Sniggering Evan rapped over drugs chat on radio

IrrEsPoNsIBLE Prince Harry is not the only one who seems to think illegal drugs are an unalloyed joy. I can disclose that BBC star Evan Davis has found himself at the centre of another impartiality row after his radio 4 show failed to ‘remind listeners’ about ‘opposing opinions’ on the issue of legalising cannabis.

The Corporation has ‘ partially upheld’ a complaint over an interview Davis (right) conducted with a professor who was in favour of legalising cannabis, on radio 4’s Pm show.

After the programme aired in october, a listener complained about ‘ the absence of an alternative view’ and a ‘ lack of impartiality on the part of the presenter’.

Professor Akwasi owusuBempah, of Toronto University, had been asked by Davis whether Canada’s move to decriminalise cannabis had ‘worked’. The academic had replied, ‘Do it now, those are my three words’, which prompted laughter from Davis, who’s nicknamed Tinsel T**s on account of his piercings.

The BBC’s executive complaints unit looked at whether the programme met ‘ BBC standards for due impartiality’.

Complaints bosses said while the overall piece reflected the negatives as well as positives of changing the law, it added that in the final exchange ‘there was a need to remind listeners of the existence of opposing opinions’.

The ECU said: ‘ But in posing his final question, he invited an opinion on a matter of controversy. Professor owusu-Bempah having expressed unqualified support for immediate legislation, in the ECU’s view there was a need to remind listeners of the existence of opposing opinions.’

Last month, the BBC apologised after Davis was accused of making ‘perfunctory efforts’ to challenge a trans guest who accused Jk rowling of transphobia.