BBC fined £50,000 over phone-in con

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Media watchdog Ofcom hit the Corporation with the unprecedented penalty after finding the broadcaster guilty of the pre-planned "deception" of its young viewers by faking a competition winner.

It is the first fine ever imposed on the BBC by regulators. A BBC spokeswoman confirmed that the fine would be paid out of licence-fee money.

Nearly 40,000 children called the BBC One show's premium-rate phone line on November 27 last year in a competition to win a toy. Viewers were asked to identify EastEnders character Bradley Branning from a picture of his feet and an accompanying clue. But when a technical glitch meant no winning entrant could be selected, a member of the production team asked a girl visiting the studio with a parent to pose as a winning caller.

She was given the correct answer and put on air. The girl said she was "calling from London" - in fact, she had been taken to a make-up room in the Blue Peter studios.

The deception only came to light in March when a member of the public who had also been visiting the studio sent an email to the BBC blowing the whistle on what had happened.

In its ruling, Ofcom said the BBC had demonstrated a "casual lack of regard" for the welfare of the child involved.

The broadcaster was found to have breached two rules - the first stating that "competitions should be conducted fairly" and the second stating that "due care must be taken over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of people under 18 who take part or are otherwise involved in programmes".

The breaches were "particularly serious" because they resulted in children being misled.

In a damning judgment, Ofcom's sanctions committee concluded: "The committee was conscious that the imposition of a financial penalty on the BBC was unprecedented. However, in all the circumstances, and weighing all these matters carefully, the committee considered that these were serious breaches of the code by a public service broadcaster resulting, as they did, in the deception of the audience, including child participants who paid to enter the competition."