BBC NEWS Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific North Midlands/East West/South-West London/South North Midlands/East West/South-West London/South
BBCi NEWS   SPORT   WEATHER   WORLD SERVICE   A-Z INDEX     

BBC News World Edition
 You are in: UK: England  
News Front Page
Africa
Americas
Asia-Pacific
Europe
Middle East
South Asia
UK
England
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Politics
Education
Business
Entertainment
Science/Nature
Technology
Health
-------------
Talking Point
-------------
Country Profiles
In Depth
-------------
Programmes
-------------
BBC Sport
BBC Weather
SERVICES
-------------
EDITIONS
Tuesday, 18 June, 2002, 07:15 GMT 08:15 UK
Soul sold for less than £12
Gareth Malham
Gareth Malham offered his soul for £10
A graduate has sold his soul on an internet auction site for less than £12.

Artist Gareth Malham came up with the idea after watching an episode of the Simpsons in which Bart makes a similar transaction.

The 26-year-old, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, posted an advert on the eBay site and his soul was bought by a man from Oklahoma in the US, for £11.61 ($16.95).

Mr Malham said the buyer wanted a new soul as he had lost his own in a bet over a game of air hockey.


I'm playing with the idea of marketplaces and the fact people will sell anything nowadays

Gareth Malham
Members of the clergy have dismissed the sale as "dangerous".

Mr Malham, who lives in Byker, said he would sign over his soul by writing a legal document in his own blood when he receives his cheque.

Originally from York, he graduated in photography, video and digital imaging from Sunderland University last year.

He works part time in the university's photography department and began selling possessions on the internet when he became short of money.

It was then he decided to sell something less tangible than old videos or computer games.

Poor profit

He said: "I don't think I'm really selling my soul, I believe my soul is me.

"I'm more interested in the fact someone wanted to buy it.

"I'm playing with the idea of marketplaces and the fact that people will sell anything nowadays."

However he admitted he would not become rich with his ploy - and said by the time he had paid for post and packing of his "soul" document he would barely make a profit.

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
Artist Gareth Malham
"I've got lots of other things for sale"

Click here to go to Tyne
See also:

13 Jun 02 | England
29 Jan 02 | England
20 Aug 01 | Scotland
02 Feb 01 | Business
30 Apr 99 | Americas
03 Sep 98 | Entertainment
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more England stories

© BBC ^^ Back to top

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East |
South Asia | UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature |
Technology | Health | Talking Point | Country Profiles | In Depth |
Programmes