A U.K. radio station is facing scrutiny after a false on-air report claimed King Charles had died. According to People Magazine, Radio Caroline broadcast three pre-recorded announcements during The Barry Marsh Show on May 19, interrupting regular music programming. The incorrect bulletin was followed by the national anthem, a repeated statement and about 16 minutes of silence before normal output returned. Roughly 30 minutes later, the host addressed listeners and confirmed the report was wrong, describing the incident as a technical issue.
Ofcom Says Radio Caroline Broke Two Rules
The incident has now been formally addressed by Ofcom, the U.K.’s communications regulator. Its Aug. 10 bulletin found that Radio Caroline breached two parts of the Broadcasting Code tied to accuracy and timely correction of significant mistakes in news. The regulator said the false statements amounted to a serious error because they announced the death of the British monarch without verification. Ofcom also examined how long it took for the station to correct the claim on air, ultimately ruling that the broadcast failed to meet required standards.
Barry Marsh Apologized After the False Bulletin
When the station returned to normal programming, host Barry Marsh later issued an apology to listeners. “I’ve just been informed that we’ve played in error some information a little earlier, I didn’t hear this myself, but it is incorrect, it’s a technical issue, and of course we apologize,” the host said according to People Magazine The correction came after the mistaken report had already aired multiple times. The station said Marsh had been presenting remotely and did not initially realize that a different feed had interrupted his show.
Staffer Played Prepared Files ‘Out of Curiosity’
As reported by People Magazine, Radio Caroline told Ofcom that a staff member was carrying out maintenance on a studio computer when the person found three files prepared for use in the event of the King’s death. The station said those files came with strict instructions for presenters and managers, but the employee played them “out of curiosity.” That action reportedly cut off the remote broadcast and sent the prerecorded announcements live. After realizing what had happened, the staffer stopped the playback and left the office.
Radio Caroline Changed Procedures After the Error
The station said it took the matter seriously and moved to prevent a repeat. Radio Caroline told the regulator that the employee was reprimanded and later apologized. It also said the files are no longer stored in the same way and have been moved to an external hard drive. Staff and presenters were reminded of the procedures surrounding sensitive emergency material. King Charles, 77, was not harmed and no official palace statement was ever issued. The episode stands as a stark example of how one internal mistake can become national news within minutes.
