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Blue Peter sorry over fake winner Blue Peter sorry over fake winner
(20 minutes later)
The BBC has apologised for faking the results of a competition on children's programme Blue Peter last November. The hosts of BBC children's programme Blue Peter have apologised to viewers after the results of a competition were faked last November.
A technical problem meant that viewers calling in for a competition were not getting through to the studio. A technical problem meant viewers calling for the Whose Shoes contest did not get through to the studio.
A member of staff asked a child who was visiting the show to pose as a caller and answer a question live on air. Instead, a visiting child was asked to pose as a caller live on air.
Host Konnie Huq told viewers: "We'd like to say sorry to you because when this mistake happened we let you down." The BBC did not profit from the calls. Host Konnie Huq said: "We'd like to say sorry to you because when this mistake happened we let you down." The BBC did not profit from the calls.
BBC Children's controller Richard Deverell called the incident a "serious error of judgement".BBC Children's controller Richard Deverell called the incident a "serious error of judgement".
Viewers who did ring in were charged 10p per call, with 3.25p going to children's charity Unicef. The contest, on 27 November, was raising money for children orphaned by Aids in Malawi.
I would like to apologise unequivocally to viewers BBC Children's controller Richard Deverell I would like to apologise unequivocally to viewers BBC Children's controller Richard Deverell Callers were asked to phone in and identify a mystery celebrity's shoes. More than 13,800 people entered, with calls costing 10p each, including 3.25p for the Unicef charity.
However, the child who posed as the winning caller took home a prize chosen from a selection of children's toys. But an "unavoidable technical difficulty" meant producers were unable to access the callers' details and so found a stand-in.
Premium phone line regulator Icstis has confirmed it is mounting an investigation into the programme. The child they found was already in the studio because she had won a separate competition.
Premium phone line regulator Icstis is investigating the incident, which was discovered when another visitor to the programme set, Mona Zahoor, wrote to the BBC's Have Your Say messageboard.
Falling shortFalling short
The incident was discovered when another visitor to the programme set, Mona Zahoor, wrote to the BBC's Have Your Say messageboard describing the events.
"We were all quite horrified when it happened," she told the BBC News website."We were all quite horrified when it happened," she told the BBC News website.
An internal investigation confirmed the error and a separate independent review will be carried out into the circumstances surrounding the competition.An internal investigation confirmed the error and a separate independent review will be carried out into the circumstances surrounding the competition.
"This edition of the programme fell short of the high standards Blue Peter viewers quite rightly expect," said Blue Peter editor Richard Marson. "This edition of the programme fell short of the high standards Blue Peter viewers quite rightly expect," Blue Peter editor Richard Marson said.
"We are very sorry for the way this competition was conducted.""We are very sorry for the way this competition was conducted."
Blue Peter will celebrate its 50th birthday in October 2008Blue Peter will broadcast an apology to viewers on Wednesday's edition of the show. Blue Peter will celebrate its 50th birthday in October 2008The competition has been re-run, with a new winner chosen from the original callers. The problem will "never happen again", viewers have been told.
The competition will also be re-run, with a winner chosen from the callers who contacted the programme on 27 November, 2006. "I would like to apologise unequivocally to viewers, to all the children who took part in the competition," Mr Deverell said.
"I would like to apologise unequivocally to viewers, to all the children who took part in the competition," said Mr Deverell.
"We have already apologised directly to the child involved and her family for this incident.""We have already apologised directly to the child involved and her family for this incident."
Mr Deverell called the faking of the competition an "exceptional incident", and said the person responsible had acted "in a panic".Mr Deverell called the faking of the competition an "exceptional incident", and said the person responsible had acted "in a panic".
But speaking to Radio Five Live he refused to rule out the possibility that staff would be sacked over the incident. But speaking to Radio Five Live, he refused to rule out the possibility that staff would be sacked over the incident.
A freephone number - 08000 565 363 - is available for viewers who took part in the competition and would like more information.A freephone number - 08000 565 363 - is available for viewers who took part in the competition and would like more information.
Viewers can also find information on the CBBC website following today's Blue Peter broadcast. Viewers can also find information on the Blue Peter website.
But Ms Zahoor, whose information led to the discovery, says she thinks the BBC's reaction is "silly". But Ms Zahoor, whose information led to the discovery, said she thought the BBC's reaction was "silly".
"I didn't realise that it would be blown out of all proportion," she said, adding that she had refused to lodge a formal complaint about the show."I didn't realise that it would be blown out of all proportion," she said, adding that she had refused to lodge a formal complaint about the show.