ITV halts shows from Queen firm

RDF Media made the documentary for BBC One

ITV will not commission any new shows from production firm RDF Media until an inquiry into a misleading trailer for a programme about the Queen is completed.

The broadcaster reacted after RDF accepted blame for a promotional film it made for a BBC documentary which was edited out of sequence.

Shares in RDF plunged a further 17% on Friday, having lost 8.5% on Thursday.

However, Channel Four and Channel Five have said they will continue accepting new shows from the production company.

RDF said ITV work accounted for about 11% of its income, but it did not expect results to be "materially" hit.

'Valued supplier'

The problems have raised issues of trust at the BBC - which has also halted commissions from the firm.

An inquiry into what went wrong is being carried out. RDF said it was expected to be over by September.

It has been an extremely painful lesson for those involved. RDF chief executive David Frank in an e-mail to the BBC Check RDF Media's shares

"RDF has been informed by ITV that no new programmes will be commissioned before and subject to the publication of the independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the BBC's autumn press launch," the firm said.

Channel Four said the production company was a "long-standing and valued supplier", adding that it saw "no reason" to suspend the relationship.

It said it would meet RDF executives soon and "seek further reassurance about programmes they currently have in production for Channel Four".

And Channel Five will go ahead with plans to show a new series of How To Be A Property Developer, made for it by RDF.

RDF - which counts Wife Swap and Faking It among its hit shows - has said that it is "confident" of resuming its relationship of the BBC - whose commissions make up about 10% of its revenues.

Royal exchange

The controversy was provoked after it produced a promotional clip from A Year With The Queen, which made it look as though the monarch had walked out of a photo-shoot "in a huff".

Earlier, chief executive David Frank sent an e-mail to BBC director general Mark Thompson apologising unreservedly for "the embarrassment this has led to for both the BBC and the Queen".

He added he hoped the BBC's trust in RDF could be rebuilt, but said: "I realise we've got a lot to make up."

"It has been an extremely painful lesson for those involved. I am taking steps to put in place measures which I hope will ensure nothing of this sort happens again."

Mr Thompson responded, saying he appreciated Mr Frank's "acknowledgement of RDF's role in this very regrettable episode and your unreserved apology".

The trailer was shown during the press launch for BBC One's autumn season.

In it, photographer Annie Leibovitz was seen telling the Queen she would look better without her tiara because it would be "less dressy".

The Queen replied, pointing to what she was wearing: "Less dressy? What do you think this is?"

The clip then cut to the Queen walking through Buckingham Palace, saying to her lady-in-waiting: "I'm not changing anything. I've had enough dressing like this, thank you very much," implying that she had stormed off from the portrait session.

But in fact, that shot was filmed before the exchange over the tiara.