BBC Criticised for Cost of Hammond Puncture Investigation

Some 18 months after Richard Hammond’s nearly lethal high speed puncture, a prominent taxpayers’ association has hit out at the BBC for spending more than £43,000 of TV licence payers’ money investigating the crash, only to discover that a nail in the tyre was probably the culprit. The Daily Mail obtained details of the costs incurred through the Freedom of Information Act on March 9, and its disclosure has prompted a spokesman for the TaxPayers’ Alliance to comment: “it’s bizarre that the BBC should spend so much investigating the health-and-safety reasons behind a Top Gear crash. For the amount they paid, they found out very little.”

The broadcaster has defended its spending, saying “the BBC is committed to offer support to all members of staff in the event of them being in a serious accident at work….The BBC believes it was an entirely proper use of public funds to support Richard and his family at this time of suffering and distress.”