Latest news with #BBCban
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I made a documentary so disturbing the government banned it from screens for 20 years before a major U-turn by BBC
A BBC icon has revealed he once made a documentary so disturbing it was banned for 20 years before the broadcaster made a major U-turn. One of the most shocking programmes Former host Michael Aspel ever worked on was banned from airing for two decades because it was deemed too disturbing for television audiences. Best known for fronting family favourites like This is Your Life and Ask Aspel, the now 92-year-old presenter took a dramatically darker turn when he was asked to narrate a harrowing pseudo-documentary about nuclear war. The film, The War Game, was commissioned by the BBC in 1965 to mark the 20th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The 47-minute drama imagined a chilling scenario in which conflict between NATO and the USSR escalated into a full-scale nuclear attack on Britain, leaving millions dead or severely injured and the country reduced to a radioactive wasteland. Shot in a documentary style to mimic a government broadcast, the film was so realistic and horrifying that the BBC pulled it before it could ever be shown. It wasn't until 1985, 20 years later, that it was finally aired to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombings. In a new BBC special Michael Aspel Remembers…The War Game, the veteran broadcaster lifts the lid on the controversial production and why it was shelved for so long. At the time, Aspel was a respected BBC newsreader, which made him an ideal choice for director Peter Watkins, who wanted the film to appear as authentic as possible. Michael reveals that the project was designed to closely resemble an official government warning. But after the government was shown early cuts of the film, Aspel believes it may have played a part in its abrupt cancellation. He says Watkins always believed it was 'government interference' that led to the ban. The documentary also reveals that while the BBC insisted it alone made the decision not to air the film, 'Whitehall would be relieved if the BBC chose not to show it'. Then-Director General Hugh Carleton Greene claimed politics were not involved, saying the footage was so 'shocking' he feared someone might watch it and 'throw themselves under a bus' afterwards. However, archival footage of Labour MP Tony Benn paints a different picture. In it, Benn says Home Secretary Frank Soskice ordered him to block the broadcast. 'I was only his master's voice and had nothing to do with it… so I had to send a directive to Carleton Greene saying "You must not broadcast it"… I greatly regret that I capitulated,' he admits. Meanwhile, Huw Wheldon, who was Head of Documentaries at the time, claimed in 1983 that the Harold Wilson government was worried the film would be seen as promoting nuclear disarmament and pushing a pacifist Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) message. Despite being banned from television, Wheldon ensured The War Game was shown at international film festivals. In 1967, it went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
BreakingNews.ie
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
BBC bans Gregg Wallace from working at the organisation again
The BBC has reportedly banned Gregg Wallace from working at the organisation again, citing a lack of 'confidence' the presenter can change his behaviour following allegations of sexual misconduct. The TV presenter was sacked as MasterChef presenter on Tuesday after an inquiry into his alleged inappropriate behaviour, by production company Banijay, BBC News reported. Advertisement Wallace (60) stepped away from hosting the BBC cooking competition last year after a number of historical complaints came to light. Gregg Wallace was sacked as MasterChef presenter on Tuesday (Yui Mok/PA) New claims emerged this week about the TV presenter from 50 or more people, to the corporation, with the majority saying he made inappropriate sexual comments, and 11 women accused him of inappropriate sexual behaviour, such as groping and touching, BBC News reported. Ahead of the inquiry report being published, the Telegraph reported that the TV presenter had been dismissed by the corporation. In a letter to Wallace seen by the Telegraph, a senior figure at BBC television wrote: 'Given my conclusion, I do not believe that the BBC should make plans to work with you in the future on any of its productions, whether directly or indirectly. Advertisement 'I have also taken into account whether your behaviour could be improved with training and/or coaching. 'However, having reviewed the 2025 findings, I do not have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour for you to make what you perceive to be jokes in the working environment, without understanding the boundaries of what is appropriate.' The letter continued: 'I do not have confidence that your behaviour can change to ensure there is a sufficiently safe and respectful environment for others working with you in the types of programmes the BBC has engaged you to present.' Some of the more recent claims include a MasterChef worker who said she tried to complain about comments she alleged he made about her body in 2022, and a former policeman who said he tried to raise concerns after he allegedly witnessed Wallace making inappropriate sexual comments at a charity event in 2023. Advertisement The former greengrocer posted a statement on his Instagram page on Tuesday, claiming he had been cleared of the 'most serious and sensational accusations' against him. The statement said: 'I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience. I was tried by media and hung out to dry well before the facts were established. He also said he recognises that some of his humour and language was inappropriate 'at times' and apologised for this. Wallace was a greengrocer before he shot to fame fronting BBC shows including Inside The Factory, Supermarket Secrets, as well as MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals. Advertisement The most recent series of MasterChef: The Professionals continued to air last year amid allegations against Wallace, but two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials were pulled from the BBC's schedule in December 2024. Entertainment Gregg Wallace's alleged behaviour 'never been acce... Read More At the time, England's culture secretary Lisa Nandy said she would look to impose new standards in the creative industry. A BBC spokesperson said: 'Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace. 'We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.' Advertisement
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC ban Gregg Wallace over lack of ‘confidence' presenter can change behaviour
The BBC has reportedly banned Gregg Wallace from working at the organisation again, citing a lack of 'confidence' the presenter can change his behaviour following allegations of sexual misconduct. The TV presenter was sacked as MasterChef presenter on Tuesday after an inquiry into his alleged inappropriate behaviour, by production company Banijay, BBC News reported. Wallace, 60, stepped away from hosting the BBC cooking competition last year after a number of historical complaints came to light. New claims emerged this week about the TV presenter from 50 or more people, to the corporation, with the majority saying he made inappropriate sexual comments, and 11 women accused him of inappropriate sexual behaviour, such as groping and touching, BBC News reported. Ahead of the inquiry report being published, the Telegraph reported that the TV presenter had been dismissed by the corporation. In a letter to Wallace seen by the Telegraph, a senior figure at BBC television wrote: 'Given my conclusion, I do not believe that the BBC should make plans to work with you in the future on any of its productions, whether directly or indirectly. 'I have also taken into account whether your behaviour could be improved with training and/or coaching. 'However, having reviewed the 2025 findings, I do not have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour for you to make what you perceive to be jokes in the working environment, without understanding the boundaries of what is appropriate.' The letter continued: 'I do not have confidence that your behaviour can change to ensure there is a sufficiently safe and respectful environment for others working with you in the types of programmes the BBC has engaged you to present.' Some of the more recent claims include a MasterChef worker who said she tried to complain about comments she alleged he made about her body in 2022, and a former policeman who said he tried to raise concerns after he allegedly witnessed Wallace making inappropriate sexual comments at a charity event in 2023. The former greengrocer posted a statement on his Instagram page on Tuesday, claiming he had been cleared of the 'most serious and sensational accusations' against him. The statement said: 'I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience. I was tried by media and hung out to dry well before the facts were established. He also said he recognises that some of his humour and language was inappropriate 'at times' and apologised for this. Wallace was a greengrocer before he shot to fame fronting BBC shows including Inside The Factory, Supermarket Secrets, as well as MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals. The most recent series of MasterChef: The Professionals continued to air last year amid allegations against Wallace, but two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials were pulled from the BBC's schedule in December 2024. At the time, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she would look to impose new standards in the creative industry. A BBC spokesperson said: 'Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace. 'We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.'
