j.m@talk
09-25-2007, 09:02 AM
Blue Peter presenters are due to make an apology to viewers after it emerged the online poll to name the children's show's new cat had been rigged. :eek: (Say it ain't so)
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1590497.jpg
Blue Peter cats Socks and Cookie
The BBC recently revealed that production staff had overruled the outcome of the web vote to find a name for the kitten.
Instead of calling the animal Cookie, as viewers wanted, the production team changed the winning name to Socks.
An apology will be broadcast to viewers today in the first edition of the new series of the iconic BBC 1 show.
Presenters will also introduce a further kitten - which will be called Cookie - the original name viewers voted for.
The apology follows the news that acting editor Tim Levell has become the new editor of the programme.
The former editor, Richard Marson, was reportedly sacked over the poll fiasco.
Marson was also at the helm when Blue Peter was involved in its first and most serious deception, in which a child visiting the studio was asked to pose as a phone-in competition winner.
The BBC was fined an unprecedented £50,000 by media watchdog Ofcom over the incident.
Several other major breaches of editorial policy by the BBC have recently come to light, where competition winners have been faked.
Some members of staff at the BBC's 6 Music and Asian Network radio channels have been sacked, while others have been disciplined.
http://static.sky.com/images/skynews/furniture/skynews_logo.gif
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1590497.jpg
Blue Peter cats Socks and Cookie
The BBC recently revealed that production staff had overruled the outcome of the web vote to find a name for the kitten.
Instead of calling the animal Cookie, as viewers wanted, the production team changed the winning name to Socks.
An apology will be broadcast to viewers today in the first edition of the new series of the iconic BBC 1 show.
Presenters will also introduce a further kitten - which will be called Cookie - the original name viewers voted for.
The apology follows the news that acting editor Tim Levell has become the new editor of the programme.
The former editor, Richard Marson, was reportedly sacked over the poll fiasco.
Marson was also at the helm when Blue Peter was involved in its first and most serious deception, in which a child visiting the studio was asked to pose as a phone-in competition winner.
The BBC was fined an unprecedented £50,000 by media watchdog Ofcom over the incident.
Several other major breaches of editorial policy by the BBC have recently come to light, where competition winners have been faked.
Some members of staff at the BBC's 6 Music and Asian Network radio channels have been sacked, while others have been disciplined.
http://static.sky.com/images/skynews/furniture/skynews_logo.gif