- Radio Caroline has been found to have breached Ofcom rules after it accidentally announced that King Charles III had died during a live broadcast.
The Essex-based broadcaster apologised in May after pre-recorded messages were played on The Barry Marsh Show, including one stating that normal programmes had been suspended “as a mark of respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III”.
The messages were followed by the national anthem and around 16 minutes of silence before the presenter apologised for the error.
An Ofcom ruling found that a member of staff carrying out maintenance on the studio computer had accessed the pre-recorded sound files and played them out of curiosity, unaware that this would result in the audio being broadcast live. After realising what had happened, the staff member stopped the files and panicked before leaving the premises.
Ofcom said it had received two complaints about the broadcast and ruled that Radio Caroline had breached rules requiring news to be reported accurately and impartially, as well as rules requiring mistakes in news to be acknowledged and corrected quickly.
The regulator described the incident as “a very significant inaccuracy about an issue of particular public importance”.
The station said the files were accompanied by strict instructions for presenters and managers to follow before playing them, but a member of staff played them out of curiosity. Radio Caroline said it took the matter seriously and acted as soon as possible.
The staff member was reprimanded and apologised, while the station removed the relevant files from the studio computer and reminded presenters and support staff of the appropriate procedures.
