Scottish Daily Mail

Blundering BBC says sorry for Gormley Brexit claim

- By Paul Revoir Media Editor

The BBC has apologised to renowned sculptor Sir Antony Gormley for wrongly reporting that he was giving up his British nationalit­y because of Brexit.

Last Saturday’s BBC1 10.30pm news bulletin said the artist was ‘giving up his British passport’ because of the UK’s decision to leave the european Union, and that he had described the move as ‘embarrassi­ng’.

But the corporatio­n, which has faced claims of being biased against Brexit, has been forced to admit it got it wrong.

The BBC said: ‘Sir Antony Gormley is not giving up his British nationalit­y and has asked us to make clear the circumstan­ces behind his applicatio­n for a German passport.

‘Sir Antony holds dual nationalit­y as a result of having a German mother and has decided to apply for a German passport, which he will hold alongside his British one.

‘In a statement he says he remains a proud British citizen. We apologise for the mistake.’

As well as publishing an apology on its website, it is understood the corporatio­n also privately said sorry to Sir Antony.

The 71-year-old artist, who won the Turner Prize in 1994, is known for his Angel of the North sculpture in Gateshead

which was completed in 1998. Claims that the BBC has lacked impartiali­ty in the Brexit debate include criticism over its gloomy reporting of the referendum result and the amount of airtime it gives to ‘diehard’ Remainers.

The corporatio­n has also faced regular criticism that it holds a ‘metropolit­an mindset’ that is out of touch with large parts of the UK.

According to a report in The Observer last weekend, Sir Antony said: ‘I’m embarrasse­d about Brexit.

‘It’s a practical disaster, a betrayal of my parents’ and grandparen­ts’ sacrifice to make a europe that was not going to be divided again. It’s a tragedy.’

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom