Â鶹Éç

The report included interviews with Russell T Davies and Ncuti Gatwa, the new Doctor Who. Russell T Davies also wrote the Channel 4 series It’s A Sin which was nominated for numerous awards at the BAFTA ceremony.  It appears the latter is what he was referring to when he said:

Completely surprised and completely thrilled and it’s so nice to see that cast being recognised tonight.  And of course it was made on a channel that the government’s going to sell off, while they’re also planning to get rid of the Â鶹Éç licence fee, so if you like shows like this – go and vote differently, that’s what I say.

It is legitimate for Russell T Davies to criticise the Government, and for the Â鶹Éç to report on that criticism, provided it is properly contextualised and the Government’s position duly reflected.  In this case, however, the remarks appear to have been included in error. The reporter and producer were on location at the awards ceremony rather than at New Broadcasting House where the material was edited together.  The reporter's commentary was designed to introduce a remark about Doctor Who, but a different clip was selected by mistake.  The strong political view it included was not balanced by any reflection of Government policy during the News Channel’s coverage of the BAFTAs that evening, and was therefore in breach of the Â鶹Éç’s requirement to show impartiality on politically controversial matters.
Upheld