Cycling legend Dame Laura Kenny has been ticked off by BBC bosses for plugging a pricey watch she wore on air. The five-time Olympic gold medallist, working for the Beeb during the Paris Games , is accused of breaking strict rules about advertising. Breitling brand ambassador Laura, 32, wore one of its £2,750 watches.
She tagged the brand on her Instagram page and Breitling, in turn, posted pictures of Laura wearing its watches on air on their Instagram stories. One post read: “Ambassador Laura Kenny looking gorgeous in the Endurance Pro 38.” She also wore a Breitling watch while interviewing her husband Jason, a seven-time Olympic gold medallist and Team GB cycle coach.
In a subsequent still of the photo, Breitling posted clapping hands emojis in the comments. BBC rules say: “No on-air talent should promote products, goods, services or clothing they use on air.” This includes anything they have “agreed, or been contracted, to promote or in which they have financial interest”.
Third parties are also not allowed to cash in on the BBC. A BBC source said: “She is no longer on air but will be removing the tags from BBC-related posts.” Laura also promoted the Reiss clothing brand she was wearing on air on her social channels.
In one post she said that she had been “gifted” a Reiss outfit. The source said Laura does not have a commercial relationship with Reiss. In the past, the BBC has warned Ski Sunday stars Graham Bell and Chemmy Alcott about plugging clothe.