BBC apologises for using incorrect Remembrance Day footage of Boris Johnson

Amy Johnson
·Contributor
Updated
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to lay a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. Remembrance Sunday is held each year to commemorate the service men and women who fought in past military conflicts. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to lay a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

The BBC has issued an apology for playing an out-of-date clip of Boris Johnson laying a wreath of poppies on BBC Breakfast, citing a “production mistake” as the cause.

The morning show had played images of the Prime Minister with a wreath claiming the footage was from the Remembrance Day service on Sunday, however, the clip was actually from 2016.

An apology on the BBC Breakfast Twitter account read: "This morning on the programme we incorrectly used footage from a Remembrance Day service that was not filmed yesterday.

Read more: Kate and Meghan join Queen on balcony for Remembrance Sunday

"This was a production mistake and we apologise for the error."

It came after members of the public noticed the mistake, with LBC producer Ava Evans posting shots from the two different clips side by side.

Johnson came under scrutiny yesterday for placing his wreath upside down at the Cenotaph.

The Prime Minister penned a hand written message which was pinned to the top of his poppy wreath, but when he laid it down on the memorial at Whitehall he turned the wreath over, meaning his message was at the bottom and thus upside down.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 13: Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (C) attends the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall on November 13, 2016 in London, England. The Queen, senior politicians, including the British Prime Minister and representatives from the armed forces pay tribute to those who have suffered or died at war. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (C) attends the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall on November 13, 2016. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Some social media users questioned the broadcaster's impartiality after using the clip, with one writing: "A production mistake... Where you mixed up yesterday's VT with one from 2016 that you had to search for in the archives? Yes, that's very plausible. Thank you for making it clear....."

A second questioned: "That begs the question why was the production team looking into archive rather than the footage released yesterday? Was it a damage limitation expertise? Shame on you BBC I have always defended you loved you, am so disappointed."

Former BBC presenter Shelagh Fogarty defended the broadcaster, as she replied: "And your tweet begs the question have you ever produced Breakfast TV?"