I am delighted that Brian Matthew, the legendary BBC radio present, has recovered from his death, as reported on the BBC this morning. This is, of course, no laughing matter, particularly to his family or indeed Matthew himself if he was well enough to receive the news of his own passing. As he is critically ill, one would imagine he didn’t.
There was nothing malicious about the BBC’s mistaken announcement. Close friends and relatives had informed the corporation that Matthew had drawn his final breath. Given the affection in which he is held throughout the BBC, and the music scene as a whole, whoever received and announced the news in good faith. The RIPs were up within minutes and quite right too for this legend of the airwaves. Then we found out he wasn’t dead.
The BBC haters will be out in force after this – expect the Sun and the Mail to be on its case tomorrow – but this is cock-up, not conspiracy. The mistaken announcement will not have been made by Tony Hall, it will have been a lesser person, a journalist who got a dud story from numerous good sources.
Whatever happens – and let’s hope Brian Matthew pulls through – we should remember the man and his life, not some cock up saying it was over before it was.
