The BBC has been castigated by the regulator for not challenging a number of untrue statements made about climate change in an interview by ex-minister Nigel Lawson (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/09/bbc-radio-4-broke-impartiality-rules-in-nigel-lawson-climate-change-interview). Denier Lawson is reportedly funded by a number of large hydrocarbon-producing industries and one has to ask how being a former Chancellor of the Exchequer qualifies someone to evaluate climate change science. The BBC claimed in its defence that it had not pitted Lawson against a scientist, as this would indicate that the opposing ideas had equal currency (in which case, their interviewer needed to be better briefed or more confident in his challenges). I have been subject to the 'pitting' process by the BBC, only to be told that the programme would not be broadcast, as I had demolished my opponent, meaning it didn't make an interesting programme (I strongly suspect that, had the opposite demolition occurred, it would have!).
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