BBC apologises over Imran-Wasim gaffe
- By Web Desk -
- Jul 27, 2018
LONDON: Updating its viewers on electoral results from Pakistan, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) show mistakenly ran footage of ex-Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram instead of Imran Khan, but shortly the channel tendered apology for airing the incorrect footage.
The video of Wasim was aired in the BBC flagship show Newsnight. The show opened with a piece documenting Imran Khan’s journey from a cricketing hero to a potential prime minister.
But instead of showing the right-handed all-rounder in action, footage of left-arm pace bowler Wasim Akram demolishing a batsman’s stumps was shown.
Eagle-eyed viewers picked up on the error and the programme apologised on Twitter. Doctor Foster actor Prasanna Puwanarajah said: “Wow. Did Newsnight just use a clip of Wasim Akram to illustrate a story about Imran Khan? (Yes. They did.)”
At the end of the programme, presenter Evan Davis said: “We made a mistake in our opening tonight. The footage we showed was of the cricketer Wasim Akram not Imran Khan. “Don’t know how that happened, sincere apologies for that.”
@BBCNewsnight
Opening credits is cricketer Imran Khan about to become PM
But play a clip of Wasim Akram from 1999 😂🙈 pic.twitter.com/eJoN80ahzt— Asif (@aau004) July 25, 2018
Apologies on our intro just then!! A bit of an error – that was Wasim Akram bowling and not Imran Khan #newsnight
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) July 25, 2018