BBC forced to defend use of real journalists in ‘Bodyguard’ series

THE BBC is facing questions over whether it breached editorial guidelines by featuring its own journalists in hit Sunday-night drama Bodyguard.

A number of viewers – including some caught up in terrorist attacks – have complained that they found the inclusion of high-profile BBC News figures in coverage of fictional terrorist plots to be unsettling.

Laura Kuenssberg, Sophie Raworth, Gordon Corera and Andrew Marr are four of the corporation’s 14 journalists to star in the four episodes so far aired.

Lisa Fenton, 35, from Blackpool, who was waiting outside the MEN arena to pick up her daughter and stepdaughter on the night of the Manchester terror attack, yesterday suggested the BBC should have used “fictional presenters”.

“It blurs the lines,” she said. “Having been through the situation myself, it does make me second guess what’s going on in real life.”

Seven million people tuned into Sunday night’s episode of Bodyguard, which saw the unexpected death of home secretary Julia Montague, played by Keeley Hawes.

Following the episode, viewers voiced concerns on Twitter.

“Really don’t think it’s wise to have @BBCNews presenters voicing what are fictional news accounts. Enjoying the show, but is a line crossed with this kind of content? Can you clarify editorial position, please?” wrote

Iestyn T Davies.

The inclusion of the BBC News studios and branding also appeared to be in violation of the corporation’s own editorial guidelines, which state: “It will normally be inappropriate to use a BBC correspondent in the field to front a fictitious news report. High-profile presenters should not be used in their usual news setting.

“Current presenters of BBC news programmes should not appear as news presenters in a fictional bulletin if it is at all likely that his could cause confusion and concern.”

Gavin Allen, the BBC’s controller of daily news, appeared on Newswatch to defend the inclusion of journalists, who do not receive extra pay for appearing in the drama.

“There are very clear visual and audio clues” throughout the series to show that the events being covered by recognisable BBC faces are “clearly fictitious”, he said. These clues included unfamiliar music being played through a broadcast of the Today programme.

When asked whether the BBC had breached its own guidelines, a corporation spokesman refused to comment, stating only: “It is very clear to the audience from the onset and throughout the series that Bodyguard is a work of fiction.”

The BBC did not say whether any official complaints had been received.