Richard E Grant, a Traitor on the BBC's Celebrity Traitors, has come under scrutiny over his choice of clothing on the show due to his commercial links to fashion giant Burberry. The actor has been wearing several items made by the label, including a coat and two scarves featuring the brand's famous check patterns.
BBC guidelines on brand promotion
The BBC's editorial guidelines state that stars "must not appear wearing clothing or using products or services which they have agreed/been contracted to promote, advertise or endorse or in which they have a specific financial interest."
Richard, 69, starred alongside Kate Winslet and Naomi Campbell in Burberry's "London in Love" campaign, launched in February last year. He also took to the catwalk for the brand that month and attended the unveiling of the Burberry Christmas tree at Claridge's hotel in November.
Insiders insist no rule break
BBC sources say Richard was not working with the brand at the time of filming and insisted there was no rule break. However, he still features on the Burberry website to promote the label's £2,000 "Burberry Trench".
The website says: "discover our most iconic styles worn by an A-list cast – including actors Kate Winslet and Richard E. Grant – as they explore love, life and the rain against a backdrop of London locations."
Undue prominence rules
BBC guidelines separately restrict the prominence given to brands on screen, regardless of whether someone has a current deal to promote them. The guidelines allow branded products to appear where there is an editorial justification but say they must not receive undue prominence. Programme-makers are also told to consider the cumulative effect of repeated references to a brand.
In 2013, the BBC Trust found that two episodes of Countryfile had given undue prominence to Rab clothing worn by two presenters. It accepted there was no evidence of payment or benefits in return for wearing the clothes, rejecting the allegation of product placement. Nevertheless, it found the repeated exposure gave the impression that the programmes were promoting or endorsing the products.
More recently, the Mirror revealed Monty Don broke BBC guidelines after wearing a Barbour jacket on Gardeners' World while simultaneously appearing in the company's advertising campaign. The BBC confirmed in May that it had reminded the presenter of its rules around commercial activities. His jacket appeared in promotional content for Barbour's "Way of Life" campaign, which encourages fans to "shop the look" worn by the TV presenter.
Agents for Richard E Grant didn't reply to emails for comment.
