To be hurt and annoyed at being dropped by the BBC?

It really isn’t

Outrageous. Send this to the newspapers!

That's not true, they stole her words. If it really was identical then they can't do that regardless of money.

The release form she signed would have included the right to use the material however they wanted to. There is no legal case - but there is a moral one for how she’s been treated, and the production company and/or BBC should take it seriously.

This is copyright infringement.

And I see a couple of producers have pretty much said what I understand (as one of the talking heads on these things). TV moves fast and furious.

That’s really horrible and he would have grounds for complaint. Since Queengate (someone edited a trail to make it seem like HM had stormed out when she hadn’t) the BBC have been really hot on not misrepresenting people through dodgy editing.

Everyone has to do training in BBC trust to make sure you understand the importance of editorial honesty.

I’m sorry that happened to your dad.

Hmmmmmm, as someone who's done a few of these as 'academic for hire' (although I do more radio than tele - I've got a great face for radio) I think you're both reasonable and unreasonable.

You are very reasonable to be FURIOUS about them using your material. Get straight back to the producer and say you've seen the show and you wondered why your words and research were illegally appropriated. Just ask the question, don't go into any feelings. Just ask why. Put the producer on the spot. And maybe do a bit of research online (gov.uk is good) about intellectual property etc.

But all the other stuff - make up hair etc - waste of time. You can't be annoyed with the BBC because of that.

And they rarely pay. Newspapers pay, but the BBC - rare. I do it as part of my job, basically. I've had travel expenses reimbursed.

But you have to understand a bit about programme making. Producers work at speed and they are really really good at talking with the tame academic and getting the juice out of the marrow, re-framing it for a generalist audience, then feeding it back to you as questions, or suggested bits to camera. For those of us used to long slow academic/book research, it's an impossibly simplifying thing. But a good producer is so so good at getting to the nub of a thing, very quickly, using the resources of other people's knowledge along the way.

Then they make decisions about sellability and watchability. They made a crap decision from your POV, and an unethical one - go for that angle.

But think about what you want out of it - a payment? an apology? Tele is even more than newsaper tomorrow's fish & chip wrapping.

If it's bollocks that was plagiarism, it isn't bollocks, it is plagiarism if they used her script. Scriptwriters are supposed to be paid.

I would go to the press. Blow that shit up.

That's plagiarism. They should pay you for your script. The BBC has form on this one, I think. Preferance for pretty presenters.

Presenters can read scripts naturally - it’s their job. The good ones make it look easy but it is really hard.

Although, do we know woman 2 was a presenter?

What a fucking nerve! I'd be billing them for my script. Cheeky fuckers.

Sounds like the deal was you were to do something on screen and they wouldn't pay you.

What happened was you didn't do anything on screen and they didn't pay you.

If you're going to sue them you'll have to quantify your loss.

They stole nothing- you gave it to them.

many years ago I worked for a designer. Some TV programme asked him to come up with something to give away to all the losing contestants. Duly submitted the design and costings but then it never went ahead. A couple of days before the first show they came back and said they ran out of time and their prop department had to come up with something short notice. The thing the contestants were given looked exactly like our design.

Sadly, OP, I’ve come across this before.

Thinking of the experts that have appeared, and history ones in particular, I'm not sure the 'saggy face and full figure' complaint holds water.
But I wonder if they were actually your words whether you have a case of intellectual property?

Do you disbelieve everyone else sharing similar stories about the BBC screwing them over?

YANBU and you should complain in writing to the Director General, Tim Davie. That is absolutely staggering. Include a link to the programme and all the evidence you have. I’m so sorry, this is so cruel and misogynistic.

[email protected]

But they hate middle aged women even more.

What shoddy behaviour.

I work in tv and agree they wouldn’t waste time and money filming someone they weren’t going to use - but I can imagine it being unusable for some reason and needing to be reshot.

It may have been over rehearsed, it may have been a bit rubbish and a technical issue forced a reshoot so they went with someone else.

I can totally believe it happened - there are lots of crappy people working in tv.

Oh my God - that is AWFUL!!

I agree that this needs highlighting.

I'd be taking that to social media - LOUDLY.