Britain's media regulator, Ofcom, has ruled that Radio Caroline breached broadcasting rules after mistakenly announcing the death of King Charles III. The Essex-based station failed to correct the error quickly enough, according to the official ruling.
The incident occurred during The Barry Marsh Show, when pre-recorded emergency files were played by a staff member described as acting out of curiosity. One of the messages broadcast to listeners declared: "We have suspended our normal programmes until further notice as a mark of respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III." The announcement was followed by the national anthem and roughly 16 minutes of silence.
Presenter Fled the Building
According to the Ofcom ruling, the presenter, who was broadcasting remotely at the time, stopped the files as soon as he became aware of the error, then panicked and left the premises, as reported by The Independent.
When he eventually came back on air, he said: "I've just been informed that we've played in error some information a little earlier. I didn't hear this myself, but it is incorrect, it's a technical issue, and of course we apologise."
Ofcom said it received two complaints and found Radio Caroline had breached Rule 5.1, which requires news to be reported accurately and impartially, and Rule 5.2, which requires that errors be acknowledged and corrected on air promptly. The regulator noted that the apology and clarification did not come until approximately 30 minutes after the false announcements were first broadcast.
Ofcom's Statement
In its statement, Ofcom said: "We considered this to have been a very significant inaccuracy about an issue of particular public importance."
The regulator also noted that while an engineer was already aware of the problem, it took time to understand what had happened and restore normal programming, a situation made worse by the presenter broadcasting from a remote location.
Station Removes Files, Staff Member Reprimanded
Radio Caroline said the emergency files had been stored alongside a set of strict instructions requiring approval from presenters and managers before they could be played. The station said it took the matter seriously and acted as quickly as it could once the error came to light.
The staff member responsible was reprimanded and apologised, according to the station. Radio Caroline also said it had deleted the relevant files from the studio desktop computer and reminded all presenters and support staff of the correct procedures to prevent a repeat of the incident.
Background on the Incident
The false announcement sparked confusion among listeners and drew widespread attention on social media. The incident highlights the challenges of live broadcasting and the importance of strict protocols for handling sensitive content.
Radio Caroline, a historic station known for its offshore broadcasting origins, has faced scrutiny over the blunder. The station's management has expressed regret and assured the public that measures have been taken to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
