BBC Radio 2 plays music by living George Benson as tribute to dead composer George Fenton, then apologises

From the Newshound archive · first published 8 October 2026 · last updated 9 October 2026.

BBC Radio 2 presenter Melvin Odoom confused the late film composer George Fenton with jazz legend George Benson — who is very much alive — playing Benson's 1977 cover of 'Nature Boy' as a tribute on the night of Fenton's death. Fenton, who died unexpectedly on Monday aged 76, had composed the themes for Radio 4's flagship news programmes, Newsnight, and Sir David Attenborough's Planet Earth and Frozen Planet documentaries. The BBC called it a 'production error' and apologised.

Oscar-nominated Fenton held three BAFTAs, two Emmys, five Oscar nominations and a CBE, earned through scores for Gandhi, Groundhog Day and Dangerous Liaisons.

Composer David Arnold, who scored five James Bond films, said Fenton was 'a genius composer' who 'deserved better than that from the company he gave voice to.'

Listeners were scathing, with one calling it 'disgusting' and another quipping: 'BBC Verify obviously out for lunch.'