Cruel radio competition fronted by Corrie star broke broadcasting rules after encouraging listeners to ‘steal’ £2,000 from desperate divorcee caller
Listeners blasted the "evil" contest after a single mum's bid to win £2k for divorce proceedings was taken by a woman wanting a holiday
A RADIO competition co-hosted by Corrie star Brooke Vincent broke broadcasting rules - after a desperate mother had £2,000 of prize money "stolen" by a caller wanting a holiday.
The "Heartless Hotline" segment saw a woman named Sarah plead for the money to help retain her children's home following her husband's affair and their separation.
But she was usurped by caller Leigh after she rang in demanding the cash, saying: "I've got children of my own and I could do with a holiday for us."
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has now ruled the cruel competition breached the "human dignity" of Sarah after listeners branded Leigh "disgusting" and "vindictive".
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The competition on Greater Manchester's Key 103 was named Heartless Hotline and ran from April 18 - 29.
It arranged for listeners to call in to claim a prize - then opened up phone lines for others to ring and "steal" the prize money for themselves.
A clearly desperate Sarah called in on April 27 while the show was being hosted by Mike Toolan and Coronation Street star Brooke Vincent.
She told the presenters: "It was just over two years ago and I discovered my husband was cheating on me with somebody he worked with.
"A couple of weeks after that literally, my dad died unexpectedly.
"It has been an awful – I can’t tell you what it’s been like the last two years [voice breaks]…sorry I’m a bit upset.
"I don’t have any luxuries.
"I have enough to cover the bills but really if I could get divorced I could also get a court order that would mean that my children’s father would have to help with the housing costs ‘cos I just don’t think, of moving house right now, they could cope with it.
"It’s just been heart-breaking."
The presenters then expressed sympathy, before opening up the phone lines for others to "steal" the money.
A woman named Leigh then called, explaining she had children as well, but would "like a holiday".
The dialogue continued with Sarah pleading: "I want to keep a roof over my children’s heads and you just want a holiday?
"Are you serious?"
Leigh: "I am serious.
"I’m sorry about this, but yes."
Sarah: "You’re not sorry.
"How could you?"
Leigh responded: "Well that’s the name of the game!"
The presenters then accepted she had won the prize money, but other listeners called in.
They branded Leigh "a vindictive, disgusting woman", while others said the station needed to put an end to the "evil" competition.
Today Ofcom ruled the incident had breached the "human dignity" clause of its broadcasting guidelines.
"When conducting two phone-in competitions, we found this Manchester-based radio station broke our rules on offensive material and to ensure competitions are conducted fairly.
"In one competition, a contestant trying to win money to pay for a divorce and a court order had her prize ‘stolen’ by a caller who wanted the money for a holiday and the contestant became distressed.
"In the second, a contestant wanted money to pay for the return of her mother’s ashes and the presenters intentionally blocked the phone lines, preventing other callers from winning the prize."
A spokesperson for Bauer Media, Key 103's owner, said that following the call radio chiefs put the woman in touch with a lawyer who provided £2,000 worth of legal advice free of charge.
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