DR RANJ Singh allegedly failed to tell BBC bosses about payment for appearing in an AstraZeneca advert – before appearing on TV discussing the company’s Covid jab.
The TV doctor, 44, was allegedly paid £22,500 by the pharmaceutical company in 2021 for an childhood flu advertising campaign.
But Dr Ranj did not disclose this to executives of BBC Morning Live before he presented a segment on the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The Mirror reported BBC bosses are “unhappy” and have expressed their “sense of displeasure”.
Guidelines state “significant financial interests” should be declared “if they are in any way connected with the area in which they work or the subject matter they cover”.
Dr Ranj, who quit This Morning in 2021, discussed “serious but rare” complications associated with the vaccine on the show on May 8.
The Mirror approached the BBC for comment earlier this week but Morning Live addressed the issue on Thursday.
Presenter Gethin Jones said: “Ranj worked with the company on an educational children’s flu campaign along with a number of other medics, something he has spoken about and been clear about on his social media.
“He has never been paid by AstraZeneca to talk about the Covid jab and hasn’t worked with them since.
“Hopefully that clears up any questions on that.”
A BBC spokeswoman said they hadn’t known about the financial link before the show.
She said: “The segment on the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine was balanced and covered reported risks and benefits.
“We became aware of Dr Ranj’s 2021 work for the manufacturer after this segment aired and have now addressed this within the show.”
The Sun has approached the BBC for comment.
Dr Ranj worked on This Morning as a resident medical expert alongside Phillip Schofield, 61, and his ex co-host Holly Willoughby for six years before stepping down.
The star took to Instagram to tell fans he had thought “long and hard” about opening up on his experiences but was desperate to “clarify” what happened.
Speaking in the documentary, Dr Ranj said: “For me, it was the culture that had developed, in many ways about the way people were being treated and being made to feel, and it wasn’t good for people’s mental health.
Who is former This Morning doctor Ranj Singh?
BORN in Kent on June 26, 1979, Dr Ranj Singh is a NHS clinician, whose work focuses mainly on the well-being of youths and young adults.
He also uses his medical knowledge in his work as a health correspondent and journalist for NetDoctor.
Dr Ranj is known for his work as a TV doctor, particularly for being on This Morning.
He was on the ITV daytime show from 2016, before leaving in in 2021.
As well as his work in medicine and on television, he has published two children’s books.
If that wasn’t enough, the busy doctor has also appeared in several Christmas pantomimes.
“I felt bullied at times. And, you know, I was a mental health ambassador, anti-bullying ambassador on this channel, whose job it is to look after people.
“I was on the show for ten years and I genuinely loved and valued working there.
“However, over time I grew increasingly worried about how things were behind-the-scenes and how people, including myself, were being treated.
“I didn’t know the truth about what was going on with Phillip, but I do know the issues with This Morning go far beyond him.
“It takes more than one person to create a culture. So I did what I thought was right … I then found myself being used less and less.”
Dr Ranj continued: “I even took my concerns directly to the top of ITV.
“The culture at This Morning had become toxic, no longer aligned with ITV values, and I felt like because I whistle-blew I was managed out.”
About COVID-19 vaccination, safety and side effects
COVID-19 vaccines are offered because viruses change and protection fades over time. It’s important to top up your protection.
If you’re at increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19, getting a COVID-19 vaccine can:
- help to reduce your risk of getting severe symptoms
- help you to recover more quickly if you catch COVID-19
- help to reduce your risk of having to go to hospital or dying from COVID-19
- protect against different strains of COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccine safety
The safety of the vaccines has been extensively reviewed in both adults and children by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The MHRA are continuously monitoring the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines and reports of serious side effects are very rare.
Find out more about the MHRA on GOV.UK
Common side effects of COVID-19 vaccination
Like all medicines, the COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them. Most side effects of the COVID-19 vaccination are mild and should not last longer than a week, such as:
- a sore arm from the injection
- feeling tired
- a headache
- feeling achy
- mild flu-like symptoms
If you have any side effects, you or your child should rest. You can also take pain relief such as paracetamol or paracetamol for children to help you or your child feel better.
Read about what to expect after your COVID-19 vaccination on GOV.UK
Source: NHS