THE BBC has been urged to “rethink” its search for the corporation’s first royal editor after its top candidate turned down the role.
Last year, the BBC announced that it would be creating a new royal editor role ahead of the retirement of long-standing royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell.
The editor was set to stand alongside other high-profile BBC News editors such as political editor Chris Mason and international editor Jeremy Bowen.
However, it appears the BBC’s top pick for the job has turned them down.
According to Deadline, Sunday Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah was the preferred pick of BBC bosses.
Yet reports suggest that Nikkhah had decided to stay with the Sunday Times, leaving the BBC scrambling for a replacement.
Sources familiar with the recruitment process told Deadline that it had become a “debacle” after two other candidates were turned away before Nikkhah’s rejection.
It’s understood that ITV News’ royal editor Chris Ship and Sky News’ royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills were both in contention for the role but may have been turned away in favour of Nikkhah.
Two internal candidates who were expected to be offered the role – home editor Mark Easton and royal correspondent Daniella Ralph – are also understood to have been passed over in the selection process earlier this year.
Graham Smith, the CEO of anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, urged the BBC to reconsider hiring a royal editor in the first place.
“The BBC needs to rethink this position and consider why royal coverage gets its own correspondents at all,” he said.
“Most of the corporation’s royal coverage is little more than fanzine content, an extension of the palace press operation.
“More serious and critical coverage, which is sadly lacking from the BBC, should be dealt with by political and public affairs correspondents.”
Witchell retired on March 31, following a 25-year stint reporting on the royal family for the BBC.
Since then the BBC's royal coverage has been handled by numerous correspondents, with no timeline on when a royal editor is expected to be announced.
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
