BBC Trust rules Top Gear satnav was conflict of interest
The BBC Trust has ruled that a deal to make Top Gear satnavs featuring the voice of presenter Jeremy Clarkson failed to follow editorial policy on conflicts of interest guidance.
Policy states that that there must be no conflict of interest between a presenter's activity on the BBC and ‘the promotion or endorsement of a particular product’.
The Committee says it was 'concerned that public trust in the BBC could potentially have been undermined' as a result.
It was said that BBC Worldwide had 'not considered’ whether a Top Gear branded satnav would place any editorial limitations or restrictions on the Top Gear programme when it came to reviewing satnav systems.
With the commercial deal halted at a late stage, it was decided to let the products already created to be sold in Halfords, with the profits going to Children in Need.