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BBC executives 'surprised by David Cameron's Chris Evans appearance'
John Plunkett Guardian 11 August 2012
DATELINE: 11/8/12
David Cameron's appearance on Chris Evans's Radio 2 breakfast show has caused consternation at the BBC, with senior figures within the corporation unaware that the prime minister was booked to appear. BBC insiders said there were fears that Cameron's 20-minute interview with Evans on the country's most popular breakfast show on Thursday breached BBC rules on impartiality.
Cameron read out messages from listeners and told Evans about the legacy of the London Olympics, defending the government's policy on the controversial issue of the sale of school playing fields.
One BBC source said they expected Labour leader Ed Miliband would be badgering the corporation to come on to Radio 2 to read out listener text messages next week. But there is no indication that Labour is preparing a complaint about the Cameron interview.
The BBC has strict guidelines governing the appearance of politicians on non-news programmes, which require senior executive approval, as well as topical issues that are the subject of public debate.
Such is the level of sensitivity over the interview that the BBC is believed to have discussed internally whether to remove it from the iPlayer. It remained available at the time of publication.
"Nobody knew anything until it was too late to do anything about it. It was a huge cock-up," said one BBC insider.
"The BBC has made huge efforts and spent an enormous amount of time on maintaining its impartiality during the course of the Olympics, and then this screws the whole thing up," said another corporation source.
"David Cameron went unchallenged for virtually the entire interview. It appears the editorial guidelines have got everything covered apart from the possibility that the prime minister might turn up to read listener dedications."
Cameron defended the government's policy on sport in schools, saying only 21 playing fields had been sold off since 2010, 14 of which were schools that had been closed and four had merged, he told Evans.
The prime minister was interrupted by the DJ who told him: "It's not the Today programme, I don't care about the facts and figures."
Cameron responded: "We are not selling off playing fields, it's very important we keep them."
Britain's legacy from the 2012 Games and efforts to encourage more children to become involved in sport is already a source of much political debate.
The entire interview, which took place live from the Olympics Park, where Evans is on location for the duration of the Games, was conducted with the BBC's Olympics theme, composed by Elbow, playing in the background.
Cameron read out a number of text messages from listeners in the "listener breaking news" section of the show, which included "I let my new chickens out this morning" and "On my way to pick up my new Mini".
The prime minister commented: "That's buying British, I approve of that."
Evans, who introduced Cameron as the "prime minister of Great Britain, the ultimate Team GB", read out the newspaper headlines and asked Cameron: "They've not been bad headlines over the last 13 days, have they prime minister?"
Cameron said it had been a "wonderful few weeks for Britain, every day there is something to lift the spirits".
He added that he had been doing "big deals for Britain" and wanted to reassure listeners that "I am also chairing the Cobra meetings".
Evans said the Cobra meetings sound "so James Bondy" and was a "pretty cool name". Cameron replied: "I promise there isn't someone stroking a white cat."
The BBC's editorial guidelines state: "Any proposal to invite a politician to be a guest on a programme or area of content where to do so is the exception rather than the rule, must be referred to chief cdviser politics [Ric Bailey].
"We must apply due impartiality to all our subject matter. However, there are particular requirements for 'controversial subjects', whenever they occur in any output, including drama, entertainment and sport."
A BBC spokesman said: "The BBC is committed to impartiality across its output and, while the Chris Evans Show has a lighter, more conversational tone than our news programming, it is entirely appropriate and within BBC guidelines for political figures to appear on entertainment shows, as long as those with alternate views are offered the same opportunity over time. In this case, the leadership of the opposition has already been invited onto the show and we are awaiting their response."
Last modified: Saturday, August 11, 2012
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World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
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Previous stories
Public Service Broadcasting
BBC cuts – campaign for the alternative
BBC cuts - there is an alternative
BBC unions say high-handed BBC managers could provoke Jubilee strike
BBC wins right to broadcast prisoner interview
Delivering Quality First
Unions reach agreement with the BBC who plan U-turn over local radio cuts
Open Letter about Ofcom report to the Secretary of State on PSB obligations on Channels 3 & 5
BBC 'cheap programming' scandal exposed
Committee says new BBC Chairman has "much to get to grips with"
ITV profits boosted by advertising revenue recovery
BBC seeks extra £400m in savings
Television licence fee to be frozen for next six years
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