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“We understand the allegations made and are taking the issue seriously. However we need time to investigate fully, so we will do so and report our findings early next week.”
Anyone would think the BBC’s press office was faced with another Sachsgate after Auntie issued that statement today.
Not so. This was her response to allegations today that Sam Kay, one of Corpus Christi College’s winning University Challenge contestants, was not a student for the duration of the contest, and was therefore ineligible.
Boffs in the headlines again: Kay (left) and Gail Trimble (third from left), have received a series of disproportionate responses from the commercial press, the blogosphere, and now the Beeb itself. Source: the Mirror
At one time, the BBC might have shrugged off such a charge as trivial, but paranoia and a poor sense of perspective have crept in.
After all, Kay’s hardly an Oxford don: he was still a student during the first two rounds, and has since been working for Price Waterhouse Coopers.
Maybe the accountancy firm’s renowned atmosphere of literary and scientific self-improvement gave him an unfair advantage though?
Matt Yeo, captain of fellow finalists Manchester didn’t seem to think so: “We hope any decision does not detract from what was a thrilling final won by a truly tremendous team.”
The BBC may “understand the allegations made“, but isn’t it “taking the issue” a little too seriously?
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