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BBC pulls Mazher Mahmood Panorama at 11th hour after new info from Fake Sheikh lawyers

By Press Gazette

A BBC Panorama episode about undercover journalist Mazher Mahmood with up-to-date images of the ''Fake Sheikh'' was not broadcast tonight despite a ruling in the Court of Appeal not to grant him an injunction over the screening.

The corporation issued a statement to say it needed to "evaluate" new information relating to one of the cases in the programme.

Mahmood had launched a last-minute challenge against a High Court judge's refusal on Friday to grant him an injunction.

He claimed that revealing his current appearance would breach his human rights by exacerbating the existing risk to his safety caused by his investigative work and would impact upon his family life.

But, Lord Justice Elias and Lady Justice Sharp today refused him permission to appeal, saying he had not shown any error in Sir David Eady's ruling.

Despite the outcome in court, the BBC decided to show a Panorama episode investigating the disappearance of Blackpool schoolgirl Charlene Downes.

A BBC spokesman said: "The BBC had intended to broadcast Panorama, Fake Sheikh: Exposed tonight following the Court of Appeal's decision earlier today to allow the BBC to broadcast images of Mazher Mahmood.

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"Shortly before transmission, Mr Mahmood's lawyers submitted new information relating to one of the cases in the programme which, as a responsible broadcaster, the BBC needs to evaluate.

"Once this has been done we will broadcast Fake Sheikh: Exposed, including recent footage of Mr Mahmood, as planned."

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