BBC APOLOGISES TO ITV FOR 'MILLIONAIRE' SLUR

THE BBC have apologised to the ITV Network Centre following press coverage of the final episode of ‘One Foot in the Grave’ and the first million pound winner on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’
The apology stated that any suggestions made regarding ITV ‘rigging’ a winner on ‘Millionaire?’ did not represent the view of the BBC: “The BBC does not believe there was any ‘manipulation’ or ‘fixing’ involved in ‘Millionaire?’ Can we make it absolutely clear that any such suggestion did not represent the view of the BBC. We can only apologise to all involved for the subsequent press coverage and any harm it has done.
“In this case, the BBC should have simply acknowledged – as point of fact – that ITV’s first million pound winner on ‘Millionaire?’ coincided with the final episode of ‘One Foot in the Grave’. We should also have given more emphasis to the fact that Monday’s schedule on both channels was a fantastic night for viewers – ITV had their flagship quiz show and BBC One had distinctive comedy.
“An overzealous press briefing went further and commented that ‘Millionaire?’ had previously had big winners against other high profile BBC programmes, inviting some journalists to draw the inference that this might be more than a ‘coincidence’. This was wrong”.
The BBC also said that steps had been taken to ensure that this kind of incident was not repeated.
(CD)