View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
February 14, 2002updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

BBC misses out on royal scoop

By Press Gazette

Journalists feared the BBC had been snubbed by St James’s Palace because of claims that it would be more critical of the Royal Family when ITN was given exclusive access to Prince Charles’ visit to a bed and breakfast in Cumbria.

ITN’s Tom Bradby travelled from London to cover the Prince’s two-night stay with Hazel and Joe Relph at Yew Tree Farm in Borrowdale.

BBC regional correspondent Kevin Bocquet and royal correspondent Jennie Bond were said to have been taken aback when they found out about the visit and realised that Bradby appeared to have been tipped off in advance.

A source said there was concern that the palace was reacting to reports about a memo sent by head of television news Roger Mosey about the BBC’s royal coverage. "What added to the suspicion was that the Relph family would not co-operate with the BBC afterwards and refused to give an interview," the source said.

Both Bond and Bocquet declined to comment, referring all calls to the BBC press office.

A spokesman denied that it had been left out in the cold over the visit, claiming that it was the result of a "genuine exclusive" by ITN.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

But it meant that the visit, which was also covered by the Press Association, was high on ITV’s News at Ten running list on Thursday, but was not on the BBC’s Ten O’Clock News.

BBC insiders believe it was meant as "a gentle shot across the bows" from the palace following reports that the BBC was considering making its coverage of the Royal Family less "fawning".

A spokeswoman for St James’s Palace denied the decision to give the scoop to ITN had anything to do with the BBC’s editorial policy.

 

By Julie Tomlin

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network