Our Graham Norton's known for being a bit of a naughty TV host who ain't afraid to push the boundaries but who'd have thought he'd get into a whole heap of trouble for wearing a little World Aids Day ribbon live on air?
The presenter and his guests all wore the charity emblem on his BBC One chat show on November 29th (the episode with Colin Farrell, Sharon Osbourne and Jeremy Clarkson, which you all missed because the Late Late Toy Show was on) but while it was ok for the 'slebs on the sofa to do, our Graham breached some rather big BBC guidelines.
Y'see, as per the Beeb's Editorial Guidelines "The BBC must remain independent and distanced from government initiatives, campaigners, charities and their agendas, no matter how apparently worthy the cause or how much their message appears to be accepted or uncontroversial." That means BBC employees can't be wearing any such emblems, save for the Poppy in support of the Royal British Legion. It's the only exception to the rule.
A reporter within the organisation took major issue with Graham's decision to wear the ribbon and decided to pen a strongly worded letter of complaint to the in-house magazine. "Can you ask the powers-that-be what action has, or is, being taken as a result of this? Is it only 'talent' on big contracts who can flout rules if they disagree with them?" asked Hamish Marshall, a BBC news and sports reporter.
"The production company has been contacted and reminded that he cannot do this and Graham has accepted he was wrong to do so" BBC entertainment controller Mark Linsey said. "The BBC has been assured it will not occur again."
Yikes... in the words of Father Noel Furlong: "Well... well I never..."
