Legendary news reporter Michael Burke hots out at the BBC over coverage of Liam Payne’s death

BBC News presenter Michael Buerk has slammed the broadcaster’s coverage of Liam Payne’s death as he felt it’s level of importance was low in comparison to other news stories

Legendary news broadcaster Michael Buerk has slammed the BBC’s coverage of Liam Payne’s death, as he felt the singer’s tragic death should not have been given such a high level of importance.

The 78 year old former news anchor made his feelings known during a live interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme – and described Liam as a “drugged up, faded, boy band singer.” Michael is perhaps best known for his coverage of the famine in Ethiopia in the eighties, which prompted Sir Bob Geldof to organise the iconic Live Aid concert and the charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas.

One Direction singer Liam, who was only 31 at the time of his death, fell from the third floor of his hotel balcony while in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 16. And it has been alleged that a concoction of substances were found in his hotel suite including pink cocaine.

However, as fans mourned the star’s devastating death, Michael disapproved of the coverage the singer’s death garnered. Speaking on the Today programme, he was asked how foreign reporting has changed over the years since he was presenting the news. And in response to the question, he said: “Last week, this programme decided that the most important thing that had happened in the world was that a drugged up faded boy band singer had fallen off a balcony.”

Liam Payne Payne pictured with his parents at the height of his fame ( 
Image:
Express & Star / SWNS)

He continued to explain: “Even the 10 O’clock News, which is normally good on these things, thought it was the second most important thing that happened in the world. If you look at the news these days, they seem to be hammering away at the same half dozen stories while a whole continent goes unmentioned month after month.”

Some listeners of the radio show were less than impressed by his caustic comments. One person wrote on X: “Blimey.” Another person said: “He seemed so… disdainful. There was no need for him to be so dismissive, it just felt sneery.” Liam skyrocketed to fame after being part of One Direction on the back of his audition on the X Factor in 2010, along with Harry Styles, Zayne Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.

Emergency services were called to the hotel after the manager made a phone call for immediate medical attention about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” The hotel manager reportedly said: “We need you to send us someone urgently because, well, we don’t know if the guest’s life is at risk. He is in a room that has a balcony. And well, we’re a bit afraid that he does something that could put his life at risk.”

A statement was released by Liam’s family that read: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”