BBC have been forced to make another amendment to one of their projects after the Southport stabbing suspect starred in a 2018 advert for the sci-fi’s Children in Need episode.
In a now-deleted clip, Axel Rudakubana is seen leaving the Tardis dressed as The Doctor, wearing a trench coat and tie to look like the show’s former star David Tennant.
A then-11-year-old Rudakubana tells viewers: “It’s that time of year again”, before offering advice on how best to raise money.
According to Sky News, it is understood that the teenager was found for the video through a casting agency and had nothing to do with any Children In Need projects.
A spokesman for BBC Children in Need said the clip was removed across all platforms “out of respect” for the victims and added: “Our deepest sympathies go out to everyone impacted by this shocking case.”
The now 17-year-old appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, as is charged with the murders of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
The advert starring Axel Muganwa Rudakubana has been pulled
BBC
He is also charged with the attempted murders of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes, and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and with possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.
Despite being under the age of 18, Judge Andrew Menary KC lifted reporting restrictions that had prevented the naming of Rudakubana on Thursday.
Speaking about his decision to lift the restriction, the judge said it was necessary to stop the spread of “misinformation” after a false name circulated online had led to disorder and violence on the streets of Southport.
A plea and trial preparation hearing for Rudakubana has been set for 25 October at Liverpool Crown Court, with a provisional trial date, lasting six weeks, scheduled for 20 January next year.
A plea and trial preparation hearing for Rudakubana has been set for 25 October at Liverpool Crown Court
PA
This isn’t the first time that the BBC has had to pull one of their sci-fi episodes after they seemingly decided to pull an episode that featured Huw Edwards in a cameo role.
The disgraced newsreader featured in the episode that first aired in 2006 playing himself opposite David Tennant’s Doctor.
The episode was titled Fear Her and saw Edwards appear alongside Tennant and Billie Piper’s Rose, leaving viewers to be transported in time to the 2012 London Olympics.
Its storyline followed the Doctor and Rose as they investigated the mystery behind a young girl’s intergalactic superpowers that were shielded from public knowledge by her mother.
Huw Edwards cameo episode has also been pulled from BBC iPlayer
BBC
The episode removal comes after Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, with a BBC spokesperson releasing a statement earlier this week after Edwards’ guilty plea.
It read: “The BBC is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today. There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected.
“The police have confirmed that the charges are not connected to the original complaint raised with the BBC in the summer of 2023, nevertheless in the interests of transparency we think it important to set out some points about events of the last year.
“In November 2023, whilst Mr Edwards was suspended, the BBC as his employer at the time was made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation.
“At the time, no charges had been brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health. Today we have learnt of the conclusion of the police process in the details as presented to the court.
“If at any point during the period Mr Edwards was employed by the BBC he had been charged, the BBC had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him. In the end, at the point of charge, he was no longer an employee of the BBC.
“During this period, in the usual way, the BBC has kept its corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions. We want to reiterate our shock at Mr Edwards’ actions and our thoughts remain with all those affected.”