This page includes apologies, significant corrections, statements and responses, and findings from the BBC Trust. It does not include routine corrections to news stories, minor on-air apologies and schedule changes.
Corrections and clarifications are published in the order that they were issued.
Victoria Derbyshire
BBC Two, 19 May 2015
Martin Lewis of moneysavingexpert.com took part from his office, via a fixed camera, in a discussion of payday loans and other consumer finance issues, during which he suggested that it would be cheaper to obtain a high-interest credit card, freeze it in a bowl of water and defrost before use than to take out a payday loan. A viewer complained that the moneysavingexpert.com logo had been unduly prominent, and that Mr Lewis should have been asked for evidence to substantiate his suggestion. The ECU noted that in the shot from the fixed camera, the company logo was shown down the left side of the picture. As it was large and legible, and as Mr Lewis’ contribution accounted for more than half of the 11-minute item, the overall effect was of undue prominence. However, the self-evident absurdity of Mr Lewis’ suggestion would have made clear to listeners that he offered it as a graphic illustration of his point rather than a serious course of action. Outcome: Partly upheld
22/12/2015
The World at One
Radio 4, 24 August 2015
The programme included an interview with the Security Correspondent, Frank Gardner, about the previous day’s incident in which three passengers on a French train prevented an attack by an armed man. A listener complained that his reference to “the Schengen area, thank God, Britain is not a member of” was an inappropriate expression of a political opinion. Mr Gardner explained that he had intended his words to apply only to his subsequent point that it was “far easier to get hold of powerful automatic weapons” in the Schengen area than in the UK. However, listeners would have been likely to understand them as expressing a more general view on membership of the Schengen area. Outcome: Upheld
22/12/2015
Complaints and Appeals Board findings
Requests to review the Trust's decisions on Television Licensing appeals: Television Licensing complaints; Requests to review the Trust's decisions on appeals: Complaint about access to BBC World Service output in the UK; Complaint regarding Jeremy Clarkson and future appearances on the BBC; Discourtesy by the BBC and complaints handling
15/12/2015
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Sept & Oct 2015
Summary of findings: The Secret World of Lewis Carroll, BBC Two (broadcast 31 January 2015); The Papers, BBC News Channel (broadcast 8 November 2014); This World: Rwanda's Untold Story, BBC Two (broadcast 1 October 2014, repeated on 3 October 2014)
15/12/2015
Coverage of San Bernadino shootings
BBC News
We received complaints from viewers unhappy with coverage from inside the apartment of the San Bernadino attackers, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik. Some viewers felt the coverage was intrusive and voyeuristic, while others were concerned about the newsworthiness of the reporting and the legality of the media presence in the apartment.
08/12/2015
Alistair Carmichael rejects calls to resign over leaked memo
bbc.co.uk
A reader complained that the article was misleading in asserting that the memo leaked by Alistair Carmichael MP during the election campaign had “incorrectly” reported Nicola Sturgeon as saying she wanted David Cameron to remain as Prime Minister. The ECU agreed that it cannot be stated as a fact that the memo was incorrect in this respect. However, the Acting Head of News and Current Affairs (Scotland) had already acknowledged the element of inaccuracy, amended the article and reminded relevant staff of the importance of correctness, precision, nuance and context. In the view of the Editorial Complaints Unit, this was sufficient to resolve the issues of complaint. Outcome: Resolved
07/12/2015
Tax on dividends: Who pays?
bbc.co.uk
This online article summarised the changes in taxation of dividend income introduced in the 8 July 2015 Budget and their consequences across the income tax bands. A reader complained that the article’s information about who would pay more or less than before as a result of the changes was incorrect, apparently because a notional tax credit of 10% under the pre-budget regime had been misunderstood. As the reader had suggested, the tax credit had been incorrectly treated as if it had represented a real financial transaction, and inaccurate information had been generated as a result. Outcome: Upheld
04/12/2015
What’s the point of… the Met Office? BBC Radio 4
04/12/2015
Davis Cup tennis scheduling
29 November 2015
We received complaints from viewers unhappy that coverage of the Davis Cup tennis finals moved from BBC Two to BBC One.
04/12/2015
Editorial Standards Committee finding
September 2015
Summary of finding: Radio 5 live Drive interview with the BBC’s Disability Correspondent Nikki Fox (broadcast 15 October 2014)
30/11/2015
Off the Ball
BBC Radio Scotland, 4 July 2015
A listener complained that one of the presenters had used the word “poofy”, despite the action taken by BBC Scotland after his previous complaint about the same usage had been upheld. The ECU agreed that the word had been used in a stereotyping and derogatory sense (as on the previous occasion), and was not editorially justified. Outcome: Upheld
25/11/2015
Panorama: Bank of Tax Cheats
BBC One, 9 February 2015
A viewer of this pre-watershed programme complained that it was apparent that the f-word was used, even though it had been bleeped.The word had been used by someone who was a subject of the programme’s investigations, and there was sufficient editorial justification for including the sequence in which it occurred.
However, the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines say “Language that is bleeped for pre-watershed content must be thoroughly obscured, taking care to ensure also that the bleeped words are not then made obvious by visible mouth movements”, and this requirement had been overlooked by the programme-makers. Outcome: Upheld
24/11/2015
Newsnight
BBC Two, 15 June 2015
A viewer complained that Allegra Stratton’s characterisation of Nigel Farage as “opposed to” immigration (in contrast to Douglas Carswell MP, who was said to be “pro-immigration”) was inaccurate. The ECU found that although Mr Farage has argued for a reduction in net immigration, he also advocates a points-based system for skilled migrants from outside the EU, so the characterisation was inaccurate. Outcome: Upheld
23/11/2015
Newshour
BBC World Service, 14 July 2015
Interviewing an Israeli minister, the presenter suggested that Israel was not under threat from Iran and that in fact “nobody in Iran had threatened (Israel) for a very long time”. A listener complained that this was inaccurate, pointing to recent statement from official Iranian sources. The ECU found that although the question was intended only to draw out the interviewee’s views on the nature of the threats faced by Israel, its phrasing gave the impression of stating an uncontested fact. The statements from Iranian sources cited by the complainant sufficed to call the matter into question. Outcome: Upheld.
20/11/2015
Jeremy Vine
Radio 2, 5 May 2015
A listener complained that an item on the reasons for emigration from Eritrea was inaccurate in various respects, and that Eritrea had been misleadingly described as “tiny”. The ECU found that the item itself was duly accurate, and did not refer to Eritrea as “tiny”. However, the summary on the programme’s BBC iPlayer page included the phrase “Eritrea, the tiny country in the horn of Africa”. The ECU has previously found that “tiny” is not the most appropriate adjective to use, given the size of the country, and there was nothing in the context which warranted its use on this occasion. Outcome: Partly upheld
19/11/2015
Today
BBC Radio 4, 18 November 2015
In the introduction to an interview with Sir David Richards , former Chief of the Defence Staff , John Humphrys said : “It's more than two years since the Government asked the House of Commons to approve military action against Islamic State in Syria and MPs said No.” In fact the motion before Members of Parliament on 29th August 2013 was in support of ‘military action that is legal, proportionate and focused on saving lives by preventing and deterring further use of Syria’s chemical weapons’.
19/11/2015
Victoria Derbyshire
BBC Two, 9 June 2015
A viewer complained that an Apple promotional video used to illustrate a business story amounted to advertising. Whilst the use of the clip did not fall foul of the guidelines on advertising, it was shown at greater length than was editorially justified, resulting in undue prominence for a commercial product. Outcome: Upheld
12/11/2015
Daily Politics
BBC Two, 13 October 2015
In an introduction to an item about Leon Brittan and a police investigation into historical sexual abuse, Jo Coburn said: “Last week, London Metropolitan Police apologised to the widow of Leon Brittan for not telling the former Home Secretary before he died that they dropped their investigations into claims he was involved in child sex abuse.”
We would like to clarify that the Metropolitan Police has decided there was insufficient evidence to pursue a rape allegation made against Lord Brittan by a female adult. This decision does not specifically apply to other ongoing investigations involving Lord Brittan.
12/11/2015
Iain Lee
BBC Three Counties Radio, 3 November 2015
In interviews with the Reverend Barry Trayhorn and a solicitor, Libby Powell about their understanding of biblical teaching on homosexuality, Iain Lee described comments by Rev Trayhorn as ‘obnoxious’ and ‘poisonous’ and called Ms Powell ‘bigoted.’ While the programme is well-known for its combative style, the BBC fully accepts that the language the presenter used, and the tone in which he conducted these interviews, was at several points inappropriate. The BBC – and Iain Lee himself - wish to apologise for any offence that may have been caused.
10/11/2015
Doctor Who
BBC One, 7 November 2015
We received complaints from viewers who felt that scenes showing the destruction of an aeroplane were inappropriate in light of recent events.
09/11/2015
Editorial Standards Committee finding
Finding: Alex Dyke Show, BBC Radio Solent (broadcast 12 August 2015)
09/11/2015
Vanessa Feltz (For Jeremy Vine)
BBC Radio 2, 30 October 2015
We received complaints from listeners who were unhappy with Vanessa’s interview with Tim.
03/11/2015
Cuffs
BBC One, 28 October 2015
We received complaints from viewers who felt that some of the content of Cuffs wasn’t appropriate for an 8pm time slot.
03/11/2015
Strictly Come Dancing
BBC One, 24 October 2015
We received complaints from viewers unhappy with Bruno Tonioli’s use of strong language during this episode.
27/10/2015
Sunday Morning Live
BBC One, 18 October 2015
We received complaints from viewers unhappy with the way the programme handled an interruption by a guest.
20/10/2015
8:00am news bulletin
Radio 4, 3 August 2015
A report on measures being taken by the government of Israel approving the extension of the use of detention without trial said that the process known as “administrative detention” had been previously used by Israel against Palestinian militant suspects only. We would like to make clear that administrative detention has previously also been used against Jewish citizens.
19/10/2015
Newsnight
BBC Two, 14 October 2015
In a report from Israel, Mark Urban referred to Jerusalem as ‘the nation’s capital’. Although Israel claims the city as its capital, this claim is not recognised internationally and East Jerusalem is considered to be occupied territory. The BBC’s advice to its journalists on terminology relating to Israel and the Palestinians can be read here.
16/10/2015
Today
Radio 4, 30 September 2015
On this morning’s “Today” programme on BBC Radio 4, Richard Dart, who was jailed in 2013 for preparing acts of terrorism, was erroneously referred to as being a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir. We are happy to make it clear that this is not the case.
30/09/2015
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: Countryfile, BBC One (broadcast 15 February 2015)
30/09/2015
Complaints and Appeals Board findings
Television Licensing Appeal: The handling of a complaint about the policy on licence fee refunds
30/09/2015
Today, Dame Zaha Hadid
BBC Radio 4, 24 September 2015
On Thursday morning’s Today programme, Sarah Montague raised the deaths of migrant workers in Qatar with the architect Dame Zaha Hadid. The International Trades Union Confederation’s figure of 1200 deaths ,which was quoted, refers to migrant workers in the whole of Qatar across several years, and not only to the construction sector nor specifically to the main World Cup stadium sites. We are sorry we didn’t make this clear in the interview with Dame Zaha. The Qatari Government says there have been no deaths on World Cup construction sites.
25/09/2015
The BBC's involvement in the The Space
Clarification regarding the BBC's involvement in the The Space
BBC Arts Director Jonty Claypole, responded to recent reports about the digital arts project The Space, clarifying how the BBC is involved in the digital platform, and correcting details regarding the role of Alan Yentob in the venture.
22/09/2015
Clarification relating to a tweet by BBC Newsbeat
Twitter, 15 September 2015
BBC Newsbeat published a tweet on Tuesday 15 September featuring Alec Shelbrooke MP which mistakenly suggested he was sleeping during a session in the House of Commons. Newsbeat quickly became aware it was mistaken, removed the tweet and published an apology on its Twitter account.
15/09/2015
Newsnight
BBC Two, 11 September 2015
We received complaints from viewers who felt presenter James O’Brien was too robust in his interview with Daniel Kawczynski MP. Some viewers felt this showed bias against Mr Kawczynski and Saudi Arabia.
15/09/2015
BBC News Channel
BBC News Channel, 30 August 2014
The BBC News channel re-broadcast an item about the first anniversary of the Commons vote against military intervention in Syria, originally shown in the previous evening’s edition of Newsnight. A viewer complained that footage of an attack on Syrian civilians (the authenticity of which he has questioned in another context) had been replaced in the item as re-broadcast by footage of an earlier incident.
As the presenter said the footage in question had first been broadcast “just as MPs voted”, the result was misleading to viewers. After coming off the air, the Newsnight team had replaced the original footage with less graphic footage of a different incident, with a view to making the item more suitable to be re-shown before the watershed. However, the soundtrack was not checked, and it was not noticed that the substitution rendered the presenter’s comment inaccurate. The result was inadvertently misleading to viewers of the item as re-broadcast. Outcome: Upheld
11/09/2015
Sunday Politics
BBC Two, 19 April 2015
The regional segment of the programme shown in the North West included an item in which a reporter approached members of the public to canvass their views on devolution. Stephen Morris, who was interviewed in the item as a representative of the English Democrats, complained that it gave a misleading impression of his party’s position on the issue.
The ECU noted that the English Democrat manifesto proposed devolution (under an English parliament) to local, but not regional, level. Mr Morris represented that position in the course of his interview, but the excerpt included in the item, in a context which did not distinguish clearly between local and regional devolution, gave the impression that his party was opposed to any devolution beyond the level of an English parliament. Outcome: Upheld
10/09/2015
From Our Own Correspondent
Radio 4, 11 April 2015
An item in the programme included the statement that Cecil Rhodes had dreamed of “a British empire built on slave labour”. A listener challenged the accuracy of the statement. The ECU found no grounds for the view that Rhodes was in favour of slavery. In response to the complaint at Stage 1 the reference to slave labour had been removed from the related online item, but this did not suffice to resolve the complaint in relation to the broadcast. Outcome: Upheld
08/09/2015
BBC Weather - Procurement process
There has been some reaction to reports that BBC Weather will not be securing another contract with the Met Office when its renewal is due later this year.
25/08/2015
The Voice, Changes to the coaching line up
BBC One
We received complaints from viewers who were unhappy that Tom Jones would not be returning to The Voice and that Boy George would be joining the coaches.
18/08/2015
Alex Dyke
BBC Radio Solent, 12 August 2015
We received complaints from listeners who were unhappy with comments Alex Dyke made during a phone-in on breastfeeding on his programme.
14/08/2015
Caution needed with Gaza casualty figures
bbc.co.uk
This article about the methods by which casualty statistics for Gaza were compiled originally included the sentence: “If the Israeli attacks had been ‘indiscriminate’, as the UN Human Rights Council says, it is hard to work out why they have killed so many more civilian men than women”. A reader complained that this endorsed an Israeli narrative (overlooking other, more probable, explanations of the high proportion of male casualties) and that the changes since made to the article were insufficient and, in claiming to have “clarified” the passage in question, misleading.
The ECU agreed that the article was faulty in its original form, but found that the changes (which included the addition of other explanations and the attribution to the IDF of the explanation contested by the complainant) sufficed to address the issue and justified the reference to clarification. Outcome: Resolved
12/08/2015
Look East
BBC One (East), 12 May 2015
In an item on a man who had recently lost his entitlement to a disability car, the reporter said “The Government needs to make £12 billion worth of welfare savings, so it’s gradually re-assessing thousands of people”. A representative of the Department for Work and Pensions complained that this was inaccurate (the reassessment of people’s disability needs being the result of legislation passed in 2012, not the recent pledge to cut welfare costs) and potentially alarming to those awaiting reassessment. While noting that BBC East had acknowledged and apologised for the error, he considered that there should be a broadcast correction.
The ECU agreed that the error had amounted to a breach of editorial standards but considered that, so long after the event, an on-air correction would not be justified and that an on-the-record correction in the form of a summary of the finding published on bbc.co.uk would be the appropriate remedy. Outcome: Upheld
11/08/2015
Britain’s Best Drives
BBC Four, 5 May 2015
Having arrived at Scarborough beach on his tour of Britain (in a series originally broadcast in 2009), Richard Wilson remarked that there were “quite a lot of people who look – how can I put this nicely? – like they really enjoy their food”. A woman who was identifiably in shot at this point complained that the remark had caused her distress. The management of BBC Television had apologised to the complainant, removed the programme from iPlayer immediately and arranged for it to be appropriately edited. In the view of the ECU this sufficed to resolve the issue. Outcome: Resolved
07/08/2015
Los Angeles follows Seattle in $15 hourly minimum wage
bbc.co.uk
A reader of the article complained that it gave the misleading impression that the decision to raise the minimum wage in Los Angeles had been uncontroversial, and that the author had used vocabulary which implied approval for higher minimum wage levels. Viewed in context, the author’s vocabulary did not have such positive connotations as to result in bias, but the article should have reflected the fact that the Los Angeles decision was the subject of ongoing debate. Outcome: Partly upheld
06/08/2015
On Camera
BBC One, 27 July 2015
On 27th July, Close Calls: On Camera referred to an incident where a family’s car caught fire outside their house. In the reconstruction, we wrongly showed the logo of a Hyundai car. We wish to make it clear that it was not a Hyundai car that had caught fire and we apologise to Hyundai for any confusion or concern caused by the broadcast.
05/08/2015
Coverage of Rangers at Ibrox Stadium
BBC Scotland
We have received complaints unhappy that BBC Scotland will be withdrawing coverage of Rangers at the Ibrox stadium.
03/08/2015
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: Sportscene, BBC Two Scotland, 19 October 2014; Closure of correspondence regarding description of Syriza as “far-left”. Today, Radio 4, 9 October 2014; News at One, BBC One, 22 August 2014; This World: Ireland’s Lost Babies, BBC Two, 17 September 2014, 21.00; Top Gear, 8pm, BBC Two, 1 February 2015
30/07/2015
Complaints and Appeals Board Findings
30/07/2015
Newsnight
BBC Two, 1 June 2015
The programme contained an item about Caffe Nero implementing a boycott of milk produced in areas where a badger cull had taken place. In a discussion between Minette Batters of the National Farmers’ Union and Jay Tiernan of “Stop the Cull”, presenter Evan Davis asked Minette Batters “What will be the effect of the milk boycott because Caffe Nero are not the only ones who have chosen to boycott milk from these areas.” We accept that it was not accurate, as far as is known, to state that Caffe Nero was not the only company to have implemented a ban.
28/07/2015
You and Yours
Radio 4, 1 July 2015
An edition of You and Yours aired an item on the difficulties faced by one woman with multiple sclerosis who relies on mobility scooters for daily living. She explained that she has spent £13,000 on scooters in the last ten years, all of which have failed. At the end of the item, we made a brief reference to the fact that the Disabilities Minister was not present, which due to time pressures relating to a live link for a following item we did not elaborate on. To clarify, we should have said the following: ‘We contacted the Disabilities Minister, Justin Tomlinson, to ask if he would come on the programme today but the Department for Work and Pensions told us this wasn't his remit, and referred us on to the Department for Transport. When we spoke to them they said that a minister wasn't available for interview’.
23/07/2015
Golf: The Open
20 July 2015
We received a range of feedback from viewers about how we covered the extra day’s play at The Open. Some would have preferred more coverage of the golf, while others were disappointed with the disruption to the television schedules.
22/07/2015
EastEnders
BBC One, 16 & 17 July 2015
We received complaints from viewers who felt the scenes between Ben and Paul in the Chapel of Rest were inappropriate.
21/07/2015
Who Will Win the Election? Panorama
BBC One, 27 April 2015
The programme included shots of the presenter and a contributor in a moving caravan being towed on a public road. 11 viewers with an interest in caravanning complained this was unsafe and illegal. Although the independent production company concerned had sought expert advice on the matter, their belief that they had acted in compliance with traffic regulations was mistaken: carrying passengers in a moving trailer of the type used in the programme contravenes The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1986.
The Editorial Guidelines say that programme makers should observe the law unless there is clear editorial justification for not doing so, and there was no such justification in this instance. Outcome: Upheld
20/07/2015
PM
Radio 4, 13 January 2015
In a light-hearted item about older men chasing younger women, Taki (the author of the Spectator’s “High Life” column) spoke of seeing “horrible old Arabs with very young women in St Tropez or Gstaad”. A listener complained that this was offensive and racist. The ECU agreed that although Taki’s point concerned age rather than ethnicity, his remarks could have been interpreted as racist. However, News had already acknowledged that they were offensive, and this was sufficient to resolve the issue of complaint. Outcome: Resolved
15/07/2015
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings including serious editorial breaches - Trail for Any Questions?, Today, Radio 4, 29 May 2015; Personal tweets reporting the Queen’s death, posted during an exercise in which the BBC rehearsed how it might report the breaking news of a Royal death.
07/07/2015
Complaints and Appeals Board Findings
07/07/2015
Today
Radio 4, 9 August 2014
During a discussion about the issue of social justice in relation to the forthcoming referendum in Scotland, one of the participants said that Scotland had been a net contributor to the UK exchequer “for the last 30-odd years” – a claim which the presenter appeared to accept. A listener complained that the presenter had endorsed an inaccurate claim, resulting in bias in favour of one side in the referendum campaign.
The ECU acknowledged that the claim in question is at least open to dispute, and it was not duly accurate for the presenter to respond in terms which might have given the impression that it was established fact. However, the issue of Scotland in relation to the UK exchequer was tangential to the topic of the discussion, and listeners would have been likely to understand the presenter’s intervention as an attempt to keep the discussion on track rather than an endorsement of one side in the referendum campaign. In the view of the ECU, it did not result in a departure from due impartiality. Outcome: Partly upheld
06/07/2015
Wimbledon 2Day
BBC Two, June-July 2015
We received complaints from some viewers unhappy with the change of format to the highlights programme.
03/07/2015
Glastonbury coverage, Kanye West set
27 June 2015
We received complaints from some viewers who were unhappy with some of the language used by Kanye West during his headline set.
30/06/2015
The Wrong Mans
BBC Two, 23 December 2014
A viewer who had otherwise enjoyed this post-watershed comedy thriller complained about a sequence in which a character expressed astonishment by coupling “Jesus Christ” with one of the strongest swear-words. Research makes clear that viewers and listeners find the combination of the strongest swear-words with holy names significantly more offensive than either when used separately. The phrase in question calls for stronger editorial justification than was apparent in this case. Outcome: Upheld
16/06/2015
Today
Radio 4, 19 March 2015
The programme included an interview with Moshe Ya’alon, the Israeli Defence Minister, about the consequences of the recent Israeli general election. Eight listeners complained that Mr Ya’alon was allowed to make controversial claims about Israel’s relations with the Palestinians without challenge from the interviewer. The ECU agreed that when the interview moved from the election results to issues of security Mr Ya’alon made a number of controversial assertions which called for intervention by the interviewer. Outcome: Upheld.
15/06/2015
The Victoria Derbyshire Show
BBC Two, 5 June 2015
On The Victoria Derbyshire Show on Friday 5 June, a report stated that a complainant had waited 20 months for his Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit. This payment helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability. The length of time the complainant had waited was reported in good faith following interviews with them and their family but the Department of Work & Pensions has established that the period was in fact 10 months. We’re sorry about the mistake.
12/06/2015
Saturday Kitchen Best Bites
BBC Two, 28 December 2014
The programme included archive footage featuring “civet coffee”, and a celebrity chef feeding a coffee bean to a captive civet cat in Indonesia. A viewer complained that this tended to promote a practice which was both cruel to the animals involved and against the interests of conservation. The ECU agreed that the footage gave the impression that the use of captive civet cats in coffee production was uncontroversial, and that their natural diet consisted entirely of coffee beans (a diet which can in fact cause illness and death). Outcome: Upheld
04/06/2015
A universal plug socket...at last?
bbc.co.uk
A representative of the PlugSafe electrical safety campaign complained about an article on bbc.co.uk, originating from Radio 4’s From Our Own Correspondent, which tended to promote a product which was intrinsically dangerous, and gave a misleading account of the origins of diverse national standards for sockets and plugs.
The ECU agreed with the complainant that the product mentioned was intrinsically dangerous and noted their concern that, although illegal in the UK, it was readily available online. The ECU also agreed that the article gave a misleading impression of how diverse standards in this area had arisen. Outcome: Upheld
03/06/2015
Victoria Derbyshire
22 May 2015
On our programme on Friday 22nd May, during a live studio discussion regarding the payment Hampshire Police had made to a rape victim, an interviewee referred to the unrelated case of Eleanor De Freitas, a young woman who had committed suicide. During that discussion, the interviewee made two references to Ms De Freitas’ “rapist”.
We wish to make clear that the person accused of that rape was never tried or convicted and in fact brought a private prosecution against Ms De Freitas for perverting the course of justice in relation to an alleged false rape claim. That prosecution was subsequently taken over by the CPS. We apologise for this mistake and for any distress caused. The full statement made by the Director of Public Prosecution in relation to this case can be read here.
28/05/2015
Editorial Standards Committee findings
28/05/2015
Complaints and Appeals Board findings
28/05/2015
Today
Radio 4, 11 March 2015
On 11 March 2015 we ran an item about Jimmy Thoronka, a top 100 metre sprinter from Sierra Leone. The broadcast included statements from an individual in Sierra Leone that cast doubt on Mr Thoronka’s account that his adopted mother, Jelikatu Kargbo, had died of Ebola in Sierra Leone last year.
Mr Thoronka and several other independent third parties (including the Sierra Leone police and Sierra Leone health and government officials) have provided documentary evidence that Jelikatu Kargbo passed away as a result of contracting Ebola in October 2014. We apologise to Jimmy for any hurt or embarrassment that our broadcast caused him.
28/05/2015
BBC News, Coverage of anti-austerity protests in London
9 May 2015
We received complaints from some viewers who felt there wasn't enough coverage of anti-austerity protests held in London on Saturday 9 May.
12/05/2015
BBC News, Coverage of the birth of Princess Charlotte
We have received complaints from some viewers and listeners who feel there has been too much coverage of the birth of Princess Charlotte. Some of our audience also feel our coverage has been biased in favour of the monarchy.
07/05/2015
Nick Conrad
BBC Radio Norfolk, 17 November 2014
Four listeners complained about some of the presenter’s comments on the topic of rape. It had quickly been acknowledged that the comments were ill-judged and had caused offence. Nick Conrad had apologised at the beginning of the first edition of his programme to be broadcast after the complaints had been received, and the BBC Executive had posted a statement of acknowledgement and apology on bbc.co.uk. Although the complainants questioned both the adequacy and the sincerity of these apologies, the ECU thought them sufficient to address the breach of editorial standards in question. Outcome: Resolved
31/03/2015
Statement regarding Jeremy Clarkson
25 March 2015
Tony Hall, the BBC Director-General, has today released a statement regarding Jeremy Clarkson.
25/03/2015
Today Programme
Radio 4, 19 November 2014
The business section of the programme included a report on the launch by an American company of a range of Bob Marley-branded cannabis products. A listener complained that the report was “an unremitting promotion” of a drug illegal in the UK, and a breach of due impartiality in connection with the controversy over its possible legalisation. The report made clear that the products in question were to be marketed only in jurisdictions where the sale and use of cannabis were legal, and that the drug remained illegal in the UK. It therefore had no direct bearing on the domestic controversy over possible legalisation. However, the item included claims about the beneficial effects of cannabis while making no reference to possible deleterious effects.
The Editorial Guidelines say programmes should “deal with all aspects of illegal drug use...with due accuracy. Where necessary to achieve due accuracy, this should include, for example, the health implications and anti-social aspects of illegal drug use”. In the ECU’s view, the report fell short of due accuracy in that respect – but, as News had already identified and apologised for the lapse, the ECU regarded that issue of complaint as resolved. Outcome: Resolved
25/03/2015
Jonathan Ross (for Steve Wright)
BBC Radio 2, 16-27 March 2015
We received complaints from some listeners unhappy that Jonathan Ross was chosen to provide holiday cover for Steve Wright on BBC Radio 2.
24/03/2015
Report on BBC News at Ten
BBC One, 12 March 2015
In a report on Nigel Farage's comments on workplace race discrimination legislation on the BBC News at Ten, it was reported that there are "around 100 cases of race discrimination relating to employment a year, but in the past five years only 3 had been successful". This was based on information supplied to BBC News by the Ministry of Justice and was broadcast in good faith (albeit inaccurately as the purported figure of 3 successes applied to each of the past five years).
We now understand that these figures relate to the percentage of cases that are successful at tribunal hearings, not the actual number. The Ministry of Justice has advised BBC News that in 2013-14, UK employers faced 3,064 racial discrimination claims from workers, down from 4,818 in the previous year. More information can be found in this article for BBC News Online http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31856147 We apologise for the inaccuracies in our report. [Updated 29 September 2015 to reflect an inaccuracy in our own reporting of the MoJ figures]
19/03/2015
FA Cup Match of the Day Live
BBC One, 16 March 2015
We received complaints from some viewers unhappy with the decision to schedule FA Cup Match of the Day Live: Reading v Bradford City on the 16 March
18/03/2015
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: BBC News articles about online comments allegedly made by the complainant; Top Gear, BBC Two (broadcast 2 February 2014)
17/03/2015
This Week
BBC Two, 5 March 2015
In the programme, in reference to the Kirkup report into the deaths of mothers and babies at Furness General Hospital, Michael Portillo stated that there were about 600 excess deaths among babies in the maternity unit over about a four-year period. In fact the report highlighted the unnecessary deaths of nineteen mothers and infants. The figure of 600 is based on the Trust’s Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR) measuring all deaths not just mothers and babies.
We acknowledge that Michael Portillo conflated two separate sets of figures from the investigation and was referring to the number of likely extra deaths of patients during a four year period, not just mothers and babies, at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation trust.
17/03/2015
Coverage of Mohammed Emwazi
BBC News
We have received some complaints from viewers and listeners who feel there has been too much coverage of the ‘Islamic State' fighter Mohammed Emwazi, also known as ‘Jihadi John', in our news reports and programmes.
05/03/2015
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Oct 2014, December 2014 & January 2015
Summary of findings: BBC articles about a criminal attack on the complainant; “John Clare’s Playlist”, BBC Radio 4 (broadcast 14 December 2013); BBC News Online [Jersey] (broadcast 21 November 2013); Outside Source, BBC World Service (broadcast 2 July 2014); “Parades Commission permission for wedding march”, BBC News Website; BBC Newsline, BBC One (Northern Ireland) (broadcast 24 July 2014) and Evening Extra, BBC Radio Ulster (broadcast 24 July 2014); Decision by BBC News to apply the Expedited Complaints Procedure in September 2014; Decision by the Trust Unit to apply the Expedited Complaints Procedure in December 2014.
26/02/2015
Complaints and Appeals Board
26/02/2015
BAFTA
BBC One, 8 February 2015
We received complaints from viewers unhappy with some of Stephen Fry's language while presenting the BAFTAs
10/02/2015
Richard Bacon
Radio 5 Live, 11 August 2014
A listener complained that Richard bacon’s statement that the Resurrection “didn’t happen” and was “made up” was offensive to Christians. The ECU ruled that the statement, which would have been unexceptionable in some contexts, was gratuitous in the context of a discussion of the origin of Homo Sapiens, and was capable of causing offence. Outcome: Upheld
06/02/2015
Gaza: How Hamas tunnel network grew
bbc.co.uk
Three readers of this article complained that the description of its author as “an independent defence analyst” was misleading, in view of his association with the Israeli military. BBC News explained that the description was intended to reflect the fact that the author is not a full-time employee of any institution, but accepts engagements as an external lecturer on a per-course basis only. The ECU thought this too narrow a basis for the description, noting that the author had published articles written from a clearly pro-Israeli perspective and under the imprimatur of explicitly pro-Israeli institutions, and agreed that the term “independent” was inappropriate. Outcome: Upheld
05/02/2015
Iain Lee
BBC WM 95.6, 24 May 2014
The programme included a phone-in in which one of the topics was Ed Miliband’s appearance and public persona. A listener complained that Iain Lee had shown bias in his comments about Mr Miliband, and that a caller’s suggestion that, as a Jew, Mr Miliband should not have been eating a bacon sandwich (as reported and pictured in that week’s newspapers) was inaccurate.
The ECU found no breach of due accuracy, because Iain Lee had not endorsed the caller’s suggestion that Mr Milliband had contravened the rules of his religion, and a Labour Party representative interviewed later in the programme had made clear that Mr Miliband did not claim to be a believing or practising Jew. Some of Iain Lee’s comments on Mr Miliband’s appearance and electoral prospects, however, went beyond the kind of provocative exaggeration which listeners to the programme might expect, and sounded like the expression of a strongly-held personal view. Outcome: Upheld
02/02/2015
News (10.00pm)
BBC One, 6 March 2014
An item on the vote by the Crimean parliament in favour of becoming part of Russia included a report from Brussels on reactions among EU leaders. While a graphic from a news programme on Russia Today was in vision, the reporter said “Russian TV today showed Crimea as if it had already become part of their family”. A viewer complained that this misrepresented what Russia Today had in fact shown, which was graphics illustrating the two possible outcomes of the referendum. The programme team in Brussels were under the impression that Russia Today had indeed treated Crimea as being already part of Russia, but this was a misunderstanding. The situation was further confused by the fact that colleagues in London tasked with finding a copy of the graphic in question mistakenly selected a different graphic, showing the areas of Ukraine regarded as being ethnically Russian (including Crimea). The result of these misunderstandings was a misleading impression of what Russia Today had intended. Outcome: Upheld
30/01/2015
FA Cup Match of the Day
BBC One, 25 January 2015
We received complaints from some viewers unhappy with the comments made by Phil Neville during the programme.
27/01/2015
Eritrea profile
bbc.co.uk
A reader of this country profile complained of a number of inaccuracies he considered derogatory towards Eritrea, including the statement that “A 2011 UN report estimated that about 70% of Eritreans cannot meet their food needs on their own”. The ECU noted that BBC News had already acknowledged that no such UN report was published in 2011, and that there was not enough evidence to support the claim that more than two thirds of Eritreans could not meet their own food needs. The ECU also noted that other statements contested by the complainant appeared to be accurate. Outcome: Resolved
23/01/2015
Today, Labour - working with or against business?
Radio 4, bbc.co.uk, 1 July 2014
Craig Oliver, Director of Communications at 10 Downing St, complained about coverage of a Labour Party publication, “Mending the fractured economy”, in reports by Nick Robinson and news bulletins in Today. He maintained that, as well as being inaccurate in some respects, it had uncritically reported figures for private sector job creation which were incorrect and contradicted by data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), thus supporting a Labour narrative.
The ECU acknowledged two inaccuracies, one of which had been rectified both online and on air. The other had been rectified online, but not on air, and the ECU upheld the complaint of inaccuracy in that respect. However, it noted that the discrepancy between the reported figures and those of the ONS arose from differences in methodology, not inaccuracy, and that those figures and similar data from the same source had been relied on by all the main parties on occasion. It therefore did not agree that the BBC’s coverage amounted to supporting a Labour narrative on the basis of erroneous data. Outcome: Resolved/ upheld/ not upheld
22/01/2015
Complaints Appeals Board findings
20/01/2015
Panorama: Dying for a Bargain
BBC One
20/01/2015
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: Asian Network Reports, BBC Asian Network, 1pm and 5pm, (broadcast 23 April 2014) and related alerts on social media and online news reports; The One Show, BBC One (broadcast 7 February 2014)
20/01/2015
The Andrew Marr Show
BBC One, 4 January 2015
During the course of an interview with David Cameron, Andrew Marr referred to leaders of Conservative councils who have been warning that the cut back in central government funding has obliged them to restrict the services they can provide to local residents. During this discussion Andrew Marr inadvertently made reference to “Tatton Council” when he meant “Trafford Council”. There is no such local authority as Tatton.
We apologise for this error and wish to make it clear that although the wider point stands that some council leaders are complaining about the squeeze that they are obliged to pass on, we were not referring to any council or any council leader within the parliamentary constituency of Tatton. This point appears on the Andrew Marr Show website and is referred to at the start of the transcript of the interview with the Prime Minister and at the end of the transcript.
15/01/2015
News (6.00pm & 10.00pm)
BBC One, 11 September 2014
Forty-two viewers complained to the Editorial Complaints Unit about Nick Robinson’s report on an international press conference given by Alex Salmond. Taken together, the complaints raised the following main issues about the report: that it had given an inaccurate and misleading account of what Mr Salmond had said; that the inaccuracy was intentional, and that it was biased against the “Yes” campaign.
Mr Robinson had put two questions to Mr Salmond, the first of which was about the possible consequences of RBS moving its headquarters to London. The second, referring to recent interventions from BP, Standard Life and John Lewis, was “Why should a Scottish voter believe you, a politician, against men who are responsible for billions of pounds of profits?”. The report showed Mr Robinson putting the second question, after which he said “He didn’t answer but he did attack the reporting of those in what he called the metropolitan media”.
Mr Salmond had in fact addressed the second question, but in terms which Mr Robinson judged did not amount to a real answer to its key points. Although the ECU understood the reasoning behind that judgement, it considered that viewers would have taken “He didn’t answer” to mean that Mr Salmond had said nothing, or at any rate nothing meaningful, by way of response, and that the impression the report gave was inaccurate in that respect. However, it found no grounds for believing the inaccuracy to have been intentional, and it considered that the report overall gave a duly impartial account of Mr Salmond’s main points. Outcome: Partly upheld.
15/01/2015
The One Show
BBC One, 5 January 2015
We received complaints from some viewers unhappy with Rita Ora's choice of attire on The One Show.
07/01/2015
War and Peace
BBC Radio 4, 1 January 2015
We received complaints from some listeners unhappy that War and Peace was broadcast in full on BBC Radio 4 on New Year's Day.
05/01/2015
