New rules to protect people in TV and radio shows Add to Your Pages 29 July 2019

Ofcom is today proposing new rules to make sure people who take part in television and radio shows are properly looked after by broadcasters.

We already have rules for broadcasters around participants in programmes, and specific safeguards for people under 18.

But there has been growing openness and concern about mental health and wellbeing in recent years. We have also seen a steady rise in complaints expressing concern about the welfare and wellbeing of people who take part in programmes.

Against this backdrop, we have been reviewing our existing protections for programme participants.

New safeguards

Today we are proposing to add two new rules to our broadcasting code to protect the welfare and wellbeing of people taking part in programmes on TV and radio. These would include reality shows, documentaries, news and current affairs, phone-ins, quiz shows, talent contests and other forms of factual and entertainment programmes, but not drama, sitcoms or soaps.

The proposed rules are:

Due care must be taken over the welfare, wellbeing and dignity of participants in programmes.

Participants must not be caused unjustified distress or anxiety by taking part in programmes or by the broadcast of those programmes.

These rules reflect the fact that very different forms and levels of care may be appropriate, depending on the person participating, a programme’s format and the nature of how the person is taking part.

We also want to make sure the proposed new rules don’t make programmes less likely to feature people with vulnerabilities, as there is a clear public interest in their representation on TV and radio.

Guidance to support the rules

We’re planning to issue guidance to help broadcasters interpret and apply the new rules, and we are consulting today on what that guidance should contain.

For example, guidance might include what broadcasters should do to look after participants before, during and after production. It would also consider aspects such as the use of lie detectors.

The proposed rules and guidance are designed to ensure that broadcasters apply a consistent standard of care to people who take part in shows.

Tony Close, Ofcom’s Director of Content Standards, said: “People who take part in TV and radio shows must be properly looked after by broadcasters, and these rules would ensure that happens.

“These new safeguards must be effective. So, we’re listening carefully to programme participants, broadcasters, producers and psychologists before we finalise them.”

We are inviting feedback on the new rules and guidance by September. We will then issue our final decisions in the winter.