Complaint
The programme included an interview with the Lebanese Ambassador to the UK. A listener complained that, by citing the Israeli government’s view on one of the points at issue, the interviewer had shown bias towards Israel. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the BBC’s editorial standards of impartiality.
Outcome
When interviewing public figures on controversial matters it is standard practice to put opposing views to them for comment, and it does not imply that the interviewer endorses those views. There was no such implication in this case.
Not Upheld