In a bland description of how it happened, the BBC said, "The individual (Finisterra) was contacted by the BBC and, during a series of phone calls, claimed that there would be a significant announcement to be made on behalf of the Dow Chemical company".

Finisterra "gave no further detail until the live interview...Following further internal enquiries, the BBC realised that the interview was a deception."

On Saturday, BBC sources told STOI that though the Corporation had apologized to Dow Chemicals and anyone else misled by the story, it was important to stress that "the hoaxers and not the BBC perpetrated the hoax on the people of Bhopal."

The hoax was broadcast less than a year after an official inquiry criticized the BBC for inaccurate reporting and "defective" editorial supervision in claiming Prime Minister Tony Blair and his aides had exaggerated the case for war in Iraq.

Crucially, the Corporation is midway through a government review of its operations, carried out once every 10 years in preparation for the renewal of the Royal Charter under which it operates.