BBC Radio 2 apologises after playing George Benson in tribute to late composer George Fenton
A Radio 2 presenter played George Benson's "Nature Boy" as a tribute after the news reported the death of composer George Fenton. The BBC called it a production error and apologised.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2BBC Radio 2 apologised after a presenter paid tribute to the late composer George Fenton by playing music by the jazz guitarist George Benson, who is alive. GB NewsR “BBC Radio 2 has issued an apology after an embarrassing on-air blunder saw the station confuse American jazz guitarist George Benson with the late British composer George Fenton.” Read at GB News ↗ The IndependentLC “The BBC was forced to apologise after a Radio 2 presenter accidentally paid tribute to the late film composer George Fenton with the music of jazz artist George Benson, who is very much alive.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2The mix-up happened on Monday 5 October, shortly after the 11pm news had reported Fenton's death. Melvin Odoom, covering for regular host DJ Spoony on The Good Groove, played Benson's version of "Nature Boy". GB NewsR “The mix-up occurred on Monday evening, shortly after the 11pm news bulletin had reported Mr Fenton's passing.” Read at GB News ↗ The IndependentLC ““Right now, in a tribute for George Benson, this is ‘Nature Boy’ on The Good Groove,” he said” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1The Independent says Benson is 83 and a 10-time Grammy winner, and that he stopped touring internationally in 2024 on medical advice. The IndependentLC “10-time Grammy-winning jazz musician Benson, 83.”““With a heavy heart, George has taken the advice of his doctors to stop touring internationally,”” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2The composer David Arnold criticised the error on social media. He said Radio 2 had announced Fenton's death and then played "Nature Boy" by George Benson "in tribute to 'George Benson'". He added that Fenton "deserved better than that from the company he gave voice to". GB News says he posted on Bluesky, while The Independent says X. GB NewsR “Fellow composer David Arnold took to social media platform Bluesky to voice his displeasure at the station's error.” Read at GB News ↗ The IndependentLC “The error was spotted by composer David Arnold, who wrote on X” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2A BBC spokesperson said: "This was a production error, for which we apologise." GB News attributes the statement to RadioToday. GB NewsR “A spokesman for the station told RadioToday: "This was a production error, for which we apologise."” Read at GB News ↗ The IndependentLC “a BBC spokesperson said: “This was a production error, for which we apologise.”” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Fenton died unexpectedly on 5 October, aged 76. His family and management said he was survived by his wife Amanda, ex-wife Jane, three children and six grandchildren. The cause of death has not been revealed. GB NewsR “Mr Fenton died on Monday, October 5, at the age of 76.”“The cause of his death has not been revealed” Read at GB News ↗ The IndependentLC “died unexpectedly on Monday (5 October) aged 76.” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Fenton wrote music for films including Gandhi and Groundhog Day. For the BBC he wrote the themes for Newsnight and the Six O'Clock and Nine O'Clock News, and scored David Attenborough documentaries such as Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet. GB NewsR “The composer's work included music on the films Gandhi and Groundhog Day, as well as BBC shows such as Blue Planet” Read at GB News ↗ The IndependentLC “He also composed the music for Attenborough’s nature documentaries Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and Wild Isles.” Read at The Independent ↗ Right · 1GB News adds that Fenton, born George Howe in Bromley in 1949, had five Oscar nominations and had signed a new worldwide publishing deal three weeks before he died. GB NewsR “Born George Howe in Bromley, Kent in 1949”“He has since received five Oscar nominations”“Mr Fenton had signed a new worldwide publishing deal just three weeks ago.” Read at GB News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent runs it as a straight news story about the BBC's error. It adds detail on Benson's age, Grammy record and retirement from touring, and on Fenton's BBC career.
- Emphasis
- Fenton's BBC work, Benson's health and touring history, and the exact words the presenter used.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Fenton's Oscar nominations or his recent publishing deal.
- Charged language
- “very much alive”
- For example
-
“The BBC was forced to apologise after a Radio 2 presenter accidentally paid tribute to the late film composer George Fenton” — The Independent
“Presenter played music by jazz artist George Benson in tribute by mistake” — The Independent
Centre1 outlet
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- GB News leads with the embarrassment of the on-air gaffe, with strong wording in the headline, and gives a long biography of Fenton.
- Emphasis
- The blunder as an embarrassment for the BBC, David Arnold's criticism, and Fenton's biography and awards.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give Benson's age or say that he stopped touring, and does not quote the presenter's on-air words.
- Charged language
- “WRONG musician”“major blunder”“embarrassing on-air blunder”
What every side reports
- Radio 2 played George Benson's "Nature Boy" as a tribute after the news reported George Fenton's death.
- Melvin Odoom was presenting The Good Groove.
- The BBC called it a production error and apologised.
- Fenton died on 5 October aged 76.
- David Arnold publicly criticised the mistake.
Where accounts differ
-
Which platform David Arnold posted on
- Left
- The Independent says X.
- Right
- GB News says Bluesky.
BBC Radio 2 organisation
Calls the incident a production error and apologises.
“This was a production error, for which we apologise.” — The Independent
George Fenton person
Fenton died unexpectedly on 5 October aged 76. His family and management announced his death. Arnold said he deserved better from the BBC.
“George was a genius composer and deserved better than that from the company he gave voice to.” — The Independent
George Benson person
Benson is alive and was not the subject of any tribute. No comment from him is reported. The Independent notes he stopped touring on medical advice in 2024.
“still alive, although the cancellation of his UK tour in 2024” — The Independent
Left1 article
-
BBC Radio 2 apologises for tribute mistaking George Fenton for alive musician
Neutral Reports the apology factually, with background on both musicians and the presenter's words.
Centre1 article
Right1 article
-
GB NewsR ·
BBC Radio 2 apologises after mistakenly paying tribute to WRONG musician in major blunder
Critical Treats the mistake as a major, embarrassing BBC blunder and adds a long Fenton obituary.
- 7 Oct 15:33 First GB NewsR BBC Radio 2 apologises after mistakenly paying tribute to WRONG musician in major blunder
- 8 Oct 09:33 +18h The IndependentLC BBC Radio 2 apologises for tribute mistaking George Fenton for alive musician
- 8 Oct 09:38 +18h 5m Evening StandardN BBC forced to apologise for 'disgusting' error over late music legend: 'He deserved better'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.