BBC removes Tricolour sequence from recording of jubilee celebrations

The BBC has removed a sequence on its iPlayer from its jubilee coverage which mistakenly shows the Irish Tricolour as the flag of Northern Ireland.

The BBC has apologised for the gaffe which was shown on Saturday night’s Platinum Party at the Palace to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee.

During the sequence involving the actor Doc Brown, it praised the sporting prowess of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom starting with England football fans, followed by fans waving the Welsh flag, then briefly the Irish Tricolour and finally the Scottish Saltire.

Brown narrated: “So we can wail until our throats are all croaky, but see those three lions, you know what they do to me, I see them standing for strength, love and unity, same with the red dragon, shamrock, and thistle, white, black, and brown we unite at the whistle.”

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The sequence has been removed with a notice which states: “This programme is subject to a correction. During Doc Brown’s performance, the Republic of Ireland flag was inadvertently used instead of the Northern Ireland flag.”

Strictly speaking, there is no such country as the Republic of Ireland. The Tricolour is the flag of Ireland and Northern Ireland has no official flag. The “Ulster Banner” which features a red cross, six pointed star, Ulster red hand and the crown was abolished as the flag of Northern Ireland in 1973.

The mistake has caused bemusement in some circles but also irritation among unionists. It is not the first time the Irish Tricolour has been inadvertently used to represent Northern Ireland. It was also used in September 2020 during a graphic sequence illustrating travel restrictions in different parts of the UK. The then DUP leader Arlene Foster described the incident as “disgraceful”.

Northern Ireland born Brexiteer Kate Hoey questioned if Saturday’s incident was a “mistake” by the BBC and referred to the previous incident in 2020 in a Tweet: “Is it the same person who has made the ‘mistake’ before? Maybe there are some in the BBC who dislike the Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland so much and support a United Ireland that they thought this amusing.”

Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister was not amused and described it as “quite an appalling and wholly disrespectful blunder which contrasts with the professionalism of the range of jubilee events. The lack of oversight, which permitted such a fundamental affront to this part of the UK, requires both explanation and apology”.

DUP MP for East Derry Gregory Campbell said: “The Platinum Party at the Palace was a part of what will be regarded as an outstandingly successful recognition of her majesty’s 70 years as the monarch.

“It was unfortunate that in a very short video clip during the event when the four nations that make up the United Kingdom were visually represented by logos or flags that the Irish Tricolour was used instead of the Ulster Banner.”

A representative for the BBC said: “The incorrect flag appeared in a brief montage during Doc Brown’s appearance on Saturday. We apologise for the error and the sequence will be edited on iPlayer.”