Veteran broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby has been spoken to about a “serious breach” of editorial guidelines after he used a trail for his Any Questions? radio show to promote a charity set up in memory of his father.

The journalist, whose father Richard was a regular on the BBC until his death from cancer in 1965, interrupted his appearance on the Today programme to tell listeners he would be taking part in a charity walk and included details of how to donate money.

Jonathan Dimbleby
Jonathan Dimbleby (BBC)

A report by the BBC Trust’s editorial standards committee said Jonathan’s comments gave him “access to a very large audience – and that other charities did not have the opportunity to reach that audience”.

It said the BBC executive “considered this was a serious breach of the editorial guidelines” and added: “The director of editorial policy had written to Jonathan Dimbleby very shortly after the broadcast and the director, radio production, had also discussed it personally with the presenter.”

Jonathan was also “reminded” of the guidelines covering conflicts of interest.