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Courtesy of The Sun.
Blue Peter cat poll fixed
By ONLINE REPORTER
September 20, 2007
THE BBC has admitted that its Blue Peter cat naming poll was fixed.
The cat had been named Socks after staff changed the results on its website. The most popular name chosen by viewers for the poll in January 2006 was Cookie.
As a result, an apology will be broadcast on Blue Peter on Tuesday when its new series begins. Socks will also be joined by a new kitten named Cookie to reflect the results of the original audience vote.
The incident was one of four further breaches of BBC rules discovered during a review. The others concerned competitions on two 6 Music radio shows and the Asian Network.
They join Children In Need, Sport Relief and Comic Relief as some of the shows which have deliberately duped viewers.
BBC director general Mark Thompson said: “I’d like to repeat my apology to viewers and listeners who were misled by these editorial lapses.”
The BBC has refused to confirm reports that former Blue Peter editor Richard Marson has been sacked as a result of the poll fixing.
BBC phone-in competitions which have been suspended since July will begin to be phased back in from November following the current review.
Blue Peter cat poll fixed
By ONLINE REPORTER
September 20, 2007
THE BBC has admitted that its Blue Peter cat naming poll was fixed.
The cat had been named Socks after staff changed the results on its website. The most popular name chosen by viewers for the poll in January 2006 was Cookie.
As a result, an apology will be broadcast on Blue Peter on Tuesday when its new series begins. Socks will also be joined by a new kitten named Cookie to reflect the results of the original audience vote.
The incident was one of four further breaches of BBC rules discovered during a review. The others concerned competitions on two 6 Music radio shows and the Asian Network.
They join Children In Need, Sport Relief and Comic Relief as some of the shows which have deliberately duped viewers.
BBC director general Mark Thompson said: “I’d like to repeat my apology to viewers and listeners who were misled by these editorial lapses.”
The BBC has refused to confirm reports that former Blue Peter editor Richard Marson has been sacked as a result of the poll fixing.
BBC phone-in competitions which have been suspended since July will begin to be phased back in from November following the current review.
