This page includes apologies, significant corrections, statements and responses, and findings from the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Trust and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Board. It does not include routine corrections to news stories, minor on-air apologies and schedule changes.
Today
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, 20 December 2013
We have received complaints from listeners who felt that it was inappropriate to interview Anjem Choudary on 20 December following the guilty verdicts in the Lee Rigby murder trial.
23/12/2013
Coverage of the death of Ronnie Biggs
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News, Broadcast 18 December 2013
We have received complaints from viewers and listeners who feel there has been too much coverage of the death of Ronnie Biggs. Some audience members felt the story was too prominent during our morning news programmes on 18 December and that our coverage underplayed Mr Biggs' criminal actions.
19/12/2013
Precision: The Measure of All Things
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Four, Broadcast 17 June 2013
A viewer complained that the programme misrepresented the degree to which the weight of an item changes the further away it gets from the earth. The programme-makers acknowledged that a statement that an object weighing 370g would βhardly weigh anything at allβ if taken 100,000 metres above the earth should have referred to 100,000 kilometres. The inaccuracy was the result of human error and the relevant section of the programme was re-edited to remove the inaccuracy. The Editorial Complaints Unit considered this to be an appropriate response in the circumstances. Outcome: Resolved
18/12/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Sports Personality of the Year 2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, Broadcast 15 December 2013
We received complaints from viewers about the result of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Sports Personality of the Year in light of the fact a trophy was presented to Andy Murray when he was in Miami.
17/12/2013
Question Time Special
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, Broadcast 12 December 2013
We have received complaints from viewers who were unhappy the programme was broadcast from Johannesburg and focused on South African issues
13/12/2013
Coverage of the death of Nelson Mandela/changes to schedules
We have received complaints from viewers and listeners who felt there was too much coverage of the death of Nelson Mandela. Some audience members felt there was not enough coverage of the storm affecting the UK. We also received complaints from viewers unhappy about the disruption to the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One schedule on 5 December.
06/12/2013
On-air apology to Equisafety
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One 11.30am, Tuesday 3 December 2013
βIn 2012 the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ broadcast an episode of Fake Britain showing a hi-visibility waistcoat for horse-riders being tested. The makers of the waistcoat, Equisafety, complained. The Editorial Standards Committee of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Trust decided it was inaccurate to say that the waistcoat had failed to meet EU standards and so was fake. Equisafety should have been given a right to reply to the concerns aired in the programme. Trustees also said that viewers should have been informed that an interviewee had links to a rival company. The Trustees agreed there was a significant public interest in investigating the standards of hi-visibility garments on sale to the public but the item was inaccurate, misleading and unfair towards Equisafety. The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ would like to apologise to Equisafety and to our audiences. The full finding is on the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Trustβs websiteβ.
03/12/2013
Complaints and Appeals Board
No appeal findings
03/12/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: Fake Britain, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One (broadcast 4 June 2012); βWhy do some UK Jews settle in Israeli occupied land?β, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ online (posted 4 February 2013)
03/12/2013
On-air apology broadcast during Newsround
CΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, 27 November 2013
βFinally - if you were watching yesterday's Newsround you'll have seen a story about people in Herne Bay, Kent being unhappy about the standard of their town's Christmas lights. We now know that it was LAST year's lights that got the bad reaction, and understand that the town has been making a big effort to ensure they're more impressive this year. We're sorry about our mistake - and are looking forward to seeing Herne Bay's 2013 Christmas lights when they're switched on in December!β
02/12/2013
Harvest 2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two, 11 September 2013
A viewer complained that a sequence about the nutritional benefits of broccoli was inaccurate and misleading because it said that broccoli contains Vitamin D. The programme-makers had acknowledged that broccoli does not contain Vitamin D and had already re-edited the programme to remove this error. The Editorial Complaints Unit considered this to be an appropriate response in the circumstances. Outcome: Resolved
22/11/2013
Why Do Some UK Jews Settle in Israeli-occupied land?
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News Online
This article was about the experiences of two men from the UK (and their families) who had chosen to move to settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Eight readers challenged the accuracy of what the settlers were quoted as saying. In most instances, the ECU found either that there was no inaccuracy or that the matter was one of opinion rather than fact. However, the statements by one of the settlers that βAbout 90% of settlements are right on the border of the Green Lineβ and βIt is relatively rare to find a hilltop settlementβ, singled out by five of the complainants, were inaccurate in a way which, in the context, was materially misleading. Outcome: Partly upheld.
14/11/2013
America's forgotten black cowboys
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News Online
A reader made a number of complaints about an article on black cowboys, which accompanied a radio programme on the subject. Amongst other claims of accuracy and bias he maintained that the article misrepresented the true number of black cowboys in the old west of America. The ECU found that a reference by one of the interviewees to the number of black cowboys on the Texas trails (25%) had been understood to refer to the entirety of the old west. While there is some consensus on this estimate in the case of Texas, this would not hold true in other areas. The available evidence did not support the claim that a quarter of all cowboys were black, and the article was therefore misleading on a single but material point. Outcome: Partly upheld
08/11/2013
Whatβs Killing Our Bees? A Horizon Special
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two, 2 August 2013
A viewer complained that a sequence in the programme misrepresented the extent to which traditional breakfast foods rely on bee pollination for their production. In particular, he said it was wrong to suggest that dairy products would become unavailable. The ECU agreed the programme gave the impression that bees play a significantly greater role in the production of our food than is actually the case. We recognised there were a number of caveats included in the script but concluded that the cumulative effect of the words and pictures would have resulted in a materially misleading impression. Outcome: Upheld
07/11/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Manchesterβs coverage of a trademark dispute
16 August 2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Manchester's programmes and news bulletins on 16 August 2013 reported upon a trademark dispute between Halewood International and TicketyBrew which Halewood International felt was both unfair and prejudicial to their commercial position. Whilst the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ cannot agree that the reporting was unfair or prejudicial, we do acknowledge that ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Manchesterβs news bulletins could have given more prominence to the written statement provided by Halewood International which explained their position in relation to the dispute. ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Manchester apologises if Halewood International feels it was treated unfairly in this regard and as a result the stationβs Editor has reminded staff of the need for care in this area.
07/11/2013
Complaints Management Board findings
Summary of finding: Complaint handling
06/11/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: Decision of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News not to investigate a complaint regarding an item on ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News online dated 17 June 2011; A History of Syria with Dan Snow, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two (broadcast 11 March 2013); Radio trail for In a Princeβs Footsteps, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 6 May 2013); Decision of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Complaints not to investigate a complaint about Sunday Politics, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One (broadcast 16 June 2013); Party, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 10 October 20120; Today, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 28 March 2012).
06/11/2013
Patrick Kielty
Radio 2, 29 May 2013
A listener complained that a contributor to the programme was allowed to put forward his opposition to an impending badger cull without challenge or any balancing comment. The ECU took the view that although listeners would have understood the contributor was expressing a personal view, the cull is a controversial issue. The programme should have made it clear that this was just one opinion on the subject and there are those who believe that culling badgers will help to stop the spread of bovine Tuberculosis in cattle. Outcome: Upheld.
05/11/2013
DUP issue on same sex marriage. ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Ulster and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Four
30 October 2013
A report about opposition to the introduction of same sex marriage in Northern Ireland, which was broadcast on ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Ulster and on ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Four on Wednesday 30th October 2013, contained two inaccuracies. We stated that the Democratic Unionist Party had βblocked debateβ at the Northern Ireland Assembly and that it had used a veto to prevent votes being taken on this issue. We acknowledge that two motions calling for the introduction of same sex marriage in Northern Ireland have been debated, and voted on, in the Assembly in the last twelve months. Both motions were defeated. The party had tabled petitions of concern which would have prevented any motions being carried, however they werenβt necessary. We regret making this error and have amended our online report accordingly.
01/11/2013
Andy Crane
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Manchester, 23 November 2012
A contributor to the programme complained that the description of a site which Manchester Airport wants to develop as βbrown-fieldβ was inaccurate, and called for a broadcast correction. The ECU agreed that the statement, made in a programme earlier that day by a spokesman for the Airport and repeated by Andy Crane in the introduction to the complainantβs interview and in one of his questions, was inaccurate. In the view of the ECU, however, the detailed description of the site which the complainant had then given sufficed to correct any misleading impression. Outcome: Resolved
01/11/2013
Have I Got News for You
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 25 October 2013
An episode of Have I Got News for You broadcast on Friday 25 October mistakenly identified Mr Hugh van Cutsem as a godfather to Prince George. We apologise for the factual inaccuracy and have edited the episode on ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer and for future repeats
31/10/2013
Newsnight
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two, 15 January 2012
Two viewers complained that a report on the Negev desert gave the inaccurate impression that Israel occupied only part of the West Bank. The ECU found that the sentence in the introduction to the report , βIsraeli soldiers shot dead a 17 year old Palestinian youth today near the barrier which separates West Bank towns and villages from areas occupied by Israelβ, tended to give the impression complained of. However, as the complaint had elicited an unequivocal acknowledgement and apology at the first stage of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's complaints process, and as the inaccuracy was not of such magnitude as to require broadcast correction, the ECU took the view that the issue had been resolved. Outcome: resolved
28/10/2013
Daily Politics
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two, 15 February 2013
A viewer complained that an item on Marxism had been biased and inaccurate. The ECU found that the item set out to consider two questions β whether Marxism worked, and whether it could provide lessons for βthe post-economic crash era in which anti-capitalism protests are rifeβ. In most respects, it observed the levels of impartiality and accuracy due in the treatment of such questions, but the reporterβs attribution to Marx of the view that capitalism was doomed because it was unfair was not duly accurate in an item whose subject was Marxism. Partly upheld
25/10/2013
News (7.00pm)
Radio 4, 21 May 2013
A listener said that an item on the impending retirement of Sir David Nicholson, Chief Executive of NHS England, gave the inaccurate impression that the Francis Report had found that there had been hundreds of avoidable deaths at Stafford Hospital. In fact it had concluded that it would be unsafe to infer from the figures that there had been any particular number of avoidable or unnecessary deaths. The ECU found that the report had been commissioned in the light of concerns about mortality rates, and had found evidence of very serious problems at the Trust. However it did not conclude that there had been βhundreds of avoidable deathsβ and had warned against drawing such conclusions from the data. The ECU concluded that the reference to βthe inquiry report into hundreds of avoidable deaths. Outcome: Upheld.
24/10/2013
Dilemma
Radio 4, 21 October 2013
"A repeat of Dilemma from 2011 was broadcast on Monday 21 October including a joke about Michael Winner who has passed away since the original broadcast. Unfortunately we didn't catch the joke before the programme was broadcast and we'll ensure it will be edited before any further repeats on Radio 4. We apologise for any offence caused"
22/10/2013
Jo Good
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ London 94.9FM, 17 May 2013
During a regular slot devoted to canine topics, the presenterβs guest was an βalternativeβ veterinary practitioner. A listener complained that the guest was allowed to make unfounded claims for treatments (ranging from homeopathy to chiropractic) for whose effectiveness there was no scientific evidence, and that the item gave the misleading impression that dog-owners could take their animals to alternative practitioners without referral by a vet (which is illegal). The ECU ruled that the presenter appeared to endorse claims which should have been challenged, and the item as a whole gave the misleading impression complained of. Outcome: Upheld
21/10/2013
Huge βhologramsβ offer medics more memorable classes
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News Online
A reader with a professional involvement in holography complained that the teaching aids described in the article were not holograms but examples of the Pepperβs Ghost illusion, and that the article was seriously misleading. In response to the complainantβs points at an earlier stage of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔβs complaints procedure, a passage making clear that the items were examples of the Pepperβs Ghost illusion was added to the article. In the view of the ECU, and notwithstanding the complainantβs belief that any reference to holograms in this context was seriously misleading, the addition sufficed to resolve the issue of complaint. Outcome: resolved
17/10/2013
The Gaza Surf Club
bbc.co.uk
This programme page accompanying the online version of a Radio 4 piece dealt with a group of young surfers in Gaza and their efforts to pursue their sport despite difficulties arising from the Israeli blockade. A reader had complained of inaccuracies, all tending to give an unfavourable impression of Israel, and the wording of the article had been changed as a result. He complained to the ECU that the page still created a misleading impression, and argued that it should indicate that changes had been made and explain why. The ECU found that the impression created by the amended article was not misleading, and that the original inaccuracies were not serious enough to warrant the addition to the page suggested by the complainant. Outcome: Resolved
16/10/2013
Sadie J
CΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, 16 June 2013
A viewer complained that the reference to a character as βa small-minded, OCD neat freakβ was offensive because it trivialised a recognised medical condition and perpetuated a negative and inaccurate stereotype of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The ECU agreed that the use of OCD as a form of insult, without challenge from another character, was unacceptable in the context of this childrenβs programme. Outcome: Upheld
15/10/2013
NHS failings 'suppressed for electoral reasons'
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News Online
A reader complained that an article previewing a report into care and treatment at 14 NHS Trusts in England gave undue weight to the views of a contributor to the report, Sir Brian Jarman, and incorrectly presented him as an independent expert. The reader also complained that the article incorrectly said the report would include specific figures for deaths above the national average in those Trusts in 2005-10. The ECU did not uphold the main complaint, ruling that, ahead of such a major report, it was reasonable to cover Sir Brianβs views and accurate to describe him as an "independent expert on mortality rates". However, as it was known that figures on deaths would not be included in the report, the ECU upheld the complaint that the article wrongly said they would be. The article was corrected once the error had been brought to the attention of the journalist, which the ECU considered sufficient to resolve the issues of complaint. Outcome: Resolved
14/10/2013
Watchdog
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 9 October 2013
We received complaints from viewers who felt that Ed Miliband was an inappropriate choice of guest for Watchdog, and that Anne Robinson's interview style was too soft.
10/10/2013
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
23 March 2013
A viewer complained that the programme incorrectly allowed βFinlandβ as an answer to a question about countries whose national flags had the colour red in them. The ECU agreed that, whilst there is a version of the flag which incorporates a red lion, it is not the current national flag of Finland. In the context of a competition with a substantial prize which emphasises the thoroughness of its research, the programme fell short of due accuracy. Outcome: Upheld.
09/10/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News
14 November 2012
The programme included a studio interview with Jonathan Sacerdoti about recent Israeli actions in Gaza. Two viewers complained that he had not been identified as a pro-Israeli speaker, which was misleading and resulted in bias. The ECU upheld the complaint that Mr Sacerdoti was introduced as the Director of the Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy, and agreed that it was not made clear that he is an active proponent of the Israeli viewpoint rather a neutral commentator. However, the ECU did not upheld the claim of bias, finding that what he said in the course of the interview was a legitimate expression of that viewpoint. Outcome: Partly upheld.
03/10/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
July & September 2013
Summary of findings: ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ guidance to journalists on the status of settlements, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem; Thought for the Day, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 14 February 2012); PM, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 26 February 2013) and PM, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 12 November 2012)
02/10/2013
David Prever at Drivetime
Radio Oxford, 9 May 2013
A listener complained that the presenter said the evidence against climate change was βoverwhelmingβ and suggested there was a βhuge amount of evidence from esteemed organisations and professors and universities around the worldβ which questioned whether climate change was occurring.The ECU agreed that the presenter misrepresented the weight of evidence for man-made climate change and gave undue emphasis to a minority view. Outcome: Upheld
01/10/2013
On-air apology
Football Focus, 28 September 2013
Robbie Fowler made a comment during the live studio chat that footballers Fernando Torres and Jan Vertonghen had been pulling at each other like "a pair of girls". Fowler was concerned it may have caused offence, so decided to make an apology before the end of the show.
30/09/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
July 2013
Summary of findings: Complaint handling at Stages 1 and 2; Gaza Tweet, 15 November 2012; ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News Online βViewpoints: how experts see UK role in EUβ; ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News at Six (broadcast 28 November 2012); QI, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two (broadcast 11 January 2013); Charlie Sloth, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 1Xtra (broadcast 19 February 2013)
29/08/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News
16 August 2013
We received complaints from viewers and listeners about a report on Pentecostal pastors who advise members of their congregation to cease taking medication for serious illnesses. Some audience members felt the report incorrectly implied that these actions were widespread amongst Pentecostal pastors.
20/08/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ response to Sun article on ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Three's 'Sun, Sex And Suspicious Parents'
The front page of today's Sun (13 August 2013) claims an episode of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Three show 'Sun, Sex And Suspicious Parents' was axed due to the withdrawal of contributors. It suggests that despite this, the film crew stayed on at the resort in Thailand, at a cost of Β£150k.
13/08/2013
Blog - Making 'Break the Safe'
Suzy Lamb from Talkback Thames and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Entertainment Commissioning Executive Producer Alan Tyler explain how episode three of the National Lottery show 'Break the Safe' was made.
11/08/2013
Press statement - ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Breakfast apology
"An image of Prince William was shown fleetingly within a comedy promotional video for Barbershopera, a humorous barbershop group, who were appearing later on in the programme. The material was provided by Barbershopera but we failed to spot the offending material within it. We apologise for this".
1/08/2013
Government media plurality consultation - ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ clarification
Some media have reported that the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ broadcasts 73% of TV News. This isnβt correct. The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔβs size reflects the choice of millions of individuals who find the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ the most trusted, impartial and accurate of all news providers by some margin β it is not the biggest provider by revenues or by airtime. BARB data for Jan-June 2012 shows that ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ news broadcasts 25% of TV news minutes but attracts 73% of audiences.
30/07/2013
Press statement - Top Gear hovervan
"Top Gear is an entertainment programme and we donβt think viewers would have been taken in".
30/07/2013
Complaints & Appeals Board Findings
Summary of finding: Television Licensing
30/07/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: The Future State of Welfare with John Humphrys, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two (broadcast 26 October 2011); βDavid Ward MP βsorryβ over Israel criticismβ, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News Online (posted 26 January 2013); Today, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 29 November 2012); Countryfile, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One (broadcast 18 November and 9 December 2012); Holby City, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One (broadcast 18 September 2012, 8pm)
30/07/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's response to complaints - ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔpage
We received complaints from users who were unable to access their local news/weather pages for a few days.
29/07/2013
Press statement - trail for Doctor Who 50th anniversary episode
This was an exclusive Comic Con trailer made especially for the Doctor Who 50th panel, it has not been released in the US. This world famous international event is an established platform used by all of the major producers. UK fans can look forward to exclusive content over the next few months.
26/07/2013
Royal Baby coverage
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News, July 2013
We received complaints from some viewers who feel there has been too much coverage of the royal baby story and also from some who feel that the coverage has been biased in favour of the monarchy.
24/07/2013
Food and Drink
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two, 18 February 2013
Introducing an item on healthy eating, the presenter cited research which (she said) showed that children in families with two working parents were six times more likely to be obese than other children. A viewer complained that this was misleading and resulted in bias against working mothers, and that a broadcast correction was necessary. The ECU agreed that the research in question didnβt warrant such a general statement but found no bias. The programme-makersβ acknowledgement of the inaccuracy at Stage 1 sufficed to resolve the issue, and the ECU saw no case for a broadcast correction. Outcome: Resolved
19/07/2013
Live European Football coverage: Cliftonville v Celtic
17 July 2013
We received complaints from some viewers in Scotland and Northern Ireland who were upset by chanting from a section of the crowd during our live coverage of the Cliftonville v Celtic match in Belfast.
18/07/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's response to complaints - Nick and Margaret: We All Pay Your Benefits
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 11 July 2013
We received complaints from some viewers who felt the programme was not an accurate representation of benefits claimants.
18/07/2013
Fake Britain
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 4 June 2012
The programme included an item on high-visibility safety wear, principally concerned with the issue of items which didnβt meet the relevant regulatory standards. The ECU found no suggestion that the Equisafety products featured failed to meet the relevant standards, but agreed that the company should have been given an opportunity to respond to a claim about one of its products, and that an interviewee should have been identified as having links to a commercial competitor. Outcome: Partly upheld
16/07/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News Channel
12 July 2013
We have received complaints from viewers unhappy that commentary was aired during a two minute silence on the day of the funeral of Fusilier Lee Rigby.
15/07/2013
#Gaza militants launch missiles at Tel Aviv in 1st rocket attack on Israeli capital since 1991 Gulf War http://bbc.in/QJkWK7
tweeted by ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News, 15 November 2012
This was a tweet posted to draw attention to an online article. A reader complained that it referred to Tel Aviv as the capital of Israel. The ECU agreed that the tweet was inaccurate but found that the correction and apology already made by News was sufficient to resolve the issue. Outcome: Resolved
15/07/2013
Judi Spiers Show
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Devon, 20 May 2013
A listener complained that a homeopath who was interviewed on the programme was allowed to make the misleading claim that an organisation working in Tanzania had successfully treated patients using homeopathic remedies. Outcome: Upheld
12/07/2013
Off the Ball
Radio Scotland, 20 April 2013
A listener complained that one of the presenters had described a football fan as carrying a βwee, poofy bannerβ. The ECU ruled that, whilst the word 'poofy' was used without derogatory intent, it tended to perpetuate an offensive stereotype. Outcome: Upheld.
10/07/2013
Andy Murray: The Man behind the Racquet
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 8 July 2013
We received complaints from viewers who were unhappy about the scheduling of Andy Murray: The Man behind the Racquet.
10/07/2013
Wimbledon 2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 6 July 2013
We received complaints from viewers who were unhappy that the result of the Formula One German Grand Prix Qualifying was revealed.
09/07/2013
Wimbledon 2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live, 6 July 2013
We received complaints from listeners who were offended by comments made by John Inverdale about Marion Bartoli's appearance.
09/07/2013
Half-yearly Editorial Complaints Unit reports
October 2012 - March 2013
Summary of the significant complaints upheld, resolved or not upheld by the Editorial Complaints Unit with statistics about all complaints handled by the Unit.
08/07/2013
Health Check
World Service, 4 October 2012
A listener complained that an item on the situation of people with kidney failure in Gaza gave the misleading impression that medical supplies and equipment were subject to the Israeli blockade, and that the item was misleading in other respects. The Editorial Complaints Unit ruled that one sentence gave the impression that the Israeli blockade covered medical supplies, which is not the case. Outcome: Partly upheld.
02/07/2013
Jia Jin He
bbc.co.uk
This item, drawn from a ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ West television news piece, reported the conviction and sentencing of the Chinese businessman Jia Jin He at Bristol Crown Court. An associate of Mr He complained on his behalf that it was seriously inaccurate. Outcome: Upheld.
02/07/2013
The Andrew Marr Show
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 23 June, 2013
We received complaints from viewers who felt Russell Brand was an inappropriate choice of guest during the newspaper review section of the programme.
25/06/2013
The Voice UK
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 22 June 2013
We have received complaints from some viewers who felt that Hollyβs dress for the final of The Voice UK was unsuitable for a family audience.
24/06/2013
Guide: Why are Israel and the Palestinians fighting over Gaza?
Newsround website, bbc.co.uk
A visitor to the site complained that the item was misleading in three respects. The ECU found that, bearing in mind the degree of simplification appropriate for an item intended for children, the complaint was not upheld for two of the statements in question. However, the ECU upheld the complaint that the reference to βwhether or not Israel should exist as a countryβ gave a misleading impression of the options on which efforts to achieve peace in the area have focused. Outcome: Partly upheld
21/06/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: References to Skype in ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ news and factual output; Woman's Hour, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 18 December 2012) and Coverage of Rangers Football Club, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Online
18/06/2013
Sunday Politics
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 16 June 2013
In an interview about the figures for the Governmentβs Work Programme to be released later that morning, Nick Robinson said taxpayers were βslightly better offβ because benefits were not paid to participants in the programme. A listener pointed out that participants do in fact receive benefits. Outcome: Upheld.
17/06/2013
Today
Radio 4, 27 November 2012
In an interview about the figures for the Governmentβs Work Programme to be released later that morning, Nick Robinson said taxpayers were βslightly better offβ because benefits were not paid to participants in the programme. A listener pointed out that participants do in fact receive benefits. Outcome: Upheld.
17/06/2013
False rape claims βdevastatingβ say wrongly accused
Newsbeat website, bbc.co.uk
A reader of the item complained that it gave the impression that false rape claims are common, when in fact they are the reverse. Outcome: Resolved.
14/06/2013
Reporting Scotland
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One Scotland, 24 September 2012, 6.30pm
A viewer complained that a report on the deaths of three people in a canoeing accident confused the distinction between life jackets and buoyancy aids. Outcome: Upheld
14/06/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ homepage clock; The Twelfth, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One Northern Ireland (broadcast 12 July 2012).
4/06/2013
Complaints & Appeals Board Findings
Summary of finding.
29/05/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News
Coverage of the Woolwich attacks, 22 May 2013
We have received complaints from viewers who felt that it was inappropriate to broadcast footage of one of the suspected attackers in Woolwich making a statement after the attack. We also received complaints that the accompanying footage we broadcast in our news reports on this story was too graphic and distressing.
Blog post - 'One phrase and why I'm sorry I quoted it' - by Nick Robinson, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's Political Editor, explaining the language he used in his report of the incident.
23/05/2013
Newsnight
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two, 9 August 2012
The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ has apologised to the charity Help for Heroes.
16/05/2013
Complaints and Appeals Board findings
Summary of findings.
15/05/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: Morning Briefing, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Scotland (broadcast 28 July 2011); The Last Explorers, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Four (broadcast 14 August 2012); Thinking Allowed, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 4pm 25 April 2012) and βAll UK βmust be on DNA databaseββ, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News Online
15/05/2013
Sir Alex Ferguson retirement coverage
8 May 2013
We have received complaints from viewers who felt there was too much coverage of Sir Alex Fergusonβs retirement from Manchester United.
09/05/2013
Have I Got News For You
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 26 April 2013
We have received complaints from some viewers who were unhappy with comments made about Scotland during Have I Got News For You on Friday 26th April.
01/05/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: Richard Bacon, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live (broadcast 28 & 29 February 2012); Six Nations on-screen graphics; Horizon β Fukushima: Is Nuclear Power Safe?, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two (broadcast 14 September 2011)
30/04/2013
Panorama: North Korea Undercover
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 15 April 2013
We received complaints from audience members unhappy that an undercover reporter posed as a student from the London School of Economics (LSE) for a programme investigating North Korea. Some complainants also felt the programme should not have been broadcast.
16/04/2013
Have I Got News For You
12 April, 2013
We received complaints about this broadcast - some viewers were disappointed by the comments made about the late Lady Thatcher.
16/04/2013
The Official Chart with Jameela Jamil
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 1, decision to play a clip of the song 'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead', 14 April 2013
We received complaints about the decision to play a clip of the song 'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead' on The Official Chart with Jameela Jamil.
15/04/2013
Barely Legal Drivers
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Three
We have received complaints from some viewers who objected to the premise of the series, with many feeling that it rewarded dangerous driving.
10/04/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News
Coverage of the death of Lady Thatcher, 8 April 2013
We have received complaints from audience members who felt that ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News devoted too much time to news of the death of Lady Thatcher and that this coverage was biased in her favour. We also received complaints that our coverage was biased against her.
09/04/2013
The Boat Race
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 31 March 2013
We received complaints from viewers who were offended by bad language in our live coverage of The Boat Race.
04/04/2013
NewsWatch
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News, 10 February 2012
Angus Roxburgh, the consultant to the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two series Putin, Russia and the West, complained that he was not given the opportunity to rebut a viewerβs claim about the series, which he regarded as unfair and professionally damaging criticism. It was later acknowledged that a response from the Series Producer had been inaccurate and gave the impression of endorsing the suggestion that Mr Roxburghβs involvement in the project could have led to bias, and this was unfair to him. The complaint was partly upheld.
04/04/2013
Today
Radio 4, 18 April 2012
A listener complained that an item on the release of documents from the archive of the Foreign Office included a misleading reference to the Malayan uprising having been "brutally suppressedβ. The complaint was upheld.
28/03/2013
The Andrew Marr Show
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 24 March 2013
We received complaints from viewers who felt presenter Eddie Mair was too aggressive during his interview with Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
26/03/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: Bang Goes The Theory, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One (broadcast 16 April 2012); The World at One, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 28 August 2012); Today, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 19 April and 9 May 2012) and Attempt to conduct a βdoorstepβ interview
26/03/2013
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 23 March 2013
We have received complaints from some viewers who believe we accepted a wrong answer concerning flags which feature the colour red during The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins.
25/03/2013
How do banks work?
bbc.co.uk
A viewer complained that a video extract from ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Three - a channel aimed at a young audience - gave a misleading impression of the way banks work and of the causes of the global financial crisis. The ECU ruled that the item did not give a misleading impression of the immediate causes of the global credit crunch but that it was misleading in in relation to the principles of banking and of the impact of the working of banks on the economy at large. The complaint was partly upheld.
21/03/2013
Comic Relief
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 15 March 2013
We have received complaints from some viewers about the suitability of some of the content in this yearβs Comic Relief, with many complainants singling out sketches by Rowan Atkinson and Call the Midwife.
20/03/2013
The Future State of Welfare
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two, 27 October 2011
A viewer complained that the programme was inaccurate in a number of ways. The ECU agreed that the programme gave an inaccurate impression that the decision on eligibility for disability benefit had rested until recently with GPS. However, it found no other significant inaccuracies.
20/03/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Sport website
bbc.co.uk
A visitor to the site complained that it included a tweet from a freelance presenter of Formula 1 coverage which promoted his recent book. The tweet was of a promotional nature, and its inclusion breached the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔβs guidelines on references to commercial goods and services. There was an arrangement that the presenterβs tweets would appear on the website only when he was on ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ duty, but on this occasion, as a result of human error, one of his private tweets had appeared and had not been removed. However, as the programme-makers had acknowledged the error and taken measures to prevent a recurrence before the complaint was escalated, the ECU regarded the issue as having been resolved.
13/03/2013
The World at One
Radio 4, 28 August 2012
The programme included a report on the outcome of the civil action by the parents of Rachel Corrie in the Israeli courts, followed by an interview by Martha Kearney of the Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev. In the course of the interview, she said: "Clearly Rachel Corrie was one of the casualties of what happened that day - and I know Israeli soldiers died too - but has this meant there's a rethink of the policy of what was happening at that time - bulldozing Palestinian houses?". Following a number of complaints that this gave the inaccurate impression that Israeli soldiers had been killed in the area in question on the same day as Ms Corrie, and in incidents connected with the circumstances of her death, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News posted an acknowledgement and correction on the complaints pages of bbc.co.uk. The ECU received 18 complaints to the effect that this was insufficient, and that a broadcast correction and apology was necessary. The ECU took the view that the online posting by News sufficed to resolve the issue.
12/03/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of finding: ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One (broadcast Sunday 27 May 2012, 5.50pm); Have I Got News For You?, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One (broadcast 1 June 2012); What The Papers Say, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 29 July 2012) and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Online Olympic Country Profiles
12/03/2013
What The Papers Say
Radio 4, 29 July 2012
A journalist complained that he had been misquoted and otherwise mistreated in the programme, and that there had been bias against the viewpoint he represented. The ECU found that there had been no bias, and that a broadcast apology the following week resolved the issues arising from the misquotation.
11/03/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: Silent Witness, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One (broadcast 22 April 2012); Application of Expedited Procedure at Stage 1; News Bulletins, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Shropshire (broadcast 26 & 27 March 2012) and Watson & Oliver, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two (broadcast 7 March 2012).
26/02/2013
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Red Button changes
2013
We have received complaints from some viewers about changes to the Red Button service.
22/02/2013
Let's Dance for Comic Relief
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 16 February 2013
We received complaints from some viewers who felt Steve Jones made an inappropriate comment at the end of Let's Dance for Comic Relief concerning rugby scores.
18/02/2013
Africa commentary
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One, 6 February 2013
There is widespread acknowledgement within the scientific community that the climate of Africa has been changing as stated in the programme. We accept the evidence for 3.5 degrees increase is disputable and the commentary should have reflected that, therefore the line has been removed from the episode repeat (10 February) and the iPlayer version replaced.
12/02/2013
Complaints and Appeal Board
Summary of findings
30/01/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: In Touch, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 21 February 2012) and Today, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 16 May 2011)
29/01/2013
On-air apology to Lady Camoys broadcast before Have I Got Old News For You
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Two, 21 January 2013
During a recent episode of "Have I got News for You" broadcast on 14 December 2012, reference was made during the "Missing Words Round" to a newspaper headline that referred to a story about a Lady Camoys (whose full name is Mary Jean Stourton Camoys) containing allegations to the effect that she was a Nazi loving aristocrat. The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ would like to make it clear that the Lady Camoys being referred to, both in the programme and the newspaper, was a previous Lady Camoys, who died in 1987. This was not intended to refer to the current Lady Camoys, whose full name is Elisabeth Mary Hyde Camoys, to whom we apologise for any embarrassment caused.
22/01/2013
Tweenies
CBeebies, 20 January 2013
We received complaints from viewers who felt it was inappropriate to feature a character dressed as a DJ impersonating Jimmy Savile.
20/01/2013
The Nolan Show
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One Northern Ireland, 16 January 2013
We received complaints from some people who were unhappy about the make-up of the audience for this programme and who felt that it did not include people from different community backgrounds.
18/01/2013
Editorial Standards Committee findings
Summary of findings: Steve Wrightβs Sunday Love Songs, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2; Six Oβclock News, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 15 May 2012); Six Nations: Scotland v England, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One (broadcast 4 February 2012); One Oβclock News, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2 (broadcast 26 June 2012); From Our Own Correspondent, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 (broadcast 5 November 2011)
16/01/2013
Ripper Street
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One
We received complaints from some viewers who feel the content of Ripper Street is too violent and unsuitable for its timeslot.
11/01/2013
Sunday Half Hour
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2, moving to a morning slot
We received complaints from people who are unhappy that Sunday Half Hour is being moved to a morning slot.
10/01/2013
Sportsweek
Radio 5 live, 22 July 2012
In an interview with Jeremy Hunt, Garry Richardson raised the topic of the threatened strike by members of the Public and Commercial Services Union on the eve of the Olympics. Several listeners complained that he had inappropriately expressed a personal view on a controversial topic. The terms in which Richardson spoke tended to give the impression that a personal view was being expressed, although this was not the intention. The complaints were therefore upheld.
03/01/2013