BBC accused of sparking monarchy propaganda over leaked emails supporting Queen
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The BBC has been accused of sparking ‘propaganda’ for the British monarchy following the leak of emails from a documentary-maker, which said no-one who uttered a ‘bad word’ about the Queen would be interviewed.
A producer for a BBC1 documentary, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Song said Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard would not be suitable for interview because ‘she is pro-republican’ and would not fit the film’s ‘positive angle’.
“We are not interested in hearing a personal bad word against the Queen,” the Telegraph quoted the producer, as saying.
The exchanges were contained in two emails leaked to the anti-monarchy group, Republic, which accused the BBC of ‘censorship’.
The sender had explained in the first e-mail that the BBC was making a documentary detailing the singer Gary Barlow’s visits to Commonwealth countries to write and record a song for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations commissioned by the Queen.
“We are also hoping to speak with people…who have a respect for the Queen. For example, it has been suggested that he should meet with the President but after reading that she is pro-republican this might not be the best thought with the positive angle we are hoping to achieve,” the sender added.
The recipient, David appears to have been a little irritated by the sender’s belief that Australia has a president, as the following day the producer wrote: “Please forgive me! I am fully aware that you have a Prime Minister.”
But a BBC spokesperson stressed that the Gary Barlow’s documentary was an ‘entertainment programme’ rather than a political one.
The BBC has faced several accusations of left-wing and anti-monarchist bias in the past.
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