BRITAIN’S telly watchdog yesterday vowed to intervene in the BBC’s Gaza documentary probe.
Ofcom chief Lord Grade of Yarmouth wrote to Beeb bosses expressing concerns over the “nature of the failings” surrounding the Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone film.
Britain’s telly watchdog Ofcom has vowed to intervene in the BBC’s Gaza documentary probe if it is not handled properly[/caption]
Ofcom chief Lord Grade of Yarmouth expressed concerns to Beeb bosses over the ‘nature of the failings’ in the Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone film[/caption]
The BBC sparked an uproar after it emerged the documentary’s child narrator is the son of a senior Hamas terrorist.
Counterterrorism cops are considering launching an investigation into whether the BBC broke the law by paying taxpayer cash to a family member of the Hamas minister.
In his letter, Lord Grade said Ofcom supports the broadcaster’s decision to probe the documentary internally “at this stage”.
But he added: “We will continue to keep the situation under close review and will expect regular updates from the BBC regarding both timeframes and progress and reserve the right to use our powers to step in should we feel it necessary to do so.
“Ofcom has ongoing concerns about the nature and gravity of these failings and the negative impact they have on the trust audiences place in the BBC’s journalism.
“It is crucial that the causes of those errors are investigated and that systems are put in place to ensure they cannot recur.”
It comes as BBC director-general Tim Davie and chairman Samir Shah face a grilling by MPs on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee today.
The pair will be probed on the documentary, as well as other issues blighting the organisation including the licence fee.
