Radiohead could face legal action over Burn The Witch video

A still from Radiohead's Burn The Witch video

Radiohead could face legal action over their video for Burn The Witch.

The characters in the video, released this month, bear a striking resemblance to 1960s British kids’ TV show Trumpton. And the family of the show’s creator Gordon Murray say the promo tarnishes the brand.

William Mollett, the son-in-law of 95-year-old Gordon Murray, tells the Mail On Sunday: “Radiohead should have sought our consent as we consider this a tarnishing of the brand.

“It is not something we would have authorised. We consider that there is a breach of copyright and we are deciding what to do next.”

Mollett adds that he wouldn’t show the Radiohead video to Murray, as he would be “appalled.”

Burn The Witch is the first song to be revealed from Radiohead’s ninth album A Moon Shaped Pool, which was released on May 8.

Burn The Witch video creator Virpi Kettu said the promo was a comment on European fears about the refugee crisis.

Radiohead tour dates 2016

May 20: Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
May 21: Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
May 23: Paris Le Zenith, France
May 24: Paris Le Zenith, France
May 26: London Roundhouse, UK
May 27: London Roundhouse, UK
May 28: London Roundhouse, UK
Jun 01: Les Nuits Des Fourvieres festival, France
Jun 03: Primavera Sound, Spain
Jun 17: Secret Solstic, Iceland
Jul 02: Openair, Switzerland
Jul 08: Nos Alive Festival, Portugal
Jul 26: New York Madison Square Garden, NY
Jul 27: New York Madison Square Garden, NY
Jul 29-31: Osheaga Music And Arts Festival, Canada
Aug 04: Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, CA
Aug 08: Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, CA
Aug 20-21: Summersonic, Japan
Sep 11: Lollapalooza, Germany
Oct 03: Mexico City Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico
Oct 04: Mexico City Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico

Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022.