The Prime Minister today warned broadcasters to run television phone-ins in a “reliable and trustworthy way”, hours after Michael Grade, ITV’s executive chairman, pledged to continue operating the services.
ITV had called in Deloitte, the accountancy firm, this week to conduct an independent audit of the broadcaster’s premium rate phone services after viewers were overcharged £200,000 to vote in the last series of The X Factor, while irregularities were discovered at the ITV1 show Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s questions, Mr Blair said that it was a matter of “great concern” to the public, telling MPs: “I totally understand and share the concerns.”
He said: “I understand that broadcasters are meeting later this week and I think it