BRITAIN:In announcing a ban on phone-in competitions yesterday, BBC director-general Mark Thompson revealed six new instances of programmes featuring fake winners:
Comic Relief (BBC One, March 16th, 2007). In a section of the appeal programme, viewers were invited to donate money to Comic Relief by calling in to win prizes which belonged to a famous couple. The first two callers taken on air gave incorrect answers. The other waiting callers were lost and a third caller was heard on air successfully answering the question. This caller was in fact not a viewer but a member of the production team.
TMi (BBC Two and CBBC - September 16th, 2006). Following a production problem with a live competition, viewers were led to believe that a member of the audience was involved and won a competition open to the public. In fact, the caller was a member of the production team.
Sport Relief (BBC One, July 15th, 2006). Viewers were led to believe that a member of the public won a competition whereas the caller was in fact a member of the production team. The BBC has found evidence that this action was planned as a contingency in advance.
Children In Need (BBC One Scotland, November 18th, 2005). Viewers were led to believe that a phone-in competition, open to the audience, had been won by a viewer when, due to a technical error, calls from the public did not get through and a fictitious winner was named on air.
The Liz Kershaw Show (BBC 6 Music, 2005-2006) In pre-recorded programmes, presented as live, a competition was announced which appeared to feature genuine listeners phoning in, one of whom would win a prize on air. In fact, there were no competitions or prizes and all callers were members of the production team and friends.
White Label (BBC World Service, transmitted until April 2006). On more than one occasion a fake winner was announced for a CD prize when no winning entries had actually been received.