We live in an age of conspicuous compassion – public displays of compassion – where we send flowers to recently deceased celebrities, weep in public over the deaths of murdered children, light candles and sign books of condolence. From People’s Princesses to C list celebrities, Britons are feeding their egos by indulging in recreational grief for people they have never met. We think we are projecting ourselves as humane and sympathetic souls – but isn’t it really about making ourselves feel better? How much is the media to blame for the ‘Dianafication’ of ordinary people, the growing trends of wearing charity ribbons, strapping a red nose to your car and holding minute silences? This programme explores the culture of ostentatious grieving and, as mourning sickness reaches epidemic proportions, asks why are we elevating emoting over emotion?