" Reports of my death...."

Complete farce. I haven't read your link but the report I did read said the BBC had a call from a relative saying he'd died. Excuse or not ?

No excuse, they should double check before putting something so sensitive out there. It could have been anyone on the phone.

How upsetting for the family. Things like that should be checked, certainly if it's come from one phone call.

It does remind me of my friends Mum. She had been waiting for a hospital appointment, waited weeks and in the end called into the hospital (small local one) to see why it was taking so long. The receptionist asked her for proof of who she was, she thought that was odd, and then they admitted they had put her as deceased on her records!

The newest cub reporter on a local "rag" would have beeen taught to know better!!
Bad one, Beeb!

Sorry Christine I was trying to be sarky. I mean't do we believe there even was a call.
I agree the aledged call should have been checked and checked again.

Years ago, when I was working, a woman who prided herself on being friends with, and liked by, everyone in the factory, went round one day telling everyone that a certain supervisor`s wife had died. He came looking for her later, along with his son, both of them livid, to tell her that Dora was still very much in the land of the living! It was lovely though, seeing her having to make her grovelling apologies!

A bit strange though, this one, isn't it? You'd have thought the BBC would have apologised profusely, but they haven't. Their statement just says We were informed by close family and friends that Brian had passed away in the night. They have since been in contact to say that he remains critically ill. It's as if they were told by several people close to him that Brian had died. Perhaps they did check? Perhaps they were told the information was right? Though I can't imagine how close family and friends would get it wrong!

Folk musician Dave Swarbrick had the experience of reading his own obituary in the Telegraph in 1999. He sadly died for real last June and is much missed.