THE BBC has been urged to “rethink” its search for the corporation’s first royal editor after its top candidate turned down the role.
Last year, the BBC announced that it would be creating a new royal editor role ahead of the retirement of long-standing royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell.
The editor was set to stand alongside other high-profile BBC News editors such as political editor Chris Mason and international editor Jeremy Bowen.
However, it appears the BBC’s top pick for the job has turned them down.
According to Deadline, Sunday Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah was the preferred pick of BBC bosses.
READ MORE: SNP branch calls for Angus Robertson to be sacked from cabinet role
Yet reports suggest that Nikkhah had decided to stay with the Sunday Times, leaving the BBC scrambling for a replacement.
Sources familiar with the recruitment process told Deadline that it had become a “debacle” after two other candidates were turned away before Nikkhah’s rejection.
It’s understood that ITV News’ royal editor Chris Ship and Sky News’ royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills were both in contention for the role but may have been turned away in favour of Nikkhah.
Two internal candidates who were expected to be offered the role – home editor Mark Easton and royal correspondent Daniella Ralph – are also understood to have been passed over in the selection process earlier this year.
Graham Smith, the CEO of anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, urged the BBC to reconsider hiring a royal editor in the first place.
“The BBC needs to rethink this position and consider why royal coverage gets its own correspondents at all,” he said.
“Most of the corporation’s royal coverage is little more than fanzine content, an extension of the palace press operation.
READ MORE: Scottish minister Ivan McKee defends Government's Israel meeting
“More serious and critical coverage, which is sadly lacking from the BBC, should be dealt with by political and public affairs correspondents.”
Witchell retired on March 31, following a 25-year stint reporting on the royal family for the BBC.
Since then the BBC's royal coverage has been handled by numerous correspondents, with no timeline on when a royal editor is expected to be announced.
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel