BBC forced to re-edit Desert Island Discs after Michael Buble plugs Rolex watch – without revealing he is PAID to endorse the brand
Buble mentioned it during the interview but it did not make the final edit amid concerns it breached editorial guidelines
THE BBC has been forced to re-edit a Desert Island Discs repeat after it allowed crooner Michael Buble to promote Rolex watches on the show without revealing he is paid to endorse the brand.
The programme sparked a product placement row amid concerns the BBC’s own editorial guidelines may have been breached by the programme.
Corporation chiefs admitted they should have mentioned the Canadian singer’s role as a brand ambassador for the company in the broadcast.
The BBC told The Sun that Buble, who has his own special BBC1 show on Thursday, had himself mentioned it during the interview but it did not make the final edit.
A spokesman said: “Castaways on Desert Island Discs are given free choice of luxury item, but it would have been preferable for us to have made Michael Bublé’s brand ambassador role clear in the final edit.
“It is an affiliation he mentioned during the recording and we will include it in Friday’s repeat of the programme.”
The Rolex mention will now be included in Friday’s repeat of the show.
Buble, 41, who was made a brand ambassador for the watch company more than five years ago, went on the famous Radio 4 show to pick which songs he would take to an island with him.
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But when host Kirsty Young, 47, said he was allowed to take a luxury item as well, he replied: “I think it would be a Rolex watch.
“I could at least figure out what time it was and how many days I’d been there.”
The BBC editorial guidelines say: “We must not give undue prominence to commercial products or services.
“There must be no product placement in programmes.
“On-air and online credits must be clearly editorially justified.”
The singer has had a long association with the brand. He features prominently on the company’s website under the heading: “Every Rolex Tells A Story”.
In the post he says: “Becoming a Rolex Testimonee ten years ago was a measuring stick as to how far I’ve come and how well I have done. And I have never taken it off, now I wear it in the shower with my arm out, just like my father.”
