BBC face investigation over show's phone-in scam

The BBC is facing an investigation after it emerged that viewers urged to call a 'live' cookery show had no chance of getting on air because it had been recorded a week earlier.

On five occasions during Saturday Kitchen on February 17 host James Martin encouraged viewers to ring in to speak to studio guests at a cost of 10p a minute.

In the previous week's programme, he twice invited fans to dial a 25p a time premium rate line to have a chance of taking part in a competition on 'next week's show'.

But they had no chance of appearing as recording was starting that afternoon.

The programme is made by Cactus TV, the company responsible for Channel 4's Richard and Judy programme, which is being investigated over an alleged phone quiz scam.

Sir Alastair Graham, chairman of the premium rate phoneline regulator Icstis, pledged to 'urgently' investigate the allegations.

The BBC said Martin had made 'a genuine mistake in his wording'.

Neither the BBC nor the production company made any profit from the calls.