BBC apologises after paying tribute to British movie composer George Fenton by playing song from still-alive jazz star George Benson

Published: 06:36 EDT, 8 October 2026 | Updated: 06:58 EDT, 8 October 2026 The BBC has apologised after paying tribute to the late film composer George Fenton by playing a song by jazz star George Benson - who is still alive. Mr Fenton, known for his collaborations with directors like Lord Richard Attenborough, Nora Ephron and Ken Loach, died unexpectedly on Monday aged 76. But during BBC Radio 2's The Good Groove music programme that evening, presenter Melvin Odoom appeared to mix him up with American jazz fusion star George Benson, 83. Following the 11pm news bulletin reporting Mr Fenton's death, Odoom, 46, led a tribute to Mr Fenton after which Mr Benson's 1977 song 'Nature Boy' was played - despite the singer being alive. The mistake - which a spokesperson for the broadcaster apologised for and called a 'production error' - was noted across social media, with composer David Arnold taking to Bluesky to lambast the radio show.He said: 'Radio 2 announced the passing of George Fenton on the 11pm news tonight,immediately followed by the presenter playing 'NatureBoy' by George Benson in tribute to 'George Benson' George was a genius composer and deserved better than that from the company he gave voice to @bbcradio2bot.bsky.social'Users across the site agreed with Mr Arnold, with one replying 'dreadful' and another saying: 'That's downright insulting.' The BBC has apologised after paying tribute to the late film composer George Fenton by playing a song by a still-alive jazz star During a BBC Radio 2 programme on Monday evening, Melvin Odoom appeared to mix Mr Fenton up with American jazz fusion star George Benson (pictured) Following a news bulletin reporting Mr Fenton's death, Odoom (pictured) led a tribute to Mr Fenton after which Mr Benson's 1977 song 'Nature Boy' was played Composer David Arnold took to Bluesky to lambast the radio show for its mistakeMr Fenton, who was born in Kent in 1949, had written for theatre, television and film and received nominations for lucrative prizes including Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Academy Awards.In the 1980s, he wrote the music for The Jewel In The Crown, The Monocled Mutineer, and Alan Bennett´s Talking Heads.Mr Fenton, who was made a CBE for services to music in 2023, also wrote theme music for television including BBC´s One O´Clock News, Six O´Clock News, Nine O´Clock News, Newsnight and The Money Programme, the website adds.A post on his website says: 'In 1990, George scored his first natural history documentary series, David Attenborough´s The Trials Of Life, and followed it up with Attenborough´s next series, Life In The Freezer.'This led to the producer Alastair Fothergill asking George to compose the music for The Blue Planet in 2001, which began a 10-year period of writing for natural history television programmes, including Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and Life.'In 2022 George partnered up with Alastair Fothergill and David Attenborough again, this time for BBC One´s Wild Isles series.'He died on Monday, October 5 in London, his management said. A spokesperson for CMG management said: 'We are sad to announce that George Fenton passed away unexpectedly today.'He is survived by his loving wife Amanda, ex-wife Jane, children Gemma, Grace and Bridget, and grandchildren Lola, Audrey, Alfred, George, Frank, Beatrice, and a life of music.'