Mr Roscoe Deane, a comedy scriptwriter and performer, complained that an article in The Stage on 27 February 1997 implied inaccurately that he had left the country in order to avoid paying money to a theatre company in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Code of Practice.

The article, in the "Chit Chat" column, said that the complainant had "staged a Sunday spectacular at the London Palladium", but that he had "disappeared" once "inconvenient demands for bills" arrived. It said that he had gone to Australia, but noted his name amongst those attending the actress Beryl Reid's memorial service. It suggested that the theatre company should be told if this was indeed the complainant.

The complainant said that he had not organised the show but was involved only informally at the very beginning. He enclosed a copy of a letter from the theatre company in support. He also provided evidence that he left the UK five weeks prior to the concert date and he said that this was not because of unpaid bills.

The editor said that the complainant had been involved in the booking of the concert, and that thereafter attempts by the newspaper to trace the complainant had proved futile. He could not explain the complainant's subsequent "abrupt departure".

The complainant pointed out that an earlier article in the same newspaper, reporting the failure of the concert, blamed the performer for not paying bills and made no reference to him.

The Commission did not consider that the newspaper had shown that their article was accurate.

The complaint was upheld.