Human Planet set for editorial review as BBC admits second breach

The corporation, which has previously been hit by ‘fakery’ claims, has withdrawn the programme from distribution.

Published Apr 26, 2018

Scenes from the BBC’s Human Planet, which has been removed from distribution for a full editorial review (BBC/PA)

The BBC has withdrawn Human Planet from distribution after finding a second editorial breach in the programme.

Earlier this month, the corporation admitted that a scene from the 2011 documentary showing tribal people living in treehouses had been faked by the programme’s makers.

Now the BBC has said it has discovered a second breach.

Uncontacted Indians living in Brazil, near the Peruvian border, who were featured in BBC1’s Human Planet (PA) — Indians living in Brazil, near the Peruvian border, who were featured in BBC One’s Human Planet (BBC/PA)

In a statement, the corporation said: “The BBC has been alerted to a further editorial breach in the Human Planet series from 2011.

“In Episode 1, Oceans, a Lamaleran whale hunter named Benjamin Blikololong is shown supposedly harpooning a whale.

“On review, the BBC does not consider that the portrayal of his role is accurate, although the sequence does reflect how they hunt whales.

“The BBC has decided to withdraw Human Planet from distribution for a full editorial review.”

Scenes from the BBC's Human Planet, which has been embroiled in a second fakery row (BBC/PA) — Scenes from the BBC’s Human Planet, which has been embroiled in a second fakery row (BBC/PA)

In 2015, it emerged that a semi-domesticated wolf had been used because the crew had been unable to find a “wild” wolf on location.

And in 2011 the BBC used shots of a tarantula in a studio for an episode about wildlife in the Venezuela jungle.

The BBC’s statement added: “Since this programme was broadcast in 2011, we have strengthened our training for the BBC’s Natural History Unit in editorial guidelines, standards and values.”