- Court in the act again part two - 24th January 2025
- Court in the act again part one… - 23rd January 2025
- More Belated Broadcasting Corporation - 22nd January 2025
During 23 years with the BBC, and a 41 year journalistic career (when he was trained to use clear and simple language, avoiding jargon), our Editor, Welshman Phil Parry dealt with innumerable Press Officers (POs) and usually information was provided promptly, but often now this is not the case. This is underlined by requests from The Eye of the BBC after the shocking Gregg Wallace affair which have still not been answered, despite being sent BEFORE CHRISTMAS!
It’s a relatively straightforward job.
All a Press Officer (PO) (or Media Officer [MO]) has to do is give accurate information to journalists like me promptly.
However I look askance by their behaviour today.
Invariable I am asked “what’s your deadline?”, when it is always immediate because often I am writing the story there and then, so I reply “ASAP”.
With this as the background, it should be noted that I received NOTHING WHATSOEVER from the big department store John Lewis (JL), about their use of a picture to sell Eau de Cologne of the Hollywood actor Johnny Depp who was labelled a “wife beater” in a UK court for brutal attacks on his ex, despite the fact that I was told the matter would be ‘looked into’, and I was asked (of course) what my deadline was (ASAP).
This even became the subject of our satirical writer Edwin Phillips.
The incredible situation was put centre stage by the disclosure that Mr Depp made a record, that (the UK media have reported), is a direct reference to his libel trial problems, after The Sun said he was someone who assaulted his wife (which has been supported by a UK judge).
Mr Depp recorded a track on the album ’18’ with ageing rocker Jeff Beck, and on it he sang: “i think you’ve said enough for one motherfucking night”.
These extraordinary details came to mind for me after what has just happened with the BBC.
Following the disturbing Gregg Wallace business it seemed reasonable to ask the huge corporation, how many programmes could not, now, be transmitted and what they were.
It was reported that Mr Wallace was stepping back from his role on MasterChef while allegations of historical misconduct were looked into.
An investigation by BBC News revealed that he is facing allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people who worked with him over a 17-year period.
Channel 5 was also examining allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by the presenter while making the programme ‘Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends’ in 2019.
More alleged ‘inappropriate behaviour’ came to light afterwards, and BBC News has reported about the corporation: “It’s the last thing it needs, so soon after other high profile scandals including the disgraced BBC News presenter Huw Edwards. The BBC has questions to answer about the allegations over what it knew about Wallace’s behaviour on and off set, and – if it was alerted to these types of allegations – what it did about them. BBC News has been made aware of two occasions when complaints were made. One, by the radio host Aasmah Mir, related to Celebrity MasterChef in 2017.”
One Welsh former senior executive with the corporation told me earlier: “The BBC is attempting to display decisiveness after the Huw Edwards & Savile scandals to help restore its public image. It’s cosmetic. On the Wallace incident it was said that we saw: “Another slap on the wrist from weak executives who’re afraid to sack talent & put ratings first. He’s finished and the Beeb managers who let him carry on should be fired”.
All of this came on the back of many other appalling events where the BBC has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.
We have had the Amanda Abbington/Giovanni Pernice incident on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, involving accusations of bullying and harassment.
There has also been the One Show and Match of the Day (MotD) presenter Jermaine Jenas, where once again there have been allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’, with reports claiming, for example, that one female member of staff received unsolicited communications via text from him.
We have been treated to the Huw Edwards affair (alluded to by BBC News), and the Jimmy Savile scandal (which the former executive mentioned). The full extent of what Savile did has only emerged relatively recently.
Let’s not forget the incredible Jay Blades episode.
The Repair Shop star was accused of illegal acts in relation to his estranged wife, with the allegations including physical and emotional abuse, according to court documents.
He appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court and was bailed until another court appearance.
West Mercia Police (WMP) said he was charged after they were called to an address last year, following an Instagram post by Lisa Zbozen.
A repeat of David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed was removed and the BBC will not show any programmes in which he features.
Last October he pleaded not guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour.
After everything that has happened, it seemed reasonable, therefore, to ask the BBC which programmes could not now be transmitted.
This is the (extremely polite) request I put to their MO on December 19, and I was encouraged because on the BBC’s website they declare: “Enquiries from journalists will be responded to as quickly as possible”.
Hello.
To date, though, there has been no reply apart from an automated message saying that the request had been received.
The memories of Phil’s, astonishing award-winning career in journalism (including some of the immediate responses from MOs) as he was gripped by the rare neurological disabling condition, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), have been released in a major book ‘A GOOD STORY’. Order the book now!
Tomorrow – Phil looks on with horror as details emerge of the shocking killing of an investigative journalist who was found dead in a septic tank with his heart ripped out.
