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Apprentice 'could be rescheduled' Apprentice 'could be rescheduled'
(10 minutes later)
The next series of The Apprentice should be rescheduled if an election is called, because of Alan Sugar's new political role, the BBC Trust has said.The next series of The Apprentice should be rescheduled if an election is called, because of Alan Sugar's new political role, the BBC Trust has said.
Lord Sugar has been made a Labour peer and is the government's newly-appointed enterprise champion.Lord Sugar has been made a Labour peer and is the government's newly-appointed enterprise champion.
Some critics have said his continued role in the show could compromise the BBC's political impartiality.Some critics have said his continued role in the show could compromise the BBC's political impartiality.
The BBC Trust said a conflict of interest could be avoided if the series is not run ahead of a general election.The BBC Trust said a conflict of interest could be avoided if the series is not run ahead of a general election.
But the trust's editorial standards committee did criticise an appearance by Lord Sugar with Children's Secretary Ed Balls at an event to promote apprenticeships. The trust's findings follow a formal complaint from shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt that Lord Sugar's political roles breach the corporation's editorial guidelines.
Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said: "Questions have been raised about the dual role played by Lord Sugar, as star of the BBC's The Apprentice while also a Labour peer advising the government as enterprise champion.
"The trust's editorial standards committee has judged that there has been no breach of the BBC editorial guidelines."
But, with an election due to be called before May next year, the committee noted increased "sensitivity caused by Lord Sugar's dual role".
The trust said that, when scheduling next year's transmission of The Apprentice and The Junior Apprentice, the BBC "must give due consideration to the implications of showing the programmes in the months immediately before a general election".
'Increased sensitivity''Increased sensitivity'
Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said: "Licence fee payers rightly look to the trust to ensure that the impartiality of the BBC is not put at risk, and this is an issue that we consider of the utmost importance." The Conservatives said the trust had admitted "what we have known all along, that Alan Sugar's government appointment risks the impartiality, integrity and independence of the BBC".
With an election due to be called before May next year, the committee noted increased "sensitivity caused by Lord Sugar's dual role". Mr Hunt added: "It's amazing that the trust has therefore not explained why licence fee payers should fund a programme hosted by someone who will help formulate, promote, and endorse government policies.
The Trust said that, when scheduling next year's transmission of The Apprentice and The Junior Apprentice, "the executive must give due consideration to the implications of showing the programmes in the months immediately before a general election". "The trust has disappointingly missed an opportunity to show it has teeth when it comes to enforcing impartiality obligations."
A BBC spokesman said: "When elections are called or are clearly imminent, we review all of our schedules to ensure that our output is suitable for transmission during that period.
"If the next general election falls in the first part of 2010, the executive will, of course, bear the trust's view in mind when it considers when to transmit the next series of The Apprentice."
The Apprentice is normally screened from March onwards.