Shame on the BBC

The BBC should not show footage of convicted sex offender Jonathan King in a forthcoming documentary about the rock band Genesis

The BBC ought to have learnt that protecting the paedophiles that long remained in their midst was a very bad idea. It seems they haven’t as on 4^th October they will show a documentary about Genesis featuring an interview with the sex offender and former BBC employee Jonathan King.

Of the Corporation’s decision, Conservative MP Rob Wilson commented:

“After everything that has happened, you would have thought the BBC would steer clear of convicted paedophiles. There is little doubt that this will upset King’s victims and further tarnish the reputation of the BBC”.

King, himself, has consistently refused to apologise to his victims and has remarked that “the crimes never happened”. In 2012, he stated:

“The only apology I have to say is that I was good at seduction. I was good at making myself seem attractive”.

He has also repeatedly told those prepared to listen to his mad ramblings that Jimmy Savile was innocent and earlier this year commented:

“[Savile] wasn’t a rapist… He was an innocent man”.

Today, Tuesday 30^th September, King went further and shared a letter he had sent to Tony Hall, the BBC’s director general, on his website. It reads:

“You have doubtless been aware of the very minor fuss caused by my appearance on the Genesis documentary. And I am sure you know about Mark Thompson’s reply to my complaint about being erased from a Top of the Pops repeat – that it would never happen again”.

“But I read that a brief appearance by Jimmy Savile on Top of the Pops was removed after a few complaints”.

“To me it is essential that the BBC is not controlled or edited by pressure groups. I include in that certain other media organisations, jealous of the financial benefits of the licence fee. I consider it vital that strong leadership protects the BBC from these attacks. I also believe that archive footage should NOT be altered and that current and future programming should not be influenced by the loudest shouters”.

“Whether or not Savile was a monster is something we will never know although, in law, he is an innocent man. I was wrongly convicted of some crimes and strongly believe that should NOT disqualify me from past, present or future mentions and inclusion in content”.

“Over the next few weeks two books are being published – the second volume of my autobiography and Bob Woffinden’s The Nicholas Cases – about the ten worst miscarriages of justice over the past quarter century, of which my case is one. I believe both these books should be considered for review and discussion on grounds of quality, interest and value to the listener/viewer/reader. Not on whether the writer or subject committed crimes, be they murder or speeding, sex offences or using drugs, fraud, burglary or not paying the licence fee”.

“If you agree, could you notify your producers – especially those of archive music shows – that people like myself should NOT be edited out of programming if producers consider their appearance warranted?”

In allowing this unrepentant monster back onto our screens, the BBC will effectively make clear to Jonathan King that he is again acceptable. On that basis, we must ask if Aunty will also be inviting disgraced radio presenter Dave Lee Travis – who has also refused to admit his guilt – back onto our airwaves again anytime soon?

Shame on the BBC: We call upon them to remove all footage of Jonathan King from the documentary Genesis Together and Apart.

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