Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Radio Caroline staff played King Charles death message on air
Imagine a radio station that plays music and news.
One day, someone at Radio Caroline in the UK made a big mistake.
They accidentally played a message saying that the King, King Charles III, had passed away.
But it was not true at all.
A worker found the message while fixing a computer and pressed play just because he was curious.
The message went out on the radio for everyone to hear.
The station then played the national anthem and was silent for 16 minutes.
After that, the presenter said sorry and explained it was a technical error.
The radio station got in trouble with a group called Ofcom, which makes sure radio shows follow the rules.
Ofcom said the station should have said sorry much sooner than it did.
In May, Radio Caroline accidentally aired three pre-recorded announcements falsely announcing the death of King Charles III.
The false announcements were broadcast during the Barry Marsh show, including a message suspending normal programmes as a mark of respect.
The UK media regulator Ofcom found the station breached its rules, calling it a "very significant inaccuracy".
The national anthem was played, followed by 16 minutes of silence, before the presenter apologized and called it a technical issue.
Radio Caroline said a staff member played the files "out of curiosity" during maintenance on a studio computer, unaware they would be broadcast live.
- Who
- Radio Caroline, a UK radio station, its on-air presenter Barry Marsh, and the media regulator Ofcom.
- What
- Radio Caroline broadcast three pre-recorded announcements falsely saying King Charles III had died, and Ofcom found the station breached its rules.
- When
- May 19, during the Barry Marsh show.
- Where
- On Radio Caroline's UK broadcast, with the presenter streaming the show remotely.
- Why
- A staff member played the prepared announcements "out of curiosity" during maintenance on a studio computer, not knowing the message would go live on air.
- Station
- Radio Caroline
- Incident
- False death announcement for King Charles III
- Date
- May 19
- Show
- Barry Marsh show
- False announcements aired
- Three pre-recorded messages
- Complaints to Ofcom
- Two
- Time to apology
- Approximately 30 minutes
- Ofcom finding
- Breach of rules; "very significant inaccuracy"