Shocking true story of how a Mormon & a vegan made millions with law-breaking ‘natural’ sex pill to be exposed in docu
WHAT happens when you cross a Mormon with a vegan and an erectile dysfunction supplement?
It sounds like a bad joke — but it’s actually the start of a jaw-dropping true story that is about to hit our screens.
In the early Noughties, a man called Erb Avore began selling a sexual enhancement supplement called Stiff Nights.
Unlike competitor Viagra, Erb claimed his little pill was completely natural and he went on to have enormous success selling it.
Because it was natural, the pills could be sold like vitamins in petrol stations, corner shops and beyond.
Men raved about their success in the bedroom, thanks to Stiff Nights.
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That was until the American Food and Drug Administration threw the pills under the microscope and realised the reason it proved so potent was because it contained sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra.
An investigation was launched into the great erection deception and that’s when the action really hotted up.
Sildenafil is a drug that can cause serious side effects in those with certain conditions and taking some medications, particularly if they take too great a dose.
But men were popping the pills thinking they had nothing to worry about.
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ITV’s film about the amazing saga, expected this autumn, will hear from key players about how Erb was able to dodge America’s highly political pharmaceutical regulations.
A TV source said: “Whether we’ve dabbled in little blue pills or not, we all remain fascinated by Viagra and the miracles it can create in the bedroom. It makes this twist on the tale all the more riveting.
“It’s mind blowing that a carbon copy could masquerade as a harmless herbal supplement and sell out — right under the noses of the notoriously tightly regulated US pharmaceutical industry.
“The Great Erection Deception: The Stiff Nights Story will unpick how it happened and hear from scientists.”
LAYTON’S BAD COMPANY
LAYTON Williams is going to be a busy boy this autumn.
After being announced as part of this year’s Strictly line-up at the weekend, he is also back on the set of hit BBC Three comedy Bad Education.
The cast have returned to the fictional Abbey Grove school to begin filming for series five.
My picture shows Layton as drama teacher Stephen Carmichael alongside Mathew Horne as Mr Fraser.
They are joined by Vicki Pepperdine as headteacher Ms Hoburn and Charlie Wernhamas PE teacher Mitchell Harper.
Layton made his name on the show, which ran for three series from 2012 with Jack Whitehall playing the lead character. It relaunched in 2022.
He said: “I’m so buzzing that everyone embraced the new Bad Education.
“We’re back and badder than ever, creating more chaos with a super-talented bunch.”
ITV has confirmed my story that Jill Halfpenny will star in crime drama The Long Shadow, about serial killer Peter Sutcliffe.
She plays Doreen, the mother of Sutcliffe’s last victim, Jacqueline Hill, in the seven-parter landing next month.
Toby Jones and Katherine Kelly are also in the cast.
TOWER 3 ON THE BLOCKS
GRITTY thriller The Tower will return to ITV1 for a third series.
Gemma Whelan stars as DS Sarah Collins and Bafta-nominated Tahirah Sharif is back as PC Lizzie Adama.
Jimmy Akingbola and have also returned to the set, as DC Steve Bradshaw and DI Kieran Shaw.
This time the story follows Kate London’s crime novel Gallowstree Lane.
Executive producer Patrick Harbinson said: “Gallowstree Lane has a high-stakes drugs and gangs storyline with Jimmy and Emmett’s characters taking major roles.
“Sarah and Lizzie have gripping and heart-breaking stories. I firmly believe series three will be our best yet.”
Meanwhile, second series The Tower 2: Death Message premieres on ITV this month.
It stars Tamzin Outhwaite , who I revealed had joined the cast, alongside Niamh Cusack and Ella Smith.
FREE OF STARRY POTTERS
IN a world filled with fame- seekers and wannabes, Siobhan McSweeney reckons we all need to be a bit more potty.
The host believes down-to-earth contestants are the secret behind The Great Pottery Throw Down’s success.
Siobhan said on the Where There’s A Will podcast: “Nobody is going into pottery to be on telly.
"So you are still getting one of the last samples of humans who have no f***ing clue how to be in front of a camera.
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"They’re not suave, they’re not styled, they’re there in spite of the fact of the cameras. As a result, you get more authentic television.”
The Channel 4 contest for amateur potters is expected to be back next year.