BBC: 'Humiliating broadcasts unacceptable'

The BBC today vowed to crack down on "malicious intrusion, intimidation and humiliation", ruling such behaviours as "unacceptable" in a report published in the wake of the Manuelgate saga.

In the new taste and standards report, the BBC has recommended that there should be new guidance on malicious intrusion, intimidation and humiliation to ensure that everyone involved in programme-making understands that such behaviours are unacceptable.

Additionally, there should be a clearer policy on the bleeping of strong language and clearer audience information and warnings generally, and it was decided that greater care should be taken over programmes transferring from one channel to another, especially to BBC One, and careful consideration is to be given to adaptations of tone or format if necessary.

"I welcome the opportunity the report has given us to talk to our diverse audiences right across the country," said director of BBC Vision Jana Bennett. "People value innovation, ambition and quality; they also expect a strong presence from producers, guiding both the editorial and creative judgements around challenging material."

The report was ordered by the BBC Trust in November, following a series of offensive messages left on actor Andrew Sachs's answering machine by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross. The messages were then broadcast on Radio 2, leading to a £150,000 fine being issued to the BBC by TV regulator Ofcom.