The BBC made a basic error in its news coverage last night, spelling the name of a Welsh town incorrectly on its primetime news bulletin. A number of viewers pointed out the error in the News at Six programme on Monday, April 3. In a segment by the BBC’s disinformation and fact-checking correspondent Marianna Spring, Merthyr Tydfil was mentioned.
The segment was looking at disaster trolls after news reports that Manchester Arena bomb survivors filed legal action against a conspiracy theorist who claims the attack was faked.
Unfortunately, when the Welsh town appeared on a UK map as part of the broadcast it was spelled differently, appearing as Mythr Tydfil.
Viewers took no time in pointing out the mistake. One user on Twitter said: "Spelling Merthyr Tydfil as Mythr on 6pm news not a demonstration of accurate fact checking" while user @scorpion1055 pointed out the irony of having a department to check facts and then getting a well known Welsh town’s name wrong: ‘Can your new Disinformation officer please get Welsh place names correct. Merthyr Tydfil is correct . Not a good start for you Disinformation officer and new department.’
Neil Maidman acknowledged the importance of the news report but added: ‘Nice presentation on @BBCNews but that really isn’t the way you spell Merthyr Tydfil.’
By the time the News at Ten broadcast aired later that evening the map had been edited out of the bulletin.
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