A leading BBC editor had no concerns about the decision to fly a helicopter over Sir Cliff Richard’s home to film police raiding the property, the high court in London has heard.

Jonathan Munro, the head of newsgathering, said: “I have reviewed the images which the BBC broadcast, including the helicopter footage. I do not have any concerns about the broadcasting of these images.”

Richard is suing the BBC, arguing it violated his right to privacy when it broke the news in August 2014 that the singer was being investigated by police in relation to an accusation of a historical sexual assault. He has always strongly denied the claims and no charges were ever brought.

Munro told the court he believed it was acceptable to fly the aircraft over the gated community in Sunningdale, Berkshire, and film through the window the officers searching the property.

In response, the singer’s barrister told Munro that if that was his genuine belief then the BBC executive should consider himself unfit for his job.

Richard is seeking substantial damages from the BBC, which insists its actions were justified on journalistic grounds. South Yorkshire police has already paid £400,000 in damages to the singer.



Munro told the court that one of the reasons the BBC decided to deploy the helicopter was that police had tipped it off that it would be difficult to obtain footage from the ground, since Richard lived in a private estate surrounded by trees.

He also said no complaints were made in the immediate aftermath of the story by Richard or South Yorkshire police in relation to the use of helicopter footage.

Munro said in a written statement that he had been proud of the story, recalling how he had emailed Dan Johnson, the reporter who received the initial tip, to congratulate him on an “excellent piece of journalism” which had resulted in the “BBC breaking a high profile, exclusive story”.

The court also heard from Bernadette Kitterick, senior BBC journalist, who said the final decision to run the raid story was ultimately taken by the BBC executive Fran Unsworth.

Unsworth has since been promoted to director of news and affairs, with ultimate responsibility for the BBC’s entire news operation.

The case continues.