(Mr MC posting) a pretty sad story of someone's breakdown and mental decline, and the Mail has followed the path of the early episodes of talent contests, by proving its still considered acceptable to mock the afflicted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedlam
"In the 18th century people used to go to Bedlam to stare at the lunatics. For a penny one could peer into their cells, view the freaks of the "show of Bethlehem" and laugh at their antics, generally of a sexual nature or violent fights. Entry was free on the first Tuesday of the month. Visitors were permitted to bring long sticks with which to poke and enrage the inmates. In 1814 alone, there were 96,000 such visits"
Good to see society has developed. Now the Mail and ITV/Simon Cowell mean you can enjoy the same thrill from the comfort of your living room.