BBC accused of plagiarism with new series Twenty Twelve
Australian writers are claiming that the BBC has stolen their concept for the new BBC 4 series Twenty Twelve.
Ross Stevenson and John Clarke, who wrote Channel 9 series The Games in the late 90’s, a comedy documentary set around the organising of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, have claimed that producer Rick McKenna met with BBC head of comedy Jon Plowman with the aim of creating a UK version of the series.
Twenty Twelve, a comedy series based around the organising of the London Olympics next year, aired for the first time last night on BBC Four, starring Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Hynes and Olivia Coleman.
Stevenson and Clarke told ABC website The Drum, that McKenna was then introduced to writer John Morton, who it was thought could be a writer on transferring the show, and was handed DVDs to watch of The Games.
"After many phone conferences, meetings and almost four years of email exchanges, Mr Morton and Mr Plowman have now apparently made a satirical series for the BBC about the organising committee of the London Olympics without our participation or permission,” they added.
The BBC has denied any accusation of plagiarism.
"We have investigated the complaints made in relation to The Games and have found no evidence to support the allegations of copying,” a spokesman for the BBC has said.