I have fond memories of the BBC children’s television programme Blue Peter.
When I was a lad I used to look forward to watching Peter Purves, Lesley Judd and John Noakes, along with Shep the dog of course.
Since then, things seem to have gone down hill a bit, what with Richard Bacon taking drugs and Peter Duncan starring in porn films. Oh, John Leslie made one of his own too.
Now the famous kid’s programme is in trouble for a phone-in scam!
Back in November of last year Blue Peter invited children to enter a competition to win a toy via a premium rate phone number. Due to a technical issue one caller was not selected. A member of staff then asked a child from the audience to stand in and make a call. They duly won and received a prize.
Following a complaint from a member of the public Ofcom, the media watchdog, took action and fined the BBC £50000 for serious breaches of the Broadcasting Code. It is the first time that Ofcom has levied such a penalty against the BBC.
British television has experienced other high profile phone-in scams recently.
Only last week the Richard and Judy show, You Say We Pay, was fined £150000 for misleading viewers and encouraging premium rate phone calls after winners had already been chosen.
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