In light of the BBC’s latest scandal doctoring Trump’s speech, I took a look back at Panorama’s record.
From staging scenes and libelling MPs to entrapment, fakery, and narrative editing, this isn’t a one-off.
It’s a pattern. A long one.
Let’s take a look 🧵
From staging scenes and libelling MPs to entrapment, fakery, and narrative editing, this isn’t a one-off.
It’s a pattern. A long one.
Let’s take a look 🧵
📍1979 – The Carrickmore Incident
🟪 What they did:
Panorama filmed masked IRA members operating a roadblock in Carrickmore, Northern Ireland, without alerting BBC leadership or the authorities.
The footage wasn’t broadcast, but its existence leaked. The BBC was accused of collusion with terrorists during the Troubles.
🟩 What happened as a result:
The scandal exploded after a mention in Hibernia was picked up by the British press. Thatcher went ballistic in Cabinet. The Home Secretary pressured the BBC to clean house.
The Panorama editor was removed (briefly), his boss was formally reprimanded, and new emergency oversight rules were imposed for NI coverage.
🟪 What they did:
Panorama filmed masked IRA members operating a roadblock in Carrickmore, Northern Ireland, without alerting BBC leadership or the authorities.
The footage wasn’t broadcast, but its existence leaked. The BBC was accused of collusion with terrorists during the Troubles.
🟩 What happened as a result:
The scandal exploded after a mention in Hibernia was picked up by the British press. Thatcher went ballistic in Cabinet. The Home Secretary pressured the BBC to clean house.
The Panorama editor was removed (briefly), his boss was formally reprimanded, and new emergency oversight rules were imposed for NI coverage.
📍1984 – “Maggie’s Militant Tendency”
🟪 What they did:
Panorama accused Conservative MPs (Neil Hamilton, Harvey Proctor, Gerald Howarth) of links to neo-fascist groups.
The episode leaned heavily on a leaked party report and broadcast its claims without securing proper response from those named. One segment even implied Howarth wore a fascist uniform, he hadn’t.
🟩 What happened as a result:
Hamilton and Howarth sued for libel. Days into the trial, BBC governors panicked and settled the case, paying £50k in damages and £250k in costs.
It was a major reputational blow. Over 100 MPs signed a Commons motion condemning Panorama, and DG Alasdair Milne was pressured to resign.
🟪 What they did:
Panorama accused Conservative MPs (Neil Hamilton, Harvey Proctor, Gerald Howarth) of links to neo-fascist groups.
The episode leaned heavily on a leaked party report and broadcast its claims without securing proper response from those named. One segment even implied Howarth wore a fascist uniform, he hadn’t.
🟩 What happened as a result:
Hamilton and Howarth sued for libel. Days into the trial, BBC governors panicked and settled the case, paying £50k in damages and £250k in costs.
It was a major reputational blow. Over 100 MPs signed a Commons motion condemning Panorama, and DG Alasdair Milne was pressured to resign.
📍1995 – Martin Bashir’s Diana Interview
🟪 What they did:
Panorama’s most famous “get”, the Princess Diana interview, was built on lies. Martin Bashir forged bank statements to manipulate her brother into giving access.
The forgeries falsely suggested Diana’s aides were paid informants. It was textbook deceit, designed to prey on paranoia.
🟩 What happened as a result:
In 2021, the Dyson Inquiry confirmed Bashir used fakes, breached BBC rules, and the corporation covered it up for decades.
The BBC returned awards, issued public apologies, and paid damages to victims. Tony Hall, who led the botched 1996 inquiry, later resigned in disgrace.
🟪 What they did:
Panorama’s most famous “get”, the Princess Diana interview, was built on lies. Martin Bashir forged bank statements to manipulate her brother into giving access.
The forgeries falsely suggested Diana’s aides were paid informants. It was textbook deceit, designed to prey on paranoia.
🟩 What happened as a result:
In 2021, the Dyson Inquiry confirmed Bashir used fakes, breached BBC rules, and the corporation covered it up for decades.
The BBC returned awards, issued public apologies, and paid damages to victims. Tony Hall, who led the botched 1996 inquiry, later resigned in disgrace.
📍2008 – Fake Child Labour Footage
🟪 What they did:
In “Primark: On the Rack,” Panorama aired hidden-camera footage allegedly showing underage boys sewing garments for Primark in Bangalore.
But the BBC Trust later ruled the footage was “more likely than not” faked. Panorama either got duped or passed off staged scenes as fact.
🟩 What happened as a result:
Primark fought the allegations and eventually won. In 2011, the BBC was forced to broadcast a public apology, retracting the Bangalore segment.
The scandal embarrassed the corporation, prompting an overhaul in how it verifies undercover material. Awards were quietly returned.
🟪 What they did:
In “Primark: On the Rack,” Panorama aired hidden-camera footage allegedly showing underage boys sewing garments for Primark in Bangalore.
But the BBC Trust later ruled the footage was “more likely than not” faked. Panorama either got duped or passed off staged scenes as fact.
🟩 What happened as a result:
Primark fought the allegations and eventually won. In 2011, the BBC was forced to broadcast a public apology, retracting the Bangalore segment.
The scandal embarrassed the corporation, prompting an overhaul in how it verifies undercover material. Awards were quietly returned.
📍2013 – LSE Student Deception
🟪 What they did:
Panorama’s John Sweeney (more on him later) posed as part of an LSE student tour to secretly film in North Korea. The students weren’t fully informed in advance.
Only once en route, in Beijing, did he reveal the plan. By then, they were trapped in a hostile state, unaware they’d become cover for a journalistic sting.
🟩 What happened as a result:
The LSE went public, accusing the BBC of recklessness. Students later received threats from North Korea, and universities warned others against travelling.
The BBC defended itself on technicalities (“verbal consent”), but the scandal triggered a sector-wide debate about the abuse of academic neutrality.
🟪 What they did:
Panorama’s John Sweeney (more on him later) posed as part of an LSE student tour to secretly film in North Korea. The students weren’t fully informed in advance.
Only once en route, in Beijing, did he reveal the plan. By then, they were trapped in a hostile state, unaware they’d become cover for a journalistic sting.
🟩 What happened as a result:
The LSE went public, accusing the BBC of recklessness. Students later received threats from North Korea, and universities warned others against travelling.
The BBC defended itself on technicalities (“verbal consent”), but the scandal triggered a sector-wide debate about the abuse of academic neutrality.
📍2013 – Harlequin Bribery Allegation
🟪 What they did:
While investigating a luxury resort developer, Panorama’s producer Matthew Chapman allegedly offered future BBC work to a source in exchange for inside information.
Harlequin called it an attempted bribe, a clear breach of BBC ethics and UK law.
🟩 What happened as a result:
The BBC suspended Chapman immediately. He resigned within days and the episode was shelved. Harlequin handed over evidence to the police, triggering an Serious Fraud Office review.
The BBC quietly admitted failure, and Panorama’s credibility took a hit, not over content, but conduct.
🟪 What they did:
While investigating a luxury resort developer, Panorama’s producer Matthew Chapman allegedly offered future BBC work to a source in exchange for inside information.
Harlequin called it an attempted bribe, a clear breach of BBC ethics and UK law.
🟩 What happened as a result:
The BBC suspended Chapman immediately. He resigned within days and the episode was shelved. Harlequin handed over evidence to the police, triggering an Serious Fraud Office review.
The BBC quietly admitted failure, and Panorama’s credibility took a hit, not over content, but conduct.
📍2019 – “Panodrama”
🟪 What they did:
Panorama planned a hit piece on @TRobinsonNewEra , but he launched his own sting operation first. He secretly filmed reporter John Sweeney using slurs, sneering about class, and joking about fabricating abuse claims.
Worse: Panorama staff were caught trying to coach Lucy Brown, a former Robinson ally, into smearing him. She recorded the exchange and handed it to Robinson.
🟩 What happened as a result:
The BBC pulled its episode. Sweeney was removed from reporting duties and soon resigned. The BBC apologised for his remarks, but not for the documentary’s intent.
Panodrama, Robinson’s counter-documentary, received millions of views online, was screened to crowds outside the BBC, and exposed Panorama’s tactics to the public.
🟪 What they did:
Panorama planned a hit piece on @TRobinsonNewEra , but he launched his own sting operation first. He secretly filmed reporter John Sweeney using slurs, sneering about class, and joking about fabricating abuse claims.
Worse: Panorama staff were caught trying to coach Lucy Brown, a former Robinson ally, into smearing him. She recorded the exchange and handed it to Robinson.
🟩 What happened as a result:
The BBC pulled its episode. Sweeney was removed from reporting duties and soon resigned. The BBC apologised for his remarks, but not for the documentary’s intent.
Panodrama, Robinson’s counter-documentary, received millions of views online, was screened to crowds outside the BBC, and exposed Panorama’s tactics to the public.
📍2023 – Saving Syria’s Children
🟪 What they did:
Panorama aired chaotic footage from a Syrian hospital in 2013: screaming doctors, writhing children, cries of “chemical attack.”
A decade later, forensic video analysis (Working Group on Syria) flagged identical injuries on multiple children, implausible lighting, and apparent scripting. Allegations of staging gained traction.
🟩 What happened as a result:
In 2023, Ofcom forced a two-minute on-air correction after Russian media pressed the case. Even the BBC’s internal 2014 review had admitted “some scenes raise questions.”
Reporter Ian Pannell quietly exited Middle East coverage. The BBC still lists the episode as “award-winning.”
🟪 What they did:
Panorama aired chaotic footage from a Syrian hospital in 2013: screaming doctors, writhing children, cries of “chemical attack.”
A decade later, forensic video analysis (Working Group on Syria) flagged identical injuries on multiple children, implausible lighting, and apparent scripting. Allegations of staging gained traction.
🟩 What happened as a result:
In 2023, Ofcom forced a two-minute on-air correction after Russian media pressed the case. Even the BBC’s internal 2014 review had admitted “some scenes raise questions.”
Reporter Ian Pannell quietly exited Middle East coverage. The BBC still lists the episode as “award-winning.”
📍2024 – The Mysterious Mr Amersi
🟪 What they did:
Panorama portrayed businessman Mohamed Amersi as a “corrupt fixer” tied to Prince Andrew and dark money networks.
They leaned on a single anonymous source and reportedly ignored Amersi’s 400-page rebuttal dossier, which they had in advance.
🟩 What happened as a result:
High Court judge ruled the programme “seriously defamatory.” The BBC settled for an undisclosed seven-figure sum and full costs.
The episode vanished from iPlayer within 48 hours. Director-General Tim Davie admitted bluntly: “We got this one wrong.”
🟪 What they did:
Panorama portrayed businessman Mohamed Amersi as a “corrupt fixer” tied to Prince Andrew and dark money networks.
They leaned on a single anonymous source and reportedly ignored Amersi’s 400-page rebuttal dossier, which they had in advance.
🟩 What happened as a result:
High Court judge ruled the programme “seriously defamatory.” The BBC settled for an undisclosed seven-figure sum and full costs.
The episode vanished from iPlayer within 48 hours. Director-General Tim Davie admitted bluntly: “We got this one wrong.”
📍2025 – Trump Speech Editing Scandal
🟪 What they did:
In “Trump: A Second Chance?” Panorama stitched together lines from Trump’s Jan 6 speech to create a false narrative. His call to march “peacefully and patriotically” was cut out and replaced with the line “and we fight like hell” set to a montage of riot footage.
The edit made Trump say something he didn’t and implied he was inciting a riot.
🟩 What happened as a result:
A leaked BBC memo exposed the manipulation. Former BBC editorial adviser Michael Prescott called it “completely misleading.”
The BBC didn’t deny the edit, but launched an internal review. US commentators cited it as proof the BBC had become a partisan actor, not a neutral observer.
🟪 What they did:
In “Trump: A Second Chance?” Panorama stitched together lines from Trump’s Jan 6 speech to create a false narrative. His call to march “peacefully and patriotically” was cut out and replaced with the line “and we fight like hell” set to a montage of riot footage.
The edit made Trump say something he didn’t and implied he was inciting a riot.
🟩 What happened as a result:
A leaked BBC memo exposed the manipulation. Former BBC editorial adviser Michael Prescott called it “completely misleading.”
The BBC didn’t deny the edit, but launched an internal review. US commentators cited it as proof the BBC had become a partisan actor, not a neutral observer.
Panorama was once the BBC’s crown jewel. Now it’s a case study in institutional decay.
When you script your enemies, splice the evidence, and call it journalism, you’re not a watchdog, you're an attack dog.
The cost is public trust. And once it’s gone, it doesn’t come back.
When you script your enemies, splice the evidence, and call it journalism, you’re not a watchdog, you're an attack dog.
The cost is public trust. And once it’s gone, it doesn’t come back.
Thanks for reading! For more threads tackling media bias and government spin, give me a follow @ChrisMid.
Help support my work and subscribe to my Substack for free! substack.com/@chrismiddleto…
Help support my work and subscribe to my Substack for free! substack.com/@chrismiddleto…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
