Complaint
The programme contained a number of references to Jamaica and its citizens, and their historic relationships with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. 聽A viewer complained that these gave an inaccurate and misleading impression of why the author鈥檚 parents had been able to emigrate to Britain, and of Jamaica鈥檚 status at the time. 聽The complainant also objected to the use of the phrase 鈥淐ommonwealth Kid鈥 as she believed this was based on the same false premise.
Outcome
The programme was a personal account reflecting the author鈥檚 own perception of his background and identity while growing up. 聽As such it was reasonable for him to describe himself as a Commonwealth kid. 聽It was inaccurate however to claim that membership of the Commonwealth had enabled his parents to come to Britain, as that was not a relevant factor. It was also inaccurate to suggest or imply at various points that Jamaica was part of the Commonwealth in the 1950s, when in fact Jamaica only joined the organisation in 1962.
Partly upheld
Further action
The programme will be amended before any future repeats.