BBC fined £150,000 over Brand Sachs broadcast
The BBC has been struck with a £150,000 fine after the disastrous attack by Russell Brand on actor Andrew
Sachs and his granddaughter Georgina Baille.
Ofcom issued the fine for the “extraordinary nature and seriousness” of its failings in broadcasting the BBC 2 radio show which “seriously infringed” the privacy of the actor and his family.
The ruling today (April 3) stated that the radio show, featuring Russell Brand and celebrity guest, Jonathan Ross, aired on BBC Radio 2 on the 18th October 2008, and further repeated on the 25th October, had broadcast “explicit, intimate and confidential” information about Sachs and Baille without their consent.
Ofcom, the broadcast regulator concluded, “This is not only unwarrantably and seriously infringed their privacy but was also gratuitously offensive, humiliating and demeaning.
Ofcom are aware that broadcasters require “creative freedom” to delve into certain issues, which is part of the creative risk which is acclaimed to the BBC’s public service role. However, they stressed the management of this creativity and risk-taking is highly important, and the BCC failed to comply with this.
Ofcom’s investigation found that despite the Russell Brand show being considered by the BBC as being “high risk” prior to these episodes, the broadcaster had failed in their responsibility in managing some of that risk to those working for the presenter, Brand.
Six underlying flaws in the BBC’s compliance systems were identified, mainly focusing on the lack of clarity about the role of a senior figure (executive producer) at the agency representing Russell Brand; their training, and insufficient monitoring by BBC Audio and Music.
The BBC were also criticised for failure to have no senior manager at the Radio 2 station listening to the pre-recorded programme on 18th October 2008 in its entirety before being broadcast to the nation.
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