Overview
- Radio Caroline accidentally aired three pre-recorded announcements saying King Charles III had died, followed by the national anthem and about 16 minutes of silence during The Barry Marsh Show on May 19, 2026.
- Ofcom concluded the broadcasts were a 'very significant inaccuracy' and ruled the station breached rules 5.1 and 5.2 for inaccurate news and for not correcting the error promptly.
- The false messages were played when a staff member performing maintenance opened obituary-style files 'out of curiosity', which overrode a presenter who was streaming remotely and left the presenter unaware of the on-air output.
- Radio Caroline told Ofcom the staffer was reprimanded, the files were removed from the studio computer, presenters and support staff were reminded of procedures, and the station issued an on-air apology about 30 minutes after the incident.
- The case highlights how sensitive 'death of monarch' protocols and limited monitoring at small or volunteer-run stations can create real risks for false alerts and may prompt tighter safeguards across local broadcasters.