

Mike @ Bankside, London, UK

its disgusting! How low can you stoop! Any sympathy I had for this family is gone.

Karen, Hamilton, USA

Is this a joke? Disgraceful

Paul, MK, UK

QUOTE Mr Mitchell said: “While it may be hugely entertaining and a bit of fun to think of cast lists UNQUOTE Good god what planet is this pink shirted buffoon living on, what is entertaining about a lost child? this man should engage his brain before he speaks, thus avoiding putting his foot in his mouth LUDICROUS!

Tim, london, uk

I do think it's time to put the McCann story on the back-burner. Even if only for a while. Mr and Mrs McCann should keep a low profile too.

This can be doing nobody any good. Least of all Madeleine.

Rick Worth, Rochester, UK

Is this a sick joke or merely a distraction from reports of conclusive DNA results arriving in Portugal?

Rosemary, London,UK,

Lets get it in the shops for Christmas!!

joe, london,

Sick, sad and uncalled for. I'm sorry but there are children disappearing every day all over the world who have not had the media attention to help find them. Are we going to see a dedicated tv channel as more parents trying to find their missing child take this course of action? Yes it is heartbreaking what has happened but surely enough is enough as I cannot be the only one losing a little faith in what the McCanns are trying to do? How are the film producers going to decide on a suitable ending because no one knows what has happened or are they already planning a sequel too?

Matt, Coventry, England

The McCann story has always been a relentless media fiasco and we, as the viewing public, will never be able to get away from it. As long as the McCanns have that fund at their disposal, we will be open to every story they feel the need to tell.
A film about their missing daughter? She's only been missing 8 months and they are thinking about who can play her role and who could act the parts of themselves? Are they right in the head?
It's funny, no one has ever offered to help Kerry Needham financially and the UK and Greek government have never lifted a finger to help her search for her son Ben, and he's missing almost 17 years! Where is the justice in this world?

Even the media were slow to latch onto Ben's story, isn't that right, T.O?

Nicola, Carlisle,

I have always focused on the hopeful finding of Madeleine, not because of her parents but despite them. I have never understood their apparently calm attitude towards their nightmare situation and have always questioned their high-profile and very newsworthy attitude. I have to say that in my opinion, any type of film/documentary on this traumatic situation would only call into question the integrity of all concerned, with the obvious exception of the victim, Madeleine.

Ann, Alexandria, Scotland

“While it may be hugely entertaining and a bit of fun to think of cast lists, we are a million miles away from that sort of thing."

I should think so too. This is the icing on an already poisonous cake. If I lost my daughter I would slap the face of anyone who suggested making a film out of it, not have a meeting with them to talk about it.

Josie, Brighton, England

How very tasteful.

Tony, London, UK

Stop the circus!!!!!!

Henrymen, Manchester,

Have I read that right: 'While it might be hugely entertaining and a bit of fun to think of casts lists. ........

I simply cannot find the words to express my disgust.

GILLIAN HUTCHINSON, LYMM, UNITED KINGDOM.

If Madeleine was abducted by child traffickers it is almost certain she is either dead or being appallingly abused.

So Mr Mitchell, it may be hugely entertaining and a bit of fun to think of cast lists for the proposed film about her would it?

You are a disgrace sir.

Chris, Holmfirth, uk

Am i the only one frightened by the similarity of Afflecks Film?
A girl called Madeline McCready is snatched from her bed while her parents are away?

Frightenening.

I don't think it's right personally to make money out of your own daughters dissapearance and i personally don't think it'll help all that muc unless it's a HUGE film, no docu-drama will do it justice. Also, we don't know the villian so hw will it end?

Herowyn, Wolverhampton,

Soon it will be the anniversary of Madeleine's disappearence, no doubt an event that will be surrounded by a huge media-hype for the Mcanns. Never before has one missing child dominated our news on a daily basis for so long, and yet they are still no nearer to finding Madeleine nor are the details of what actually happend to her any clearer. The publicity in the first few hours when a child goes missing is crucial, as time passes however the publicity effect diminishes, as does the chances of finding the child alive. Although like any caring parents the McCann's will always hope to find Madeleine, they themselves must know that the prognosis is not favourable and yet they still insist on courting major publicity, which reaks more of money-lust than grief. Meanwhile how many other children have been abandoned, gone missing or died throughout the world without even a mention, what makes Madeleine so news-worthy? probably the fact that the McCanns propaganda machine is hard at work.

Les, Southport, England - a country, not a state!

"The media are making money out of the situation themselves." What an odd statement to make. Surely, the media is giving this the oxygen of publicity the McCanns need to find their missing child.

Very strange.

steve, chester, cheshire

Any credibility this couple may still have had, has now been lost. They need to move on now, and spare us this continuing saga.

chris, St Gervais, France

Raise awareness? ? ? .How can any person on this planet not be aware? Still it would be a good "fund raiser" I suppose. Let the poor child rest in peace.

john, radstock, somerset

Plea to The Times:
please please please no more McCanns!
Furthermore..The idea of a film is the most ridiculous madeleine-related story so far!

david, London, UK

Mr Mitchell said: “While it may be hugely entertaining and a bit of fun to think of cast lists, we are a million miles away from that sort of thing."


Mr Mitchell seems to have a very odd sense of humour, I cannot see anything remotely funny in the sad story of this poor child.

Why does it all seem to be about money?

Anna, Peterborough, Cambs

Can we please be spared any more news from the McCann's media factory. Every week there is another story and it starts to reek of a money making soap opera. Do go and find your child but try to do it with some dignity and let the rest of us get on with our own life.

Paul, London.,