Use boots by all means but first be sure that the horse is actually feeling pain - it takes them a while to get used to the new sensation - mine has been barefoot for 4 years now and STILL goes "ouch" occasionally - even though her feet are hard and she has tough thick soles that the farrier...
Good grief! It was a TV programme and this is an internet forum - neither have any basis in fact - useless speculation all round. Only people directly involved know the truth.