The BBC was fined £95,000 today for running unfair competitions on two radio stations.

Industry regulator Ofcom imposed the penalty for “serious” breaches of its code in shows broadcast on Radio 2 and BBC London 94.9FM.

The BBC invited listeners to take part in phone-in competitions in pre-recorded programmes that were broadcast “as live” when it knew they stood no chance of winning, Ofcom said.

The regulator fined the corporation £70,000 over editions of Dermot O’Leary’s Radio 2 show broadcast between
June and December 2006.

And it ordered it to pay £25,000 for breaches in Tony Blackburn’s BBC London programme between December 2005 and December 2006.

The BBC must also broadcast a statement of Ofcom’s findings on both the stations.

Ofcom said: “The BBC invited listeners to enter these competitions at the time of the broadcasts, in the full knowledge that the audience stood no chance of either entering or winning.

“However, it was noted that these competitions were not run for profit.

“Ofcom also recognises the extensive steps the BBC has taken to ensure future compliance in this area.” The programmes breached rule 2.11 of Ofcom’s broadcasting code, which relates to the fair conduct of listener phone-in competitions.