A staff member carrying out routine maintenance on a studio computer accidentally broadcast pre-recorded announcements declaring the death of King Charles III — then panicked and fled the premises, leaving listeners stunned and the station scrambling to correct the error.

Radio Caroline, the legendary Essex-based broadcaster, has been found in breach of Ofcom rules following the incident, which aired during The Barry Marsh Show on 19 May. The pre-recorded files — prepared in advance as is standard practice for major public figures — were played out of curiosity by the staff member, who was unaware doing so would send the audio live on air.

Sixteen Minutes of Silence

Listeners on DAB+ heard three separate announcements falsely confirming the King's death, including one that stated the station had "suspended our normal programmes until further notice as a mark of respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III." The announcements were followed by the national anthem and approximately 16 minutes of silence before the scheduled programme was eventually reinstated.

An elderly man wearing sunglasses, a pinstriped suit, and a patterned tie at a formal event with a blue and yellow background.

The presenter, who had been broadcasting remotely — a common arrangement at Radio Caroline — had no idea anything had gone wrong. Because he wasn't monitoring his own output via an internet feed, he remained unaware he had gone off air entirely. It was the station director, noticing continuous music where there should have been a live show, who raised the alarm and contacted an engineer already investigating the problem.

A correction came approximately 30 minutes after the false announcements first aired, with the presenter telling listeners:

"I've just been informed that we've played in error some information a little earlier. I didn't hear this myself, but it is incorrect, it's a technical issue, and of course we apologise."

Ofcom's Verdict

Ofcom ruled that Radio Caroline had breached Rule 5.1, which requires news to be reported with due accuracy, and Rule 5.2, which demands that significant mistakes be corrected swiftly. The regulator described the false announcement as a "very significant inaccuracy" on a matter of "very high public interest" — and noted that the 30-minute delay before a correction was broadcast made the breach more serious.

"We noted that the Licensee was monitoring the output around the time of the incident and that an engineer was already aware of the issue, but that it took some time to understand what had occurred and reinstate the scheduled programme." — Ofcom

The files had been stored on the studio desktop computer alongside what Radio Caroline described as "a set of strict instructions to presenters and managers" outlining the protocol required before they could be played. Those instructions were not followed. Ofcom received just two complaints about the broadcast — a relatively modest figure given the nature of the error.

Reprimand and Remedial Action

In its response to the regulator, Radio Caroline said it took the matter "very seriously" and had acted "as soon as possible." The staff member responsible has since been reprimanded and apologised, and the obituary files have been moved off the studio desktop entirely to prevent any repeat of the incident. Presenters and support staff have also been reminded of the relevant procedures.

The station noted, in mitigation, that it is entirely volunteer-led and does not have the resources of larger broadcasters — a context Ofcom acknowledged in its ruling, even while finding the breach proven.

A large glass and steel office building with a distinctive oval-shaped lattice facade on the South Bank of the River Thames, with Southwark Bridge visible to the left and a small red boat on the river in the foreground, under an overcast sky.
Ofcom's head office at Riverside House on the South Bank of the River Thames in London.

Radio Caroline has a colourful history that makes the episode feel faintly surreal. Founded in 1964 as an offshore pirate station, it once broadcast from a ship anchored beyond British territorial waters before being shipwrecked off the Kent coast in 1991. The station continues to broadcast from off the north-east Essex coast today, with many of its presenters, including the one at the centre of this incident, connecting remotely.

It is standard practice for major broadcasters to prepare pre-recorded material in advance of significant public events, including the deaths of senior Royal Family members. The Radio Caroline incident is a sharp reminder of what can go wrong when those files are not kept securely out of reach.