The Five Live sports news sabotage case, in which a Saturday morning pre-recorded interview with Wigan manager Roberto Martinez had an obscene blooper out-take inserted, has reached the level of the BBC Director General Mark Thompson.
Thompson has ordered all unused studios at Television Centre to be locked as part of his investigation and the out-take file bloopers erased.
At the centre of the inquiry is freelancer Ben Jacobs, who had been replaced by Paul Scott as the overnight sports news reader.
The incident happened on Scott’s first shift and involved a computer on which Jacobs had signed on.
The saboteur also attempted to delete other pre-recorded material. Subsequently, an email from BBC Radio Solent sports editor Adam Blackmore, who employed Jacobs and Scott, was sent to all local Beeb radio stations advising them not to employ ‘loose cannon’ Jacobs.
Oxford graduate Jacobs denies any malpractice and claims someone logged on in his name.
F-Bombgate – Director General Intervenes
I can tell you’re all itching to know the latest on F-Bombgate, so here it is:
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I may be alone, but I have been following this, in the same way you might look out for a favourite advert on commercial TV.
A favourite advert – I like that. I feel obliged to see this through to the bitter end given that the whole thing would probably have been ignored had I not brought it up.